History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume II, Part 50

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > California > Fresno County > History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume II > Part 50

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At Nickerson, Kans., Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Jennie Weigle, a noble woman who has proven a most devoted and helpful wife. She was born in West Virginia, the daughter of J. M. Weigle, a native of Virginia, who came to Kansas with his family, and who also now resides in the Gar- field district in Fresno County. Three children have blessed their union: Vera, a graduate of the Clovis High School and Fresno State Normal, was a teacher but now the wife of Roy E. Pack of Clovis; Claude S., and Vir- ginia. Mrs. Morgan and her daughter, Vera, are members of the Order of the Eastern Star of Clovis, and the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, where Mr. Morgan was for several years a member of the official board and now Mrs. Morgan is a member. Mrs. Morgan is also president of the Garfield Auxiliary of the Fresno Chapter of the Red Cross. Mr. Morgan was made a Mason at the Nickerson Lodge, No. 346, F. & A. M., and is a charter member of Clovis Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M.

Travel where you will, it would be hard to find, even among the proud native sons and daughters of the state, a more representative California fam- ily, whose hospitality is unbounded, and whose hearts and hands never weary in advancing every good work making for the uplift of the neighborhood, the community, the county, the state and the nation.

WILLIAM P. WICKLIFFE .- One of the leading and successful fruit- growers of the Parlier district, Fresno County, is W. P. Wickliffe, who has made his own way in the world and won a name and place for himself among the progressive citizens of the county. He was born in Missouri, November 22, 1881, the son of Samuel M. and Naomi C. Wickliffe, parents of four chil- dren. three of whom are living, namely: Asa A., a machinist for a large mining company in Arizona; William P., of this review; and Henry S., a rancher .. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wickliffe went from Missouri to Ore- gon in the spring of 1883, remained there for about six years, then moved to Idaho, where two years were spent, but in the fall of 1891 they decided. that the best opportunities awaited them in California and they came west and spent two years in Stanislaus County, and three years in Calaveras County, then settled in Fresno County in the fall of 1896.

Their son W. P. had the experience of living in various parts of the country until settling in Fresno County, and he received his education and training for his life work in this state, thereby having the western experience and broad views of life as shown by his success in whatever he has under- taken. He began as a ranch hand, working by the month; he saved his earnings and soon was able to invest in some land of his own, purchasing, in 1905, forty acres of his present place, which at that time was virgin soil. Through hard work and persistent and intelligent efforts he has transformed the property into one of the most valuable orchards and vineyards in the entire section. So well did he succeed that in 1914 he added thirty acres more to his holdings, which he partly improved and sold at a profit. Every bit of improvements seen on his well-kept ranch has been done by himself-a modern house, good outbuildings, dry sheds and all the equipments on the place show a master hand in management and arrangement. In 1919 his yield of fruit from his ranch of thirty-four acres of vines was seventy tons of raisins, besides his peaches, of which he has ten acres. These he set out in 1905 and 1906, and since then he has had but little trouble with the spider

NO Nickliff

anna Wickliffe

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that infests the trees, giving as his opinion that the care taken of the trees is the reason. Since 1912 he has never known a shortage of the crop, all due to his scientific cultivation and care of the orchard. In June, 1919, he bought forty acres of land in Tulare County, near Seville; twenty acres of it is in vines and he is rapidly setting out the balance to the same.

In 1904, Mr. Wickliffe and Miss Anna Jensen, daughter of Christian and Dorothy Jensen, were united in marriage, and of this union three children have been born: Margaret D. M .; Esther M .: and Eunice M. Mrs. Wickliffe enjoys with her husband the good will and esteem of a large circle of friends and they are leaders in their community. The family attends the Baptist Church of Parlier.

When it is taken into consideration that Mr. Wickliffe began at the bottom round of the ladder and by persistent efforts, supplemented by good management and hard work, has reached the position he now occupies in the county, it will be seen that others may well follow his example, for the possibilities are just beginning to open to the home-maker in the county. Mr. Wickliffe is a member of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and of the California Associated Raisin Company. He is also a supporter of all move- ments for the betterment of social and moral conditions in the county, and is always found ready "to do his bit" whenever called upon.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND SELMA SAVINGS BANK .- Selma's growth and progress have been both phenomenal and substantial, and her banking institutions attest the importance of her place in the finan- cial world. The forerunner of the First National Bank of Selma, the oldest as well as the leading institution of its kind in the place, was the Bank of Selma, which was organized in 1887 as a state bank, with a capitalization of $20,000, which was later increased out of the profits to $50,000, the officers of the First National Bank at Fresno being among its first projectors and stockholders. Among these, Mr. J. M. Braley of Fresno, then president of the First National Bank of Fresno, became the manager of the Bank of Selma. Other interested parties in the enterprise were O. J. Woodward, the present president of the First National Bank of Fresno; Mr. D. S. Snod- grass, now deceased; John G. Arrants of Selma, also deceased, who became its first president ; and T. B. Matthews, and the bank's present president, Major Marion Sides of Selma, who went in as stockholders. On June 22, 1905, the Selma Savings Bank was organized as an allied interest.

These two banks are allied under the Federal and state laws, both using the same banking office and having the same officers, except that the presi- dent and vice-president of each exchange places. They have a combined working capital of $240,000, combined deposits of $1,200,000, and combined resources of $1,500,000.

The old bank of Selma for many years did business across the street in the building and offices now occupied by the Selma Land Company. In 1900, when the old bank building with its graceful Mission lines was com- pleted, it was nationalized under the title of The First National Bank of Selma, with a capitalization of $100,000, the result of profits.

The city's finances, as well as those of these banks, are on a firm basis. Despite the $50,000 put into sundry improvements, $125,000 for schools, and large sums for the city water and parks, the city has a very small outstanding debt. Selma has an assessed valuation of over $1,000,000, and there are only $30,000 outstanding in bonded debts. In June, 1917, the First National Bank purchased the City of Selma's park bonds, amounting to $10,700, at par. These bonds draw annual interest at five per cent.

When the stockholders of these banks met in the month of January, 1918, to consider business affairs and to elect officers for the ensuing year, they found the business of the past year to have been very satisfactory. Both banks made a nice gain over the preceding year, and for the first time in their

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

history passed the million-dollar mark; and at the annual stockholders' and directors' meeting in January, 1919, the stockholders expressed their approval of the management by reelecting all the officers. They are: M. Sides, presi- dent First National Bank and vice-president of Selma Savings Bank; M. Vincent, vice-president First National Bank and president of Selma Savings Bank; W. C. Freeland, cashier; G. \V. Glines, first assistant cashier; W. J. Johnson, second assistant cashier.

Mr. W. H. Lemmon, who was second assistant cashier in 1917, enlisted in the Liberty army and entered the Paymaster's Department at the Presidio, San Francisco, Cal. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to Selma and resumed his duties in the bank. On the Ist of July, 1919, he became cashier and manager of the First National Bank of Caruthers, in which institution several of the officers of the Selma banks are interested as stockholders.

J. C. HANSEN .- Few men are better known in Fresno County or more deservedly popular in both commercial and social circles here than J. C. Han- sen, the wide-awake, courteous and attentive proprietor of The Toggery, Selma's most important headquarters for men's and boys' attire. A native son, Mr. Hansen was born in Fresno County about five miles north of Selma on October 20, 1890, the son of Thomas Hansen, the well-to-do farmer of the county, who first came to California in 1878 and settled in Fresno County three years later. He is the third son and child of a family of four children, one of the family being a girl; and his boyhood and youth were as happy as that of the typical Californian.

Growing up on his father's ranch, young Hansen attended the district school and also the grammar school in the Monroe School district; then he entered the Selma High School, from which he was graduated with the Class of '09. On leaving school, he lost no time in getting into the real struggle of life; and engaging with the Selma Land Co., for three years he acted as its Secretary.

Next he formed a partnership with T. E. Rasmussen of Selma under the firm name of The Toggery, opening shop at 2033 Second Street, in the George B. Otis Block. This establishment was originally started by L. J. Price and Frank Dusy of Selma, and they sold out to H. J. Jacobson, who conducted the business for eight years. When Jacobson retired, Rasmussen succeeded him, and it was when he was ready to dispose of one-half of his interest that Mr. Hansen became his partner.

In January, 1918, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Hansen buying out Rasmussen ; and since then the former has been the sole proprietor, the store being known as one of Selma's most reliable concerns. What makes it so important, aside from the principles and methods obtaining there, is the fact that it is the only exclusively clothing, gent's furnishing and merchant tailoring establishment in Selma. Mr. Hansen carries the best goods ob- tainable, and courteous and careful attention is guaranteed every customer.

Mr. Hansen was married to Miss Mabel Schultz, an accomplished and at- tractive belle of Selma, and the couple participate, as favorites, in the social life of the progressive town.

EVAN DOYLE PORTER .- One of the successful and progressive men in Fresno's colony of viticulture, Evan Doyle Porter has found this branch of land cultivation a most interesting study, as well as a profitable one. Born in Monmouth, Ill., in 1876, of Scotch-Irish descent, he is a son of J. K. and Mary (Chandler) Porter, both pioneers of the state of Illinois. Of the three children born to his parents, Evan D. Porter is the only one of the family making his home in California. He received his early training in Monmouth, Ill., and from 1886 to 1893 lived in Denver, Colo., where he attended the public schools. In 1893 he returned to Monmouth and there attended the Monmouth Business College.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

After graduation he entered the offices of the Monmouth Manufactur- ing Company, makers of sewer pipe, and remained four years, at the end of that period he acted as assistant to the superintendent of the factory for one year, then became superintendent and held that position for six years, the concern being one of the largest of its kind in the Middle West, manu- facturing fire-brick, flue lining, drain tile and sewer-pipe. While with this concern he took a course in mechanical engineering in the International Cor- respondence Schools, and became qualified to make the drawings needed in the factory.

Resigning from his position as superintendent, Mr. Porter came to Colo- rado and there bought an interest in the Brick and Tile Works at La Junta, and devoted the next two years to the management of the plant. From there he came to California, in 1908, and located in Fresno for a time, then went to San Francisco, and for three months was with the Bay Shore Brick Com- pany there. He then accepted a position as superintendent of the Fresno Brick and Tile Company and when the new plant was built he made the drawings and had charge of its construction.

At the end of three years Mr. Porter decided to turn his attention to the development of land; hence, resigning his position, he went to San Luis Obispo County, where he homesteaded 160 acres on Carisa Plains, proved up on his property, and now rents it to tenants. In 1913 he returned to Fres- no County, and purchased forty acres on Las Palmas Avenue, in Nevada Colony, and engaged in viticulture. Being intensely interested in his ranch- ing enterprise, he has taken a correspondence course in viticulture in the University of California. In February, 1918, he sold his ranch at a good profit and bought his present property on Belmont Avenue, a forty-acre ranch de- voted to muscats, malagas, and Thompsons, an exceptionally fine property which he is developing to even greater possibilities.

The marriage of Mr. Porter occurred in Monmouth, Ill., uniting him with Inez Bates, and they have one child, Dorothy.

OSCAR E. PRICE .- It has been thought by a few that gold is picked up from the ground in California, and in years that are history many flocked to the Golden State to pick it up. They met with varying successes and fail- ures. It has been demonstrated by a few choice spirits that gold may still be picked up here, though not from quartz; that the soil contains elements that will produce gold in proportion to the amount of intelligence and per- sistent work a man puts into its cultivation. Hence this story of Mr. Price.

Mr. Price was born in Sumner County, Tenn., November 10, 1879, and Tennessee is responsible for a good many mighty good men. His parents were Nim F. and Laura (Crabb) Price, to whom eight children were born. Of these seven are living: Oscar E .; Mattie, now Mrs. Watson; Millie, now Mrs. W. Colley of Fresno County ; E. T., also in Fresno County ; Julius A. who served in Bakery Company, No. 308, A. E. F., with the army of occupa- tion ; Ophelia, now Mrs. Collins; and Corrina, now Mrs. Morris. Ernest is deceased.

Oscar E. grew up in his native state, receiving a common school educa- tion. In January, 1901, he came to California, his total cash footing up the sum of five dollars. This, however, did not by any means represent his entire capital, for while the former years went by he developed a strength of mind and body that served well his determination. For eight years he worked at day's wages, and by the exercise of thrift he found himself pos- sessed of enough cash to make a considerable payment on the purchase of his forty-acre ranch. There were seventeen acres improved, and he shortly after sold ten acres, believing that thirty acres well cared for would be better, and he also lightened his burden of debt. This sale enabled him to further improve his land and beautify his place by building a home with all the

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modern conveniences, at a cost of thirty-three hundred dollars. He has been offered and refused $30,000 for his place.

On March 5, 1903, Mr. Price and Miss Alice DaMant were married. She was born in England and was brought to California by her mother, Elizabeth DaMant, when twelve years of age, to join the husband and father, James DaMant, at Orosi, where he was a minister in the Baptist Church. Mrs. Price completed her education in the schools at Sanger and after her mar- riage devoted her time to assisting her husband in developing their ranch, and at the same time rearing her little family. They have had four children, three of them now living, Ernest, Melba and Arthur P. The family be- longs to the Baptist Church and supports the charities of the church liberally.

The success achieved by Mr. Price is due to an unswerving attention to business, and to a stick-to-ativeness that is the answer to the question, "How be a success in any undertaking?" Because of his fidelity and loyalty to his calling, Mr. Price has been able to pick up the gold from California's soil to an extent that should be highly gratifying to himself. In order to have a place to spend the summer months, Mr. Price bought a summer home at Palo Alto, Cal., in which town Mrs. Price's parents reside.

REV. CORNELIUS E. KLIEWER .- When we meet a man, in this busy world of today, who has given his time and money unstintedly to the better- ment of mankind, we feel that no praise can be too great for such an ex- ample of unselfish benevolence. Rev. Cornelius E. Kliewer, founder of Emanuel German Baptist Church in Fresno, lives solely to help his fellow men, and his unusual success as a missionary is due to the sincerity and un- derstanding sympathy shown in his work in the Master's vineyard. Born in Warsaw. Poland, May 25, 1856, he received his education in private schools of his native land. In 1876 he came to America, and six months later de- clared his intention to become a citizen of the United States. He was ordained at Hillsboro, Kans., in 1893, in the German Baptist Church. His first charge was at Newton, Kans., where he erected a church and served for two years. In 1898 he came to Stafford, Ore., remained there six months, and thence went to Salem, Ore., where he remained four years; in these places, as elsewhere, his missionary duties were carried on with a zeal which has never failed to meet with success. Rev. Kliewer then went to Tacoma, Wash., and served in that city five years, building the church there and leaving it free of debt. He also had a preaching station at Seattle, and did missionary work in the northern metropolis.

In 1903, Rev. Kliewer came to California, his first charge in the state being at Anaheim, Orange County, where he was pastor three years. This concluded his fourteen years of service as a missionary of the Baptist Home Missionary Society, and he retired from active church work for a time, and located in Long Beach, where he engaged in buying, selling and build- ing, meeting with success, and never failing to devote much time to church work, though not having a public charge.

After several years spent in quietly doing the work which came to hand, Rev. Kliewer again took up his public duties. In 1907 he came to Fresno and here he built the Emanuel German Baptist Church, at 2203 Kirk Avenue, at a cost of $2,000, taking his own money for the immediate building of the church, which is now free of debt, the pastor having donated $600 as his share of the cost of the edifice. The church has 47 communicants, with about 150 members, including the children, for whom he has organized a Young People's Society with 30 members; and his wife, who has been of great help to the pastor in his life work and leads the choir in the church, has recently organized the Ladies' Aid Society. She has accomplished much noble work, having been especially active in Tacoma, and in Salem, Ore., as well as, at present, in Fresno. Rev. Kliewer organized the Mission Sunday School here and later turned that work over to the German Methodist Church. He uses his own automobile in doing missionary work, and in tak-

Mr and Mrs & E Kliewer.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

ing the sick to hospitals ; he also does missionary work in the Russian colony on the west side. His church contributes to all public charities, and is prom- inent in all missionary work in the city. Rev. Kliewer receives no salary for his services, donating his time and money for the good cause. He is a member of the Ministerial Union of the San Joaquin Baptist Conference of Northern California, and helped to organize the Pacific Baptist Conference on the Coast, and is also a member of the general ministerial union in Fresno. He takes an active part in revival meetings in Fresno and can always be found at hand when the spiritual uplift of the community is being undertaken, as well as when the material needs of unfortunate humanity are at stake.

When not busy with church and missionary duties, Rev. Kliewer has helped in the upbuilding of Fresno, buying lots and improving same for sale, and has met with success in his business ventures.

Rev. Kliewer was united in marriage, at Bethany, Ore., December 17, 1893, with Miss Mary Walter, a native of Germany, and his Christian work has been upheld by her sympathy and devotion to the cause. Three children have blessed their union: Walter, who died when four months old; Lorena, wife of Alex Ramer of Fresno; and Elmer, attending school. Rev. Kliewer has five sons by a former marriage: Henry; Herbert; Cornelius; Edward; and Harry.

Rev. Kliewer took a firm and uncompromising stand against the liquor traffic, from the early stages of the fight against alcohol. He was the only minister among the German speaking contingent in Fresno, who openly took part in public demonstrations against the saloon. He has been fighting rum ever since he was converted, at Hillsboro, Kans., when he joined the Baptist denomination. At times his uncompromising stand has made him enemies, but all true Christians will approve.

CARL W. CHRISTENSEN .- Since 1912, when the genial cashier of the allied banks, the Selma National Bank and Farmers Savings Bank of Selma, Carl W. Christensen, came to the favored section of Fresno County known as "The Home of the Peach," he has forged rapidly to the front among the business men of prominence in Selma and vicinity. Congenial, bright, well-informed and experienced in his line of work, he is known in the busi- ness world as a rapid and accurate cashier and an excellent judge of values.

Of Danish parentage, his father, J. P., and mother, M. (Hornbeck) Chris- tensen, who reside in Selma, were born in Denmark. Carl W. was born at Racine, Wis., December 26, 1877, and was eleven years of age when his par- ents removed to Turner County, S. D., where he grew up on a South Dakota farm. He received his primary education in the Racine and Turner County schools. Of studious habits, by means of self-study and the assistance of a private tutor, he acquired an excellent education, and at nineteen years of age passed the teacher's examination. He taught school four years in Turner County, S. D., then an opening occurring in the bank of Viborg, Turner County, he accepted a clerkship in what is now the First National Bank of Viborg, remaining with the bank eleven years, being cashier during the last four years. In 1912 he came to California to take his present position, as the successor of Mr. W. E. Street. He helped reorganize the old Farmers Bank of Selma and takes an active interest in the business of the allied banks, of which he is one of the directors.

He married 'Miss Etta M. Nielsen, of San Jose, Cal., and they are the parents of three children : Warren N., Roger W., and Alan D. Mr. Christen- sen is an acquisition to Selma's social circle as he is to its business world. While of a refined and retiring temperament, he is a young man of excellent musical attainments, coming honestly by his musical genius, as C. C. Krogh, the well known violinist and composer of Denmark of the century just ended, was his grandfather. While a young man at Viborg, S. D., he attained celeb- rity as a cornetist and bandmaster, organizing four well known bands of 83

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which he was leader. He became one of the foremost bandmasters in south- eastern South Dakota, playing at the state fairs, and often being called upon to play during the state capital campaign as well as in the campaigns of ex- Senator Crawford of South Dakota.

Mr. Christensen is the owner of eighty acres near Selma, planted to Thompson seedless and muscat grapes, and peaches, all in full bearing. In 1913 he built his residence in Selma, which is located on Logan Street. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are active members of the First Baptist Church of Selma. Mr. Christensen takes an active interest in the financial interests of the church, as well as in the Sunday School, of which he is superintendent.

Taking a pardonable pride in the prosperity and financial standing of his community, he rendered valuable service in the various drives connected with the activities of the war just ended. It is needless to say that in its Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., and other charities, as well as in the Liberty Loans and the recent Victory Loan, Selma went promptly "over the top," with a considerable percentage of surplus to her great credit.

J. B. CROCKER .- Of New England birth and endowed with the char- acteristics that are supposed to belong especially to people of that section of the United States, i. e., frugality, thrift, and unceasing activity, J. B. Crocker is well known as a leading horticulturist of the Selma district, his intelligence and kindly disposition making him a general favorite in the community in which he lives. He was born at Newburyport, Mass., thirty-five miles northeast of Boston, February 5, 1857.

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History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume II, Part 50

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858- Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1424