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 51

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 51

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He is the son of John Crocker, a ship carpenter and a native of Nova Scotia, and Sarah (Holmes) Crocker. His father died at Newburyport, Mass., in 1869, at the age of seventy-four, when J. B. was a lad of twelve. His mother had seven children by her first husband, the father of J. B. She married a second time and had a son by her second marriage. She attained the unusual age of eighty-eight before her demise in Massachusetts, in 1916.

A half orphan at twelve, Mr. Crocker at that time began to depend upon his own exertions for a livelihood, removing from the place of his birth to Maine, where he worked on a farm for four years. He then went to work in a cotton factory at Great Falls, N. H., remaining there six or eight months, until the panic of 1874 caused the cotton factories to close down. Afterwards he returned to farm work, which he continued until 1882, then went to work at the marble works at Rutland, Vt. From thence he went to Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand in O'Brien County. In 1886 he came to California, where he worked on a farm near Fresno. In 1889 he went to Kingsburg and made his first purchase in the Kingsburg Colony, three miles east and one mile south of his present place.

In 1882 he was married to Miss Mary H. Wildermuth. Of the four chil- dren born of their union, the three sons were United States volunteers in the recent world conflict. Clark W., a graduate of the Selma high school and Stanford University, was in the aviation corps at Berkeley; Percy S., also a Selma high school graduate, was a senior in the Leland Stanford University, pursuing the geological and mining engineer's course, when he enlisted for service in the World War; Ernest H., a senior in the Selma high school at the time of his enlistment; and Celia F., a graduate in the Class of 1918, is now pursuing a post-graduate course.

In 1907, Mr. Crocker sold his Kingsburg Colony ranch and purchased his present home place of twenty acres, three miles east of Selma on the Canal School Reservation. He has always been particularly interested in education and in 1915 was elected a member of the board of trustees of the Selma high school, a school that ranks among the very best high schools in the State of California.

A true American and an ardent patriot, 'Mr. Crocker is held in the high- est esteem. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He is a fine example

1783

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

of the California rancher who denies himself much in order to properly rear and educate his children. They are all high school and some are university graduates, while his three sons bear the distinction of having rendered excel- lent service to their country during the recent war. Percy S. served thirteen months in France, while Ernest H. was in the Coast Artillery in France. They have their honorable discharges, and came home safe and sound.

THE SELMA IRRIGATOR .- An important factor in the development and growth of the enterprising community of Selma, Cal., is the semi-weekly, eight-page newspaper, known as The Selma Irrigator, owned and edited by J. J. Vanderburgh.

The first edition of the Irrigator appeared in 1886, when the paper was founded by W. T. Lyon, who later became associated with W. L. Chappell, and under the firm name of Chappell & Lyon the Irrigator continued to be published for several years, in both daily and weekly editions.

In 1892, J. J. Vanderburgh, who at that time was a public school teacher, purchased the interest of W. L. Chappell, and subsequently engaged in the publishing of the Irrigator under the firm name of Lyon & Vanderburgh from 1892 to 1897, when Mr. Vanderburgh became the sole owner of the business. The business soon began to expand under the efficient manage- ment of Mr. Vanderburgh, and in course of time he sold the little old frame building, which had been the home of the Irrigator for a number of years, and purchased a block consisting of twelve lots, across the street, and on a portion of this property he built, in 1906, the present new and commodious Irrigator Building, a two-story-and-basement brick block, 30x60 feet in size. The first floor contains a large office and editorial room, a large room for the accommodation of the job-printing department, which contains three elec- trically operated up-to-date presses, and one large newspaper press and Omaha folder. The linotype machine used by the Irrigator was shipped through the Panama Canal, and is one of the first two machines of its kind to pass through the canal. It is very complete, having three magazines and nine faces of type, and is regarded as one of the best linotyping machines on the Pacific Coast. The stereotyping room is situated away from the building to lessen the fire hazard. The basement of the Irrigator Building is used as a dining hall and banquet room, having accommodations for one hundred twenty persons, and this room has often been the scene of many enjoyable banquets. A public hall is located in the second story of the building and is used as lodge rooms for various fraternal organizations, also as the church home of the Christian Science Society, of Selma. The Irrigator Building is a great credit to the up-to-date city of Selma, "The Home of the Peach," and will be a standing monument to the enterprise and business sagacity of its builder and owner, J. J. Vanderburgh.

The Selma Irrigator has been a potent factor in the development of this prosperous community and has justly earned for itself an important place in the front rank of journals of its size in Central California. It pursues a constructive policy in regard to all that makes for the good of the community, educationally, religiously, commercially, and agriculturally ; while it is always the uncompromising foe of evil, whether it presents itself boldly, or in some veiled and alluring form. Mr. Vanderburgh is ably assisted in the editorial department by his talented wife.

ELMER THOMAS WALL .- Among the leading raisin-growers in the Selma section, Mr. Elmer Thomas Wall stands prominently forth for his skill and success as a viticulturist. He is an example of a hard-working man en- dowed with firmness of character and determination of purpose, qualities that bespeak the ability and energy which have caused him to attain his well merited success.

A native of Missouri, he was born in Johnson County, May 2, 1872, and is the son of Lieut. James M. and Nancy B. (Gray) Wall. His father was

1784

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

the owner of an 800-acre stock farm in Missouri and was a large raiser of mules, horses and beef cattle. A native of North Carolina, he served with distinction as lieutenant during the Civil War, on the Confederate side, was body-guard of General Price, and was twice wounded during his time of serv- ice. In 1888 he disposed of his business interests in Missouri and came to California on account of his wife's health, where, four years later, in 1892, he died. His wife, who survived him, is living in Fresno. Of the five chil- dren of the parental home, three are living. Benjamin F., who settled near Selma, died twelve years ago, leaving two children, Lois and Ethel by name. A daughter, Ona B., single, died in California. The living children are: Syd- ney Jackson, a fruit-buyer residing in Fresno; Elmer Thomas; and Erna Ethel, wife of A. M. Haldeman, who is employed on the Fresno Republican and owns a twenty-acre ranch adjoining Elmer Thomas' place.

Elmer Thomas received his education in the public and high school at Windsor, Mo. A lad sixteen years of age when he came with his parents to California, in 1888, he engaged with his father in the fruit-growing busi- ness. He purchased forty acres southeast of Fresno, near Malaga, which he improved and afterwards sold. He bought his present place in 1916.

He chose as his life partner Miss Addie J. Barr, to whom he was united in 1894. She is the daughter of Thomas A. Barr, and is a sister of Dr. W. T. Barr of Fresno. Mr. and Mrs. Wall are the parents of three bright and inter- esting children: Gladys, a graduate of the Fresno high school, now sopho- more in Redlands University ; Thelma, attending the Selma high school ; and WVarden, a student in the grammar school.

Mr. Wall has always taken a lively interest in educational work and was school trustee for fifteen years at Malaga. He has also served as juryman. While he is a Democrat politically, he votes for the man best fitted for the position, regardless of party. Mr. Wall and his family are prominent mem- bers of the Baptist Church of Selma. Mr. Wall is greatly interested in all that advances his community, and he and his family are highly respected.

E. J. MONCRIEF .- Among Parlier's aggressively energetic and suc- cessful young business men is E. J. Moncrief, dealer in hay, grain, oils and greases, wood, and ice. He was born at Nevada, Mo., November 29, 1888, and is the son of C. E. Moncrief, formerly of Sanger, now living with his son at Parlier.

The father, C. E. Moncrief, was born at Madison, Ind., November 19, 1863, and lived in his native state until the age of fifteen. He then accom- panied his parents, William and Cynthia (Montgomery) Moncrief, to Vernon County, Mo., where they settled upon a farm and where the son grew to manhood. He was married in 1884, became a farmer and the owner of a 160- acre farm. He brought up a family of three children, namely : Daisy, wife of Mr. Popney, residing at Parlier : E. J., and R. E., the latter residing in Fresno. He sold his Missouri farm in 1904, and came to California, settling first at Oakland. In 1908 he came to Reedley. He is the owner of a ten-acre ranch at Reedley and a twenty-acre ranch at Kingsburg. In politics he is a Republican, and he and his good wife were members of the Baptist Church. Since the death of his wife, in the fall of 1917, he has made his home with his son, E. J., at Parlier.

E. J. Moncrief was sixteen years old when his parents settled at Rodeo, Cal., in 1904, and he was in the employ of the powder company for twenty- seven months, going thence to the oil fields at Maricopa, where he worked for the Sunset Monarch Oil Company, one of the J. D. Spreckels interests, until the spring of 1912, having charge of the fishing tool department and the storehouse on the Sunset Monarch property. During this time he visited his old Missouri home twice-in 1907 and in 1908-the latter year returning with his bride, who before her marriage was Miss Olive Hogge of Nevada, Mo., one of his schoolmates.

Olf Havion

1787

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

In June, 1912, Mr. Moncrief removed to Parlier and engaged in his pres- ent line of business on a much smaller scale. The business has grown and prospered beyond the most sanguine expectations. Aside from being the public weighmaster, Mr. Moncrief gets ice from the Central California Ice Company of Fresno and distributes it to his customers in Parlier and vicinity.

He has built a cozy bungalow on his four acres east of and adjoining Parlier, where he resides with his wife and children, Charlie and Oliver.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Moncrief is a member of the W. O. W. He is an enterprising and substantial citizen, justly entitled to the esteem and respect accorded him, and the family is highly regarded at Parlier, Sanger, Maricopa, and other places where they have lived.

OLOF HANSON .- The cultivation of a barren piece of land into thriv- ing orchards and vineyards can rightfully be called a factor in the develop- ment of the county's resources, and Olof Hanson is numbered among the successful fruit and raisin growers of Fresno County, who have thus added to its development and have proven substantial and worthy citizens of the commonwealth. A native of Sweden, he was born at Soderham, August 20, 1859. Mr. Hanson is the son of John and Kare Hanson, both natives of that country, whose family consisted of eight children. In 1881 they and their offspring immigrated to the United States, locating, after their arrival in the new country, in Kansas. There Olof remained for nine years, working at home with his father on his farm.

Olof Hanson and two brothers made a trip to California in 1890, but Olof was the only one to stay here, and in the following spring he. purchased his present home place, a ranch of eighty acres in the Wahtoke district, Fresno County. The land at that time was mostly in a state of wilderness- hog-wallow and grain fields. He now has a fertile, well cultivated fruit ranch, yielding large returns to the owner. Mr. Hanson cultivates and raises figs, prunes, peaches, and grapes, specializing in the Thompson Seedless, Muscats, and Sultana varieties. An experienced and intelligent rancher, he has met with success in his chosen vocation, and commands the respect and confidence of the community in which he has made his home for so many years. He has been a stanch advocate of cooperation among fruit growers and is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.

J. H. BREWER .- A self-made man, an especially good judge of live stock, and one of Selma's most successful business men, is J. H .· Brewer, senior member of the Selma Meat Company. He was born in Linn County, Mo., on July 15, 1877, the son of William Jefferson Brewer, who was a large farmer and stockman there, and a native of Illinois. He fought in the Union Army and was discharged with an honorable record, which means more than ever today ; and when he died, in 1913, he had rounded out sixty-eight years. Mrs. Brewer was Amanda Baber before her marriage, and she came from Missouri, her native state, where she is still living, honored by many, and in particular beloved by her four sons and three daughters, among whom the subject of this interesting sketch is the fifth in the order of birth.

J. H. Brewer's early life was spent in working on his father's stock- farm, and in attending the public schools of the neighborhood. Growing up on a Missouri farm, he continued to till the land for years, and in that state was married to Miss Alice Streets, the daughter of William and Mantia Streets, esteemed residents of the same county. He began butchering at twenty-one, and for a year and a half was in partnership. in the little town of Bucklin. In 1902, however, having heard of the greater opportunities here, he disposed of his Missouri interests and came west to California. For a couple of years he worked around in the stock business, buying, selling and feeding ; and then, in partnership with his brother, A. T. Brewer of the Kings- burg 'Market, in 1905 they started a meat business at Sanger. For four years

1788

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

they managed this enterprise and then, being attracted to the Eschol district. they moved there and bought 220 acres. For another four years they ran a genuine country market. Then the two brothers came to Selma and bought the Selma Meat Company, after that owned by J. H. and A. T. Brewer; and when A. T. sold out, in 1917, Mr. A. C. Casner became the owner of a half interest. They have three delivery autos and make a specialty of their own farm and meat products.

Mr. Brewer, who certainly is a hustler and one who attends strictly to business, attends personally to the buying and the outside work, superintends the slaughtering and makes of it the cornerstone of the market's success. He owns 160 acres four and a half miles south of Selma, and 80 acres two miles farther south. Mr. Brewer is a popular member of the Woodmen of the World at Selma, and he never fails to rally to the support of his country or community.

WILLIAM J. POSSONS .- A brilliant Easterner who made a distin- guished place for himself in industrial, commercial, and financial circles, thereby ruining his health by overapplication to work and duty, and who found in California's wonderful climate a temporary relief, was William J. Possons, who died in April, 1917, leaving a widow who, with the aid of her gifted son, has shown marked ability and achieved success in the management of his estate. He was born at Ballston Spa, N. Y., November 5, 1855, and reared there until he was nine years of age, when he removed to Sterling, in the same State, and grew up on a farm. at the same time attending the public school. Later, he went to Auburn, and there entered the academic high school, from which he was graduated with honors. He was foreman for Hayden & Smith, and after a while removed to Cleveland, where for fifteen years he showed his unquestioned ability as the superintendent of the Brush Electric Works. Discovering that he had both a liking and a talent for financial operations, he joined the staff of the Garfield Savings Bank, in Cleveland, and for about eleven years was auditor of its many different branches.

On account of impaired health brought about through overwork, Mr. Possons resigned from his position of responsibility, and in 1908 came to California. He had made a couple of trips to the Coast on previous oc- casions, and so had become familiar with the state, and he was not long in selecting Fresno County as the section appealing most to his experience and judgment. He bought what has become the family ranch, containing a six-year-old vineyard of wine grapes, with eighty acres on Belmont Avenue, eleven miles east of Fresno, where he located and built his home. He put up a fine new residence in modern style, and replaced the wine grapes with muscat, Malaga, and Thompson seedless grapes, and prepared to get what he could out of life as a proper reward for his years of wearying activity.

Thus comfortably situated, Mr. Possons appeared to have in prospect a fair lease of life, but on April 10, 1917, to the deep regret of his many friends, he passed away, an honored and devoted husband, father and citizen, and a deeply religious man. He was always patriotically interested in civic affairs, and as a Republican was invited to the councils of his party.

At Auburn, N. Y., December 30, 1879, Mr. Possons married Miss Mary J. Conner, a native of that city, and the daughter of Joseph and Mathilda (Steel) Conner, natives of Belfast, Ireland, and members of the Orange party, who had married there, and come to New York, where Mr. Conner was a boot-and-shoe-maker. Mr. Conner enlisted in the Union army of the Civil War, and was a member of the Seventy-fifth Regiment of New York State Infantry Volunteers, and saw valiant service in the Battle of Cedar Creek and other engagements. At the end of eighteen months, and at the close of the war, he received his honorable discharge. Mrs. Possons was educated at the Auburn Academic High School. Three children were born to this highly esteemed couple : Martha Adla died when she was ten years old ;

1789

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

Milton Howlet assists his mother at the home ranch, having married Gladys McNab, by whom he has had two children, George Allen and Evelyn M .; and Marion Elida has been attending Mills College, from which she was graduated with the Class of 1918. The family are members of the Presby- terian Church.

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Possons has operated the ranch with the aid of her son, and has supported every movement for the advance- ment of local agricultural interests, and, in particular, the California Asso- ciated Raisin Company.

ROBERT K. MADSEN .- Communities blessed with such men as R. K. Madsen are the richest in the world, because they are rich in that which cannot be measured by the dollar standard. One of Parlier's foremost citi- zens, Mr. Madsen is president of the Parlier Winery, and also of the River Bend Gas and Water Company. He was born in Denmark, April 4, 1860. near Odense. He grew up there and at Aarhus, and other places in Denmark. where his father lived after returning from California in 1857.

His father, Jorgen Madsen, was a native of Denmark, and in his early manhood learned the painter's trade, but later became a sailor. His father's uncle, Jens Storm, a millwright in Denmark, came to San Francisco in 1846 and, in the annals of the history of California, has the distinction of having built the first grist mill at Folsom and the first flour mill ever built by a man other than a Spaniard in California. A Chicago publisher, a few years ago, printed a book in English, giving the history of his life.

Jorgen Madsen, one of the early pioneers of California, while a sailor on a voyage to the New World, left his ship at Havana, and made his way to Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1848, and, although it was not the lure of gold that first brought him to Vera Cruz, yet upon hearing of the rich finds in Califor- nia he resolved to try his fortune in the favored land, and, securing a mule, made his way to the west coast of Mexico, where he took passage for San Francisco. For nine years he was engaged in mining and painting, becoming a contract painter in partnership with a man by the name of Holm, under the firm name of Holm & Madsen, with their place of business at 58 Clay Street, San Francisco. The business proving profitable, he remained in San Francisco until 1857, when he returned to Denmark and was united in mar- riage with his betrothed, Conradina Rytel. For several years he ran the hotel at Odense, Denmark, then became interested as a sub-contractor in the con- struction of the first railroad ever built in Denmark. He moved to Mullerup and from thence to Skanderborg, where he became interested in a flouring mill, and in 1869 removed to Aarhus, where he became a manufacturer and extensive dealer in brick and lime, and where, after an active, useful and re- spected career, he died at the age of seventy-two. He and his good wife were the parents of Robert Kelly Madsen and Conradine Fanny, the widow of Ankjar Heegaard, now residing in Copenhagen.

Robert K. Madsen was well prepared for a business career in a private academy in Denmark. At the age of fourteen he left school and began a sea- faring life; starting as a junior sailor, he rose to the position of ordinary seaman and then to that of a regular sailor. He followed the calling of the sea for nine years, in the meantime attending the Danish navigation school. He became an officer and was in the line of promotion when his hearing became impaired, an incident which exempted him from the seaman's fate of "once at sea always a salt," and which was providential, as he was enlisted to go on the Jeanette, then outfitting at San Francisco for her last voyage to the Arctic. His defective hearing caused his rejection, and thus he was saved from going. He worked his way back to New York City as a seaman, and thence took passage for Copenhagen in 1880 for the purpose of visiting his old home. He learned the business of making compressed yeast and the distillation of whiskey, then came back to California after an eight months'

1790

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

visit in Denmark. He was with the Protrero Yeast and Distilling Company in San Francisco, acting in the capacity of superintendent. From there he went to the Bay View Distilling Company at South San Francisco, and then entered business for himself at the National Vinegar Works in San Fran- cisco. Afterwards he was with the Frank Lewis Pickle Company at Oakland, and when that partnership was dissolved he and Mr. Lewis formed the Lewis Packing Company at San Francisco. Disposing of his interests, he went in 1896 to Parlier and purchased the eighty-acre Miller & Company vineyard and orchard. In the spring of 1897 he moved onto the ranch and continued to operate it until 1917, when he sold it. The winery was organized in 1900. and Mr. Madsen's efforts made it a splendid success. It had a capacity of 850,000 gallons of brandy per annum. They made no wine. In 1913, Mr. Madsen became president of the River Bend Gas and Water Company, in which he had been a stockholder for many years. He was also instrumental in helping amalgamate the Alta District Gas Company of Dinuba with the River Bend Gas and Water Company, distributors to Dinuba, Reedley, Par- lier, and Kingsburg.

On a second trip to his old home in Denmark, in 1887, Mr. Madsen was united in marriage with Anna Flack of Aarhus, daughter of Carl and Maria (Peterson) Flack, natives of Denmark, both now deceased. Of the six chil- dren in the parental home one died in Denmark at the age of forty; the sur- viving children are : Wilhelm ; Henrietta ; Ann Maria ; Florentine, and Marie.

Mr. and Mrs. Madsen's union has been blessed by the birth of ten chil- dren, three of whom, Otto, Ellen, and Halvor. died in infancy. The seven liv- ing children are: Georgia, the wife of E. A. Berryhill, a rancher at Del Rey, Fresno County: Carl, who married Miss Etna Hankey of Sanger, and who is the president of the Parlier Winery and resides in Parlier; Anna, the wife of Mr. George W. Wiley, stockraiser, near Orange Cove, Fresno County ; Helga, a graduate of the Glenn County high school in the class of 1914, and who also attended the San Francisco Institute of Art one year, and is well known as an artist of merit; Robert K., Jr., chief electrician and instructor in the Navy Reserve at San Pedro; Henriette and Herald, students in the Reedley high school.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 51

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