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 59

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 59

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Two children bear Mr. Cook's name: Lonzie, is in Fresno; and the other, Cecil, in Clay City, Ind. In national politics Mr. Cook is a Democrat ; but he finds pleasure in supporting local projects regardless of party affilia- tions, and always aims to vote for the best men and the best measures.

FRANK J. BORELL .- A very successful farmer is Frank J. Borell who understands California ranching and he has had the good fortune to be assisted by a capable wife, and to be blessed with bright and progressive children. He was born January 22, 1894, at Waverly, Wright County, Minn., forty miles northwest of Minneapolis, the son of Louis Borell, who was born near Berlin, Germany, and who came to the United States when a youth and located, before the Civil War, in Minnesota; and he bought raw land and timber at Waverly. He improved his farm, and soon had 300 acres in good condition. He lives retired at Waverly, numbering among his honors those that came to him through the wise administration of office as supervisor. Mr. Borell married Kate Knaeble, a native of Pennsylvania whose grand- father, J. Knaeble, was a pioneer of Minneapolis. She is also living, the mother of nine children, seven of whom are still living.

Frank J. is the third oldest and the only one in California. Reared on a farm, he attended the public school and when nineteen began the experience of five years in farming for himself. Later he became the owner of eighty acres of land, part of the old family place, which he improved with a resi- dence and other buildings.

On November 17, 1900, he was married at Waverly to Miss Pearl Pan- nett, a native of the place, born November 17, 1883, and the daughter of George R. WV. Pannett, who came from Cumberland, Md., to Minnesota, when he was nineteen years of age. He settled near Waverly, bought land and became a well-to-do farmer. He had two brothers who did valiant service in the Civil War. He now resides on Van Ness Avenue. Fresno. He had married Alice Dike, a native of Rushford. Wis., who is still living, the mother of six children, all in Fresno, among whom Mrs. Borell is the third oldest. Mrs. Borell was educated at Waverly, and after marriage the couple con- tinued to farm to grain and raise stock. In February, 1906, they rented their ranch and came to Fresno County and remained for a time to look around ; and liking the appearance of the land, they sold their farm and settled here.

In December, 1906, they bought their present place of twenty acres, and since then they purchased the twenty acres adjoining, so that now they have forty acres together on California Avenue, four miles west of Fresno. These they have improved according to the latest word of science and practical ex- perience ; owing to the poor quality of the vines, they have taken them up,

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and planted all to alfalfa, returning only the Thompson seedless grapes; and now they have twenty acres of muscat, sultanas, and peaches and alfalfa, and they also have a well-appointed dairy. Mr. Borell is a member and stock- holder of the California Associated Raisin Company, and a stockholder in the Danish Creamery Association.

Four children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Borell: Adrey E., Raleigh A., Eldon W., and Lily Pearl; the boys are in attendance at the high school. The family attend the First Christian Church, of which Mr. Borell is a deacon. In national politics Mr. Borell votes with the Republican . party ; but in movements for the betterment of the community, he casts party lines to the winds, and works shoulder to shoulder with his neighbors and fellow-citizens.

Mr. Borell's two oldest boys are interested in natural history, and are such close students that they are far advanced as naturalists. They have done much in taxidermy and already excel in that line of work. They have a choice collection of mounted birds and California animals, and give great promise of future accomplishment ; while Eldon W. is showing a talent as a pianist.

JAMES PATRICK FINCHER .- How superior intelligence, together with years of unremitting work, may develop property to its highest value, while the developer attains an enviable place in the community, is shown in the career of James Patrick Fincher, the son of Levi Nelson Fincher, a native of North Carolina, where he was born in October, 1830. He moved to Missouri and from there, in 1850, came to California by way of the Isthmus, and for a year followed mining, meeting with fair success. The next year he returned to Missouri and married Paulina Nelson Moore, who was born in Tennessee on February 18. 1830, and soon after removed to Kansas, where he farmed for himself. In 1862 he again started for California, this time taking the route across the plains, and having his family with him, and that year the party drove their ox teams into Sacramento County. There Levi Fincher engaged in the general merchandise business, but believing that he could do better in grain-farming, he went on to Stanislaus County and engaged in farming near what is now . Riverbank. As soon as he became posted in regard to Fresno County he came here, and in 1884 he had 800 acres in grain. That land became his home-place, and there he followed grain-farming until his death, in April, 1909; his wife passed away on November 6, 1907.

Born near Riverbank, in Stanislaus County, July 11, 1864, the sixth child in a family of eleven, James Patrick attended the McHenry district school in Stanislaus County. After a short time spent in Fresno County, he continued his studies with a course at Heald's Business College in San Fran- cisco, from which he graduated in 1885. He then returned home and took charge of his father's ranch in Fresno County, which was afterwards known as the Fincher Colony, Levi Fincher having subdivided it in 1891 and en- deavored to sell the smaller tracts. But the times were bad, the land came back, and the Fincher Colony remained in the family, awaiting a more favor- able period for development.

On December 13, 1888, James P. Fincher was united in marriage with Nancy Ann Musick, born at Academy, Cal. She is the daughter of the late Jasper N. Musick, one of the early pioneers and builders of Fresno County who is represented on another page in this history. She was the most valuable kind of a helpmate, and it was not long before he took up farming for him- self. He leased a ranch of 1,000 acres two miles northwest of Sanger, and went in for grain-farming on a large scale. He also rented the Dalton tract in Madera County, consisting of 2,000 acres.

In 1901, Mr. Fincher gave up grain-farming to engage in the dairy busi- ness. He selected the West Park Ranch for his operations, and soon made the forty-acre corner of Jensen and Marks Avenues a well improved dairy ranch. He stocked the ranch with the best grade of cattle and installed the

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

most improved appliances; and for nine years he contributed his share to making Central California's dairy output strictly first-class.

The elder Fincher having passed away in 1909, James Patrick gave up dairying in order to improve his seventy-five-acre ranch received from his father's estate. He set it out to vineyard and it is now principally in muscat grapes. At present he and his wife are living in their comfortable residence on their ranch in the Fincher Colony. They have four children: Orville Day, an electrician in Fresno; Floyd Otis, an engineer in the Union Iron Works, Oakland ; Isabelle Jane, and Raymond Nelson, the two latter are under the parental roof. Mrs. Fincher is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church . South, in Clovis. Mr. Fincher is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.

MRS. HELEN LANGWORTHY GRANGER .- A very busy woman who comes of a fine old and prominent San Joaquin Valley family, is Mrs. Helen Langworthy Granger, whose father founded Langworth in Stanislaus County and built it up. She was born at that place, the daughter of Henry Langworthy, a native of Addison County, Vermont, born December 22, 1826, and a member of a very old family there. From his fourth or fifth year he was reared in Illinois, and later he taught school in that state. Whatever he did enabled him to demonstrate his superior ability as a young and very promising man.

In 1849 he started for California by way of Cape Horn, and arrived in San Francisco in January, 1850, soon after which he located near Farmington in San Joaquin County. There he married Miss Eliza Jane Hewitt, a native of Steubenville, Ohio, born January 1, 1854, and the daughter of Samuel Hewitt, who came from County Antrim, Ireland, to Ohio as a pioneer. The Hewitts crossed the plains in 1852 with ox teams, and arriving in San Joaquin County, camped where Mr. Langworthy had located. The old folks liked both the country and the young man, bought a ranch and resided in that neighborhood until they died. The farm is still in the family; and there Mr. Langworthy met his future wife, and they were married.

Having sold out in San Joaquin County, Mr. Langworthy bought a farm in Stanislaus County, at the site of the town named for him. He became a large land-owner and stockman, was postmaster of Langworth and did much to lay out and build up Langworth, erecting stores and other buildings there so much needed for such a pioneer venture. He was a man of large affairs, and owned a ranch of 1,000 acres. He was a notary public, and was interested in building up the schools and improving the educational advantages in the county, and also active in both Sunday school and church.

The Langworth ferry was located on his place. While delivering stock, he was accidentally knocked down by the bolting of an animal which caused him to fall and to suffer from concussion of the brain. Mrs. Langworthy died in 1866, leaving three children. Five months before the accident, Mr. Lang- worthy married a second time, taking for his wife Margaret Gregg, of Steuben- ville, Ohio, who survived him until December 4, 1896, passing away at the home of Mrs. Granger. The three children by the first marriage were: Mary, the wife of Alonzo Mercer, of Chicago, who died in that city and was buried in Oakdale; Helen, the subject of this review, and Ralph W., who was mar- ried to Lily McAboy, of Illinois. He was for a while in the livery business in Modesto, and then became a landowner in Southern California. He also improved a vineyard of forty acres on Belmont Avenue, and there he resided for twenty-one years.

Mrs. Granger had three uncles and two aunts, pioneers of San Joaquin County: James Rogers, Martin L. and William T. Hewitt, who became large landowners with their father, and the land is still in possession of their fam- ilies. Her two aunts also married pioneers. Sarah Hewitt became the wife of C. H. Huffman, who helped build the Huffman-Crocker Canal at Merced, and she has three children; and Matilda Hewitt was the wife of Robert Mc-

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

Henry, of Modesto, who was a pioneer builder of Modesto and Stanislaus County, and a prominent stockman, large land owner and banker. They had one son, the late Oromel McHenry.

Brought up on a farm and educated at the public school, and afterward studying at the San Jose State Normal, Mrs. Granger went to Steubenville, Ohio, to visit relatives and on her return to California she was married at her home to William W. Granger, who was born in Columbus, Mich., and was educated in that state. He taught school for a while and then was engaged in the drug business in Ypsilanti. Later, he came to Modesto and taught school there ; and then he was again in the drug trade. In 1892 he bought their pres- ent place of twenty acres, and with the aid of his wife, he set it out as a vine- yard. And Mrs. Granger has cared for it ever since. She also bought forty acres on McKinley Avenue and improved the property, but then gave it to her son. Mrs. Granger is well-posted, and an exceptionally interesting con- versationalist. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Parlor Lecture Club, and the Madison Club. Her one son, Guy L. Granger, is man- ager of the California Peach Association at Del Rey.

WILLIAM EDWIN GREENWOOD .- Many an early settler of western Fresno County will still recall with pleasure the pioneer stockman, William Edwin Greenwood, who was born at Jennie Lind, Cal., in 1858, the son of James Greenwood, who came from Birmingham, England, bringing his wife, crossed the plains with ox teams and located in California. He set up in the butcher business and thrived so well that he was able to make a comfortable provision for his family.

Nevertheless, William Edwin was so reared that he was a selfmade man, developed in part by study. This feeling of independence led him, when sev- enteen, to run away from home and to come to Fresno County, where he worked for a sheepman and saved money until he could start with a small flock. He located in San Benito County, and bought land there; and grad- ually he increased his four-footed property.

Coming to Fresno County he continued to buy land in the Panoche country until he held title to about 3,400 acres. Thirteen years before his death, he retired from the sheep and cattle business, and moved to a ranch of forty acres on Belmont and Coalinga. He died at the hospital in San Fran- cisco, in August, 1917, mourned by a large circle of steadfast friends who had come to appreciate the excellent qualities of his sterling character.

Mr. Greenwood married Georgia Parker of San Joaquin County, and left an only child, now Mrs. Daisy Elder.

A man of commanding appearance, Mr. Greenwood was a hard worker, and by his foresight and industry was able to contribute much to the build- ing up of the county's best interests. Through thrift and economy, he ac- quired vast areas of land, and through highly intelligent enterprise, he made a wise disposition of the same. When, for example, he located in San Benito County, he made it a point to locate lands on such water courses that he had living waters ; and he was so discerning that he anticipated the finding there of oil and minerals, for which a company is now seeking in his neighborhood with good results. In this commonsense way he operated, not only building for himself, but at the same time pointing the way for others.

DAVID CUTTING .- Among the dairymen of the vicinity of Tran- quillity, Fresno County, particular mention is made of David Cutting, a pioneer citizen of the Pacific Coast Country having first seen the light of day November 19, 1849, at Oregon City, Ore. His father, who bore the same name, was a native of South Bend, Ind., while his grandfather, Charles Cut- ting, was born in Vermont and saw service during the War of 1812. David Cutting Sr. was married in Indiana to Mary Matoon, a native of the Hoosier State. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. David Cutting Sr., with their family, consisting at that time of but two children, crossed the plains with the slow going ox teams to Oregon where they engaged in farming. They were the parents

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of six children : Jones, Abel, David, Charles, Oren, and Eliza ; three of whom, Jones, Charles and Eliza are deceased. Abel lives with his brother David, while Oren resides in Clackamas County, Ore.

David Cutting was reared and educated in Oregon and on August 16, 1877, was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Zamette, a native of Port- land, Ore., daughter of Achilles and Rachel (Mognette) Zamette. Her father, a native of Palermo, Sicily, became a sailor and on one of his voyages came to California, via Cape Horn, later going on to Portland, Ore., where he became a merchant. Her mother, a native of Ohio, became one of the early settlers of Oregon and passed away in Portland.

In 1883 David Cutting located in eastern Oregon, which at that time was a wilderness, preempted 160 acres, bought school land and homesteaded 160 and engaged in raising cattle, horses and sheep, using as his brand a big W., and having at one time 800 acres of land. In 1909 David Cutting made his first trip to California and after investigating the country round about Tran- quillity, Fresno County, he decided this would be the location of his future home. In April, 1910, Mr. Cutting purchased his ranch consisting of 171 acres of raw land at Tranquillity, subsequently selling his farm in Oregon, he located in October of the same year, upon his new place in California. He at once began to improve the land by leveling, checking and planting 100 acres to alfalfa and grain, and engaged in the dairy business.

Mr. and Mrs. Cutting have six children living: Flora, is the wife of Mr. J. H. Stricklin, residing at Tranquillity ; Harry, lives at Izee, Ore .; Paul, was a sergeant and a member of the medical corps in United States Army, served five months in France; Clarence, is assisting his father with the work of the ranch; Anna, is still at home with her parents; Rodney, also is assist- ing his father on the ranch. Two children have passed away: George was killed by the Indians when nineteen years old, and Jones died at seven years of age. In political matters Mr. Cutting supports the Republican platform.

LOUIS E. GOBBY .- A stockman, large landowner and conservative financier, who began his struggle with the world when very young and has succeeded despite misfortunes that would have defeated one of less mental, moral and physical caliber, is Louis E. Gobby, the vice-president of the First National Bank of Riverdale.

A native of Switzerland, Mr. Gobby was born in the Canton Ticino on November 5, 1865, a son of Jasper Gobby, a mason, contractor and builder at Campo Niva, Switzerland, where he died when Louis was only three years of age ; and his mother had been Mary Garzoli before her marriage. The chil- dren in the family included: Peter, who passed away in 1917; Louis, the subject of our review; Rocco, referred to elsewhere; Adeline and Josephine, both of whom died young. The good mother remained in Switzerland and lived to be sixty-five years of age. Louis E. grew up in that country to be twelve years of age. About that time his cousin, William Garzoli, who was a dairyman at Petaluma, revisited Switzerland and talked to the lad about California ; with the result that, after he had returned to the Pacific Coast, he wrote to the boy's mother, then a widow, and sent her money for her son's passage, and although only in his early teens, he came all the way from his home in the mountain republic to California, arriving in Petaluma on August 17, 1878. He commenced work at once on his cousin's dairy ranch. He toiled from three o'clock in the morning until ten o'clock at night, all the while be- coming more and more infatuated with California, saved his money and wrote home to encourage his younger brother, Rocco S., to turn his face toward the great land of liberty. He sent him money for his passage and two years later, he sent for the older brother, Peter, who became a well-known dairy- man of Riverdale, and is now deceased.

The three Gobby brothers continued dairying in Sonoma County, but in 1885 came down to Riverdale, with John Cerini, who was then renting land and running a dairy. Louis Gobby worked for Cerini during 1885-86,

J. M. Christensen.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

and then, for five years was in partnership with his brothers. They then started to expand in the dairy business, went back to Petaluma, bought eighty-five head of young stock and shipped them from Petaluma to San Francisco by boat, and thence by rail to Fresno; from which point they drove them to Riverdale. Texas fever broke out and within ten days all except nineteen head had died. This unexpected misfortune "broke" the trio for the time being.

Louis then returned to working for wages, and soon was able to make a second start. Again he rented, this time the John's ranch where, during 1893-4, he milked 150 cows. Financial depression, panics and small prices interfered and made the profits very small; but he then bought eighty acres of the Ballard place, taking his brother Rocco into partnership with him ; and this partnership continued for two years. Since 1895, each brother has oper- ated for himself.

Now Mr. Gobby owns 820 acres in his own right, with two sets of build- ings. He rents out 100 acres, and he raises stock-mostly beef cattle.

Not only is Mr. Gobby the vice-president of the First National Bank of Riverdale, but he was one of its very first stockholders.

A public-spirited citizen, Mr. Gobby has followed the great leaders of the Republican party in national affairs ; but when it comes to local issues, he is for the best interests of Fresno County and Riverdale.

P. N. CHRISTENSEN .- A California settler, delighted with the land of his adoption, is P. N. Christensen, who traded his well-improved farm of 100 acres in Iowa for just one-fifth of that area in the more sought-for Madi- son district, Fresno County, paying in addition $1,000 to consummate the deal. He settled here in 1894; and ever since those dealing or acquainted with him have never ceased to speak well of P. N. Christensen.

He was born at Langeland, Denmark, on March 26, 1850, one of a family of four children, all of whom grew to maturity. As the eldest he was brought up in his native land, and there attended school until he was fourteen, when he went to work on a farm. At twenty he entered the Danish army, serving in the Third Company of the Fourth Battalion, and received an honorable discharge at the end of sixteen months. That was the period of the Franco- Prussian War, and he was always under orders to be ready for active service ; but was not called into action.

Having remained a year longer in Denmark after leaving the army Mr. Christensen, in 1872, came to the United States, and for three years was at Manistee, Mich., loading vessels and working in a saw-mill. Then he moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and soon after went to Hazel Dell Township, Potta- wattamie County, thirteen and a half miles northeast of Council Bluffs. Two years later he bought forty acres, at ten dollars an acre, on time. He made numerous improvements and engaged in stock-raising. He kept investing his earnings in land until he had 100 well-improved acres and plenty of good stock. By 1892, however, he had become so interested in the possibilities offered on the Pacific Coast that he made a trip here to see for himself; and having toured the state, he concluded that Fresno County offered more, with better guarantees, than any other section. Two years later, therefore, he sold his Middle West property, actually trading for a ranch he had not yet seen ; and although hard times greeted him for a while, he found that his ranch was good and altogether "worth while." He went in for viticulture and also had an orchard of plums, apples, peaches and apricots, all of which he sold in the Fresno market. He constantly improved what he had, built a residence and out-buildings, sunk a well and installed a good engine; and having full water-rights, created a first-class system of irrigation. For twenty- four years he has been on his present place.

Mr. Christensen also bought eighty acres on White's Bridge Road, which was wheat stubble; leveled the same, and improved it for alfalfa. He kept it for three years, and then sold it at a profit. He also bought forty acres north

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of Kearney Switch, planted alfalfa and raised hay, which he sold in Fresno, making a success of that venture. He kept this property for many years, and gave it to his children. He also bought forty acres of raw land near Clovis, set it out to vineyard and after ten years he sold to good advantage. A rancher of wide experience, he belongs to and ably supports the California Associated Raisin Company.

Mr. Christensen has been twice married. In Michigan he was joined to Kate Larsen, a native of Denmark who died in California in 1914, the mother of seven children. Laura is Mrs. Hans Hansen, of West Park; Emma is Mrs. Niels Hansen, of the Madison district; William is a farmer at Rolinda ; Hulda is Mrs. Claussen of West Park; Oluf is a rancher at Kearney Switch; Ella is Mrs. Arthur Dixon, of Fresno; and Ferdinand is a farmer in the Houghton district. On his second marriage, at Fresno, Mr. Christensen chose for his wife Miss Laura Nielsen, who was born in Wisconsin. The couple attend the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Fresno, of which Mr. Christen- sen has been a trustee; and in matters political they march under the banner of the Republican Party.

GEORGE P. GUERNSEY .- An experienced farmer who is doing much to improve land, and who likes to see things grow, and a successful stock- man, who is a splendid horseman and a fine judge of horses, is George P. Guernsey, who worked his way up from youth, took good care of his mother and today enjoys the fruits of the by-gone years. He was born at Osceola, St. Clair County, Mo., on December 23, 1868, the son of John W. Guernsey, who was a New Yorker reared in Ohio. He removed to Missouri and served in the Union Army during the Civil War; was a carpenter and builder and then a farmer and stockman ; and he died, in every sense a worthy representa- tive of his English ancestors, in 1871. Mrs. Guernsey had been Mildred Pres- ton, a native of Tennessee of French-English stock; and she died in 1912, the mother of four children, of whom George, the second eldest, is the only one living.

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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 59

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