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 83

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 83

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At Willets, Cal., Mr. Hoddinott was married to Miss Galena Dalvit, a native of Wyoming, and in common they have a host of friends.

Mr. Hoddinott made a six months' trip to England in 1901, when he visited relatives and friends, but was glad to return to sunny California. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Woodmen of the World. and finds pleasure in supporting local movements for the uplift of the community.

WILLIAM BISHOP .- Under California's sunny skies the desert is blossoming as the rose, even in a few years wonderful results having been ob- tained from barren cactus-covered land, with the aid of man's intelligence and a plentiful supply of water. The highly improved forty acres just off the state highway, and one and one-half miles south of Selma, owned by William Bishop, is but one of hundreds of similar places that, during the past eleven years, have been changed from unimproved, almost desert conditions, to pro- ductive, well-cared-for acres that are a delight to the beholder.

William Bishop was born in Clay County, Ky., January 5, 1872, and comes from a prominent old Kentucky family. He is the son of Robert and Carlina (Brock) Bishop, natives of the Blue Grass State. The father was in service during the last year of the Civil War, and the paternal grandfather, William Bishop, served on the Union side throughout the entire Civil con- flict. The maternal grandfather, James Brock, was a close-communion Bap- tist minister, and served in the ministry for a period of eighty-two years. He lived to the advanced age of 102 years, and his good wife attained the age of 101 years. Although William Bishop's father was a planter in Ken- tucky, he never kept slaves. There were five children in the parental home: James, Elizabeth, William, Daniel and Sarah Jane.

While William's schooling was meager, he had a thoroughly practical experience in the line of farming, and learned timbering, the lumberman's trade and the sawmill business, while a very young man. During the Spanish war he volunteered for service from 1898 to 1901, from Kentucky, in Com- pany "A" of the Twenty-second Regulars of the United States Infantry. He saw service at Santiago, San Juan Hill and practically all other important engagements. He was in the battle of Tubochan on the Island of Luzon, P. I., and also participated in the Flying Brigade campaign under General Lawton, with whom he was personally acquainted. He saw service in China and was at Peking and Canton during the Boxer outbreak. While in the Philippines he was badly ruptured and disabled for life from overstrain in lifting and handling heavy ordnance and munitions. He is allowed a pension of ten dollars a month. Notwithstanding this serious disability, his indomi- table will and courage enable him to accomplish what few men of his age could accomplish in the way of hard daily labor.

Upon returning to Kentucky in 1899 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Nannie Clark, nee Hayes, widow of T. J. Clark, the father of her daugh-

William Bishop

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

ter Lucile, who has just been married and is away on her wedding journey. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bishop: George, Fred and Billy.

Mr. Bishop was under medical treatment at the United States Hospital at the Presidio for ninety days, and lay at death's door from the effects of his injuries. After recovering he took a position with the Fresno Flume and Irrigation Company at Fresno for one year. Later he was with the Sanger Lumber Company for four years. At the time of his marriage, his wife and her daughter Lucile were owners of the forty acres where the family now live. They came to the ranch, then almost a desert, in 1906, and the fertile soil has responded to the good care bestowed upon it. The place is planted to muscats, Thompson's seedless grapes, and Muir and Philip's cling peaches, and has 1,300 feet of underground tiling for irrigation purposes.

Two years ago Mr. Bishop built a fine bungalow, and they have a beauti- ful, modern country home. Despite physical disability and hard work, Mr. Bishop radiates the genial spirit that his warm hearted impulses prompt, and he never loses an opportunity to do a kindly act. He and his wife mingle in the best social circles and are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Selma.

Mr. Bishop is an active member of the Spanish-American War Veterans and was a delegate to the State Encampment of that organization held in Fresno, April, 1918. He is also a member of the Raisin Growers Association, and has demonstrated his loyalty to his country by the liberal purchase of Liberty bonds.

PETER WINTER .- Numbered among the unusually successful viti- culturists of Fresno County, in the section east of Fresno city is Peter Win- ter, owner of two ranches, one of forty acres, where he makes his home, situated ten miles east of the city of Fresno, and the other of twenty acres located one mile south of the home ranch. He is a leader among the Rus- sian-Germans of this section and was born on August, 10, 1862, in the valley of the Volga River, Russia, about seventy-five miles from Sarato. His par- ents were Wilhelm and Marie (Miller) Winter, both natives of Russia, the father being an extensive grain farmer and the owner of 1,200 acres of land and twelve teams of horses. The family consisted of three boys and one girl; Peter, being the youngest. His oldest brother died in Russia; August, the other brother, came to America and located at Fresno, Cal., where he passed away in 1909, leaving a widow and four children. He was fifty-two years of age when he died and was engaged in the tailoring business. Kath- erine, the only sister, is the wife of Fred Weisbrodt, who owns a twenty- acre ranch at Sanger.

Peter Winter was reared on his father's farm in Russia, and when he attained the proper age served his allotted time in the army, being assigned to the artillery. After leaving the army he engaged in farming until 1898, when he emigrated to America.

In 1883 Peter Winter was united in marriage with Katrina Siebert, and she with three children born in Russia, accompanied him to America in 1898. They first located near Parlier, where for two years Mr. Winter rented land. Afterwards he bought sixty acres which, he improved and sold. He buys, improves, and sells at an advantage, various pieces of property, from time to time. In 1909 Mrs. Winter passed away leaving, besides her de- voted husband, seven children: Katherina E., is the wife of John Arnst, a rancher at Fowler, and they are the parents of six children; Henry, is a rancher and owns forty acres near Del Rey, he married Annie Schisbelhut and they have been blessed with six children; August, answered "the call to the colors" and was a corporal in the Two Hundred Eighteenth Engineering Corps, the others in order of birth are; Katie, Ferdinand, Samuel. and Olinda.

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In 1910, Peter Winter married for his second wife Mrs. Margretha (Kinzel) Wagonlightner, widow of Karl Wagonlightner, who died in Rus- sia in 1903. She is a daughter of Heinrich Jacob and Margretha (Tripple) Kinzel, natives of Russia. Her father was a well-to-do farmer of the Waren- burg Colony in Russia, a colony composed of descendants of peoples from various places in Germany who had migrated to Russia about 200 years ago, and settled in the valley of the Volga River. The parents of Mrs. Winter had five children : Marie Christine, who married Frederich Wagonlightner, secretary of the colony, and they were parents of six children ; Marie Susanna, wife of Philip Bier, who resides in Fresno, they are parents of six children ; Johannes, died when forty-one years of age, leaving a widow and one child; Margretha, who is now Mrs. Winter ; and Henry, who is still living on the old Kinzel farm in Russia, is married and has two children. The marriage of Mr. Winter with Mrs. Wagonlightner has been blessed with two children; Henrietta and Peter. Mrs. Winter has been married three times, her first marriage united her with Jacob Adolph, a grain broker in Russia, by whom she had one child, a son, Alexander Adolph, who served "with the colors" in France. When Mrs. Winter came to California in 1910, as the widow of Karl Wagonlightner, she was accompanied by four children, Alexander Adolph, and Marie, Fred, and Amelia Wagonlightner.

The forty-acre ranch where Mr. Winter and his family now reside was purchased from the National Bank of Sanger, but was formerly owned by A. Schwabenland, who planted the place and built a store, saloon and black- smith shop. Mr. Winter tore down the buildings, remodeled the house, installed "Delco" lights, hot and cold water, put in a pumping plant and made of the place a very comfortable and up-to-date home. Mr. Winter is an active and leading member of the Salem German Congregational Church, located one mile east of his place, and for ten years has served as trustee of the property. In 1917 the congregation built a new church building cost- ing $8,000, to which fund Peter Winter liberally contributed. He is a con- sistent Christian and a spiritually minded man, also greatly interested in educational matters and all in all his home life is happy and ideal.

RALPH C. INGRAM .- An up-to-date rancher, who has been a resident of California since 1881, and a citizen of Fresno County for nearly twenty years, is Ralph C. Ingram, a native of Nebraska where he was born in Adams County, on August 19, 1878, the son of George and Alma (Prior) Ingram, natives of Indiana and Illinois respectively. Mr. and Mrs. George Ingram are the parents of the following children: Ralph C .; C. Ray; Mrs. J. B. Long ; Mrs. C. M. Lowry; Karl, who passed away on Octboer 1, 1905; Lelia; and Mrs. Julia Peter.

The family resided in Nebraska long enough to take up a homestead, but believing that better opportunities existed in California the Ingram family migrated to the Golden State in 1881 and settled for a time in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, but later moved to Lake County where the father, George Ingram, taught school for a while. He then taught school and farmed in Sacramento County, later in Yolo County, finally removing to Tulare County where he purchased 160 acres of land situated in the foothills and adapted for grazing purposes. He also purchased forty acres of wood land in the mountains. He attended and graduated from the Iowa State University. Mr. Ingram possessed a comprehensive knowledge and was a man of broad views and while living in Tulare County taught school with good results. He finally moved to Fresno County where he purchased twenty acres which he improved by planting it to vines, fruit and alfalfa. This property he sold to an advantage and in a brief time purchased a ranch which is devoted to vines and figs. It contains fifteen acres and cost him $1,725, but today one acre is worth nearly as much as he paid for the fifteen. It is situated within the corporate limits of the town of Reedley. While living in Iowa, George Ingram filled the important position of Superintendent of Schools of Iowa

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

County, for a number of years. After moving to California he was for three years a deputy assessor of Fresno County and for a number of years filled the position of school trustee of Reedley district. George Ingram passed away July 19, 1910.

Ralph C. Ingram was reared in California and educated in the public school, supplemented by the teaching of his learned father. After his school days were over he chose, as his life work, the vocation of a rancher and of which he has made a success. On October 31, 1906, Ralph C. Ingram was united in marriage with Miss Myrtle V. Smith, a daughter of G. W. and Fanny Smith, and this union has been blessed with two children: Russell C., who was born December 1, 1907; and Georgia A., whose birth was recorded on January 18, 1913.

Mrs. Ingram was born in Arcola, Ill., February 18, 1881, and came to California in 1901. Fraternally, Mr. Ingram is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World, and he and his wife belong to the Rebekahs.

ARAKEL KURKJIAN .- The great possibilities offered by the United States, and particularly by the state of California, to those of foreign birth, have induced many enterprising men from distant lands to immigrate to our shores and to avail themselves of these splendid opportunities and in due time to become naturalized loyal citizens of our glorious republic.

Such a man is Arakel Kurkjian, who was born in Agian, Armenia, No- vember 8, 1867, where he was reared and received his education. In 1892 he immigrated to the United States and for a time he followed his trade of shoemaker in Boston. Desiring to see this country and especially the Golden State, he migrated to California in 1912, settling in Fresno County where he eventually purchased twenty acres of valuable fruit and vine land which he afterwards sold, and in 1917 purchased his present ranch of seventy- six acres, situated only one and three-quarters miles southeast of Sanger, and known as the Lone Oak Vineyard. This ranch is devoted to raisins, alfalfa and peaches, and is very highly improved and valuable. Besides this ranch, Mr. Kurkjian rents forty acres which he and his brother work in partnership.

In 1895, Arakel Kurkjian was united in marriage with Miss Zumret Kaparalan, who is also a native of Armenia. This union was blessed with three children : Lewis, who trained for service in the defense of his country, at Camp Lewis and then went over seas as a member of the Four Hundred Thirty-seventh Regimental Band, and whose splendid record won for him a promotion to the non-commissioned office of sergeant ; Dirian ; and Marion.

Mr. Kurkjian is a loyal citizen of the United States and is interested in the advancement of Fresno County. He belongs to the California As- sociated Raisin Company, and California Peach Growers, Inc. On national issues he is a Republican. He and his family belong to the Armenian Church.

MRS. JENNIE S. DANIELSON .- A hard-working, highly intelligent and plucky little woman, whose life story is reechoed in the verse,

The smile and the tear, the song and the dirge,

Still follow each other like surge upon surge,

is Mrs. Jennie S. Danielson, who, after passing through many tribula- tions, has emerged into the sunlight flooding two neat little ranches of twenty acres each, about three miles northeast of Kingsburg. Her maiden name was Jennie Carlson, and she was born in Sweden, her parents being C. A. and Christine (Person) Carlson. Her father died in Sweden, and her mother immigrated to America a few years ago and is living in Minneapolis.

Mrs. Danielson grew up in Sweden and there met the late Judge Frank D. Rosendahl, whose eventful life is sketched in another part of this work. He was a friend of her parents; and when he revisited his old home in Swe- den and invited her to accompany him on his return to his home in California,

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

she availed herself of the opportunity. She crossed the ocean and con- tinent in safety, and soon after arriving and settling at Kingsburg, she mar- ried J. W. Danielson.

Three miles northeast of Kingsburg they took up their residence on the ranch of twenty acres with which her active life has long been associated, and happiness and prosperity seemed to be theirs. Two children were born to them, Ellen and Arthur, but afterwhile the companion to whom she had come to look for leadership and support, sickened and died, and she was left with the grave responsibility of guiding her affairs alone. She met her duty fearlessly, however, cared well for her children, and by hard, far-seeing endeavor, made her vineyards a model for system and neatness. In fact, she has come to manage the estate better, perhaps, then would most men. She has also recently added another twenty acres to her ranch property.

An excellent housekeeper and a devoted mother, Mrs. Danielson's home expresses everything most desirable in the California life to the edifying of which she has contributed her share. She and her children are members of the Swedish Mission Church of Kingsburg; and she finds great pleasure in working for God and her adopted country, helping to bring re- forin in politics and rational living that affects the standard of the community and the nation. While she thus contentedly toils for herself, she never forgets her fellow toilers in the world of laughter and sighs about her. Kingsburg is the better for just such large-hearted, steadfast souls as that of Mrs. Danielson; and it is pleasant to note that she has ever remained a warm, personal friend of the family of the distinguished judge through whose kindness she came to America.

EDGAR ORLANDO REESE .- A wide-awake agriculturist of Central California, whose kindheartedness has made for him many friends, is Ed- gar Orlando Reese, the representative of an old American family of distinc- tion in judicial and medical circles. He was born at Mossycreek, near Knox- ville, Nashville County, Tenn., on April 29, 1865, the son of George A. Reese, also a native of Tennessee. Great-Grandfather Reese came from Wales, was an attorney at law, and located in Philadelphia where he was elected a judge and served with honor for years on the bench. His son, Grandfather Reese, was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, which con- ferred on him the coveted Jefferson parchment of M. D., and was noted as a successful practitioner.

George Reese was a cattle-buyer, and was of such experience and native ability that his services were sought as a member of the commissary depart- ment during the Civil War. In 1869 he removed to Texas and located in Kerr County; where he was both a cattleman and a farmer. On April 1, 1884, he came to California ; and after spending some time looking around in Fresno and Tulare counties, he settled at Selma, where he continued to reside until his death. Mrs. Reese's maiden name was Inez M. Caldwell; she was born in Tennessee and died at Kerman, the mother of eight children, all of whom are still living.

. Edgar is the oldest and was reared in Texas, where he was educated at the public schools. He worked at cattle-raising and rode the range; and when he moved to Fresno in 1884, he was familiar with ranch-life, and his assistance was in demand by ranchers generally. When his father bought a ranch in the Fresno Colony, he worked there and also for other people; and later he was in partnership with his brother, Arthur, in grain-farming.

When he began grain-farming he bought a farm in Tulare County, south of Porterville and he also leased land. At first he met with hard times and reverses, but later, when he started stock-raising, he made a success with mules and cattle. In 1902 he and his brother dissolved their partnership and sold the land; and then he located at Dinuba, where he bought a ranch. He planted it to alfalfa, and set out sultana and malaga vines; and, at the end of

Ida Mal Turner.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

four years, he disposed of the ranch and bought others. This experiment of buying, improving and selling he repeated until he had acquired, developed and disposed of three different ranches. After that he moved to Berkeley, where he lived for five years.

In 1907, Mr. Reese had bought his ranch of forty acres on Dakota Ave- nue, in Dakota Colony, when he was in the business of concrete and building materials at Berkeley; and in the following spring he began to improve it and superintend it himself. In 1911 he sold his business and moved to the ranch. Now he has there a fine vineyard of malaga and muscat grapes, and five acres of peaches. He also leases ten acres adjoining. He is a member and a stockholder in both the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.

At picturesque and historic old San Luis Obispo, Mr. Reese married Miss Maggie A. Carr, who was born in Iowa, and three children have blessed their union : Pearl, who is a graduate of the Kerman high school and is now attend- ing Heald's Business College; Ross, in the Kerman high ; and Merle, at home.

A Democrat in matters of national politics, Mr. Reese has shown broad- minded and non-partisan tendencies in his public service as a trustee of the Dakota school district. He and his family are fond of social life, and are pop- ular in Fresno circles, as is indicated by his membership in the Woodmen of the World.

WILLIAM TURNER .- A keen, enterprising business man, whose phenomenal success makes his opinions of more than ordinary value, and who is extremely optimistic as to the future of Fresno and Fresno County, is William Turner, the superintendent of the Craycroft Brick Company, in which progressive concern he is a partner. He was born at Buffalo, N. Y., on November 30, 1864, the son of John Turner, a native of Chester, England, who went to Montreal on first coming out to the New World. He had learned the stone-cutter's trade in England, and followed it when he reached Mon- treal. After while he moved to Ottawa, and there he took a sub-contract on the old Parliament Building, and also contracted for building the post office. Still later, he crossed the line into the States and went to Olean, N. Y .; and while at Oil City, Pa., he was killed through a most deplorable accident. Some one left a wrench in a fly-wheel; and when the machinery was set in motion, the flying tool struck him and he died from the effects, at Olean. He was fifty-four years of age when he closed his useful career, highly respected by all who knew him; he was an expert workman who proceeded according to the most approved methods, and his influence in building circles, both in Canada and in the United States, was effectively progressive.

William's mother, who was Adelaide La Page before her marriage, was a native of Montreal and came of French parentage. She is still living, hale and hearty in her seventy-ninth year, the mother of thirteen children, nine of whom have survived to do her honor ; and she makes her home at Pittsburg. Of the nine living children, the subject of our sketch is the oldest.

William Turner was brought up in Buffalo, then removed to Olean; and after his father's death, he went with his mother and the rest of the family to Pittsburg, where he attended the public school. Being the eldest in the family, he went to work when twelve years old, delivering groceries, and at fifteen he took up day labor in the brickyard at Olean. Two years later he was molding bricks made by a hand press, and after that he went to New Brighton, Pa., for similar work. He was employed by the Folsom Fire Clay Company, and although he began as a brick setter, in seventeen years he had advanced to the position of superintendent.

At the conclusion of that period Mr. Turner was offered the manage- ment of bricksetting for the Fresno Brick & Tile Company of Fresno, Cal., owned by Mr. Prescott, and located on the Andrews ranch; and having ac- cepted the proposition, he came to Fresno, on April 25, 1904, and took charge 96

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of the work. Three years later, however, he resigned and bought an interest in the Craycroft Brick Company, where he assumed the responsibility of the kiln. In time, he was elected vice-president and a director; and then he was made superintendent of the plant. How much of a responsibility this appointment signifies may be judged from a fact or two as to the magnitude of the brick works. This is laid out along Belmont Avenue, opposite Roed- ing Park, and comprises eighty acres of land with abundant clay deposits. The power required is furnished by electricity ; there is a large molding ma- chine and a first-class mechanism for re-pressing; and so well equipped is the establishment that the works have a capacity of fifty thousand bricks a day. Eight kilns in all are employed, and these have a capacity of seven hundred thousand brick each, and they have always been successful with each burning. Among other products the company makes fine faced brick.

On Blackstone Avenue, some time ago, Mr. Turner built a fine brick residence of two stories and ten rooms, designed by himself and wife, and also a brick store at the corner of Blackstone and Mckinley. He also built a brick residence opposite the one he owns and occupies, and a packing-house near there, from which he ships green fruit. He was one of the first to build in this part of the town, and he is planning to build several packing-houses here, and to make this an important shipping-point.

At Olean, N. Y., Mr. Turner was married to Ida May Hunt, a native of New Jersey, and they have six children: Arthur, who is in Pittsburg, Pa .; William E., the brick contractor here; May, now Mrs. Martina, of this vicin- ity; Amy, who is Mrs. L. H. Cornelius, of Redwood; Alice, a graduate of the Fresno High School; and Ruth. All attend the Methodist Episcopal Church and are factors both in religious work and the social life of Fresno.

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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 83

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