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 9

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 9

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Mrs. Wells, who is now eighty-three years old, is still living at Selma, bright and active, and the beloved mother of seven children: Allie R., who died in 1919, was the wife of Frank Borin, a farmer of Stockton, Kans., and the mother of fourteen children, all of whom are living and all of whom, save one, have families of their own. Cassius M. is one of the buyers for Libby, McNeill & Libby, and lives at Selma; George E. resides at Selma, and also applies himself to ranching ; Harm J. is another rancher in the same place, and Frank E. is a farmer and the Mayor of Fowler. Warren is a rancher at Selma, and there is Charles, next to the youngest, the subject of this sketch.

Charles Wells grew up mainly in Nebraska, and early learned how to raise corn and livestock. He kept up his schooling, and passed the examina- tions for a second-grade certificate. When he was eighteen, he began to teach for a year; and in 1891 he joined his parents at Selma, having remained be- hind in Nebraska to finish his year's teaching.

From the first Mr. Wells liked California. He went to work on a ranch ; but having a strong inclination for music, he took instruction in the piano, under Professor Bonelli, at the San Francisco Conservatory, and became a first-class pianist. He taught music and worked at the carpenter's trade, and finally travelled with Rev. E. B. Ware, the evangelist, assisting him to hold meetings in various places in the San Joaquin Valley, and having charge of the singing.

While thus engaged he met the young lady who became his wife. She was Miss Maggie Winkelman, of Sanger, the daughter of Joseph and Mollie L. (Burnett) Winkelman, who were among the best known pioneers of Fresno County. Her father was a native of California and died in 1903 at the age of forty-seven, at Academy. He was born at Sacramento, and was well-known as a mountaineer, stockman and teamster. Mrs. Wells' mother is still living in Sanger, and has had five children, three girls and two boys, one of whom, Edward, was accidentally killed. William, the third-born, resides on a ranch west of Selma and is road overseer for the Fourth District; Bertha is the wife of Roy Jewell, and lives at Stockton; and Gertrude is the wife of Seth Cowan of Fresno.

Mr. and Mrs. Wells were married on July 1, 1894, by his father, and they have three children: Leo R., who is with the Third Army of Occupation in Germany ; Willie, and Howard. Mrs. Wells is a model mother and housewife, and with her children attends the Christian Science Church.

Leo. R. is twenty-four years old and is married to Leta Cook of Selma. He volunteered in July, 1918, in the Tank Service. He trained at Gettysburg, Pa., and there had the influenza, and on his recovery he was ordered to France. He drove a tank in France until the signing up of the armistice, and after that he served as military police in Rome, Italy, for several months and was then transferred to the Third Army of Occupation in Germany, where he is now serving as corporal.

Since their marriage Mr. Wells has bought and improved several places, and has greatly prospered. He has just sold his forty-acre place, four miles north of Selma on the McCall Road, and will probably move into Selma. He owns another ranch of 160 acres four miles west of Selma ; and this. set out with vines and trees, was operated by his oldest son before his enlist- ment. He helped to organize the California Raisin Growers Association and the California Peach Growers Association, and has always identified him- self with movements for the advancement of California husbandry.

Supervisor Wells is especially interested in the matter of good roads- improved highways, of course, for Fresno County-and the result is that the boulevards in the county are above the average. He advocates permanent

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concrete thoroughfares, and feels that a county out of debt-for Fresno County recently bought $200,000 worth of bonds to help win the war-should be able to do even better with its highways than it has. It has $60,000 of San Joaquin bonds, $150,000 of State Highway bonds, and $200,000 of school district bonds, and is therefore in the best financial standing.

Supervisor Wells is chairman of the committee on hospitals for the poor, for which Fresno County has just appropriated $100,000, and to him is due much of the credit for the "Fresno Way" of welfare work which is attracting such wide attention among students of sociology, and which gives neither em- barrassment nor pain to those who are aided. The County has 140 acres which it uses to enable the unfortunate to help themselves, and at present there are 450 inmates in the County Hospital, while the old county orphanage has been converted into an Old Folks' Home, and the orphan children are now being reared in private homes, under the eye and custodianship of the Welfare Committee of the Welfare Department which derives its authority by a special ordinance duly enacted by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

WILLIAM JAMES ANTHONY .- Among the old-timers in Fresno County pleasantly remembered and not likely to be soon forgotten is Wil- liam J. Anthony, who deserves especial honor as one of the builders of Bars- tow, in laying the foundation for which he showed that foresight which has always characterized the pioneers who founded the great commonwealth. He was born at the Napa Soda Springs in Napa County, on October 7, 1866, the son of John Anthony, who came from Philadelphia, Pa. As a young man he crossed the plains in 1852 to California, and followed mining at Plumas. When he returned east he journeyed by way of the Horn, and on his arrival home he was married to Sarah Jane Beckham, also a native of Philadelphia. Once more he turned his face toward the distant west, and this time he reached San Francisco via Panama. As soon as he was able he made his way inland to Plumas, and there resumed mining ; and he continued his search for fortune in Napa County until he abandoned mining for farming and located near St. Helena. Still later he settled near Healdsburg, Sonoma County, and there he died. Mrs. Anthony passed away while they were still living at St. Helena, the mother of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second oldest.

William was brought up at St. Helena, attended the local public schools and worked on a farm, and there he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Sonoma County. In 1886 he struck out with a team which he drove into Fresno. His object was to look around and he secured employment in a vineyard; he remained and made his headquarters in the vicinity. He worked in a vineyard at Malaga, and then at Fowler, then for seven years was in the employ of James Jamison. He went over to the West Side on the James ranch, leased land and engaged in the raising of grain. He had two partners, Tom Mullins and Tim Hurley, and they farmed 3,000 acres. They raised big crops, and he hauled his barley to Sunnyside six miles east of Fresno and sold it for eleven dollars a ton. He also stored barley in the Kutner warehouses, and sold the same for ten dollars a ton in 1896, and thus he continued farming until 1905.

Then he bought his present place of 160 acres at Barstow, to which he moved in 1907. It was the usual stubble field, but he set to work energet- ically ; leveled it, checked it off, and planted 120 acres to alfalfa, and he set out seven acres as an orchard and thirty-two acres as a vineyard with muscat and Thompson vines. He also engaged in the dairy business, and stocked his ranch with thirty milch cows of the finest Holstein breed. He built a residence, substantial barns and out-buildings.

It is in connection with the founding of Barstow that Mr. Anthony de- serves special mention. When the school-house was built he donated two acres of the land, and he early put up a store building there which he leases.

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He built a blacksmith shop and a garage, and gave the site for the United Presbyterian Church ; and in every way possible he encouraged the establish- ing, developing and beautifying of the place. He was not only a school trus- tee there for seven years, but he made the community a present of the site of Barstow Hall, which was erected by the people. He took a live interest in the affairs of the Hall Association, and for many years was its director.

A Republican in national politics, Mr. Anthony has long been prominent in public affairs. He is a member of the California Associated Raisin Com- pany, the California Peach Growers, Inc., the California Prune and Apricot Association, and the Fresno County Dairymen's Association; and he is a trustee of the Fraternal Brotherhood.

At Healdsburg, Mr. Anthony was married May 8, 1901, to Miss Rosa Moes, a native of Cary, Ohio, a daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth (Legill) Moes born in Paris, France, who came to Ohio and then to Minnesota. In 1887 they came to Fresno. Cal., but later to Sonoma County. Her father is dead but he is survived by his widow. Mrs. Anthony was educated prin- cipally in the schools of Fresno County. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony have four children : Gladys, Clara, Alice and Violet. The hospitality of the Anthony household is proverbial, and parents and children alike participate actively in the social life of the neighborhood.

JOHN M. QUALLS .- The honor of being a descendant of one of the old pioneers, as well as that of having been born in California, belongs to Sanger's popular postmaster, John M. Qualls, who was born in Ventura County, Cal., May 10, 1872.

He is the son of Nicholas Qualls, a native of the Old Dominion, and Ann (Fahey) Qualls, who was born in the Emerald Isle. The father, Nicholas, removed from Virginia to Missouri in early days when the latter state was one of the frontier states of the West, and in 1850, lured by California's treasure of gold, wended his way still further westward across the plains that intervened between that fair land of promise and his Missouri home. Three years were spent in the gold mines of California before the elder Qualls again returned to Missouri, where he remained for the succeeding thirteen years ere he again crossed the plains with ox teams in 1867 and located in Ventura County, Cal., engaging in the bean-raising industry for the next two years, and being one of the pioneer bean-raisers there. He then located in Fresno County and ranched and raised sheep seven miles north of Sanger on the Academy Road. In the early eighties he sold this ranch and moved to a ranch three miles north of Sanger, now known as the Karren ranch. Here he purchased 320 acres of land for $1,200-in those days land was cheap. This he sold later for thirty dollars per acre. He afterwards owned a ranch of 480 acres, two miles north and one-half mile west of Sanger, part of which he planted to vines. His death occurred in November, 1906, and Mrs. Qualls died on May 13, 1919. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church and held the office of school trustee of the Fairview district. His widow was his second wife, and he was the father of eleven children by the two marriages, namely: James M., of Seattle ; William B., of the state of Washington ; Mrs. W. J. Bonnifield, of Salinas, Cal., children by the first marriage. Edward, a rancher of Clarks Valley, Fresno County; Mrs. F. T. Eaton, of Williams, Cal .; Mary E., single, of Sanger ; John M., postmaster at Sanger; Daniel B., deceased; Mrs. Frank Perry, of Sanger; Robert; and Maude, a teacher in the Fresno schools, children by the second marriage. John M. attended the public schools in Sanger and completed his educa- tion in a business college at Stockton, and was with his father on the ranch until twenty-five years of age. He then started farming on a forty-acre ranch deeded him by his father, in the Fairview district. His ranch was finely improved and planted to Thompson seedless, Malaga and Muscat vines and peaches, with a border of fig trees, all of which he developed him- self. This he sold in April, 1919.

John M. Qualla

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For four years he was field deputy for County Assessor Cummings. In politics he is a Democrat. An active worker for his party, he worked in the interests of the Democratic Central Committee and was indorsed by that body for postmaster of Sanger. He was appointed by President Wilson and took office in July, 1913. He has made a very competent official, conducting his office in a business-like manner, and has many friends.

John M. Qualls was united in marriage, on July 3. 1915, with Miss Elsie Tippett, a native of California and a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Jones) Tippett, the latter also a native daughter of the Golden State. Mrs. Qualls was a teacher in the grammar schools in Sanger prior to her mar- riage. Mr. Qualls is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South ; has served as a member of the board of Fairview school district; and also served on the election board of that district. He was a member of the first cooperative raisin-growers association and still has stock in the California Associated Raisin Company, also in the California Peach Growers, Inc. He is public-spirited, and much interested in the future possibilities of Fresno County, and is held in high esteem by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

MRS. MARY E. HENDERSON .- A native daughter of the Golden West, who has many friends who appreciate her character and high ideals, is Mrs. Mary E. Henderson, the oldest daughter of the late Jasper Newton Musick. She was reared on the old Musick ranch, in the happy and generous environment typical of "the good old California days," and educated at the Academy School, long one of the best-conducted institutions of its scope in the State, under the able guidance of Prof. J. D. Collins.

On June 23, 1887, in the great boom year of California when the Pacific Coast began to look up at the dawn of a new era, Miss Musick was married to William H. Henderson, a native of Kansas who came to Fresno when a young man and engaged in the mercantile business on Pine Ridge. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson continued in business there for a few years, and then, selling out, they purchased land at Dinuba, which they im- proved and made into a fine vineyard and orchard.

Selling out again, they came to Fresno, in which city Mr. Henderson entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad; and with that company he continued until his health failed, and he had to give up his position. In the prime of life, he passed away on February 11, 1911.

Four children blessed their union-one of whom, the third in the order . of birth, Lloyd, died at the age of fourteen. Pearl, Mrs. Dow, resides with her mother ; William E. is a musician in Fresno; and Ethel has become Mrs. Johns, of the same city.

Mrs. Henderson makes her home at her old residence on Inez Street where she is the center of an admiring circle. She is the administrator of the old Musick ranch of 800 acres, her father's property, owned by her and her sisters, which they lease for a stock ranch. She attends the Grace Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM LUMLEY DAWSON .- A well-posted horticulturist and viticulturist who is successfully discharging the double responsibility of oper- ating both his father's ranch and his own, is William Lumley Dawson, who was born in Arena, Iowa County, Wis., on July 6, 1872, since which time he has been familiarly known to his many friends as Lumley. His grandfather, William Dawson, came from Yorkshire, England, and was a pioneer of 1845. He was a farmer and later served in the Union Army, where he was the head bugler in his regiment. He fought well, and yielded his life during service in defence of his adopted country. He had a son, John A. Dawson, and he became the father of the subject of this sketch. William L. was born in the same house as was his father, and reared in Wisconsin until the fall of 1891, when he left for California. In the spring of the following year, he came to

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Fresno County, and with this section his steady progress as rancher and cit- izen has ever since been identified.

While attending school as a lad in Wisconsin, he had served his ap- prenticeship at farming, and very naturally he gravitated toward the same activity here. He bought twenty acres of land from the Vincent tract, which he set out as a vineyard. He adapted himself to the new problems, and in a short time had something worth seeing to show for his labor. The ranch is located three miles southeast of Clovis and upon it he has built himself a fine residence, and set out a small orchard. He is also leasing his father's place of forty-five acres, which he runs as a vineyard and a peach orchard.

Mr. Dawson is also owner with his father and manager of eighty acres one and a half miles east of his place, and there they are raising hay. The son divides his time between the two undertakings; but he never neglects the interests of the California Associated Raisin Company of which he is a mem- ber.

In the Garfield district, Mr. Dawson was married on November 16, 1899, to Miss Edna Parkes, a native of Salida, Stanislaus County, and the daughter of B. F. Parkes, the well-known California pioneer born in Burlington, Iowa, 1841. About 1861 B. F. Parkes braved the dangers and bore the hardships of a trip across the plains. He was married at Salida to Elizabeth Elmore who was born in Missouri and he farmed at Salida, then located in Garfield district, Fresno County. Mr. and Mrs. Parkes now reside west of Fresno. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have one daughter, Alma, who has become a general favorite. Mrs. Dawson has long been active in religious work, particularly in circles of the Presbyterian Church; but the attitude of both her husband and her- self toward moving questions of the day is well known to all. Identified as they are with the pioneer history of the state, they are strong advocates of preserving such records where posterity may read and learn.

HANS J. JORGENSEN .- Two important facts are illustrated in the life-story of Hans J. Jorgensen, who died in the fall of 1916, widely lamented because of his sterling character and his successful and most useful career. The one is that no man should neglect to provide for the rainy day which may overtake his family if not himself, and that it is the part of highest wis- dom to do what Mr. Jorgensen did-acquire something of value and put it in that shape that others may find it serviceable. The other suggestive fact is the desirability of every housewife who is the companion of a practical man · becoming experienced and practical also, and so being able, as Mrs. Jorgen- sen has proven herself to be, to take charge of an estate, maintain it at a high standard, and in the end realize even more than was formerly obtained through the investment and its working.

Born in Fyen, Denmark, on December 24, 1865, the son of Peter Jorgen- sen, a business man of Melleinhagen noted for his sagacity and sense of honor, Hans was educated in the excellent public schools of his country, and arriving at manhood, served his full time in the Danish army. In Den- mark, too, on April 3, 1888, he was married to Miss Anna K. Hansen, a native of Horsley, Fyen, Denmark, and the daughter of Jorgen and Marie (Jensen) Hansen. Her father was a brick manufacturer who did service in the Danish-German War of 1864-66, and who came to California, about May, 1892. The next year he died, survived by Mrs. Hansen, who made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jorgensen, until her death December 19, 1918, almost eighty-one years old. Of her children three boys and three girls grew up, although but one boy and two girls are now living.

Having come to America and Michigan, Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen located at Jackson, in May, 1888, and there they remained until the following August, when they moved west to California and chose Fresno for their home. Their decision was due to the presence here of one of Mrs. Jorgensen's brothers, who assisted Mr. Jorgensen to make such connections that he easily entered

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the vineyard business. He bought twenty acres in Wolter's Colony and at once improved it so that he might grow vines and have an orchard of pears and peaches; and in the exploitation of that property he was engaged for ten years. During this time he was also in the employ of the Fresno Flume and Lumber Company, and it was then that his devoted and practical wife showed her ability by running the ranch in her husband's absence. He was really in the service of the aforesaid company nineteen years, and in that long period Mrs. Jorgensen acquired an experience and knowledge of the greatest possible value, while her husband demonstrated his fitness in filling the post of tallyman for the company.

After selling the Wolters Colony place Mr. Jorgensen bought the prop- erty now owned by his widow, twenty acres in the Helm Colony, three miles southwest of Clovis, and there he built a fine residence and serviceable build- ings, adding much to the worth of the home-place. Mrs. Jorgensen super- intended the setting out of the malaga, Thompson and zinfandel vines. She is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company.

Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen, and all have done well in their start in life. Marie, Julia and Laura are all graduates of Heald's Business College at Fresno, and all are engaged in Fresno as stenog- raphers ; while Ellen and Clarence are at home.

On September 2, 1916, Mr. Jorgensen died, in the fifty-first year of his age, a consistent Lutheran, as is also his faithful companion. Since then Mrs. Jorgensen has continued to manage the vineyard, and with marked business ability she has made it more than ever an excellent producer. Mrs. Jorgensen does not confine herself, however, to business affairs; but she takes a proper leadership in the ladies' society of the Dania, and never neglects an oppor- tunity to do her full duty as a patriot in supporting every civic endeavor worthy of endorsement.

BARZILLA E. HUTCHINSON .- A highly interesting pioneer who came to Central California in the middle eighties and had such wonderful success in horticulture that he soon became famous as "The Peach King," receiving wide recognition and various awards for his superior products, is Barzilla E. Hutchinson, who was born near Cleveland, Ohio, on June 19, 1836, where he attended the country schools. When he was thirteen years of age, his parents moved to Lafayette, Ind., in which place his father established a large market garden ; and while working there, Barzilla continued to attend school. After that the Hutchinsons went to Mishawka, Ind., and from there Barzilla moved to Big Rapids, Mich., and in that town for twelve years car- ried on a furniture and merchandise store with a Mr. Van Lew as partner. During his residence in Mecosta County, Mich., he served for five years as under-sheriff, and he was the first city marshal of Big Rapids. He was ap- pointed a charter member of Big Rapids Lodge of Masons, and he is now the only living charter member of that organization.

After living in Iowa for a year, Mr. Hutchinson came to Fresno County, in 1884, and took charge of "The Iowa Loan and Trust Co.," who owned a half-section of land near Fowler. He developed that property, set out a vine- yard and orchard, and began to buy land, acquiring by degrees until he owned 160 acres. He was in time known as "The Peach King," and raised the largest fruit in the State. He holds the record for raising the largest crop of peaches and the largest peaches in size on a given piece of land in all Cal- ifornia. Some of the peaches, for example, sent to Chicago for exhibition weighed one pound each. He furnished the Fresno Chamber of Commerce with exhibits of fruit and especially with grapes, although he raised oranges, lemons, prunes and plums, as well as table grapes. Rather naturally, he be- came a director and stockholder in the Fresno Fruit Growers Company, and shipped through them; and such were their relations on both sides that, dur- ing all the years of their dealings, there was never a word of dissatisfaction.

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After living on his ranch near Fowler for over thirty years, he sold out his interests and took up his residence at 1435 N Street, Fresno, on April 6, 1917. His first wife died, after two sons had been born to them: Charles C. Hutchinson, who is with the Santa Fe Railway, and William Hutchinson, now deceased. His second marriage occurred on October 10, 1896, the cer- emony taking place on his ranch near Fowler, when he was united to a widow, Mrs. M. L. Van Lew, a native of Pennsylvania ; her husband had been Mr. Hutchinson's partner in the furniture business at Big Rapids, and in that way they had become acquainted. She took a very active part in the affairs of Big Rapids, and for seven years she was under-sheriff (without pay) in the benevolent department, doing good work. She came to Michigan in pioneer days, and was an active member of the First Methodist Church, and sang in its choir. While in Fowler she was also one of the live members in the women's club, "The Fowler Improvement Society."

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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 9

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