History of Kern 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, Part 162

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1682

USA > California > Kern County > History of Kern 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 > Part 162

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The marriage of Mr. Ranous and Miss Jessie L. Anson was solemnized in Santa Ana, Cal., Mrs. Ranous having removed to that point from Ohio. The only child of their union died in June, 1913. Numerous fraternities have had the benefit of the co-operation and allegiance of Mr. Ranous, among these being the Bakersfield Camp, No. 266, B. P. O. E., and Taft Lodge No. 426, F. & A. M., also Bakersfield Chapter, R. A. M. Prominent in the work of the Odd Fellows, he was honored, May 16, 1913, with the appointment as district deputy grand master, and before that he had filled numerous offices in the local lodge. As president of the Odd Fellows' Hall Associa- tion, he has been a leading factor in the erection of the hall at Taft costing $28,000. The building is substantial, constructed with a concrete basement and two upper stories of brick, with a front of pressed brick surface and plate glass windows. The corner stone was laid June 21, 1913, with appropriate ceremonies. The Taft Hardware and Furniture Company has leased the

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first floor for its retail establishment, while the basement has been fitted up for a banquet hall and kitchen, and the second floor is finished in offices and lodge rooms. Every appointment is up-to-date and the building is a credit not only to the Odd Fellows, but to the town itself.

J. W. HEARD .- The pioneer merchant at Oil Center enjoys the friend- ship of the people throughout the entire oil district, for by long association they have come to appreciate his sterling integrity of character, his kindly spirit and warm-hearted southern temperament. When first he established his present store and erected the building he now occupies, he put therein the first stock of merchandise in the new town, and from the very beginning he has enjoyed a large trade. He is also the senior member of the firm of Heard & Painter, owners and proprietors of the largest general store in Taft. In addition he has made other investments, so that he has been pros- pered in a gratifying degree.

A member of one of the best families in the south and a direct descend- ant in the fifth generation from John Heard, governor of Georgia during Colonial days, J. W. Heard was born in Mississippi in 1864. The history of the family is associated with the south, but principally with the state of Georgia, to which colony members of the Heard family came from England in one of the expeditions of Walter Raleigh. In 1875 the father, who had engaged in mercantile pursuits at Vaiden, Miss., took the family back to Georgia, where he lived retired until his death. The son was sent to the public schools and Sharon Business College, after which he started out to make his own way in the world. Arriving in California in 1883, a stranger in a strange locality, he settled in the San Joaquin valley and here has since made his home and business headquarters. For a time he worked as a clerk in stores, being successively in Fresno, Reedly and Sanger, and finally coming to Oil Center at the opening of this oil district. Since then he has conducted mercantile pursuits in Oil Center and Taft and has made many friends throughout Kern county. Reared in the Democratic faith, he ad- heres to that party with stanchness and devotion. In 1898 he married Miss Emma C. Clark, of Redwood, San Mateo county, and they are the parents of an only son, John Wilkerson Heard. Mrs. Heard is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Clark, the latter of whom died when the daughter was only two years of age. The father, an attorney by profession, now lives retired at San Diego. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Heard was Hon. Andrew Teague, a pioneer of 1847 in California, and an early settler of San Mateo county, where he not only practiced law, but also served as district attorney and at one time was honored with the office of judge of the superior court.

HON. ELIAS JAMES EMMONS .- When the gold excitement in Nic- aragua was at its height a young man from Missouri, bearing the name of William David Emmons, sought the supposed opportunities of that southern district, where he became a prosperous merchant in Greytown. Through his marriage to Elizabeth J. Miller, a native of Texas, two children were born, namely: Elias James, born at Greytown, Nicaragua, March 1, 1859; and Henry William, who settled in Bakersfield and engaged in the oil business in this locality. The withdrawal of the Vanderbilt transit line from Nicaragua brought stagnation to every line of business there and proved the financial ruin of Mr. Emmons, who, forced to seek a home elsewhere, brought his wife and children to California and here died in 1862 at Vacaville, Solano county, when thirty-two years of age. In 1864 the widow married again and removed to Antioch, Contra Costa county, where her two sons attended the grammar school and then began to earn their own way in the world.

As a clerk in a law office of San Francisco Elias James Emmons gained his first insight into the profession which he later entered. During 1882 he was admitted to practice at the bar of California and opened an office at

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Chico, Butte county, where he practiced until January of 1893, the date of his removal to Bakersfield. For a time he had as a partner F. M. Graham, later had an office alone and in 1902 became a partner of Rowen Irwin, but now is the senior member of the firm of Emmons & Hudson, his partner being Judge R. J. Hudson. From 1893 to 1897 he served as assistant district attorney of Kern county and in the latter year he was elected to represent this county in the assembly. Governor Budd appointed him a member of the national com- mission for uniformity of legislation and he served as such from 1897 to 1901. From 1902 to 1906 he was state senator from the thirty-second district, com- prising Kings, Tulare and Kern counties. Many interests have received his attention along the line of his profession and for some years he has acted as attorney for the Bakersfield Merchants' Association in railroad transportation matters. Politically he has been a Democrat ever since he attained his ma- jority. While living in Chico he married Miss Margaret J. Wooden, a native of Vallejo, this state, and they are the parents of two children, Elias Carroll and Edith June.

PIERRE MAYOU was born January 15, 1860, in Oloron, Basses- Pyrenees, France, and was reared on his parents' farm and educated in the public school. He came to California when a lad of fourteen years, land- ing in San Francisco in June, 1874, having only $25 in his possession, but he had a stout heart and willing hands, so went immediately to work in Redwood city and continued there for two years. He then made his way to Los Angeles, where he was employed on farms and with a sheep man until he had saved sufficient money to buy a small flock of sheep. Bringing them to Kern county in 1882, he ranged them on mountain and plain, his head- quarters being in Kern (now East Bakersfield). He met with success and in 1887 he sold out and purchased land in Cummings valley, upon which he began grain-raising and farming, and ultimately acquired a place of seven hundred acres. He continued there for fourteen years, when a series of dry years proved disastrous and he lost his farm. He then came to McKittrick about 1902 and engaged in teaming and heavy freighting and in connec- tion with farming has followed it ever since. He is leasing the Santa Fe place in the little Santa Monica valley, six miles west of McKittrick, where he is raising grain hay. He has lately taken as a partner Peter Brockman and they run two eight-mule teams for freighting in the oil fields and on the desert.

Mr. Mayou's marriage occurred in Tehachapi, uniting him with Theo- dora Ocane, a native daughter of San Francisco, who died in Tehachapi, as did their two children, Mary and Peter. Mr. Mayou has always believed in and voted for the principles of the Republican party.

PETER J. McFARLANE .- Among the young men who have come from the east to California and have become fascinated with the opportunities offered to such an extent as to enter heartily into its local business affairs, we find Peter J. McFarlane, who was born in Peterboro county, Ontario, July 24, 1861, the son of D. P. and Catherine (Ferguson) McFarlane, who were of Scotch descent and were pioneers in Peterboro county. Of their eleven children, ten of whom are living, Peter J. was the oldest. The father died in 1912 and the mother two years before him. Being the eldest of a large family Mr. McFarlane very early had responsibilities thrust upon him and he was early in life obliged to aid in the farm work, his education being obtained in the local schools. He remained home helping his parents until 1884, when he came to California and the same year settled in Kern county. After being employed at ranching for a short time he took un a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, one and a half miles from Tehachapi. This he improved and lived upon until he proved up on it, afterwards disposing

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of it. He became interested in the Oak Creek Lumber Company, and en- gaged extensively in the manufacture of lumber on Oak creek.

During the gold excitement in Nome, Alaska, Mr. McFarlane made a trip to that northern camp, but returned to Tehachapi in about eight months. In 1905 he was appointed under the Roosevelt administration as postmas- ter of Tehachapi and during his first term the office was made a third-class office and he was duly reappointed to the office by President Roosevelt Febrary 22, 1909. He has ranch interests in Walker's Basin.

Mr. McFarlane's marriage occurred in Tehachapi in 1888, uniting him with Miss Annie Gates, a native of Missouri, and to them have been born two children, only one living, a daughter named Catherine. Mr. McFarlane was made a Mason in Keene Lodge, at Keene, Ontario, and after his location in the Tehachapi region became affiliated with Tehachapi Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., and served four terms as master and at present is its secretary. He is also treasurer and past patron of Tehachapi Chapter No. 188, O. E. S. He has always been interested in the welfare of his adopted city, always being ready to use his means and time toward its upbuilding. He is well and favorably known in the county and has many warm friends who admire him for his integrity and sterling worth.

NATHANIEL R. WILKINSON .- A native of Virginia, Mr. Wilkin- son was born in Norfolk, July 10, 1838, and died at Bakersfield, Cal., in December, 1902. He attended school and attained manhood at Norfolk. While still young he went to sea and was a sailor until he was twenty-one years old, as such visiting nearly every port in the civilized world. Then he became a landsman and was profitably employed in different ways until the outbreak of the Civil war. He entered the Confederate army, yielding allegiance to Lee and generals of lesser note, and participated in many hard- fought engagements. At Gettysburg he received a wound on the left side of his head which eventually caused his death by paralysis. After the war he prospered in the domain of peace, and in 1873 came to Bakersfield. Becom- ing a school teacher he taught two terms with such success that he was very popular among his fellow citizens, who repeatedly elected him a jus- tice of the peace, in which capacity he served with great ability and fidelity for many years. He was long well and favorably known as a notary public, conveyancer and expert accountant and was called upon from time to time to handle property and settle estates until his business became large and profitable. Wholly reliable and of the highest integrity, he was trusted in every way by everyone who knew him. Politically he was active as a Dem- ocrat, as a citizen he was public-spiritedly useful, and while he was ready at all times to aid any church to the extent of his ability he was an out- spoken admirer of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll.

The lady who became the wife of Mr. Wilkinson was Miss Mary An- drews and their marriage was celebrated in Bakersfield. She was born at Mokelumne Hill, Cal., a daughter of John and Rebecca Parker (Williams) Andrews. Her father was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, and was gradu- ated from the University of Edinburgh with the degree of C.E. He came to California in 1848, around Cape Horn, and prospered in the state as a civil engineer until his death, which occurred at Camp Seco. Rebecca Parker Williams was a second cousin of the Rev. Theodore Parker, the great Uni- tarian preacher, and a school mate in Boston of Charlotte Cushman, who became one of the greatest actresses of her time. Ancestors of hers named Williams were active participants in the work of the "Boston Tea Party" and served the cause of the colonies as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Wilkinson died at Bakersfield January 1, 1891. She had long been a devout member of the Episcopal Church. Irma Jeannette Wilkinson, only

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daughter of Nathaniel R. and Mary (Andrews) Wilkinson, was graduated from the Kern county high school and the Los Angeles normal school and is a successful teacher in the public schools of Bakersfield.

MYRON W. MORRIS .- Born in Fairfield, Mich., December 5, 1839, Mr. Morris grew up on the home farm there, attending the school of the locality. He attended the college at Hudson, Mich., and taught school for some years there, in 1876 coming west and locating in San Francisco, where he began to work at the carpenter trade. In 1877 he came to Bakersfield to follow the trade of carpenter and later became engaged in contracting and building, which he followed the remainder of his life. He at one time became owner of a ranch, but as farming was not to his liking he later sold the property. He was one of the first builders in Bakersfield, and lived to see it grow to one of the prosperous, thriving cities of the state. His own residence which he himself built is located on Chester Lane near the cor- ner of C street, and is a handsome, substantial place. Mr. Morris passed away March 3, 1911, greatly mourned by all who knew him.

In April, 1870, at Morenci, Lenawee county, Mich., Mr. Morris was married to Bell Austin, who was born near Avon, Livingston county, N. Y., the daughter of William B. and Lucy (Whaley) Austin, both of whom were natives of Livingston county. N. Y. Mr. Austin was a farmer in New York and there his death occurred. Mrs. Morris' grandfather, James Aus- tin, was born in England, and upon coming to the United States settled in Livingston county, N. Y., where he ever afterward made his home. Her mother's death occurred there also, and after her death Mr. Austin married (second) Elvira Sage, born in Wheatland, N. Y., who died in Arkansas. Two children were born to this union, one of whom survives, Mrs. Eva Craig, now of Bakersfield.

Mrs. Bell A. Morris is the mother of one child, Charles A., who studied pharmacy and was graduated from the San Francisco Pharmaceutical Col- lege, later taking up the study of medicine. He graduated from the College if Physicians and Surgeons at San Francisco with the M.D. degree and was later connected with the hospitals and practiced his profession there. Sub- sequently he did graduate work in the east and finally went to Europe to continue his studies, upon his return being assistant surgeon at the Belle- vue Hospital in New York City. He was duly graduated from the Belle- vue Hospital Medical College and then located in Bakersfield, where he is engaged in practicing medicine and surgery with gratifying success. The excellent work of this young doctor and his ability and unusual fitness for the profession he has chosen evidence the fact that it is his natural life work.

Before his death Myron Morris was a stanch Republican, and in fra- ternal connection was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mrs. Morris is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She is a woman who is much beloved, and her kindly influence for good is felt by all who know her.

THOMAS M. SPACH .- A position of responsibility with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Bakersfield has been filled by Mr. Späch with such fidelity and intelligence as to win the commendation of superior offi- cials and to prove beyond question the adaptability of the man to the task. The gratifying advancement he has made in railroading is the more note- worthy by reason of the fact that in youth he followed another occupa- tion and thus lacked the advantage of having an early start in learning the rudiments of railroading. The department of the industry to which he has given his entire time and attention is yard work and there he speedily rose

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from the humblest task to the heavy responsibilities of yardmaster, in which capacity he has given the most efficient service for a number of years.

Born at Columbus Grove, Putnam county, Ohio, September 23, 1869, Thomas M. Späch is a son of the late Leonard L. and Catherine (Swaley) Späch, natives of Ohio and lifelong residents of that state. Shortly after the opening of the Civil war Leonard L. Späch volunteered in the Union service and as he was then under the stipulated age for regular enlistment he was made a drummer boy in Company G, Eighty-first Ohio Infantry, with which he went to the front and took part in many battles of importance. For a period of four years he remained in the army, not relinquishing his duties until the war came to an end in 1865 and he then returned to Ohio to take up civic pursuits. Throughout life he followed the trade of a plasterer. The interests of his chosen occupation led him to remove from his birthplace, in Tuscarawas county, to the western part of the state, where for a consid- erable period he lived in Putnam county. The hardships and exposures in- cident to army life injured his health and shortened his life, which came to an end before he had reached old age.

The only member of the parental family now living in California is Thomas M., who after completing high school studies in Ohio came to Cali- fornia in 1887 at the age of eighteen years. For two years he served an apprenticeship to the trade of a coppersmith in San Diego. During 1889 he removed to Fresno and found employment at his trade, remaining for two years and then going to San Francisco to continue in work as a copper- smith. After a time it became desirable for him to relinquish his occupation and find other avenues of employment; hence he returned to Chicago and began in the railroad business, his first position being that of a switchman in the Erie yards. In the employ of that railroad company he held different positions in Illinois and Indiana and worked his way forward to be yard- master at Huntington, Ind., but resigned the position in 1900 in order to return to California. Coming to East Bakersfield, he secured work as a switchman with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. A week later he was made switch foreman. After three months he was promoted to be night yardmaster and since 1907 he has served as general yardmaster of the Bak- ersfield yards of the Southern Pacific road. Giving his attention closely to the many details connected with his position, he has found little leisure for participation in public affairs and takes no part in politics aside from voting the Republican ticket at national elections. While making his home in In- diana he became a member of the Maccabees at Huntington and took a leading part in lodge work as long as he remained in that city. Upon com- ing to Bakersfield he was accompanied by his wife, whom he had married in Kenton, Ohio, and who was Miss Fannie Runkle, a native of Rawson, Han- cock county, that state. She was the daughter of Lewis and Angeline (Swo- yer) Runkle, natives of Ohio, the former of whom passed away in Rawson. Her mother is now living in Findlay, aged seventy-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Späch are the parents of one son, Harold.

HENRY F. BANKS .- Born April 23, 1858, in Illinois, Mr. Banks was brought up in Kansas, as his parents, Willis and Eveline (Thomas) Banks, moved to Crawford county, that state, when he was but a year old. He re- mained at school there until he was fifteen and then worked on farms up to the time he came west. When he arrived at San Francisco, in 1878, he was twenty, and having had a good training in matters concerning the conduct of a farm he procured employment in Sonoma county at general ranching and working there for about a year and a half, then coming to Kern county, where he followed farming for two years. He then went to Auberry valley, Fresno county, having become familiar enough with the enterprise to want a place of his own, and he and his brother J. A

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bought a hundred and sixty acres of land in that valley. Later on he took up a homestead of a hundred and sixty acres, and engaged in stockraising, general farming and the cultivation of grain. He also contracted to do teaming and hauling for a short time. In 1900 he decided to return to Kern county and accordingly rented eighty acres of land and took up general farming there, in 1905 buying the place of twenty acres he now cultivates. For this land, which is located three and a half miles southwest of Bakers- field, he paid $100 per acre, and it is now valued at $500 an acre. This increase in the value of his property is due to the improvements which he has made, and the careful, conscientious handling of the details of con- ducting the ranch.

Mr. Banks married in Fresno, December 22, 1884, Lizzie Bonner, who was born in Warren county, Ill., April 14, 1861. They had two children, Ivory P., a farmer near Maricopa; and Ethel B., who was Mrs. R. L. Green, and passed away in February, 1911, leaving a child, Bernardine, now with her grandparents. With his wife Mr. Banks is a member of the Christian Church in Bakersfield. In fraternal relations he unites with the Woodmen of the World, and politically he is a Democrat.

MRS. MELVINA JOHNSON .- About thirteen miles south of the town of Bakersfield, on section nineteen, is situated the home farm of Mrs. Mel- vina Johnson, who with the aid of her two sons, John A. and Ray Johnson, is conducting the place on such prudent, thorough and painstaking lines as to procure the best of products. To a woman of less courage the hardships and extreme deprivations to be endured in building up a successful course of work would have been most appalling, but Mrs. Johnson has that force of character and strong will power which enabled her to be an aid to her sons in improving their farm and in the cultivation of their crops.

The wife of John A. Johnson, she became the mother of ten children, all of whom reflect credit upon the excellent training which she has given them, and though her duties have been heavy she has found time to devote herself to them regardless of her own comfort and giving them the love and care which only a mother can give. She is the daughter of R. T. Baker, pioneer of California in 1857. Her mother, Mary A. (Bailey) Baker, had come to California in 1849 with her father, Peter Bailey. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker: Melvina, Mrs. Johnson; Frank C., engaged in the oil business in Kern county ; and Louisa, deceased.

Mrs. Johnson's ten children are: Laurel, who married Joe H. Brown, a farmer of Panama, Kern county ; Frank and Monte, both employed in the West Side Oil Fields as well drillers: John A., mentioned below; Lou, the wife of W. Bullock, a contractor and builder, residing in McFarland, Kern county ; Ray, assisting his mother, as mentioned below; Ruth, wife of H. Of these Harmon, in West Side Oil Fields; Katie. Gladys, and William. John A. was born March 12, 1891, in Los Angeles county, where his parents resided for some time. He was about ten years of age when his parents removed to Kern county, and he has proved faithful in his duty to his mother, aiding her in the conduct of the farm and being most solicitous of her comfort. With his brother Ray, who was also born in Los Angeles county, he is tenderly caring for her and her interests, and they are men who hold the esteem of all who know them for their sterling worth and ex- cellent character. In politics they are both Republicans. Their farm con- sists of a hundred and sixty acres, forty of which they own, having rented the remaining hundred and twenty which is located on Kern Island Road. G. F. ADAMS .- The twentieth century forms an era of specialization and in no avenue of progress has this fact been more apparent than in the mechanical arts. There has been an opening for every man possessing ability in the handling of machinery and in general mechanical work, hence it has not been difficult for a young man with the marked ability exhibited

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by Mr. Adams to secure and hold positions of responsibility and trust in his chosen sphere of industrial activity. At this writing, as for some years preceding, he is connected with the Sunset Monarch Oil Company at Mari- copa and worthily fills an important place as foreman of the machine shops, in this position taking in all work pertaining to the various depart- ments of the oil company's large business, besides also doing custom work for other oil concerns in the field.

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History of Kern 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, Part 162

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1682

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1682