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 97

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 97

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Going to the Santa Maria field Mr. Burton engaged as gang pusher for eighteen months. Meanwhile he assisted in the construction of a pipe line for the Pennell Oil Company. Later he worked for the Brookshire and Rice Ranch Oil companies. Upon returning to the Kern river field he again took a position with the Associated and later was with the Enos Oil Company as foreman and superintendent. After a service of five months in the latter office he resigned to come to Maricopa, where he joined the force of the J. F. Lucey Supply Company. In the interests of that concern he went to Taft and worked in the oil business there. In September of 1911 he was called to the super- intendency of the Muscatine Oil Company, a close corporation. In San Francisco he married Miss Della Lewis, a native of Tulare county, this state, and by the union there are two daughters, Bernice and Fay. Some years ago he purchased two lots at Richland, but with that exception he has not invested in land. Politically he votes with the Republican party and fraternally is associated with the Eagles, but he has little leisure for public affairs or fraternal activities, his attention being given closely to the production of oil for his company and his time being spent wholly on the forty acre lease, on section 1, 11-24.

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E. M. HAMILTON .- The great improvement wrought at Willow Springs, eight miles west of Rosamond, shows what can be done on the desert by developing the natural resources of the county. It has become the show place of the region. Nine years ago it was barren land covered with brush, and today it is improved with fields of alfalfa, orchards and vine- yards. Mr. Hamilton studied the country and found that by laying cement pipes for sub-irrigation it resulted in producing larger crops and of sweeter and finer flavor. The fruits of the orchard and vine have been tested and found to contain twenty-two per cent of sugar. The soil in the locality is good and being surrounded by water the climatic conditions are most excellent. On account of these existing conditions Mr. Hamilton built a sanitarium with the idea of furnishing a retreat for those afflicted with pulmonary trouble and kindred ailments.

E. M. Hamilton was born near Mt. Sterling, Brown county, Ill., Feb- ruary 22, 1833, his educational advantages being those of the common schools of his day. When sixteen years of age he left the home farm and began boating on the Mississippi river, and he rose from third cook to first steward. In 1853 he discarded his kid gloves and picking up an ox whip, drove five yoke of oxen across the plains, arriving in Oregon, and from there he worked his way to California. For a time he followed mining in northern California and then began farming at Shasta City. At one time he owned the Cañon ranch on a part of which the city of Redding is now built. In 1861 he returned east and in 1862 enlisted in Company D, First Minnesota Regiment and later, on the reorganization, he was in Company B, First Battalion. Among other battles he served the Wilderness, Cold

Harbor, Deep Bottom, Ream's Station, Siege of Petersburg and Richmond. After taking part in the Grand Review he was mustered out and honorably discharged and then returned to Maine where his parents lived. For a time he followed farming and afterwards the trade of stone mason. In 1872 he followed the Robinson mining excitement to Montana. From 1873 until 1875 he followed contracting in Minneapolis, and in the year last mentioned he located in Los Angeles, Cal., in the same line of business. He also estab- lished the first artificial stone works in Los Angeles. In 1896 his health became so impaired that he came to Antelope valley and in October, 1896, he camped at Willow Springs. He began prospecting and discovered the Alida mine, which he developed, later building a stamp mill, and in two years took out $200,000 of gold from the mine. Some time afterwards he sold the mine.

About 1904 Mr. Hamilton purchased Willow Springs from the Beale estate and since that time has made valuable improvements on the desert, having groves of willows, cottonwood and mulberries. His experiments with raising the silk worm proved a success and showed the adaptability to rais- ing silk. In connection with the sanitarium he has a grocery store, garage, blacksmith shop, ice and cold storage plant, electric light plant, public hall and theater, and telephone. He obtained the postoffice and has since been the postmaster. He built the Hamilton house at Rosamond, a two-story fireproof building.

Mr. Hamilton has been married three times; the first time was in Min- neapolis to Sarah Landson, who died there, and the three children born to theni are also deceased. He was married again in Minnesota to Harriett Moffitt, who died in Los Angeles. Of their four children three are living. Fred is the manager of Willow Springs; Lester resides in Los Angeles ; Eugene is deceased ; and Truman is proprietor of the Hamilton House at Rosamond.

Mr. Hamilton's third marriage was with Mrs. Elsie E. Galloway, a native of Canada. While residing in Los Angeles he served three terms as

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councilman, being elected on the Independent ticket. He is proud of the fact that during his service he voted to have electric lights on the street corners. He is of an inventive genius and has made many useful inventions, among them asbestine sub-irrigation to apply water below the surface of the ground thus keeping the surface dry. He holds membership in Kenesaw Post, G. A. R., and the Society of Los Angeles Pioneers.

JOHN ADOLPHUS FRY .- The Teutonic origin of the Fry family has given to its various members the traits of excellent manhood, thrifty habits and loyal citizenship evidenced in all branches of the family, many of the representatives proving valuable to their chosen country by heroic effort in war, and patriotic helpfulness in time of peace. The founder of this branch of the family in America was Col. Philip Fry, who was born in Germany and came at an early day to the United States, settling first in Virginia, where he founded the well-known southern family, many mem- bers being prominently identified with the American Revolution as active participants.

Col. Philip Fry himself served under Gen. Nathaniel Greene and spent the memorable winter at Valley Forge with his regiment; in the Battle of Brandywine fought shoulder to shoulder with the famous Lafayette. Later his son, William Livingston Fry, was commissioned an officer in the Indian service under Zachary Taylor. Gathering up the Indian tribes re- maining in the Southern-Atlantic states, he recorded them, and then took them to the Cherokee country in Indian Territory, which at that time was a vast wilderness. For his valuable work in this direction he was com- missioned Colonel. He afterwards removed to Alabama and there reared his family of three sons and two daughters, the eldest of the family being John Adolphus.

On November 14, 1827, John A. Fry was born in Huntsville, Jackson county, Ala., where he grew up and acquired an excellent education, his parents affording him more than usual advantages in this direction. His first marriage, to Dian Olan, which occurred in Alabama in 1850, was blessed with two children, Calvin Columbus and William Harrison, the latter a farmer in Kings county. After the death of the mother in Alabama, Mr. Fry decided to try his fortunes in the new west, reaching California in 1862 and. settling at Sonora, Tuolumne county. With his brother Wesley and Levi Street, he engaged in the mercantile business for a while, and later engaged in mining. Associated with his brother, S. Wesley Fry, James Hodges and Captain Turner, he embarked extensively in the mining industry, and together they owned the Rawhide with a twenty-stamp quartz mill. This mine brought in such splendid returns that they became very wealthy, as wealth was counted in those days. This mill and mine were later burned and flooded and were finally abandoned. With his brother Mr. Fry also owned the Comstock of Sonora, the Calder, the Jackson, the Blue Jacket and the Rock Pile mines.

In 1870 Mr. Fry gave up mining and went to Stockton and engaged extensively in agriculture or grain-raising, owning his own headers, threshers and stock, as well as everything necessary to extensive farming, and each year farmed many hundreds of acres of land. But in spite of close application the venture did not prove a success and he disposed of his property and in 1873 went to Hollister, where he engaged in the hotel business.

Fatalities seemed to follow Mr. Fry in close succession, for in 1875 the Bank of California, in which he had his account, failed and he found himself ruined financially. At this time he proved what a dauntless spirit and a courageous heart will do to help an individual retrieve his losses. He came to Bakersfield in the fall of 1876 and became connected with the early

John A. Fry

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

operations of the Kern County Land Company, then known as the Haggin & Carr Company. He worked under the superintendency of Mr. Carr for several years and in 1879 became superintendent of the Rosedale ranch, north of Bakersfield, which consisted of many sections. In 1884 he pur- chased a half section of land near Rosedale and began farming for himself.

Mr. Fry was a consistent Democrat in politics and in fraternal circles was a Royal Arch Mason, at the time of his death being the second oldest Mason in the state of California. His death occurred in Coalinga April 6, 1912, and he was buried in Bakersfield with impressive Masonic services. He and his wife and family were Presbyterians. Mrs. Fry, who before her marriage was Miss Mattie Dorsay, was a native of Arkansas, having been born in the Ozarks. She was a member of an English and Scotch family, her father having been born in Maryland, whence at an early day he and his family removed to Arkansas. Mrs. Fry came across the plains with her par- ents in 1852 and married her husband in Sonora, Cal., February 14, 1865. She survived him but ten days.

Mr. Fry was the father of seven children, two by his first marriage and five by his second. Frances M. is now the wife of L. P. Guiberson, who has further mention in this publication. John W. is superintendent of the William McKittrick ranch, south of Bakersfield. Dessie M. is the wife of Henry Dubbers, a farmer and stockman; Mrs. Dubbers has taught school in Kern and Fresno counties for twenty-five years and is one of the county's most successful instructors. Helen M. is the wife of Roberts Coats, of Bakersfield. William, the brother of the half blood, is a ranchman near Lemoore, Cal. Calvin died in Kern county, unmarried, and Charles Adolphus in his childhood. The father of these children was at his death one of the best known and most loved pioneers in the county. He had occasion to lend his aid to many unfortunates among the Rosedale colonists and he gave of his stores with a free and generous hand. All in need found in him a ready giver and his memory is held dear by many who have been rescued from want and hunger through his kindly assistance and forethought. Mr. Fry never held any public office, but his life was full of duties well done, and he was ever deeply interested in the welfare of his community.

DANIEL H. BLOOD .- Among the men who cast their lot in Kern county and helped to build it up to the best of their ability we find Daniel H. Blood, who was born near Ovid, Clinton county, Mich., December 10, 1849. He is the son of Daniel and Susan (Turner) Blood, natives of New York state, who were honored farmers of Clinton county, Mich. Daniel H. was educated in the schools of his vicinity and was brought up on the home farm. After reaching his majority he engaged in farming, thereafter, except for the period that he followed the mercantile business and later ran a grist mill.

Being desirous of locating in California Mr. Blood leased his farm and in March, 1891, came with his wife and family to Bakersfield. The first two years were spent in farming in the Rio Bravo district and he then pur- chased three and one-half acres on Dracena street, Bakersfield. This they improved and brought to a high state of cultivation, setting it out to berries of all kinds which he continued to raise for many years, afterwards following carpentering until his death, December 24, 1905.

Mr. Blood was married in Ovid, Mich., November 12, 1873, when he was united with Miss Adelia Jones, who was born in Yates county, N. Y. When a mere child she went with her parents, Silas E. and Fannie ( Eldred) Jones, to Clinton county, New York, where they were farmers. Mrs. Blood was reared in Michigan where she also received her education. They were the parents of four children : Ella, Mrs. McCloud of Hollywood : Clifford, de- 40

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ceased; Fred M., of Braly; and Roscoe, who resides with his mother in Bakersfield.

Since her husband's death Mrs. Blood has continued to reside on Dracena street, where she built a new residence and enjoys meeting her many friends, who esteem her for her many acts of kindness.

Fraternally Mr. Blood was a Mason in Laingsburg, Mich., but after coming to Bakersfield he affiliated with Bakersfield Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M.

JOSEPH SERAN .- Lockhaven stock farm located five miles southwest of Bakersfield, comprises six hundred and forty acres devoted to raising alfalfa, Holstein cattle, Percheron horses and Yorkshire hogs. The latter were exhibited at the state fair in 1913, taking fourteen blue ribbons and four gold medals. The owner of the ranch is Otis Lockhart of Los Angeles, while Joseph Seran is the superintendent of the ranch and he is intensely interested in having all stock of the purest blood and highest grade. On the ranch is a herd of full blooded Holstein cattle, one hundred and forty-two of them comprising the dairy.

Joseph Seran was born in Lenape, Leavenworth county, Kan., January 26, 1874. the son of Capt. William L. and Amanda (Lashley) Seran, born in Aura, N. J. The father enlisted as a private in Company H, Twelfth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. Afterwards he 'was commissioned captain of Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth U. S. Colored Troops and after the close of the war was ordered to Ft. Bliss, Texas, where he was quarter- master's quartermaster. He was mustered out October 31, 1867, then located in Lenape, Kan., and engaged in farming. Later he removed to Muskogee, 1. T., making his home there until he retired, and he now resides with his son. The mother died in Oklahoma in 1909.

Of their family of ten children nine are living, Joseph being the fifth .oldest. His boyhood was spent on the farm, securing his education in the public schools. Ile followed farming in Indian Territory until 1905, when he came to Los Angeles county and became superintendent of the Lockhart ranch in Inglewood. In 1911 he came to Kern county to take charge of the Lockhaven stock farm at Gosford to which he gives his best efforts.

In Indian Territory occurred the marriage of Joseph Seran with Cora Stackhouse, a native of Missouri and they have one child, Otis. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Seminole Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M., but his mem- bership is now at Inglewood. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Republican.

KARL SCHNEIDER .- A native of Germany, Karl Schneider was born at Laugenbach, Weisbaden, October 19, 1850, the son of Christian and Katherina (Schob) Schneider. The father was a contractor and builder in Laugenbach, where he and his wife died. Of their seven children Karl was the third oldest and received his education in the public schools, after which he became a stationary engineer, being employed in the iron mines in Herdorf. In 1883 he came to the United States, locating in Marion county, Kan., where he followed farming and later also worked as a carpenter and afterward as a bricklayer. In 1892 he located on a homestead twenty-two miles west of Hennessey, in Kingfisher county, Okla. He made valuable ini- provements, bought land adjoining and had four hundred and eighty acres which he devoted to raising grain and stock.

In 1910 Mr. Schneider brought his family to California and located on a farm of one hundred and eighty-two and one-half acres which he purchased eight miles northwest of Bakersfield. He has made improve- ments, built a residence and barns, sunk a well and installed an engine and pumping plant for irrigating alfalfa. He is also raising grain and hay.

So. In. ilking

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Mr. Schneider was married in Marion county, Kan., to Louise Ortner, who was born in Caucasus, Russia, the daughter of Christian and Kathrina (Miller) Ortner, who emigrated to Marion county, Kan., and later to Okla- homa. To Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were born twelve children, ten of whom are living, namely : Carrie, Mrs. Voth, who resides in this county ; Samuel, a farmer in Blaine county, Okla .; Amelia, Mrs. Sinner of Shafter, this county ; Karl, a farmer in Kingfisher county, Okla .; and Hannah, Ezra, Isaac, William, Louise, and Herman, who reside at home. Mr. Schneider and his family are members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

GEORGE M. WILKINS .- The growth and prosperity of a city is evidenced by its building operations and in this respect the advance of Bakersfield has been more than notable. Much capital has been invested in new buildings, the designing and construction of which have called for trained ability of a high order. Many architects and builders who would have made their marks in much larger cities have found here a worthy field for their endeavor, and among the most successful of them is George M. Wilkins, who is at the head of the Builders' Exchange as its president. Mr. Wilkins was born in Nevada, Mo., May 20, 1873, a son of Alexander and Martha J. (Pryor) Wilkins. His father, Alexander Wilkins, Jr., was a son of Alexander Wilkins, Sr., a native of Scotland, who became a contractor and builder in Vermont and lived out his days there. The younger Alex- ander Wilkins was born and reared in Vermont and early learned the builders' trade. In the course of events he removed to Wisconsin, from which state he went to the Civil war as a member of a Wisconsin regiment which did gallant service in that struggle. His brother, A. B. Wilkins, was an officer in the same regiment, and another brother, Matthew, also fought under the stars and stripes on southern battlefields. Alexander is now a resident of Bakersfield, where he lives retired. His wife, Martha J. Pryor, was born on Pryor's creek in Vernon county, Mo., a daughter of James P. Pryor, a pioneer in that vicinity, and she, too, is living. Of their thirteen children four sur- vive, George M. being the eldest of these. When he was six years old he was taken by his parents to Barry county, Mo., and he grew up and attended public school in that vicinity. His natural inclination led him to a knowl- edge of the carpenter's trade and at eighteen he began work as a journeyman at Fort Worth, Tex. Later he located at Dublin, Tex. He availed himself of an opportunity to take a commercial course meanwhile, and later pursued a course in architecture under the system of the International Correspondence School at Scranton, Pa. From Dublin he went to Osawatomie. Kans., and thence removed to Kansas City, where until 1899 he was employed in con- structing refrigerating cars for the Armour Packing Company. After that he took up farming in Barry county, Mo., but in 1901 found himself in Truckee, Cal., superintendent for the McClellan Construction Company. In 1903 he established himself as a contractor and builder at Fresno and about a year later he went into the real estate business at Long Beach, handling property there and in Los Angeles with considerable success, acquiring a residence on Hermosa street. In 1907 he took up his residence in Bakers- field, opening an office as an architect and builder, and since that time he has drawn plans for over four hundred buildings. He was for a time super- intendent for James Arp, but resigned in 1909 to accept a local superin- tendency of the business of the Lindgren Company of San Francisco.

At Long Beach Mr. Wilkins married Miss Anna J. O'Hanrahan, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Fraternally he affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America. One of the organizers, in 1910, of the Bakersfield Builders' Ex- change, he is now president of that body. In all his relations with his fellow citizens he is public-spiritedly helpful to all local interests.

In 1912 he purchased fifteen acres in the Mayflower addition, subdivided it into one hundred and fifty. lots, and erected five residences and a store,

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the last mentioned being on Brundage lane and Wilkins street. He opened up the store with a line of general merchandise and the business is under the management of Mrs. Wilkins. A splendid example of Mr. Wilkins' abil- ity as an architect and builder may be seen in the fine residence which he owns at No. 2700 Chester avenue.

WILLIAM T. RATLIFF .- The attainment of a considerable degree of financial success and commercial prestige may be attributed to the self- reliant, energetic labors of Mr. Ratliff and his persistence in the face of repeated discouragements that would have brought failure to a man of less determination. In addition to the ownership of an important business, conducted under the title of the Bakersfield Produce and Implement Com- pany, he engaged in the poultry and dairy business and owned and occupied a well-improved ranch of fifteen acres situated on Jewett lane. It was his good fortune to have the assistance of one son in the store and of the other son on the ranch and the three, working in harmony, gained the confidence of business associates as well as a satisfactory financial return for their investment of time and capital. Ill health overtook Mr. Ratliff in the midst of his business success, and in the hope of regaining his former strength he went to Long Beach, where his death occurred June 5, 1913.

Noting the history of the Ratliff family we find that Milton Ratliff was born in Kentucky and returned to that state to spend his last days after many years of active business association with the city of Indianapolis, where still lives his widow, Elizabeth (Bracken) Ratliff and where occurred the birth of their two children. Of these the only one to attain mature years was William T., whose birth occurred December 2, 1863, and whose educa- tion was secured in Indiana public schools. For a time during young manhood he engaged in farming in Boone county, Ind., but in 1891 he closed out his interests in that state and came to Bakersfield. Near this city he became interested in general farming, stock-raising and fruit-growing. Afterward he engaged in shipping hay and grain. The discovery of oil caused him to discontinue the running of a stage to Glenville and take up the freighting business to the Kern river field and to the west side field. At first he kept only two horses, but the demands of the business caused him to enlarge his stable until finally he owned ten teams of fine horses.

As an employe and as manager of the pit owned by the Union refinery Mr. Ratliff held for three years a position involving constant work and many responsibilities. During the following two and one-half years he engaged as a carpenter in the building of the roofs of the large reservoirs owned by the Standard Oil Company. Upon resigning that position he embarked in the livery business, buying the Panama stable in Bakersfield and later buying the old Diamond stable on Chester avenue. After operating both barns for two and one-half years he disposed of them and bought the Union stable on K street. For two years he operated that business and then sold to E. P. Davis. We next find him connected with the oil industry on the west side as an organizer of the Sunset Security Oil Company. Upon the incorporation of the concern he was made vice-president and manager. The company acquired one thousand acres, most of it on section 29, town- ship 11, range 23, in the Sunset field. During January of 1910 he resigned his official position with the company and in September of the ensuing year he bought a one-third interest in the Bakersfield Produce and Implement Company at No. 1711 Chester avenue. Afterwards he bought out both of his partners, maintaining in his establishment a complete line of heavy and shelf hardware, agricultural implements, paints and oils, feed and seed, dairy and poultry supplies. In 1884, while living in Indiana, he was married in Boone county to Miss Rosa Emmert, born in Montgomery county, Ind., by whom he had four children, namely : Carrie, Mrs. H. A. Martin of Taft;

Otto Starke

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Opal, Mrs. Arthur Bean of San Francisco; Joseph William, who assists in the store; and Ora Warren, who manages the little ranch. In politics Mr. Ratliff voted with the Democratic party. Fraternally he was identified with the Elks, Eagles and Woodmen of the World, and was also a member of the Bakersfield Merchants' Association. Mrs. Ratliff is a member of the Women of Woodcraft.

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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 97

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