USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare County, California with biographical sketches > Part 35
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In the spring of 1845 he went West, bouglit Government land in Lake County, Illinois, and commenced farming for himself a part of the time, and working for wages the rest of the time. September 13, 1848, he had his leg broken in the horse-power of a thresher-a compound fracture, breaking the large bone twice, the small bone once, and smashing the ankle joint, and tearing the cords and flesh otf except the heel cord and the flesh around it. It was not properly attended to by the pretended surgeon, and after three months of suffering, he went to Dr. Daniel Brainard, President Chicago Medical College. There were seven running sores near the ankle at the time. The doctor cut it open, removed the loose pieces of bone that should have been taken out in the first place; it took about a year to heal, ossify, and be so that he could walk on it. This left him $500 in debt.
November 16, 1848, he married Amanda Hawthorn, daugh- ter of David and Mary Hawthorn, a native of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Goll excitement of California made money scarce and rates of interest very high. Short crops and the low price of grain made it hard struggling with such a debt. Finally in 1854 he sold out, and with wife and two children moved overland to Texas via Missouri and Indian Territory. Arrived in Fannin County late in the fall, and engaged in farming and stock-raising on a small scale.
He lived there until the spring of 1861, an avowed anti- slavery man, openly and above board (as remarked by the ex-Sheriff of Fannin County), and a regular subscriber to the New York Tribune all this time. On the breaking out of the Rebellion, he traded the farm at a great sacrifice, and on the 3d of May, started overland for California. A. M. Goss was elected captain and Dr. McKinny wagon-master. When at Eagle Springs, near Rio Grande River, were overtaken by a detachment of Confederate soldiers on their way to El Paso and Fort Bliss to capture Uncle Sam's provisions that were stored there. At Eagle Springs the oxen of the train stam- peded in search of water, and it required two days to gather
them up. The Confederates stole one ox belonging to Mr. Gibbons. News was circulated in camp that they would be prevented from leaving the State and their property confis- cated if they did not get out on or before the 5th day of July. The 5th day of July came, and the train was still in Texas, but intending to cross the Rio Grande before night.
In the morning scouts went up and down the river in search of the ford. Those from down the river soon returned, saying that they found the ford guarded by a company of Confeder- ates. The train started up the river in search of a shallow place in the river, which was soon found, and, foreing loose stock through the river, they soon succeeded in settling the quicksand so that they all crossed safely, the water running into some of the wagons and wetting some provisions and clothing. The train sent a delegation to the commander of the Confederates at Fort Bliss to know if they could pass with their property. They were told that they were safe in Mexico, and they had better stay there.
A route was taken through Mexico by way of Carisal, Coralitos, Santa Cruz, Tubac, and Tucson. July and August being the rainy season in that part of Mexico, plenty of water and grass was found in Mexico. There was a great deal of sickness in the train and about forty deaths, the train number- ing about 300, but Mr. Gibbons' family had no sickness, one daughter being born in Mexico, who is still living. They suf- fered from heat on the deserts of the Gila, and the stock from heat and want of grass.
Mr. Gibbons arrived at El Monte, in October, without money, but sold a horse for $125. He arrived on Tule River the 27th of November, 1861, and rented a few acres of land1 the first and second years. He settled on the land now owned, by pre- emption, the next year changed it to homestead, and planted an orchard and vineyard, the second and third years, and engaged in raising cattle and horses. The dry year of 1864 some cattle starved and several horses died.
There being no school house on the Tule that was worthy the name of well-established school, he took a prominent part in building a school house and sustaining a school, and when a post-office was established, suggested Plano as the name. He took an active part in forming the incorporation of a cemetery association under the name of the Vandalia Cemetery Associa- tion. In fact any enterprise for the improvement of the neighborhood received his aid to the best of his abilities.
Mrs. Gibbons proposed, in 1863, the planting of the seeds of a very fine orange as an experiment as an ornamental tree if it should prove too frosty for the fruit. Accordingly a place near the house was prepared with much care, and three trees planted, Mr. Gibbons covering them frosty nights, until learn- ing, two or three years after planting, that oranges were suc- cessfully raised north of here, the trees were left uncovered in frost as well as sunshine, and in eight years two very fine well-flavored oranges were produced, the seeds of which were
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DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
planted, and Mr. Gibbons now has seventy-four orange trees planted out for the purpose of raising oranges, seventeen of which are bearing. He planted a number of lemon and lime trees but the frost was too hard for them, killing trees one and a half inches in diameter. The experiment of sending to Los Angeles for trees has been tried twice without success, the frost killing them, while seedling trees raised on the spot were uninjured. In 1881 he took the first premium for seedling oranges at the Los Angeles Citrus Fair in March, a large num- ber being on exhibition.
The orange trees are not shown in the picture of Mr. Gib- bons' place, to which attention is called, being on east or left except two large trees in front of the house. His farm con- sists of 120 acres of plain, 40 of hog-wallows, and 40 of allu- vial land; 130 acres arc sown in wheat and barley, 15 in alfalfa. The fruit trees are apple, 83; peach, 130; apricot, 21; pear. 16; plum, 14; almond, 12; fig, 13; quince, 4; pomegran- ate, 4; walnut, 4; nectarine, 2. The farm is situated one- fourth of a mile from Plano, where there is a public school and two churches. The number of cattle kept by him is 8; hogs, 9; sheep, 120; horses, 3; mules, 2.
The number of children living are: sons three and daugh- ters five. Names of children, Ossian E., Ruby A., Cornelia H., Amanda S. are married, and living on Tule River. Cornelius H., unmarried, and on the road to Montana with a band of sheep. Family at home arc Rosetta L. and Rosanna L., twins, eighteen years old, and Ulyssus Schuyler, fourteen years old. Mrs. Gibbons died April 1, 1880, being in her fiftieth year.
GRANGEVILLE is ten miles north of Tulare Lake, in the Mus- sel Slough country. This is the garden spot of California. The soil is a black, sandy loam. The country is a level plain, with forests of excellent oak timber along the water courses. In places the forests are thick, with trees lofty and symmetrical, while again for miles there are but scattering giant trees with tops a hundred feet in diameter. But most of this country is a level, trecless plain, generally cultivated, but without fence or other obstacle to a carriage drive.
As early as 1874 it had three water ditches from King's River. It was at one time a place of more importance than now. Its prospects were injured by the location of the rail- road near by and also by having no adequate facilities for reap- ing it at the nearest point, until lately a switch has been con- structed. In 1873, the Grangers built a large school house and hall combined. It has now two stores, two harness shops, two saloons, and a blacksmith shop.
The M E. Church was erected at a later date. There is a flourishing lodge of Good Templars with the following officers: W. C. T., Lincoln Burrell; W. V. T., Ella Robinson; W. F. S., Sarah Ayers; W. R. S., Ollie Blakely.
There is a steam flouring-mill here, the boiler of which was formerly used in the lumber regions of this country.
GOSHEN is a station on the S. P. R. R., 241 miles from San Francisco, at the junction of the Visalia road and also the Goshen branch extending to Huron, forty miles through the Mussel Slough country. There are only two small hotels and the railroad buildings here. It is surrounded by an alkali coun- try not farmed, and hence no local support for a town.
TIPTON is on the S. P. R. R., 262 miles from San Francisco, and about twelve miles south of Tulare City, on the railroad. It is as yet a very small town, having but two stores, one hotel, and a few other buildings. It is destined to have a "boom" soon, however, for it is in one of the most important sections of the artesian belt. Some of the best wells in the county have been bored within a few miles of Tipton. Land is cheap there just now but it is being bought up and settled upon very rapidly. Tipton is destined to be a thriving place.
The country here is all open and very much as Fresno was before the introduction of its ditches. Some of the settlers are building very substantial houses, are rapidly moving in and preparing to improve their land. Those who are lucky enough to have artesian water are setting out orchards and vineyards and putting out alfalfa or millet, and making their places look handsome.
CROSS CREEK is a switch on the railroad, seven miles north of Goshen. It is of no importance only as a shipping point for stock and grain.
LAKESIDE as it name implies is situated near the lake, and is but a small collection of neighbors. The Lakeside ditch for irrigation passes through here, but the water is often very low on account of use further up. There is a Good Templars Lodge here with the following officers: Thos. E. Howes, W. C. T .; Emma Eells, W. V. T .; Bell Meadows, W. S .; Flora Dibble, W. F. S .; Mrs. Frank Howe, W. A. F. S .; C. F. Goodale, W. M .; Judson Dibble, W. I. G .; Sidney Meadows, W. O. G.
WOODVILLE, is situated twenty miles south of Visalia, in the center of a vast farming country and the natural center for a large business, but is quite lacking in energy and thrift. It is on the Tule River, about six miles east of the railroad.
It has one store owned by Dickey Bros., who do a large business, and also run a wagon factory and a blacksmith shop. The country around Woodville is well cultivated, and most of the farms are well improved. The cattle interests of this local- ity are quite extensive.
PORTERVILLE is situated on Tule River just as it leaves the foot-hills twenty-three miles southeast of Tulare City, and thirty miles from Visalia. It has a hotel, a church, two drug stores, two blacksmith shops, four general merchandise stores, a good school house with two departments, two livery stables and a first-class grist-mill run by water power.
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DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
It has probably 300 inhabitants, and has a good farming community to support it. The land is rich and much of it is under cultivation. Some of the best orchards in the county are in that vicinity. The cattle and sheep interests of this neighborhood are also very large. The town is situated at the foot of the great Sierra Nevada Range, and consequently peculiarly blessed in the way of scenery. At a single glance may be seen the foot-hills covered with their beautiful green, and the snow-capped peaks in the distance, but the greatest novelty to new-comers is the view of the snow upon the mount- ains by moonlight. It is grand beyond description, and one never tires of gazing on the sublimest of scenes.
FARMERSVILLE is a small hamlet seven miles from Visalia, and twelve miles northeast of Tulare City. There is a large hotel kept by Mr. C. P. Brown, a blacksmith shop belonging to the same gentleman, one store, and several other small build- ings, and a large two-story school house. The country around Farmersville is similar to that in the vicinity of Visalia. It is heavily timbered and is very rich. About all of the land is fenced up and most of the farmers have good houses and are well-to-do.
Farmersville lodge of Good Templars is in a very flourishing condition, and meets regularly.
YOKOHL Post-office, T. E. Carrington, Postmaster, is twenty- three miles from Visalia, on the Yokohl Creek which is a branch of the Kaweah. The stage road passes over an eleva- tion of two or three hundred feet into the valley of the Yokohl, the waters of which are mainly utilized for irrigating purposes. This valley is about fifteen miles in length, by from two to three miles in width, and is divided into two school districts. The country here, excepting immediately along the banks of the river, is undulating and is excellent grazing land. Along the river are some fine farms, well stocked.
The valley extends northwest and southeast, and the route passes through the entire length of it to Blue Ridge (a spur of the Sierra Nevada Mountains), which it crosses, reaching an elevation of 2,500 feet. From the summit of this mountain it takes a southeasterly course, and descends into the valley.of Mountain View.
MANZANITA Post-office, Mrs. E. A. Cramer, Postmistress, is located twelve miles from Yokohl. This valley is about twelve miles in length, and from one-half to five miles in width. It is watered by the North Tule River, which rises high up in the mountains and flows southwest into Tulare Lake. The soil in this place is not adapted to agriculture, though there are four or five quite excellent farms, and fruit of very fine quality is quite extensively raised. Stock-raising is the main industry, and the surrounding hills and mountains furnish ex- cellent grazing for cattle, while the great quantities of mast which abounds here, furnish food for thousands of swine.
SODA SPRINGS, quite celebrated as a summer resort for in- valids in summer, is situated where the Middle Tule empties into the main river. The facilities for irrigation are increased, making the country, as one descends the river, more favora- ble to agriculture. At this point there are but few farms, ex- cept those for the cultivation of fruit; and, as in Mountain View, stock-raising is the main industry, both on the Middle and Main Tule.
The school house is built in close proximity to the springs, where the pupils can resort during the intermission, and quaff the health-giving liquid. At this point is a boarding-house and hall, built by Mrs. Tabor, of San Francisco, about 1872. She at that time attempted to establish a "water cure," but aban- doned it as a non-paying institution.
GREENBACK is situated in Pleasant Valley. A. Fletcher, Postmaster. The valley is seven or eight miles in length, and from three to seven in width, and is peopled with an enterpris- ing, industrious class, who use the rich soil especially for cereals and fruit.
There was a Greenback Association formed here which still lives and flourishes. The success of the association gave rise to the desire to perpetuate the name by giving it to the post- office. This district embraces a number of good farms, where grain is raised exclusively, and also many small ones near the foot-hills that are well adapted for the cultivation of fruit and vegetables. The industries of this section are stock-raising, cultivation of fruit, carp culture and poultry-raising. The fruit raised here is second to none in the county, and many new orchards and vineyards are now being started.
There are here several fine ponds stocked with carp, and many more to be started, an industry which has a pleasing appearance to nearly every one as it combines both the orna- mental and the useful.
FRAZIER Post-office, Mrs. M. C. K. Shuey, Postmistress, is named from the valley in which it is located. This valley is about twelve miles in length, by from two to six in width, and is one of the richest farming sections in the county. Nearly all the land is level and is easily cultivated. Tropical fruit such as the orange, lime, and lemon have been raised here in a few places, while other varieties of fruit are raised successfully.
DILLON'S MILLS are nine miles from Visalia on the head- waters of the Tule River, and Rand & Houghton's mill is eight iniles further up the stream on a branch called the Rancherea. The lumber of these mills is hauled to Visalia.
CAMP BADGER is situated in the mountains close up to the snow line, near the lumber inills. In the summer-time large flocks of sheep range through this section of the mountains and overrun the settlers. This is the post-office address of Super- visor W. T. Osborn, who ably represents this section of the county.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CITIZENS.
Biographical ·Notices.
WM. THOMAS OSBORN, of Tulare County, is among the number of those early pioneers who braved privations, perils, and even death itself, in helping to open up civilization on the Pacific Coast. He was born in Georgia, March 27, 1827, and his early years were spent on a farm, to which occupation he was brought up.
At the age of twenty-two, he left his native place bound for the gold fields of California, of which wonderful stories had reached and spread all over the Atlantic States. Arriving at Independence, Missouri, which was at that time the starting point for trains bound overland, he joined a train, and on the 9th of May, 1849, the long train of ox-teams formed in line, and with high hopes, and fond anticipations of untold wealth in the near future, the long and eventful journey was begun.
The experiences of Mr. Osborn were similar to hundreds of others in that early day. The route taken by them, after leaving Salt Lake, where they spent two months resting and recruiting their teams, was by the southern route, without a guide or even road, and they were finally obliged to abandon their wagons, and with what little provisions they could carry, drive their oxen 400 miles across the desert, through Death Valley, crossing the Sierra Mountains through Walkers Pass, at the head of the South Fork of Kern River, thence northwest to Mariposa County where they found the first settlement of whites. At that time, 1849, there were no settlements south of Mariposa Creek in that valley.
Mr. Osborn mined from 1850 to 1856 in Mariposa and Merced Counties with indifferent success. In the fall of 1856 he came to Tulare County and engaged in teaming and lumber- ing, which occupation he followed for a number of years.
He is at present engaged in farming, on 160 acres, forty miles from the county seat. His post-office is Camp Badger, three quarters of a mile from school and church. The land is mount- ain valley, good soil. Barley, oats, and hay give abundant yield. He has a young apple orchard. He keeps some 30 head of cattle, 300 hogs, 30 sheep, 15 horses.
In 1865 he married Miss Lavina Smith, a native of Virginia. They have five children, Mary Lavina, Thomas Jesse, Sarah Olive, Helena Drucilla, and James Orlan Osborn.
JOHN F. JORDAN, the County Auditor, is the youngest man who ever held a county office in Tulare. He was elected in 1879. That this was a good selection is proven by his integrity, ability, and faithfulness, which insured his re-election in 1882.
John F. Jordan is a native of Louisiana, where he was born December 10, 1850. When four years old, his father, Frank Jordan, who was captain of the train of seventy-four families which came across Texas to California in 1854, took him along
and landed him safely after a nine months' journey, in San Juan, Monterey County, California.
In 1860 he became an inhabitant of this county and remained such ever since. Although he roamed about in many of the counties of California in order to get an education in private and public schools, or to find his fortune in the mines, still he looked upon this county as his home. Not being very fortunate in his mining operations, though retaining his health, he engaged in stock-raising and farming until 1874; but being ambitious and not satisfied with the education he had received so far, he entered Heald's Business College in San Francisco, from which he graduated as a book-keeper, February 18, 1875.
After returning from San Francisco he became successively Deputy Postmaster, Deputy Sheriff under C. R. Wingfield, Deputy Superintendent of public schools, and Deputy Auditor. In 1878 he started a business of his own, a butcher shop; but having shown himself an efficient deputy, he now was called upon to fulfill the full duties of a county officer, which he has done to every one's satisfaction.
Mr. Jordan in 1881, married Miss Allie L. Neille, the amiable daughter of the present Justice of the Peace, Hon. A. C. Neille, who on the 15th of July, 1882, presented him with a daughter, which is named Ethel V. Jordan.
SETH SMITH was born in Columbia County, New York, April 19, 1846, in which vicinity he remained until his twentieth year, when he removed to New York City, where he lived two years.
Taking the advice of Horace Greeley, he left New York in 1867 and removed to Kansas, taking up his residence in Louis- ville, Pottawatomie County, where he lived for eight years. In 1875 he left Kansas and came to Californi, settling near Visalia, in Tulare County.
In 1877 he was elected County Surveyor of Tulare County, and took up his residence in Visalia, where he has since resided. He was also elected County Assessor in 1882, and is filling the place with satisfaction to all his constituents.
He married Miss Mary L. Anderson, a native of Ohio, in LS70. They have two boys.
CHARLES H. MURPHY, Superintendent of Public Schools of Tulare County, was born January 31, 1854, at High Hill, Ohio, a small town near the Muskingum River, so called from its being situated on the highest point in the State, and is noted for its high mounds and old ruins of an extinct tribe of Indians. His parents who were natives of Loudoun County, Virginia, returned to that State, engaging in agricultural pur- suits, and in the year 1867 removed to southern Iowa, where they are now living. The confused state of the public schools during that period afforded but meagre facilities for a public school education.
In the summer of 1872, after having finished the public
FRONT VIEW OF RESIDENCE.
E
7 "OAKLAND RANCH" PROPERTY OF
WM. H. HAMMOND. 5 MILES
EAST OF TULARE CITY. TULARE CO. CALIP.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CITIZENS.
school course he (Charles H.) entered the Troy Normal School, teaching during the winter, and in 1873 entered the Missouri State Normal School, making his way by alternating, teaching a time and then attending sehool, and in June, 1876, graduated from that institution. In August of the same year he eamc to California, engaged in teaching, the three years previous to his eleetion as Superintendent of Schools of Tulare County, acted as Principal of the Visalia Public Sehools.
J. E. DENNY is one of the popular and influential men of Tulare County. He is a native of Illinois, and eame overland as early as 1854 with an ox-team, as was then the custom, and at onee engaged in mining with others in Sierra County.
He eame to Tulare County in 1859, and was sueeessfully engaged in a ferry and also in mercantile pursuits for a num- ber of years.
In 1873 he was eleeted on the Independent tieket to the office of County Clerk, and in 1875 was elected to that of County Reeorder and Auditor. In 1882 he was elected to the position of County Reeorder. These positions have been ably and satisfactorily filled as is shown by his re-eleetions.
L. GILROY, the County Clerk, keeps the business of the office in neat and comprehensive style, and diseharges the duties of his position with credit to himself and his constituents who eleeted him to that position in 1882, by the largest majority given any candidate.
Mr. Gilroy was engaged in a large general merchandise and commission store. He commenced doing business in Lemoore the 1st of November, 1878. He was previously in business in Kingston, Fresno County, in partnership with E. Jacobs, of Visalia, under the firm name of Gilroy & Co. He made himself suceessful as a merchant by giving more goods and a better quality than any other store in the eounty.
While Mr. Gilroy was living at Kingston, he had an advent- ure with the noted highwayman, Vasquez, who with two others came into his room while he and E. C. Douglas, of Visalia, were eating their suppers, and demanded their money, watches, and the safe key from Mr. Gilroy. Mr. Gilroy knocked one down with a ehair and another with his fist. The third one then knocked Mr. Gilroy down with a six-shooter. They then tied him and Mr. Douglas, taking watches and money from both of those gentlemen. An extended account of Vasquez' oper- ations is given elsewhere.
Mr. Gilroy is a pleasant, genial gentleman, and polite and aeeommodating in his official business eonnected with the office of Clerk.
WILLIAM F. MARTIN was elected Sheriff of Tulare County in November, 1882, by a large majority. He has, sinee he eame into the position, proved himself to possess in a high de- gree the executive ability required in that position and in the discharge of his duties commands the respect of the people.
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