USA > California > Kings County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 26
USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 26
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About 1868 Mr. Booker moved to De Kalb county, Mo., and engaged in building until 1874, when he came to California. He stopped at Los Angeles, but soon settled at San Bernardino, where he lived seven years operating extensively as a contractor and builder and he erected there the county court house, the Congregational and Baptist churches, some school houses and several fine residences. He was the builder of the first house at Redlands, the latter the property of Frank Brown, civil engineer, who constructed the reser- voir through which Redlands is supplied with water. Mr. Booker had to grub out sage brush before he could lay the foundation of the building, and he and his men boarded themselves, for there was no one living in the vicinity. In 1887 he sold his property at San Bernardino and removed to Hanford, buying a one hundred and sixty- acre ranch northeast of the town, where he farmed until 1892, and then sold his land and built himself a residence in town. He was very active in securing county division of Tulare county and the partition of Kings county in that year, and assisted with his own means to finance the movement. Indeed there was no other man at Hanford who was more influential to these ends than was he. He personally
Elizo Anu Ragle
E . T . Racha
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canvassed every home in the county to ascertain if a two-thirds vote for the new county would be possible if a favorable bill should be passed by the legislature. After this matter was settled he visited the World's Fair at Chicago. Since then he has lived in Hanford, which when he first saw it in 1887 was a mere hamlet containing but one store and in the prosperity of which he has been a potent factor. In 1893 he bought twelve acres of fruit land and, having suffered a stroke of paralysis which incapacitated him for work, retired from active business. When the "Old Bank" at Hanford was established he was its first depositor, having until then done his banking at Visalia.
On November 27, 1854, Mr. Booker married Miss Sarah E. Carr, at Medford, Mass. Mrs. Booker, who was a native of Massachusetts, bore her husband two children, Everett S., of Hanford, and Sarah Elizabeth, who has passed away. Everett S. Booker married Edith O'Brien and they have a daughter, Mary Florence. Mr. Booker is identified with MePherson Post, G. A. R., of Hanford, and is a Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Mason, and he and Mrs. Booker were charter members of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Booker being past worthy matron.
EMANUEL T. RAGLE
A true type of the self-made man is evidenced in the career of Emanuel T. Ragle, who now lives one mile east of Naranjo, in Tulare county, Cal. He was born May 8, 1833, back in Tennessee, in Hawkins county, and there attended public schools after he was old enough until he was eighteen years old, when he went to In- diana. After remaining there but a short time, he went to Iowa. where his residence was likewise brief. He returned to Indiana and from there started for California in 1854 and drove an ox-team across the plains for $10 a month and his board. He located near Redding, Shasta county, Cal., but soon went into the mines in Men docino county. Meeting with but indifferent success there, he made his way to Sonoma county, where he farmed until 1863. Returning to Mendocino county, he remained there a year and in 1865 came to Tulare county, and after a couple of years spent on Outside creek near the dam, he came to his present location, where he bought eighty acres of land. Soon afterward he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, and by subsequent purchases he has increased his holdings to seven hundred and seventy-five acres, notwithstanding he has in the meantime sold two hundred and thirty-five acres. Ho has devoted his land to grain, and raises cattle, horses and hogs, and in each one of these several fields of endeavor he has done well.
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When he came to the county, nearly all the farming was in grain, settlement had not far advanced and improvements were few and widely scattered. He had his initial experience with grain and has followed the development of agriculture, sometimes keeping in ad- vance of it, thus profiting by every new development and having advantage of every innovation.
Beginning life with $1.50 capital, Mr. Ragle has worked and persevered, triumphing over difficulties as he has met them until he is now one of the prosperous men in his community. It is probable that two causes above all others have contributed to this achievement. He has at all times been what we are pleased to call a hustler, aggres- sive, active and up-to-date, and he has at the same time been always a Christian gentleman, devoted to the honorable dealings and the uplift of his community. He is widely known throughout the sur- rounding country for the high grade of his stock and he keeps usually about one hundred head of cattle and forty to fifty head of horses. The schools of his community have been his constant care, and he has done much to advance them.
Mr. Ragle married, September 23, 1858, Miss Eliza Ann Moffett, a native of Tennessee, who was brought early in life to Califor- nia, and she has borne him thirteen children, nine daughters and four sons, all of whom are living, and all of whom are native sons and daughters of California. Mrs. Ragle's father was Hamilton Moffett, of Scotch-Irish blood, who died in Missouri when Mrs. Ragle was four years old. Her mother was Charlotte Bunn, born in Vir- ginia, who died in Tulare county. Mr. and Mrs. Ragle are the proud grandparents of half a hundred grandchildren, and twelve great- grandchildren.
The father of Emanuel T. was George H. Ragle, born in Virginia and died in Tennessee. Ilis grandfather was born in Germany and settled in Virginia, where he was accidentally drowned.
JOHN DAVIS TYLER
J. D. Tyler was the oldest living representative of the original settlers on Tule river, Tulare county, Cal., and had been engaged in agricultural pursuits and the stock business here since 1859 and as a pioneer is entitled to a more than passing mention in the history of the county. Mr. Tyler was born in Marcellus, Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1827, the son of Job Tyler, a farmer and a minister of the Seventh Day Baptist denomination. His early life was rather migratory, his father going to Ohio in 1834 and to St. Joseph county, Mich., in 1836. Educational advantages in those days were limited
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and young Tyler's schooling was confined to the three months winter term, not infrequently being detained at home to accomplish some work on the farm and not attending school at all after his fourteenth year.
In 1851, with his father and brother James, Mr. Tyler started for California via New York and the Isthmus of Panama. Their steamer was the first to land emigrants at Aspinwall. At Panama they embarked on the English brig Tryphenia, with one hundred and thirty passengers, the vessel being much overloaded and having only a meager supply of water and stores. The sufferings on that terrible journey of sixty-five days from Panama to San Diego were intense. The last thirty days they had no bread and only one-half pint of water per day to the man. Their small allowance of peas or beans must be soaked in salt water or the greasy slush that came from the cook room. For twenty days they nearly starved and Mr. Tyler's father contracted disease to which he succumbed while in port at San Diego and was there laid to rest. J. D. Tyler and his brother then reshipped for San Francisco, arriving there February 29, 1852, just four months after leaving New York. They went to the mines at Nevada City and followed life in the mining eamps either in boarding house work or in actual mine workings of their own until 1859, when, hearing that cattle were selling in Tulare county, they started for Tule river with a view to purehas- ing and driving to the mines. Upon their arrival they found the statement to be without foundation, and, in partnership with Len Redfield, they settled on Tule river and engaged in the stock busi- ness. This association continued until 1865, when Mr. Redfield withdrew and the Tyler brothers continued in partnership until 1871, when they separated, J. D. Tyler remaining on the river. ITis home place of one hundred and sixty aeres was homesteaded under the first homestead act or law in 1864. He later added to his orig- inal holdings, and owned two hundred aeres, much of which he. farmed to grain and fruit. He was also largely interested in horses and eattle and rented two sections of land for stoek range.
Mr. Tyler was married at Visalia in 1864 to Miss Mary J. Me- Kelvey, a native of Pennsylvania and the daughter of George Mc- Kelvey, who came to California in 1852 by way of Cape Horn. They had five children, Clyde D., Carl R., Chris W., Corda F. (danghter) and Clair H. Mr. Tyler was a charter member of the Farmers' Alliance, belonging to the Porterville branch, of which he was the first president. He never sought the emoluments of office and always avoided every suggested nomination. He was the first Republican on Tule river, and in 1859 his was the only Re- publican vote cast out of the thirty-one cast at that time. When the county was filled with Southern sympathizers in 1861 he stood
.
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firm in his convictions and was only the more respected for loyalty to his country.
At his home, two miles east of Porterville, Tulare county. J. D. Tyler passed away November 18, 1895, at the age of sixty- seven years and eleven months. Religiously he was not bound by any creed, but he believed and followed implicitly the Golden Rule : "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Politically he was a stanch Repub- lican, ever ready to battle for the cause. Too much a lover of home to care for the emoluments of office, yet he was ever ready to work and aid the ones whom he believed were the best fitted to hold the reins of government, and if they were defeated he always bowed to the inevitable and gave the victors all honor and support. Moral- ly, he was an earnest, conscientious citizen. As every nation must have soldiers to defend its honor and maintain its rights, so every town or precinct must have its citizens to uphold its integrity. Citi- zens who realize that the moral atmosphere of the country permeates the homes and adds or detracts from their happiness and glory recognized such a citizen was Mr. Tyler. His influence and work were ever in the cause of temperance, and he always by his own acts strove to influence the young to walk morally upright, and gave his aid and countenance to the uplift of humanity. His sickness was of long standing, dating really from the hardships endured in coming to California. His system never rallied from the strain then received. In 1893 he began to fail perceptibly and in 1894 he gave up work en- tirely and after going to the polls on November 6 he did not again leave his home. In his death his country has lost a loyal, zealous citizen, his town an earnest worker for its good, his neighbors a faithful, true-hearted friend, his children a noble-hearted father. his wife a faithful, loving, trusting companion, and each and all mourn his earthly loss. On the afternoon of the 20th of November services were held at the homestead by Rev. J. G. Eckels, pastor of the Congregational church, and, surrounded by his most intimate friends and loving relatives, he was laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery in which he took so much interest and of which he was president and superintendent for many years.
SLEEP, OLD PIONEER!
When the hill of life was steepest, When the forest frown was deepest. Poor but young, you hastened here, Came when solid hope was cheapest; Came a pioneer.
Huntley
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Toil had never cause to doubt you, Progress' path you helped to clear, And your wonder works outlast you, Sleep, old pioneer!
JOHN HOLMES HUNTLEY
A pioneer of 1852, a busy and patriotically active citizen since 1865, John Holmes Huntley, of Visalia, Tulare county, was ever a factor in the upbuilding of his community whose influence has been potent all along. Born in Canajoharie, N. Y., September 7, 1829, a son of Oliver D. and Mary (Stark) Huntley, he was educated in the public schools of his native county and at Ames academy, and to a considerable extent in a bookstore in Albany, N. Y., where he was employed two years. His father was a native of Stonington, R. I., and his mother was born in Connecticut, a daughter of Joshua Stark, a farmer, who passed away in New York. John Holmes Huntley was but six years old when his mother died. His father was brought up to the mercantile business and sold goods many years; his second wife was a sister of his first. By each marriage he had six children. He died at the age of sixty-five years.
John H. Huntley was the third child of his father by the first marriage and inherited industry and thrift from ancestors who had behind them unnumbered ancestors of Scotch blood. In 1852, when he was abont twenty-three years old, he started for California by way of the Niearagna route and arrived in November that year. In the Sonora mining district he kept busy and made some money buying and selling stoek till October, 1861, when he enlisted for Federal service in the Civil war in Company E, Second California Cavalry. He was mustered in at San Francisco, was on duty for a time against Indians on the northern border, was transferred to Tulare county, served at the time of the Owens River outbreak, acting as sergeant major of a detail of his regiment, and was mustered out in 1864 after a continuous service of three years and four days. In the mines of Nevada he speculated a year after the war, then returned to Tulare connty and engaged in loaning money in Tulare, Kern and Fresno connties. From time to time he bought land till he owned eight hundred and forty acres in the San Joaquin valley, mostly devoted to stock-raising, and acquired a fine residence on the Mineral King road, two miles east of Visalia.
In politics a Republican, Mr. Huntley served his party in various offices of trust, having been internal revenue collector for Tulare. 16
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Kern, Invo and Fresno counties for five years, until the office was abolished, and was also gauger of liquors and surveyor of stills until he resigned. He was a member of Gen. Wright Post, G. A. R., of Visalia.
On Angust 3, 1879, Mr. Huntley married, at San Rafael, Nina R. Willfard, born at Sonthampton, Eng., and they were the parents of two sons: Willfard H. and Chester S. In 1900 he moved his family temporarily to Berkeley, in order to afford his children good ednca- tional advantages. In all matters that have advanced the social, political and educational welfare of Tulare connty Mr. Huntley was always eagerly helpful, evidencing a publie spirit commensurate with his conspicuous integrity. He passed away at the home ranch near Visalia, February 24, 1912.
When the old high school in Visalia was built, Mr. Huntley bonght the entire issue of the bonds, amounting to $40,000, and as they ran from one to forty years, some of them have twenty-five years yet in which to mature. He invested largely in ranch property in Tulare connty, his first purchase of this kind being the Lewis Creek ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, which he later sold. One of his holdings was the Cross ranch at Bakersfield, a hundred and sixty acres; another, a second ranch in the Bakersfield neighborhood, a hundred and sixty acres, and both of these he rented. He bought the Cameron Creek ranch of a hundred and sixty acres, stoek and timber land, and gave it to his son Chester S. Three hundred acres of the old Dr. Halsted ranch he bought and transferred to his wife and son. Mrs. Huntley and her son have also large ranch holdings in Tulare and Kern counties and are extensively engaged in stock-raising.
There is one feature of Mr. Huntley's biography of which he seldom talked in later days, yet which should be made a matter of record. Before the railroad came, he rode pony express three trips a month between Visalia and Fort Tejon.
GEORGE W. KNOX
The well-known and popular proprietor of the general merchan- dise business in Orosi, Cal., which enjoys such a flourishing and grat- ifying trade there, is George W. Knox, whose influence in the commer- cial, industrial and political fields in this state as well as in the middle states has been most effectively exerted. Unusual executive ability, a most sagacions reasoning power, a clear mind and the forceful spirit to bring to a successful issne all that he set out to accomplish have been the means of Mr. Knox's brilliant achievements in the po- litical field, and the state of Minnesota especially has reason to hold
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him in high esteem and to ever silently thank him for his activities toward the welfare of that vicinity.
A native of Columbia county, Wis., the son of George and Julia A. (Jackson) Knox, George W. was born November 20, 1852. His parents were both natives of Essex county, N. Y., coming to Wisconsin at an early day and settling down to farming for a long period of years. Persevering, hard-working people, they here reared their family and became well-to-do farmers of their day, giving to their children the benefits of a good education and imparting to them that rare good training which has made of so many of our citizens the well-balanced men they are today. The latter years of their life was spent in California whence they had come in 1904, and in Grangeville the father passed away, at the age of ninety-three years, his widow dying a short time later at Orosi at the same age.
At the common and high schools of Kilbourn, Wis., George W. Knox received his educational training, working during the summers with his father on the home farm. Mercantile life early attracted him and upon graduation from school he became clerk in a drug store for a few years, later embarking in that business for himself at Elroy. Wis., which engaged his entire time for several years. In 1874 with his brother he drove across the plains to Boise City, Idaho, hut remained here but a short time, returning east to locate in Aitkin. Minn., where his brother D. J. Knox was then living. His career here covered the period between 1876 and 1908, during which time he became a central figure in industrial and political circles, and he- came most prominent through his efforts in the legislature to bring about the improvement of many conditions there. With his brother D. J. Knox he engaged in the wholesale and retail mercantile busi- ness. lumbering and logging, which they carried on until the former's death; he then continued alone until his removal to California. at that time selling out the business. A stanch Republican in political senti- ment. he soon became prominent in local affairs in Minnesota, and held the office of county auditor, being later superintendent of schools in Aitkin county. His exceptional ability soon attracted the attention of politicians, and he was elected to serve for two years on the State Board of Equalization, which office he filled with such satisfaction to his constituents that he received the election to the State Legislature for the term of 1907-08, and served two years as member of the staff of Governor VanSant, with rank of colonel. He was chairman of Aitkin County Central Committee for years and during his incum- bency many long-felt wants of the county were fulfilled, the county being benefited in many directions by his presence on this committee. With all movements tending to the growth and development of Min- nesota and the surrounding country Mr. Knox had a great interest, and was usually instrumental in aiding in their furtherance. He had
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many opportunities in his business to find these deficiencies and his experience in the lumbering business had taught him the value of cer- tain conditions which he sought to bring about.
For many years the business of Mr. Knox in Aitkin was the lum- bermen's headquarters in this country, they being the most extensive ontfitters in that section in their day. After relinquishing his interests here in 1908 he decided to come to California, whence his parents had preceded him, and accordingly came to Orosi, which has since been his place of residence. In Minnesota, Mr. Knox had married Ella H. Smith, a native of Illinois, who passed away in Minnesota, and one son was born to this union, Walter DeF. Upon arriving in Orosi, Cal., he investigated conditions there, finally deciding to establish himself in his own line of business, and on January 1, 1909, the busi- ness of Bump & Knox was begun, dealing in lumber and builders' snp- plies, and this has grown and increased to such an extent that a whole- sale and retail business is carried on, Mr. Knox now being sole pro- prietor. He has a general merchandise business in connection and enjoys a wide and profitable trade, gaining his patronage chiefly by his sagacious handling of his wares and his courteous yet business-like manner.
In 1909 Mr. Knox married in Los Angeles, Christina (Thompson) Smith, and they make their home in Orosi, being well-known mem- bers of society there. Mr. Knox has been a prominent Mason in Minnesota as well as in California; he is a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason and Knight Templar of York Rite, member of Osman Temple of St. Paul, Minn., and past master of Blue lodge at Aitkin, Minn .; member of the Knights of Pythias of Orosi; and is also a member of the Blue lodge of Masons of Orosi. He has one sister, Mrs. S. J. Knowlton, widow of E. G. Knowlton, who is residing in Orosi.
It is of interest to add that Mr. Knox has become very interested in drainage systems in Minnesota, and his entrance into the legislature was for the furtherance of the project to secure appropriations for that purpose. During his term of service $400,000 was secured under his hill, and the appropriation has been continned ever since under the same ratio, thus perpetuating the influence and accomplishments of its loyal instigator and friend. Mr. Knox's career has spelled power and snecess from its inception, and he has earned the deepest grati- tude and admiration of all who have come to know him.
WILLIAM E. GOBLE
In Coles county, Ill., November 18, 1872, William E. Goble, now a resident of Tulare county, two and one-half miles east of Orosi, was born. Hle is widely known as a pioneer in this section and as
BENJAMIN HICKS
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a successful nurseryman. When he was nineteen years old he went to Labette county, Kans., where he lived six years. From that state W. E. Goble came to Tulare county, where he bought sixty acres of an old place on which an orchard had been established abont 1871. He now has four thousand small orange trees and ten thousand grape vines in three varieties, six thousand Malagas, three thousand Thompsons and one thousand Emperors, all of which he intends using on his own place. He has nine acres of Emperor grapes, six acres of Malagas and four acres of Muscats. He is gradually working out of the nursery business and caring for his own land. Water is made available from wells from which it is drawn by means of rotary pumps, and a continual flow of thirty inches assures him a sufficient quantity for the entire place.
While he was living in Kansas, Mr. Goble married Miss Ida Stoddard, a native of Indiana, and they have two children, Gladys and Reva Goble. His parents were John and Catherine (Reynolds) Goble, the former now living in Kansas and the latter died in Illinois in 1890. Politically he is an industrial organizer and socially he affiliates with the Fraternal Brotherhood of America. He holds membership in the Baptist church. As a citizen he is progressive and public-spirited. willing at all times to contribute liberally to the support of any measure which in his opinion promises to benefit the community at large.
BENJAMIN HICKS
A descendant from old Canadian families, Benjamin Hicks was born in Toronto, Canada, December 30, 1847, and grew to maturity and acquired his education in the city of his nativity. It was in 1869 that he set out to seek his fortune. Crossing the line into the United States he made his way through the heart of the West and located in Tulare county, Cal., and settled on a ranch a mile and a half north of Visalia. From there he moved in 1884 to an eight hundred-acre stock and grain ranch on the Smith road and on rural free delivery route No. 2 of the Visalia postal district. There he farmed nine years, saving considerable money, a portion of which he invested in an eighty-acre grain tract, and in another tract of one hundred acres two miles Northeast of Visalia. From the time of his settlement in Tulare county until his death, June 9, 1900, a period of about a quarter of a century, he was identified with the agricultural
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