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 47
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 47
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In 1860 Mr. Crabtree married Miss Paulina Moreland, a native of Missouri; she passed away January 12, 1903. Two of their five children are living. Their son, William Crabtree, born in Tulare county in 1861, lives near his father. Their son Thomas was born in Santa Clara county in 1863, and looks after his father's interests. One daughter, Rebecca Maria, died aged about twenty-three, the other two children in early childhood.
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As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Crabtree has always had the high regard of all who have known him. Deeply concerned for the publie welfare. he has never failed to respond promptly and gener- ously to any demand on behalf of the general good. He is honored as a pioneer, as a self-made man and as one who has achieved success honestly and richly deserves it.
ELBERT R. MONTGOMERY
It was in Blount county, Tenn., that Elbert R. Montgomery was born, October 10, 1869. He was educated in the public and high schools, and early began working with his father, being so employed until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He then took up farming and stock-raising, which has commanded his attention to the present time.
In 1892 Mr. Montgomery moved from his old home in Tennessee to Texas, where he bought land and farmed until in 1894, when he came to California. Settling in Fresno county, he engaged in ranching there, remaining four years. In 1897 he removed to Kings county and settled at his present location near Hanford, where with his brother John he rented six hundred and forty acres of land for three years, at which time they purchased it. Later they sold a quarter section of this tract and divided the remainder. At the present time Mr. Montgomery owns two hundred and fifteen acres, which he devotes very successfully to stock-raising. His ranch is one of the best of its class in its vicinity and he gives attention to fine stock, which he handles with a success born of long experience and with an intimate knowledge of breeding conditions and of the market.
Fraternally Mr. Montgomery affiliates with the Woodmen of the World and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the various interests of which he is helpfully devoted, and as a citizen he has shown himself to be possessed of a public spirit equal to any reasonable demand on behalf of the community. He married Laura E. Barnett. December 3, 1905. She was born in Kings county, June 25, 1880, a daughter of Z. T. Barnett of Hanford. They have one child, Elbert Montgomery, who was born October 13, 1906.
WILBUR COOLIDGE
A comparatively late comer to California who achieved success here was Wilbur Coolidge, who lives on rural free delivery route number three, Porterville, Tulare county. Mr. Coolidge was a native
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of the state of Pennsylvania, born December 24, 1849. He was reared and educated in the Keystone state and lived near Wellsboro, until the fall of 1908, when he came to California and located in Tulare county. Most of his years of manhood were passed in the work of a skillful joiner.
In 1873 Mr. Coolidge married Miss Lucy Kimball, of Pennsyl- vania, who has borne him six children: Jennie married S. F. Bellinger and lives in Philadelphia, Pa .; Leon is married and lives in Kent, Ohio; Purley V. is married and a resident of Tulare county, Cal .; Milton, who is married, is associated with his brother Purley in conducting the raneh; Morton, next in order of birth, is in San Franeiseo; Gordon is in school. Mrs. Coolidge's parents, Hiram and Katharine Kimball, have passed away.
Mr. Coolidge bought twenty-six acres of raw land which he set to the best grade of oranges. He was interested in everything that pertained to the uplift of his community, in schools, in ehurehes, and in polities. Especially did the economic questions which have so much to do with the general prosperity invite his thought, and as a voter he considered all things involved very carefully before casting his ballot for specific men or measures. Mr. Coolidge passed away September 10, 1912, aged sixty-three years.
FRANK E. HOWE
Perhaps a man who was born at Silverville, San Mateo county, Cal., January 31, 1853, could not with entire propriety be called a pioneer, but that he was the offspring of pioneers cannot be doubted. The place of his birth does not now appear in the Postoffice Guide, but in those days it was a mining camp and very much alive. When Frank Howe was two years old he was taken by his parents to Mariposa county, when he was seven years old they took him to Santa Clara county, and when he was sixteen years of age he had at least temporarily shaken off the shadow of the parental roof and was working for wages in a sawmill, a hopeful young citizen of a great country, with not so very much behind him but with the whole world before him. In October, 1875, he came to Kings county and in the following year, when he was twenty-three, he was settled on what is now a portion of his home farm and had made a good start with grain-raising and dairying. He has added to his original acreage from time to time until he now owns five hundred and sixty acres. most of it given over to pasture and to alfalfa. Ile is making a success with stock, raising a goodly number of horses and cattle and many hogs.
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In his political affiliations Mr. Howe has been for many years a Republican, devoted heart and soul to the work that has been done by his party and supporting its men and measures in all campaigns and elections. Such political work as he has done has been in the public interest, not to secure official preferment for himself. He has accepted only one office, that of school trustee, which he filled with much ability and credit, using all his influence to improve the school in his vicinity. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, generously helpful to all its interests. May 22, 1877, he married Annie Dibble, who was born in Iowa in 1859 and has a vivid recollection of having crossed the plains in a wagon in 1862 with a train of fourteen wagons drawn by oxen and mules. She is a daughter of Edwin J. and Hannah ( Blend) Dibble, pioneers of Califor- nia. They have children named Edwin H., Albert P., and Chester M. Two died in early childhood. Ernest and Frank both died in 1886.
ROLAND L. KINCAID
The father of R. L. Kincaid was James A. Kincaid, who came across the plains to California in 1850, took up land in Tulare county, about the present site of Tulare City, moved to Springville, and is now living at Porterville, Cal., his wife, Mary Bibbins, having passed away in 1904. Their son was born in Mountain View, Santa Clara county, on October 2, 1871, and in 1879 was taken by his parents to Tulare county, to a home on the ranch on which he now lives. It embraces four hundred and eighty acres and is devoted principally to grain-growing.
In the public school in Frazier valley Mr. Kincaid received his primary education and it was by three years' study in Los Angeles that he attained his graduation. On October 2, 1892, he married Miss Alice Weddle, a native of Washington county, Ind., born in 1873. She has borne him seven children: Gertrude A., Ava L., Harold R., Mary B., Bessie I., and Erma A. Edith died in infancy. The four eldest have finished their grammar school studies. Mrs. Kincaid's father, Arne L. Weddle, a native of Virginia, has passed away; her mother, Lucinda Motsinger Weddle, is living in Dinuba.
As a farmer, Mr. Kincaid is up-to-date in his methods and his success is such as is achieved only by close attention to the work of the farm and by the application of an intimate knowledge of its requirements. Hle is not active in a political way but has the interests of the community at heart and, officially and otherwise, has done much for the school in the Frazier valley district. It is probable
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that no other important question appeals to him so strongly as does that of public education, but there is no demand on his public spirit that does not receive prompt and generous response.
MICHAEL M. LYNCH
In the county of Limerick, Ireland, Michael M. Lynch was born in 1849. There he was reared to manhood and educated and when he was twenty years old, he and a cousin came with his brother, who had been in New York a year, to California via Panama. In his native land he had worked on farms and in order to get a start in America, had made up his mind to come west. California had been his objective point, and in his journey to the other side of the continent he was destined to encounter discouraging vicissitudes. The vessel on which he started was disabled and wrecked and put back into New York harbor twice. Then he made a successful departure and came to San Francisco, arriving in June, 1869. After a short stay in the Bay City, he went to Santa Cruz county, where he remained from late in 1869 until in April, 1873. Then, locating in Tulare county, he pre-empted and homesteaded land and engaged in farming and raising horses, sheep, hogs and cattle and was so suc- cessful that he was enabled to buy land from time to time until he owned more than two thousand acres.
At this time, Mr. Lynch, though he has sold off a considerable acreage, retains a large holding. In the days when he farmed and ran cattle he had many exciting encounters with cattle thieves. He sold the last of his cattle about a year ago and at his ranch, seven miles and a half northeast of Porterville, is living in retirement from active enterprise, or as he expressed it is "taking life easy." He has been too busy to take any active part in political work, but he has always been deeply interested in economic questions and has been ready at all times to do his utmost for the welfare of the community.
In 1885 Mr. Lynch married Miss Fannie Grant, a native of Ire- land, who has been a resident of California since 1880.
W. H. MeCRACKEN
In Hickory county, Mo., W. H. McCracken, the successful orchardist of the Woodlake district of Tulare county, was born February 8, 1861. There he made his home until he was twenty
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years old. Then, after spending some time in West Texas, a year and a half on a range in the Panhandle district, he returned to railroading, in which he had had some experience in his native state. In 1887 he came to San Bernardino, Cal., and after twelve years' residence there began planting orchards. Some of his early work was for F. E. Harding and the J. H. Pattee Land Company, for whom he planted two hundred and fifty acres, the first one hundred and fifty acres thirteen years ago, mostly with his own hands. Having completed this work, he spent a year and a half at Lindsay in orange culture, then came to Woodlake valley for the Woodlake Orchard Company, the first purchase of whose large holdings was a tract of eight thousand acres. It has since made other purchases and has sold off fifteen hundred acres to the Citrus Land Company. Now it has about twenty-five hundred acres in one tract, six hundred acres of which was planted before 1913, when the company planned to plant quite extensively in the near future. Its trees range in age from one year to four or five years.
During recent years Mr. MeCracken has ably filled the position of superintendent. His prominent connection with the business of Captain Thomas of Lindsay is well known. Mrs. MeCracken died some years ago, and he and his son, C. P. MeCracken, live on the Woodlake ranch, which has electric railway connection with Visalia. They are promoting the development of an orange and lemon orchard of thirty-three aeres, twelve of which is devoted to lemons, the balance to oranges. As a citizen Mr. MeCracken is helpful in a truly public- spirited way and is independent in politics and a staunch protector of home industry.
MICHAEL F. ROURKE
A native son of the Emerald Isle, descended from families famous in history and tradition, Michael F. Rourke was born January 22, 1860. He was brought to the United States by his parents in 1863 and lived in the city of New York until 1876, when he came to California and located in the Lakeside district in Kings county. In 1889 he went to Coalinga, Fresno county, where he was engaged in general farming, devoting some of his time to teaming. It is a matter of local history that he hanled the first oil rig set up in that district, and hauled the first oil that was shipped from the oil fields. He owned three hundred and twenty acres of land where the Empire Oil Company and the Castle Oil Company are now operating. There he remained until 1904, prospering fairly and winning honors as a citizen, then came back to Kings county and
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resumed farming here. In 1910 he settled on the land which is now his home place. He owns in all one hundred and sixty acres which he devotes to general farming. The place is improved, has adequate buildings and modern machinery and is operated in a seientifie way that insures the success of its proprietor.
In the Civil war Mr. Rourke's father, William Rourke, won honors as a Federal soldier in the Eighteenth New York Cavalry, Volunteers, and as the son of a veteran he holds membership in the local body of the Sons of Veterans. He affiliates also with the Woodmen of the World and with the Foresters of America. As a citizen he is progressive and public-spirited, ready at all times to do his full share in promotion of the general welfare. He married Miss Ruth E. Garner, November 21, 1885. She was born near Reno, Nev., April 11, 1864. To this worthy couple have been born four daughters: Anna S., wife of W. J. MeDade of Los Angeles; Irene, Ruth E., and Mildred Frances. Irene died in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Rourke have an ever-widening cirele of acquaintances in which they are always welcomed, by reason of their friendly interest in all forward movements and they retain the friendship of all with whom they come in contaet.
JOHN MONTGOMERY
In that picturesque and productive state, Tennessee, in the county of Blount, John Montgomery, a resident of the Hanford distriet of Kings county, Cal., and one of the well-known stockmen of the central part of the state, was born in February, 1861. He attended public school and State Normal school until he was eighteen years old and applied himself with diligence to his studies. Then until he attained his majority he helped his father on the home farm, and his independent career in business was begun as a farmer in his native state, remaining there until 1884, when he came to California. The first two years in this state he passed in the Mussel Slough district, where he and his brother leased a section of land. Subse- quently he lived six years in Fresno county, but returned to the vicinity of Hanford, where he now owns two hundred and sixty-five acres, which he devotes to the raising of cattle, hogs and horses, and in this he has been very successful. He has gradually improved his homestead until it is one of the most valuable and attractive in the district, outfitted with good buildings and all of the accessories requisite to its profitable operation. As a citizen he has proven himself public-spirited and helpful to the best interests of the community. .
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A. FRED DODGE
A native son of Kings county, Cal., who is winning a commendable success on the home soil, is A. Fred Dodge, who is descended from old American families and whose family name has been prominent in all periods of the history of the United States. He was born July 22, 1877, and attended the public schools until he was fifteen years old and after that he gave his services to his father until he was twenty-one, at which time he was deeded a tract of land. He was his father's partner, and they gave their attention to dry farming, hog-raising and dairying, in which they were very successful. In 1907 Mr. Dodge moved on his eighty-acre tract, which he has developed into a fine ranch and home, with a good residence and barns and ample ontbuildings of all kinds. His methods of cultiva- tion are thoroughly scientific and he is probably as successful as a breeder of hogs as any rancher in his vicinity.
On October 3, 1901, Mr. Dodge married Miss Nellie E. Van Vlear, a native of Michigan, born December 14, 1879, who was brought to California by her parents when she was about three years old. Mrs. Dodge has had three children who are here mentioned in the order of their birth: Richard V., Doris and Dortha. Doris died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Dodge take an interest in all that pertains to the public welfare and are generously helpful to all propositions promulgated for the general good. Ile has served his fellow townsmen as a trustee of schools and as such has been influential in elevating the local stan- dard of education. He is a member of the Independent Order of Red Men, in the work of which he is practically interested.
JOHN WHITMORE DOCKSTADER
A splendid example of the selfmade, self-reliant man, who from early boyhood has earned his own livelihood, is John Whitmore Dock- stader, now prominent as a business man and an official at Lemoore, Kings county. He was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., November 23, 1870, but was reared in Missouri, where he had been taken by his parents when a small boy. When he was fourteen years old he found himself obliged to earn his way and going to Nebraska he worked there for abont a year and then went to Barton county, Mo., remaining there three years. At this time he had reached his nineteenth year and he decided to come to California and in 1889 he stopped at Tulare where he remained twelve months and later engaged at farming near Porterville for two or three years. For the next five years he conducted a store and bakery at Porterville, but gave that up and
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during the ensuing four years he was in the barber business at San Francisco, whence he came to Lemoore in 1899 to open a barber shop, which he conducted nntil he became a partner in the grocery business of L. S. Stepp. After four years he disposed of his interest in the grocery business to Stepp and bought back his barber shop, which he operated a year. In 1903 he bought the draying business of Mrs. Thomas Winsett at Lemoore, in which his brother, Hiram Dock- stader, soon acquired a half interest. Besides doing a general draying and moving business they handle ice in large quantities, distributing it throughout the city. Their enterprise requires the use of four wagons and teams, besides a big Packard motor truck which was the first brought to Kings county.
In 1899 Mr. Doekstader bought eighty acres of land three miles south of Lemoore on which he raises stock and alfalfa. He has also an eighty-acre dairy ranch, mostly under alfalfa, and milks fifty cows. This land he rents on a cash basis, as he does also forty acres, nine miles south, for farming purposes. He has found time from his business to devote to the public welfare, and in 1909 accepted appoint- ment as city trustee of Lemoore, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of that office by his old grocery partner, L. S. Stepp; at the expiration of the term he was elected to the same office for the ensuing term. In 1908 he was elected a member of the school board of Lemoore. Fraternally he associates with the Circle, and with the Woodmen of the World. In 1894 he married Miss Luln Kelly, a native of Tulare, and a daughter of H. C. Kelly, who long farmed at Porterville and who now makes his home with his sons. Hiram Dockstader, father of John W., is a member of his son's honsehold. He was born in New York state, married Lonada Whitmore, and came to Kings county in 1908. John W. and Luln (Kelly) Dock- stader have two children- Lansford and John W. Dockstader, Jr.
CARL AUGUST PETERSON
The prominent orange grower of Tulare county, Cal., whose name is sufficient to direct attention to this brief narrative of his life, was born in Sweden in 1871 and when he was nineteen years old came to the United States. He first located in Iowa, whence he moved to Humboldt county, Cal., in 1891. There he remained seven- teen years, conducting a dairy business and was foreman in a mechanic's shop at Ferndale. In the fall of 1908 he came to Tulare county and bought twenty-five acres of land. His first work here was the planting of thirty acres to trees for others. The entire
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product of his place is divided between Valencia and Navel oranges which are just coming into bearing.
In 1902 Mr. Peterson married Miss Theoline Swanson, who has borne him three children: Ivan L. and Edna H., in school, and Paul Wesley. A progressive man of great public spirit Mr. Peterson is as solicitous for the welfare of the community as for the success of his own enterprise and never fails to respond to any reasonable demand upon him for the general good.
A. J. WOODS
In Andrew county, Mo., A. J. Woods, of Tulare county, Cal., was born. The time of his birth was October 5, 1845, and he came to California in the spring of 1863, when he was between sixteen and seventeen years old. The youth settled near the site of Lodi, San Joaquin county, where he developed to manhood and farmed till 1888. Then he came to Tulare county and located at Waukena and went into wheat raising. Ile gradually increased the volume of his business until he was farming, some years, as many as two thousand acres. In 1890 he bought his present ranch of one hundred and ninety acres at Tulare, a productive dairy and alfalfa farm, which he now rents out. He has always raised fine horses, and recently sold a two- year-old colt for $250.
Miss Eva Pierson, a native of Indiana, whom Mr. Woods wedded in 1872, bore him children as follows: Albert B., of Stockton, Minnie and Claude E. His present wife-their marriage was celebrated in 1907-was Miss Lizzie Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are active members of the Tulare Grange, in which they have held many offices. For thirty-five years (since 1877) he has been a Granger, nearly all the time holding high positions in the organization. In fact he is one of the oldest Grangers in the state. Tulare Grange No. 198 was instituted in 1886 and now includes sixty members. It has been an instrument for the promotion of many public interests, one of its notable achievements having been its agency in securing the Sequoia National Park, in the mountains. The Mooney Grove Park, north of Tulare, was promoted by Tulare Grange and a committee of its members will handle the money raised by the board of super- visors for the improvement of the property. In a general way, this Grange has, during the last twelve years, done much to better high- ways in the county and to bring about the construction of good roads. Mrs. Woods was its worthy master in 1911. Its officers were in 1912: Master, Mrs. C. A. Sayer; lecturer, Mrs. A. J. Woods; overseer, Mrs. L. C. Lawson; steward, Frank Stiles; assistant stew-
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ard, Thomas Jacobs; chaplain, Mrs. Emma Loman; treasurer, George Watts; secretary, Mrs. Bertha Morris; gatekeeper, A. J. Woods. Mr. Woods is a Mason. In San Joaquin county he served for some years as a member of the board of education of his town.
PHILLIP AULMAN
Another of those good German citizens who have so nobly done their part in the development of California was Phillip Aulman, who came to the state in 1855 and died at Visalia, Tulare county, in July, 1910. Born in the Fatherland in 1827, he came to America when he was twenty-two years old and in 1849 he settled in Iowa and engaged in farming. After six years there he came across the plains to California, where he put in his first twelve months at mining, meeting with indifferent success in the venture. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming and dairying near Snisun, Solano county, and later he operated in the vicinity of Gilroy, Santa Clara county. At length he went back to Iowa, farming there until 1864, when he went to Oregon and Washington, and there prospered as a dairyman. He came again to this state in 1869 and lived for a time in the Packwood district, Tulare county, whence he subsequently moved to the vicinity of Visalia, which was his home for many years, and where his widow now resides. There he engaged in dairying and developed a farm of a hundred and sixty acres.
In 1850, five years before he started overland from Iowa to California, Mr. Aulman married Miss Parthenia E. Hughes, a native of Indiana, born in 1833. Her experiences enable her to relate many interesting incidents of their trip across the plains. She is one of the dependable business women of Tulare county, recognizing all responsibilities and discharging all obligations, carrying out very ably the plans made by her late husband for the conduct and improve- ment of the home interests.
LOUIS F. PLATT
This progressive and popular architect and contractor of Tulare City, Cal., was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1874, and began his education in the public schools of his native city. After a five years' course of study he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was fitted for the professions of architect and civil engineer. He devoted himself to a practice of the two
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