Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 5 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 13

A brilliant Easterner who made a distinguished place for himself in industrial, commercial, and financial circles, thereby ruining his health by overapplication to work and duty, and who found in California's wonderful climate a temporary relief, was William J. Possons, who died in April, 1917, leaving a widow who, with the aid of her gifted son, has shown marked ability and achieved success in the management of his estate. He was born at Ballston Spa, N. Y., November 5, 1855, and reared there until he was nine years of age, when he removed to Sterling, in the same State, and grew up on a farm, at the same time attending the public school. Later, he went to Auburn, and there entered the academic high school, from which he was graduated with honors. He was foreman for Hayden & Smith, and after a while removed to Cleveland, where for fifteen years he showed his unquestioned ability as the superintendent of the Brush Electric Works. Discovering that he had both a liking and a talent for financial operations, he joined the staff of the Garfield Savings Bank, in Cleveland, and for about eleven years was auditor of its many different branches.

On account of impaired health brought about through overwork. Mr. Possons resigned from his position of responsibility, and in 1908 came to California. He had made a couple of trips to the Coast on previous occasions, and so had become familiar with the state, and he was not long in selecting Fresno County as the section appealing most to his experience and judgment. He bought what has become the family ranch, containing a six-year-old vineyard of wine grapes, with eighty acres on Belmont Avenue, eleven miles east of Fresno, where he located and built his home. He put up a fine new residence in modern style, and replaced the wine grapes with muscat, Malaga, and Thompson seedless grapes, and prepared to get what he could out of life as a proper reward for his years of wearying activity.

Thus comfortably situated, Mr. Possons appeared to have in prospect a fair lease of life, but on April 10, 1917, to the deep regret of his many friends, he passed away, an honored and devoted husband, father and citizen, and a deeply religious man. He was always patriotically interested in civic affairs, and as a Republican was invited to the councils of his party.

At Auburn, N. Y., December 30, 1870, Mr. Possons married Miss Mary J. Conner, a native of that city, and the daughter of Joseph and Mathilda (Steel) Conner, natives of Belfast, Ireland, and members of the ( Grange party, who had married there, and come to New York, where Mr. Conner was a boot-and-shoe-maker. Mr. Conner enlisted in the Union army of the Civil War, and was a member of the Seventy-fifth Regiment of New York State Infantry Volunteers, and saw valiant service in the Battle of Cedar Creek and other engagements. At the end of eighteen months, and at the close of the war, he received his honorable discharge. Mrs. Possons was educated at the Auburn Academic High School. Three children were horn to this highly esteemed couple: Martha Adla died when she was ten years old; Milton Howlet assists his mother at the home ranch, having married Gladys McNab, by whom he has had two children, George Allen and Evelyn M.; and Marion Elida has been attending Mills College, from which she was graduated with the Class of 1918. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Possons has operated the ranch with the aid of her son, and has supported every movement for the advancement of local agricultural interests, and, in particular, the California Associated Raisin Company.