Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 4 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 39

A successful California rancher who not only has been a close observer and an untiring student in endeavoring to learn how best to care for vines and orchards, but through mastering a knowledge of Fresno County soils has become well posted as a horticulturist and viticulturist, is Emmett G. Richmond, the son of Theodore W. Richmond. The father went from Indiana, where he was born, to Iowa, where he homesteaded; and when the war broke out between the North and the South, he was among the first to volunteer to stand by Lincoln, and he was made captain of Company H of the Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which he had organized. He did valiant service at the siege of Vicksburg, and was later laid up through exposure to malaria. Returning to the avocations of peace, he farmed in Scotland County, Mo., and there he died, aged sixty-seven years. The family originally came from New York State, where the name is most favorably known.

Theodore Richmond married Elvira Irish, a daughter of the Hoosier State, whose parents, of the long line of Mayflower stock, came from Connecticut. She died in Missouri, greatly honored, the mother of ten children; six of whom have grown to maturity. The youngest of those still living is Emmett.

He was brought up on a farm, and attended the public schools, and with his parents, he remained, assisting at the farm work, until he was twenty-three years of age. On February 4, 1891, he was married near Memphis to Miss Minnie N. Easterday, who was born in Columbus, Ohio. She came to Scotland County, Mo., with her parents D. L. and Nancy (Warren) Easterday. After his marriage Mr. Richmond began to farm for himself. He bought a farm, but sold it again in 1904, when he came to California.

The first purchase consisted of twenty acres three miles west of Fresno on California Avenue, where he engaged in viticulture and horticulture, but promising as was the outlook, circumstances led him to return to Missouri at the end of three years, when he bought a farm there. At the end of two years, however, he had sold out and was back again in California — like so many thousands of other folk, who have once fallen under the charm of the Golden State; and it was then that he secured his present place of twenty acres on Clinton Avenue in the Montpelier tract. The land needed much improvement, and Mr. Richmond, through his experience and industry, gave it just what was needed.

He later bought twelve and a half acres in the Roeding Villa Colony on Clinton Avenue. He leveled it and set out a peach orchard and vineyard, planting Thompson seedless, peaches and olives; and although he disposed of some of the property in 1916, he still owns twenty acres, and a fine residence built in the fall of 1918. He also owns some valuable property in Fresno, consisting of a residence and several lots. He is a member and a stockholder of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and also of the California Associated Raisin Company.

Two children were born to bless this happy union; but one, Anna Idell, died in her eleventh year — in the fall of 1904. Edna Pearl, the other daughter, is now the wife of Adam Robbins of Fresno. The family attend the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Fresno; and Mr. Richmond belongs to Lodge No. 158 of the Odd Fellows in Fresno.

A Republican in matters of national political import, Mr. Richmond has shown his desire to cast party lines aside in the support of local movements, and has served two terms as school trustee in the Roeding district.