Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 4 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 41

-Many of Fresno County's citizens have come from east of the Rockies, but there are others who are native to California, and these have taken care that the reputation of the State has not suffered. By their sterling qualities and progressive tendencies, they have but added to the advancement of this section, and the county is noted for its splendid citizenship. Among those who have given a good account of themselves, is William F. Strader.

He was born in San Francisco. Cal., January 4, 1876. His father, William, was a native of Ohio, who crossed the plains in the early sixties, locating in San Francisco. There he engaged in teaming, contracting and grading with Charles 'Warren as a partner. They followed this work for a number of years, and were vitally connected with the growth of the Golden Gate city in the days when the people were living in tents. In 1884 Mr. Strader came to Fresno County and was one of the founders of the Pleasant Valley Stock Farm, located near Coalinga. At that time most of this ranch was devoted to grain-raising. Following this. Mr. Strader homesteaded eighty acres southeast of Coalinga, and engaged in grain-raising. He was a man who made many friends, and was always loyal to California and to Fresno County. He was married to Amelia Correll, who died in 1914, and he died on the ranch in the spring of 1918. There were five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Strader: Mrs. Lena Wallace, of Dinuba; William Franklin of this review; Mrs. Lillian Kurtz of Lemoore; Mrs. Jessie Walker, deceased; and John J. of Coalinga. Wm. F. Strader came to Fresno County in 1884 and received a good education in the public schools. He started in when a very young man to farm, and has continued in that same business ever since. For a while he engaged in teaming to the oil fields between seasons in early days of oil development. He has farmed from two to five hundred acres of rented land on the plains to grain, and has also done a lot of contract work for other grain farmers. In 1918 he had 160 acres in Egyptian corn, which averaged one ton to the acre; and forty acres in barley, which averaged sixteen sacks to the acre. He leases about 1,000 acres which he devotes to grain farming and also owns 180 acres of range land southeast of Coalinga. He makes his home on the old home ranch. He is very loyal to Fresno County, where he has lived since a boy of eight years of age, and is a successful farmer and a good citizen.