Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 11

One of the native sons of California who has been very successful in having improved a fine ranch and established a good dairy, with plenty of choice alfalfa, is Frank T. Johnson, who was born near Hanford, Kings County, February 25, 1882. His father, Samuel Johnson, was born in Tennessee, and came to California across the plains. He first located at Modesto, and then moved to Kings County, where he bought land near Hanford. He next homesteaded 160 acres between Dinuba and Kingsburg, and there he planted grain and raised stock. After a while he moved back to Hanford, where he farmed until he died, in 1883. Frank was then eighteen months old. His mother was Elizabeth A. Brady of Tennessee before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were married in Tennessee, and came West as a young married couple. Now Mrs. Johnson resides in Fresno, the mother of ten children, seven of whom have grown up.

Frank, the youngest of all, was brought up on the farm near Hanford until he was twelve years old, and then he removed to the Dinuba farm. He attended the public school, but he also learned grain farming and viticulture. He became the owner of a part of the old home, sold it and bought twenty-five acres of it, which he set out as a peach orchard and a vineyard of Sultana and Thompson seedless grapes. When he had conducted that six years, he sold once more, and in 1909 removed to Tranquility.

The country was new, so he bought sixty acres of raw land, which he leveled and checked to alfalfa. He engaged for a while in dairying, but later he sold the dairy. He bought more land, and has made a specialty of raising hay. Now he has 125 acres, and no better could anywhere be found.

In February, 1918, he purchased twenty acres on Marks and Church avenues, and moved there and began to cultivate vines. He also commenced to raise olives, and in both fields he made a success. He sold out in May, 1919, and moved back to his Tranquility ranch.

At Sacramento Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Effie Maude Shutt, a native of Indiana, and three children have blessed their union. They are Dolores, Eleanor and Louis.