Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 38

A man who is fully qualified to bring about the best results in road-making is Joseph E. Gruwell, a native son, born in Lakeport. Lake County, Cal, February 25, 1870. He is a descendant of an old pioneer family, his grandfather, Jacob Gruwell, having been a member of the California Assembly in the days when the state was new, from Santa Clara County, having crossed the plains in ox team train. His father located northeast of Hanford in 1875, where he owned an eighty-acre ranch, and where he made his home all the years up to his death July 4, 1913. J. E. Gruwell received his education in Eureka school district, in Kings County, when he was with his father. He later went to work for the Clark Brothers as ranch foreman. This firm engaged in farming on a large scale, having 3,500 acres of land. In those early days Mr. Gruwell worked with ten eight-horse plow teams and four drill teams. For six years he stayed with this firm, at the end of which time he homesteaded a quarter section of land in the Weed Patch country, Kern County, proving up in five years and returned to Kings County, where he farmed the Burris ranch, renting a quarter section nine miles northeast of Hanford, raising grain and stock. He next bought forty acres of raw land eight miles northeast of Hanford, which he improved with orchard, later disposing of this and locating in Coalinga in 1909. Here he opened a blacksmith shop on Forest Avenue, and put in all the machinery and improvements necessary for a modern shop, which he sold the same year. He then started and operated the largest stage line to the oil fields — four machines, including a twenty-five passenger White truck.

In 1914 he received the appointment of superintendent of roads. Here was his opportunity, and he has made many improvements in the roads in this district. He opened up the road from Coalinga to Kings County known as Lost Hills roads. A dirt grade road to the county line completed the road system between Coalinga and Huron. The Stratford road to Kings County line opened up direct communication with graded roads to all the above named points. Also improved the Coalinga-Fresno road with a dirt grade. He uses a Holt seventy-five horsepower tractor for road working and a Jeffries truck for hauling.

Mr. Gruwell invested in a corner lot in Coalinga on east E Street, where he built four houses which bring him in a good income. He was married in Hanford to Kate Barton, who was born in Eldorado County, Cal. She is a member of the Christian Church. Her father is H. D. Barton, who was a former supervisor of Kings County.