Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 52

A representative of one of Fresno County's earliest pioneer families who has made himself in private and commercial life thoroughly dependable, turned aside to effect a good army record, and come to stand high in Masonic circles so that with his wife he is enviably popular, is Bert A. Statham, a native son who was born in Fresno on October 22, 1888, the only son of James and Margaret (Lawson) Statham. The father was born in Centerville, Fresno County, on September 22, 1859, and engaged in the butcher business at Fresno. Then, for several years, he served as deputy tax collector, and in 1909 he died near Selma. His father was A. H. Statham, a Fresno County pioneer and one of the early developers of the city of Fresno. Mrs. Statham's father was George Lawson, for quarter of a century the proprietor of the Grand Central barber shop.

Bert was brought up in the home of his grandparents, the Lawsons, and when they moved East to Greenville, Ill., he accompanied them, and attended the common schools of the districts in which he lived. He also attended Greenville College, where he pursued a business course, and then he took a position as stock clerk with the Peters Shoe Company of St. Louis.

His grandmother, Betsy Jane Ingles, having died in Greenville, Bert Statham returned to Fresno County with his grandfather, reaching here in 1911; and in July he located at Selma. He accepted a position as bookkeeper for the Selma Planing Mill, but resigned in February, 1915, to enter the service of the Selma Land Company. Now he devotes his whole time and attention to the management of their insurance department.

Not only did Mr. Statham render active field service in the war, but he returned just in time to do the required herculean work in connection with the Victory Loan drive. When the call for volunteers came, he enlisted in the quartermaster's corps, on August 13, 1917, and was assigned for duty in the paymaster's office at the San Francisco Presidio. He remained steadily at his post, and rose to become first-class sergeant. On March 13, 1919, he was honorably discharged at San Francisco. Under his direction as secretary of the Drive, Selma went promptly "over the top" by 115 per cent.

In 1915 Mr. Statham was married at Fresno to Miss Ethel E. Phillips of Selma, the daughter of George B. and Jennie (Dodson) Phillips; and they reside at 2121 North Street in their own house. Mr. Statham is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Selma Lodge No. 277, F. & A. M., and the San Francisco Consistory Bodies, No. 1. He also belongs to Islam Temple, of the San Francisco Shriners. He is a member of Selma Parlor of the Native Sons, and he belongs to the Eastern Star and the Improved Order of Red Men, Independent Order of Foresters, and Woodmen of the World.