Well entitled to
recognition in this publication is one of the pioneers and representative
citizens of Imperial County, namely, Archie B. Finley, owner of forty acres
of land in Water Company No. 8, at Brawley, California. Mr. Finley has been
long identified with the agricultural and real estate interests of the
community, and he has been an influential factor in furthering the
upbuilding of the county in many ways. Archie B., the subject of this
review, came to Imperial County in 1903, and was born in Oakland,
California, August 4, 1895, the son of John W. and Hattie (Hinckley) Finley.
The parents of Mr. Finley came to this part of the country from Kansas and
started pioneering in the most practical way. There was nothing but sand
hills to greet them upon arrival, but through per-severance they have become
prominent among the ranch people of the Valley. The ranch controlled by
Archie B. received his education in Brawley and left the high school in that
city at the age of 18 years. At the time of his entrance into high school
life at Brawley the county school was known as the Spruce School. After
leaving school he assisted his parents on the ranch until he purchased the
property. At that time he launched forth into the dairy business and was
also very successful in the raising of alfalfa for stock feeding. He keeps
on an average of about thirty head of cattle and other livestock. He has
erected a fine residence on the place and has carried improvements on an
extensive scale, all of which add greatly to the appearance of the place in
general. Trees have been planted, and with the addition of shrubbery the
Finley homestead is one of the best country homes in the district.
Politically Mr. Finley can always depend upon to vote for the man who
deserves the highest consideration. He was married at Brawley, California,
May 31, 1916, to Miss Essie Minshew, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R.
Minshew. Her mother died when Mrs. Finley was very young and is buried in
Belcherville, Texas. Her father resides in Brawley, California, where he has
resided since 1913. Mr. Finley has a son, Clayton Earl, born May 8, 1917, on
the ranch. The progress of Mr. Finley has been marked by impregnable
integrity, conscientious effort and broad, conservative business methods
throughout.
Source: "The History of Imperial County,
California," Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 424-425.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
One of Imperial County's
most progressive and influential ranchers is Frederick B. Ware, the subject
of this review. Frederick B. is the owner of 227 acres of valuable land in
Water Company No. 5, near Brawley. For years he has been a prominent factor
in the development of the Valley, and is rightly esteemed and highly
regarded by all who know him. Mr. Ware came to this county during November,
1907, and was born at Johnsville, Plumas County, California, October 25,
1883, the son of Silas and Fannie (Dolley) Ware. Mr. Ware's father came to
California in the early days and worked in the gold mines in a period which
was known mostly for its romantic abandon. Later he became one of the
state's pioneer ranchers, settling in Sierra County. At present the parents
of Mr. Ware are residents of Pacific City, Washington. The lineage of the
family traces back many years, members of which came to this country long
before the Revolutionary War, settling in Iowa, where Mr. Ware's grandfather
fought the redskins. The early education of Mr. Ware was obtained in the
public school of Sierra County, an institution which he left at the age of
17 years. Later Frederick B. followed teaming and farming in the home town
until he came to Imperial County for the purpose of helping his
brother-in-law, John Blinman, to develop a ranch. It was while engaged in
this pursuit that Mr. Ware bought his present property, which in the
beginning was rough desert country. At the present time Mr. Ware has a
finely appointed ranch which is a credit to the Valley. It has reached a
high and remunerative state of productiveness. Mr. Ware follows general
farming and is very successful in the raising of grain and cattle. He keeps
as high as forty-five head of livestock, which includes twelve horses. He
has planted 3000 eucalyptus trees, constructed a modern residence, and has
made numerous improvements, all of which command attention. Politically Mr.
Ware is a Republican, and has been trustee of the Mulberry school since it
was organized. Fraternally he is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden
West. He was married at Sierraville, California, January 1, 1907, to Miss
Louise Blinman, daughter of Fred and Maria Blinman, both pioneer ranchers
and merchants of California, residing at Sierraville, California. To this
union four children have been born: Alice, born at Sierraville, California;
Orland, born in Imperial County; Lyle, born in Sierraville, and Olga, born
in Imperial County, on the home place. Everything Mr. Ware has gained in
this county has been wrought and achieved through his individual efforts. No
outside assistance, financial or otherwise, came forward to start Mr. Ware
down life's pathway, hence the assertion that the result of Mr. Ware's
efforts in the Valley represent in all a personal monument of endeavor.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 425-426.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.