William W. Pickens, now
filling the office of captain of police and deputy sheriff of Calexico, is
recognized as one of the efficient an untiring officers of Imperial County.
Under him the department of police has developed and increased in
efficiency, and lawlessness has been kept down at the lowest level. Mr.
Pickens, aside from his official duties, rents a fifteen-acre ranch in Water
Company No. 6. The subject of this sketch came to Imperial County in 1915.
He was born in Harden County, Tennessee, January 5, 1880, a son of Walter G.
and Fariba Pickens. His father is still a resident of that place. William M.
acquired his education in the schools of his native state. Leaving high
school at the age of eighteen, he went to Texas and followed the range for
two years. Coming to California he settled in Fresno and served as deputy
sheriff and was later appointed to the police force of that city. Later he
was appointed as state police for the Southern Pacific Railroad under
Governor Gilette. This office he held for two years. He was transferred to
Arizona in the railroad service and held that commission under Sheriff
Wheeler. Politically Mr. Pickens is a Democrat. He was united in wedlock at
Savannah, Tennessee, to Miss Ada Hudiburg, a daughter of Joseph G. and
Euphena C. (Gillespie), both deceased and buried near Savannah, Tennessee.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pickens have been born three children: William Elwood, born
October 10, 1899; Flora E., born April 14, 1902, and Harry Adolphus, born
December 15, 1909. As an official, Mr. Pickens has reflected honor upon the
city of Calexico and is a credit to the department of which he belongs.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 419-420.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
Over in Water District
No. 8, in Brawley territory, the critical observer will find forty acres of
highly cultivated land, the property of Josiah W. Edwards, a man who has
achieved considerable and whose success has been marked since his arrival in
Imperial County in 1908. Mr. Edwards is very appropriately classed among the
pioneers of this county. He was born in Oregon City, Missouri, June 13,
1854, the son of Josiah D. and Permilia (Westfall) Edwards, both having
passed away and being buried in Portland, Oregon. The family is of Welsh and
English origin and dates back many years, the members of which came to this
country long before the Revolutionary War. During that tempestuous period a
number of Mr. Edward's grand-uncles fought in the war, achieving fame owing
to their valor during stormy conflicts. At least fifteen cousins of Mr.
Edwards' fought during the Civil War. Mr. Edwards received his early
education partly in Oregon and Washington, leaving school at the age of
19 years. Owing to his ambitious nature, the subject of this review
immediately after leaving school, followed farming, and later was affiliated
with the logging industry of the great Northwest until he came to Imperial
County. Upon his arrival here he settled on his present property and has
gained wide distinction in the dairy business and also as a raiser of
poultry, which is always in the thoroughbred class. Politically Mr. Edwards
is a staunch Democrat. He was married in Olympia, Washington, December 14,
1886, to Miss Mary Helen McAllister, daughter of William and Agnes
McAllister. The parents of Mrs. Edwards have passed away and are buried in
Centralia, Washington. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards:
John Archer, born at Thurston County, Washington, a cement worker; Mary
Grace, wife of C.C. Foulk of Calipatria; William Ernest, a soldier in the
national army at Camp Kearny, California; Millie Agnes, a student at the
University of California.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, p. 420.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.