Kings County
Biographies
ADDISON J. BUMP
is a widely and favorably known early settler of California, having come to the State in the year of its birth. A sketch of his life will be found of interest to many, and is as follows:
Mr. Bump was born in Madison County, New York, July 6, 1825, son of Elihu Bump, also a native of the Empire State. Grandfather Gideon Bump was born in Vermont, was a farmer, and, it is believed, a Universalist. Addison J. was reared and educated in New York. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, making the journey with ox teams, and after his arrival here engaged in mining, at first near Placerville and subsequently on the Cosumnes river in Sacramento County. He had moderate success, found as high as $50 in a day, made a deal of money and also lost it. Coming easy, it went the same way. After mining for some time, he turned his attention to the cattle business, buying in Los Angeles County and driving to Sacramento County, and in this was fairly successful.
After having remained in California five years, Mr. Bump returned to New York and was married to Miss Adelia C. Bunnell, a native of the town of Lima, Livingston County, New York, and a former school mate of his. She is a descendant of Connecticut ancestry. The them seven children have been born, all grew to maturity and are still living. Their names are as follows: Ella, wife of Ross W. Miller, resides in Tulare County; Elizabeth, wife of Richard Dally, Solano County; Charles A., is a clerk in the United States Land Office at Visalia; Frank N., Hattie and Lottie (twins), and Clara are members of the home circle.
Two years after his marriage, Mr. Bump came with his wife to this State and settled at Cook’s Bar, on the Cosumnes river, Sacramento County, where they kept hotel two years. From there they removed to Freeport on the Sacramento river, where he built a store and was engaged in the general merchandise business for six years. Disposing of his interests at that place, he went to Forestville, Sonoma County, and built the first store in the town and also a nice home; opened a branch store on the Sacramento river and continued the business there about four years. He again sold out, and for the next three or four years we find him engaged in business at Walnut Grove on the Sacramento river, after which he disposed of his mercantile interests and retired from the business. On Mokelumne river he then purchased 160 acres of land, built and made improvements on the property, and not long afterward sold it. A few years later, in connection with F. B. Huston, he engaged in a general merchandise store and hotel-keeping at Courtland, and was in business there until his health became impaired. He had, in the meantime, become the owner of 320 acres of land in Tulare valley; and to this, in October, 1886, he came and built his present home, and began wheat farming. He has since purchased 160 acres of land at Orosi, forty acres of which he has planted to Muscat grapes and five acres to budded Washington navel oranges, both vines and trees being in a flourishing condition. This land is situated about six miles east of Dinuba, in a vicinity where the soil is unsurpassed by any in California; and Mr. Bump has the distinction of being the pioneer orange-grower in this section of the county.
In politics he is a Republican. Personally he is vivacious, courteous and obliging, and his many estimable qualities have surrounded him with a large circle of friends.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p 283-284
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
A. C. WILLIAMS
a tried and faithful servant in the government of Fresno County, is a native of the Golden State. He was born in Vacaville, Solano County, in 1857, his parents being among the pioneers who came to this State in 1852. Young Williams was educated in the common schools, with a finishing course, in 1873, at the California Baptist College, Vacaville.
Reared on a farm he engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself in 1874, in Fresno County, giving his attention to raising wheat, that being before the fruit industry was started. A year later, however, he went to Colusa County, and was variously employed until 1879, when he returned to Fresno and received the appointment of Deputy County Clerk, under A. M. Clark. He continued in that position until 1884, then being elected to fill the office. He has since been re-elected at each succeeding election down to the present time, 1890. When he first entered this office its work was very light; now it ranks fourth in importance in the State. He formerly performed all the work; now he employs four deputies.
Mr. Williams was married in Fresno in 1885, to Miss Mattie Thomas, and their household is brightened by one child, Clara, four years of age.
Mr. Williams is a Mason and a member of Fresno Lodge, Trigo Chapter and Fresno Commandery, Knights Templar.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p 292-293
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler