Kings County
Biographies
In 1878 Caryl Church moved to Tulare county and became a settler in the San Joaquin valley. He was born in Erie county, Ohio, June 6, 1846, and was eleven years old when his family immigrated to Iowa and twenty-three when he came to California. His early life was spent in school and at work on his father’s farm. For a time after he came to this state he worked for wages, mostly on ranches, and the knowledge of farming that he acquired in that way was a fitting complement to that which he had acquired under his father’s instruction. Now he was a California farmer, fully competent to go into business for himself. Coming to Kings county, he located on what is now his home place, a fine ranch not far from Hanford. By successive purchases he has become the owner of four hundred acres of as productive land as is to be found in this vicinity. He began as a wheat raiser, and as such he was successful until stock raising promised him better returns. He raises hogs, horses and cattle, and his stock of whatever kind is as good as is offered in the market, always sells well and sometimes brings top-notch prices.
In 1871 Mr. Church married Miss Annie E. Howland, who was born in the state of New York. They became the parents of six children, Charles, Elery, Beecher, Birch, Carrie (the wife of Frank Sanborn), and one daughter who died in early childhood. The sons are living on adjoining ranches, all prospering by their devotion to the interests that have brought their father so much success. A recent specialty of Mr. Church is grapes, to which he has given five acres of suitable land. In the affairs of his township, county, state and nation he takes a sincere and most intelligent interest, and he has many times manifested a commendable public spirit.
SOURCE: History of
Tulare and Kings Counties,
California
with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles,
Calif.,
Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 492, 493
Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn
HOWES, THOMAS E.
The Middle West, constantly drawing on the East to fill up its quota of citizens, is as constantly sending some of its best blood to the Pacific coast, and its men arrive in California imbued with the spirit not only of the land immediately beyond the Rockies but of the whole broad country to the Atlantic. It is probable that Illinois has sent as many good citizens to California as any other state in the favored region under consideration. One of them who is located near Hanford, Kings county, and is making for himself an enviable record is Thomas E. Howes, who was born in Dekalb county, in the Prairie State, February 11, 1863, the same year in which his father, Phillip Howes, was killed in the Civil war. A few years later the boy came with his mother to California and was a student in the public school at Eucalyptus, Tulare (now Kings) county. At an early age he began to work on ranches round about and in a few years he gained a practical knowledge of farming as it was then conducted in this part of California.
In 1882 Mr. Howes began farming on his own account on rented land, and so successful was he that by 1886 he was able to buy eighty acres of good land, which is now included in his homestead. As he has accumulated money he has invested it in land from time to time until he is now the owner of over five hundred acres devoted to general farming and to dairying. He has improved his ranch in many ways, and it now presents a view in which a good home and ample barns and out buildings, are pleasing features. His methods of cultivation are up to date, and he works only with machines and appliances of modern construction and efficiency. Since 1873 Mr. Howes has been a resident of the vicinity where he is now living. At that time no trees were to be seen between Cross creek and Mussel slough on the plains. As a citizen he is known for his liberality of thought and for his generous co-operation in the promotion of measures for the public weal. Fraternally he affiliates with the Independent Order of Foresters and with the Woodmen of the World. He married Cora Yuel November 15, 1885. Mr. Howes, who is a native daughter of California, was born June 20, 1868, and they have five children, Ralph, Everett, Marion, Forest and Ora.
SOURCE: History of
Tulare and Kings Counties,
California
with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles,
Calif.,
Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 495, 496
Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn