Kings County
Biographies
BYRON GLOYD COMFORT
One of the successful and scientific farmers in the vicinity of Hanford, Kings county, is Byron G. Comfort, who has been a resident of the county since 1887. He was born at Palatine, Ill., June 17, 1863, and attended public schools near his home until he was seventeen years old. Then he found employment on farms and saved a little money with which he came to California and eventually settled near Hanford. His farming here was successful and he was soon enabled to buy a ranch of one hundred acres on which he has lived since 1902. He gives his attention to hog raising, dairying and general farming, making a study of his land, the climate, the crops and of everything that can in any way influence productiveness, and it is probable that he has met with as few failures as any farmer in his vicinity.
In 1886 Mr. Comfort married Miss Carrie H. Drullard, who was born in Stockton, Cal., February 22, 1864. They have four children living, here named in the order of their nativity: Elvira G., Almer B., Ward R and Wayne M. Of much public spirit and with a real desire for the uplift of his community, Mr. Comfort has commended himself to his fellow townsmen as one who may be depended on to advance to the extent of his ability any movement which in his opinion tends to the general good.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 650
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
LEVI BLOYD
The prominent contractor and builder of Hanford whose name is above was born in Sutter county, Cal., April 22, 1864, and was quite young when his parents came to what is now Kings county and located four miles west of Hanford, where his father homesteaded a quartersection of land and bought a quarter-section of railroad land. There Levi grew up and attended the public schools and later farmed until 1898, since when he has lived at Hanford. He learned the carpenter's trade with David Gamble and was with him seven years as foreman.
For a time he was employed at cement work and afterward with the San Joaquin Light and Power Company. Because the latter employment kept him much of the time away from home, he gave it up and turned his attention to contracting and building, and since that time has built many residences, among which are some of the finest in Hanford and vicinity, those of Lyman Farmer, I. R. Horton and E. Pickrell being among them. While his operations have been confined principally to buildings of this class, he has done other work, including the fixtures and show windows in the Brown & Nieson store, those of the Hanford Hardware Co., and improvements on the Stewart packing house. In the cement department of his work he has his brother, Winfield S. Bloyd, as a partner. He employs several carpenters and several cement workers. As his merits as a contractor and builder become known he is brought constantly into a larger and yet larger demand, and there are those who predict that his operations will in time surpass in volume those of any other builder in the county in his peculiar fields.
On March 4, 1886, Mr. Bloyd married Miss Rose Ellis, a native of Stanislaus county, Cat, who had come to Kings county, and they have a daughter and two sons. Hazel married William Tyler, and they reside in Kings county ; they have a daughter, Rosalee. Raymond is becoming a machinist at Hanford. Stanley is a student. Mr. Bloyd is a member of the Fraternal Aid and of the Improved Order of Red Men. As a citizen he is public-spiritedly helpful.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 650-651
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler