Kings County
Biographies
Educated at Balmoral Agricultural College, Belfast, Ireland, an institution established under the patronage of Prince Albert, consort of the late Queen Victoria, Alexander Clarke Eccles, of Kings county, Cal., who was for a time horticultural commissioner for that county, was exceptionally well-fitted for the duties of that office and he is widely known as one of the scientific farmers of Central California.
It was at Belfast, Ireland, that Mr. Eccles was born March 12, 1854. He remained there until he was thirty years old, for a time devoting himself to practical farming. He came to the United States in 1884 and after tarrying briefly in Kansas and Oregon, came to Redding, Shasta county, Cal., where he became a naturalized American citizen. From Redding he went to Chico, Cal., and for three years he was foreman on the fruit farm of General John Bidwell. Then he came to Kings county and set out thirty acres of vineyard, northeast of Hanford, one-third of which he received for his work. After that he was made superintendent of the Del Norte Vineyard & Fruit Company and was in charge of its one hundred and sixty acres of fruits and vines for twelve consecutive years. After the termination of that service he bought forty acres of land two miles and a quarter east of Lemoore and put his brain and hands to the work of its improvement. He now has thirteen acres in vineyard and ten acres in orchard. On this place he built a fine house and established his home. Later he bought eighty-five acres at Hardwick, which is under alfalfa, and devoted to dairy purposes.
In 1909 Mr. Eccles was appointed horticultural commissioner of Kings county, an office which he filled with much ability and for the duties of which he had a distant liking, but which he was compelled in 1911 to resign because of impaired eyesight. Personally he is popular throughout the county, being a stockholder in the Kings County Fruit and Raisin Company, a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and Foresters of America. He is a member of the Armona Baptist church. His career here has been one of success, as will be readily understood when the comparatively late date of his coming is considered in connection with the fact that when he arrived he had but one dollar and is now worth $40,000. In 1901 he married Miss Maggie May Chamberlain, who was born in the state of Washington but was then a resident of Kings county. They have three children—Alexander Clarke, Ruth May and William Sloan.
SOURCE: History of
Tulare and Kings Counties,
California
with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles,
Calif.,
Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 501, 502
Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn
As favorably known through his connection with the Italian Swiss Company as through his identification with the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce and various fraternal organizations, John Brothers has won repute in Kings county, Cal., as a man of ability and efficiency, who may be depended upon to assist to the extent of his ability any movement which in his opinion promises to benefit any considerable number of his fellow citizens. He was born in Illinois, April 16, 1879, and was brought to California by his parents in 1883, when he was about four years old. He is a son of George A. Brothers, a veteran school teacher, who won success also as a farmer. His mother, Mary E. Brothers, also a teacher, became known as a woman of much ability. The elder Mr. Brothers, first came to this state in 1876 and immediately engaged in teaching. He went back to Illinois and in 1877 returned, bringing his family, and remained until 1880, though his wife returned before that time to their old home in the East. In 1883 they came to Lemoore and were both employed as teachers in the public schools of that city. Mr. Brothers had previously taught in Grangeville and in the Roades School district. He died January 19, 1911. The last eighteen years of his life he was engaged in the Government service and a large part of this time worked in the revenue service from the San Francisco Department of Internal Revenue.
It was in Lemoore that Mr. Brothers grew up and began his education in the public schools. Later he continued his studies at Fresno, where he was duly graduated from the high school. During his youth he worked in grocery stores in Fresno and Lemoore and gave considerable time to the acquisition of a practical knowledge of blacksmithing and of the butcher business. From time to time he worked on farms in the vicinity of Fresno and later was associated with his father in some agricultural enterprises. He obtained a complete knowledge of ranching, fruit-growing and stock-raising and by 1902 was well fitted to enter the employ of the Italian Swiss Colony as superintendent and local manager. In this connection he has had charge of the colony’s fifteen hundred acres of land, six hundred and fifty of which is in vineyard, the remainder being devoted to the cultivation of barley and alfalfa. Mr. Brothers personally owns forty acres, two miles and a half northwest of Lemoore, which he has put under alfalfa and is farming with good results.
His solicitude for the advancement of Lemoore impelled Mr. Brothers to consent to become a member of the board of trustees of that town, in which office he has served eight years, four years of the time as president of the board. He is one of the leading spirits in the local Chamber of Commerce and is secretary of that body. In the fire department of Lemoore he has always taken a helpful interest, and he is the very efficient secretary of that organization also. Socially he affiliates with the Independent Order of Red Men and with the Woodmen of the World and he is secretary of the local division of the first mentioned society. In 1903 he married Miss Iffie T. Foley, daughter of Dr. R. E. Foley, and they have two children, George E. and Carolyn E. Brothers.
SOURCE: History of
Tulare and Kings Counties,
California
with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles,
Calif.,
Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 502, 503
Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn