Kings County
Biographies
LYMAN L. FOLLETT
The well-known citizen of Lemoore, Kings county, Cal., whose name is the title of this sketch, was born in Iowa in 1869, a son of Granville W. and Lucy (Abel) Follett. His father, a native, born September 25, 1834, went to Fremont, Ind., when he attained his majority and became a clerk in a store there. Eventually the store was bought by Dr. L. L. Moore, who admitted him to partnership in the business, the association continuing until Mr. Follett sold out his interests in Indiana and went to Granville, Iowa. There he conducted a general merchandise business six years, and during most of that time he also filled the office of postmaster. In July, 1875, he brought his son, who was in failing health, to what is now Kings county and deciding to remain here, opened a store within the boundaries of what is now Moore's addition to Lemoore and continued there until 1877. The railroad having been constructed, he found a better location on E and Fox streets, opposite the depot. About that time he and J. A. Fox and Dr. L. L. Moore bought squatters' rights to the quarter-section of land which is now the townsite of Lemoore and eventually the railroad bought their interests. For a time they raised alfalfa where the business of the town is now transacted. Mr. Follett continued in the mercantile business until September, 1882, when his store was destroyed by fire. From that time until 1884 he was profitably employed in boring artesian wells, and from 1884 to 1894 his principal business was threshing. In the last-mentioned year he was elected county assessor of Kings county and filled the responsible office with ability and credit for two terms until he retired from active life. He died at the home of his son, Lyman L. Follett, June 11, 1911.
In 1868, at Coldwater, Mich., Granville W. Follett married Lucy Abel, a native of Ohio, and she bore him four children, of whom Lyman L. was the eldest. The others were Mary E., who died in childhood ; Carrie E., who died in 1877; and C. W., born in 1878, who lives at Tuolumne, Cal. In 1888 Mr. Follett married Mrs. Sue Thacker, a native of Tennessee. Fraternally he affiliated with the Chosen Friends and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
It was in July, 1875, that Lyman L. Follett came with his father to the site of Lemoore. He was then about six years old. He was reared at Lemoore and educated in a public school there and in the high school at San Francisco, then took up steam-engineering and ran engines twenty-two years in stationary work as well as in harvesting and similar operations. In 1909 he engaged in the insurance business at Lemoore in connection with real estate operations and since then has done much conveyancing and officiated as notary public. In November, 1911, he was appointed city clerk and sewer inspector of Lemoore. He served as deputy-assessor of Kings county under his father and was city assessor of Hanford in 1900. R. A. Moore, of whom a biographical sketch appears in these pages, is associated with him in the real estate business. Mr. Follett was formerly a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and his social affiliations now are with the Woodmen of the World, the Red Men and the Knights of Pythias. He married in 1894 Miss Kate Esery, a native of California, a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah A. Esery, and she died in 1908, after having borne him four children—Charles Granville, La Verne, Eileen and Ernest. The latter is with his uncle at Tuolumne.
In the municipal election at Lemoore, 1911, Mr. Follett was elected City Clerk, which office he fills with entire credit to himself and city.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 735-737
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
PETER BONDSON
The progressive and successful farmer whose name is above, and who is well known in Hanford and vicinity for his high character and respectable achievements, was born in 1848. He is a native of Denmark, a country that has given to the United States many citizens of the purest motives who are leaders in their communities and examples to all who take notice of their integrity, industry and determination, national traits brought to bear upon their careers in a strange land. Peter Bondson came to America in 1870 and was a pioneer at Merced. In 1876 he made his advent in Kings county, settling on the land which he has since developed into one of the most productive and valuable farms in its vicinity. Originally the place consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, but in the process of bringing it to its present perfection he reduced it to two hundred and forty acres. He gave eighty acres to his son Arthur, and he now gives his attention to general farming, hog and cattle raising. His stock is of good breeds and is always so well fed and skillfully handled that it brings the highest market price. The farm is out‑fitted with modern buildings and accessories and is in every respect thoroughly up-to-date.
The first marriage of Mr. Bondson occurred February 22, 1882, uniting him with Cordelia Nance, and they have three living children: Stella, wife of A. L. Miller ; Pearl, wife of Charles C. Church; and Arthur. On June 16, 1910, Mr. Bondson married Miss Maud Waite, a young woman of many accomplishments, who is his devoted helper in his endeavors for success. They have one daughter, Ethel. Mr. Bondson has not thus far had much to do with practical politics, but he has decided opinions upon questions of local and national policy to which he gives expression at the polls. A friend of education, he has served two years as school trustee, and in that capacity has ably served the interests of his district. On several occasions his public spirit has commended him to his fellow citizens who recognize in him one who is ever ready to encourage to the extent of his ability any proposition having for its object the general uplift of the community.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 755-756
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler