Madera County
Biographies
E. S. RUSSELL
E. S. RUSSELL, rancher, near Borden, was born near Birkville, Cumberland County, Kentucky, in 1833. He lived at home on the plantation of his father until 1852, when he started for California to get the benefit of the climate, and as strength was restored to engage in mining. He first lived at Mariposa, mining a little, and later at Sonora, Tuolumne County, where he was engaged in mining and teaming until the spring of 1858. He then went to San Joaquin County, and in the fall was married to Miss Catharine Baker, a native of Arkansas. Mr. Russell then took up ranching, which he followed until 1873, when he came to Borden to settle upon land he pre-empted in 1872. He annually sows about 800 acres of grain. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have twelve children, the younger ones living at home and the older ones upon ranches near. He is also tax collector for the Madera Irrigation District, which was organized in the fall of 1888, under the Wright irrigation law. He has been collector since the date of organization. The system will cover 335,000 acres.
Mr. Russell is a member of Madera Lodge, No. 280, F. & A. M.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892
p. 769
Transcribed by Craig A Hahn
THOMAS J. TOPHAM
THOMAS J. TOPHAM, proprietor of the Madera Soda Works, was born in Huntingdonshire, England. He was reared on the farm of his father and was educated at Eton College. In 1872 he came to the United States with his parents and landed at Boston during the disastrous fire in that city. They then went to Wythe County, Virginia, where Mr. Topham bought a farm of 420 acres and carried on general farming. After five years in this country, on account of failing health, young Topham took a trip to England, and after one year there went to Australia and New Zealand, hoping to derive benefits from the sea voyage. After four years passed in traveling about Australia, with health restored, he started for California, where he arrived in February, 1884. He then settled upon a farm of 120 acres in Tulare County, where, for three years, he carried on general farming. In 1887 he came to Madera, purchased land and erected his present establishment, which is fitted up with the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of soda water and the bottling of wines. Mr. Topham purifies the water used in his soda water by a chemical process. The water is then carefully filtered before being used, making the soda of better quality and causing it to keep for a longer time. He has a bored well, 100 feet deep, which supplies the factory and an ice house for the storage of manufactured stock. He is pleased with his success, as he is building up an extensive patronage throughout the county. Mr. Topham was married, in Australia, in 1884, to Miss Carrie Reinhardt, a native of Australia, but of German descent. They have no children.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892
p. 750
Transcribed by Craig A Hahn