Madera County
Biographies
W. H. WERFIELD
The subject of this sketch stands prominently forth among the active young men of Madera, and through his colony system he is doing much towards developing that part of the valley. He was born in Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1856. His father, Henry Werfield, was a well-known mining expert of that locality, and after forty-five years of anthracite coal mining, he came to California in 1890 and is now settled upon a forty-acre ranch, southwest of Madera, which he is improving in vines and trees.
After a common school education, young Werfield took up the study of mechanical engineering, in which he became very proficient and which he followed very successfully in the mining districts of Pennsylvania until 1881. With a desire for travel and a broader development, he then visited the Western States and located in Denver, Colorado, and engaged in the real estate business. In 1885 he returned to Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, where he accepted the position of general time keeper with the Susquehanna Coal Co., a position of great responsibility, as the list of laborers numbered 4,500 hands. After four years of faithful service he resigned his position for the purpose of coming to California and entering into the colonization business at Madera, as president of the first colony organized in that locality, which was incorporated in September, 1889. The colony was a success from its inception, which was largely due to the extensive business acquaintances and executive ability of its able president. On October 10, 1890, Mr. Werfield resigned his position, and then organized the Border Farm Colony, to which he now gives his undivided attention. This colony land consists of 640 acres, and is considered of the finest land in Fresno County. It has been subdivided in blocks of five acres and upwards, and according to the system, the purchaser can pay for setting and cultivation of vines and allow the fruit to pay for the land; or he can pay for the land, receive deed, and direct his own improvements. Mr. Werfield began his improvements on January 15, 1891, and on March 21, 1891, he completed the planting of 420 acres, a large portion of which was already sold to colonists, the balance of land to be set in the spring of 1892. Mr. Werfield will continue a general colonization and real estate business in both ranch and city property. He was married, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1882, to Miss Janet S. Nesbit, a native of Pennsylvania, but of Scotch descent.
Mr. Werfield is an energetic, progressive and careful business man. He enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him, and he has proved himself an enterprising and valuable citizen.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892
p. 748-749
Transcribed by Craig A Hahn
A. B. GANYARD
A. B. GANYARD, of Madera, was born in Jonesville, Hillsdale County, Michigan, in 1845. He improved his educational facilities in his native town, and passed his boyhood days at home on the old farm. In March, 1876 he started for the Pacific slope, and after passing one season with friends in Oregon he went to Eureka, Humboldt County, and secured the position of salesman and bookkeeper in the hardware store of W. H. Johnston, remaining one year. He then went to Port Kenyon, at the head waters of navigation on the Salt river, and there managed the hotel of J. G. Kenyon for eighteen months. This experience started him in the hotel business, and he then leased the Golden Eagle Hotel at Marysville, which he managed for two years; then came to Firebaugh, and was in the same business three years. In 1884 he went to Fresno and leased the old Morrow House, which he refitted and furnished, changed the name to the Southern Pacific, and in the two years there built up an extensive business. Early in 1887 he came to Madera, and March 16, of the same year entered into partnership with Jake Myer, in the grain commission business, and they then started the Mint Saloon and Wine Rooms.
Mr. Ganyard was married at Janesville, Michigan, in 1865, to Miss May Rose, a native of Canada, a lady of genial disposition and winning manners. After about twenty years of married life Mrs. Ganyard was afflicted with a malignant disease and died, amidst great suffering, in December, 1888, mourned by a fond husband, their only child Allen, and a large circle of friends. Mr. Ganyard bought a residence on C street, which is now occupied by his son, who was married December 13, 1890, to Miss Minnie Townsend, Mr. Ganyard also owns 180 acres in Tulare County, which he has improved in vines, trees and alfalfa. He was a charter member of Fresno Lodge, No. 138, K. of P., and is a member of Yo Semite Lodge, No. 173, A. O. U. W.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892
p. 488-489
Transcribed by Craig A Hahn
A. J. ETTER
A. J. ETTER, a merchant of Madera, was born in McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee, in 1855, the son of Henry Etter, a tanner by trade, who also attended to farming. Young Etter lived at home until twenty-one years of age, working upon the farm and in the tannery, and in 1876 he began his mercantile career in his native town, as clerk in the store of J. F. Manford, and after six years of service was taken in as partner, and remained as such until 1885. Mr. Etter speaks of Mr. Manford with great kindness and gratitude, not only for instructing him in business, but also teaching the rudiments of an education, of which he had been deprived in his youth. In 1885 Mr. Etter came to Borden and bought 160 acres of land, which he improved and cultivated. At that time the grain was handled by the commission men of San Francisco, and after deducting freights and charges very little was left for the rancher. Through the efforts of Mr. Etter a new era was established. He became purchasing agent for C. W. McNear, a commission man of San Francisco, and purchased the grain direct from the rancher, which was of great benefit to the former. Of this pioneer work he feels justly proud. In 1885, 8,360 acres were cultivated in a radius bounded by the San Joaquin river, foothills and the Merced line, and in 1890, 160,000 acres were under cultivation. In 1887, Mr. Etter started a small gents' furnishing store in Madera, with stock valued at $2,000, and in February, 1888, moved into his present spacious quarters on Yo Semite avenue. He then enlarged his stock to general merchandise, and now has about $11,000 invested in his business.
He was married in Coffee County, Tennessee, in 1885, to Miss Susie Ramsey, who has been a worthy confident and advisor. Mr. Etter is a member of the United Foresters. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Madera, has interests in city property, is an esteemed citizen of Madera, and rejoices in the possession of many warm personal friends and the confidence of the community.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892
p. 641-642
Transcribed by Craig A Hahn