Tulare County
Biographies
ARNETT, RICHARD H.
As a farmer, as a friend to education and as a genial companion, Richard H. Arnett was known to many people in the vicinity of Visalia, Tulare county, Cal. He was born in West Virginia in September, 1850, and died at his home near Visalia, October 27, 1902. He left West Virginia for Missouri when he was eighteen years old, and later came to California.
Arriving in Tulare county in 1875, Mr. Arnett began ranching north of Visalia before many months passed, and two years later he moved to the city. In 1882 he became owner of a ranch on East Mineral King avenue which he began to improve in many ways and cultivated with success, though he had not been able down to the time of his death to clear it of all incumbrance.
In 1877 Mr. Arnett married Miss Mary E. Shippey, a native of Missouri, whose father was an early settler in this part of California, and they had ten children: Dora, May, Frank. Richard H., Thomas, Fred, Blanche, Earl, an infant not named, and Walter. Dora is the wife of Clarence Goble. May married Andrew Goble. Frank married Etta Beede. Richard H. married Stella Swanson. Fred has passed away. Blanche is Mrs. J. R. Thompson. After her husband’s death, the burden of managing the ranch fell on Mrs. Arnett’s shoulders. She never had much to do with the business, but had learned a good deal about it by observation. Rising to her responsibilities, she accepted the situation, and how well she has discharged all the obligations of her position is known to the community with which she and her husband cast their lot. Not only has she made a success of her farming and stock-raising, but she has cleared her property of all debt and now owns sixty acres of land in three sections of twenty acres each, all close to Visalia and valuable from every point of view. She raises cattle, hogs, chickens and turkeys which find a ready sale at good prices. All who know her rejoice in her prosperity, declaring that she is one of the best business women in Central California.
SOURCE: History of
Tulare and Kings Counties,
California
with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles,
Calif.,
Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 513, 514
Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn
Many a native of Iowa has brought success to or found it in California, to which Iowans have immigrated in large numbers for many years. It is a notable fact that not a few of the men at the head of affairs in this state were born there or born of parents who came from there. A. L. Dibble, whose successes will be mentioned in this notice was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, January 9, 1861. He received a good public school education, and during the year before he attained his majority was employed by his father. The family had come to California about 1864 and to Tulare county in 1873, and the young man was thoroughly at home on the soil and practically acquainted with most approved methods of husbandry which farmers were applying to their problems here on the coast.
In 1882 Mr. Dibble began farming for himself on rented land, and in due time he bought an eighty-acre ranch and engaged in stock-raising and dairying. This place, which he has greatly improved, has been his home continuously from that time till the present, and as a home ranch is one of the cosiest and best equipped in his vicinity. On May 7, 1882, he married Miss Mary A. Lewellyn, who was born in Nevada county, Cal., August 16, 1864. Their five children are: Grace Arvilla, widow of M. J. Devine; Effie E., Lawrence Leroy, Leonard A., and William Oscar.
Mr. Dibble is identified with the Fraternal Brotherhood. Politically he is not active beyond the requirements of his duties as a citizen, but his positive convictions concerning all questions of public policy makes him a party man who yields staunch allegiance to the principles he feels called upon to espouse. He has never sought office and has steadfastly declined such official preferment as has been tendered him; but he yielded to the solicitations of his friends that he become a school trustee in the Fraser district, and that office he filled with singular fidelity and efficiency.
SOURCE: History of
Tulare and Kings Counties,
California
with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles,
Calif.,
Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 516
Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn