Tulare County
Biographies
CAPT. ROBERT M. ASKIN
As citizen, soldier, artisan, merchant and official, Capt. Robert M. Askin of Visalia won prominence among his fellowmen. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, April 10, 1838, and died at his home in Tulare county January 1, 1908. John Askin, his father, an Englishman transplanted to the Emerald Isle, became a plumber under his father's instruction and worked at his trade in Ireland as long as he lived. He was married in Ireland to Miss Sarah Sophia Shea, a Dublin girl, who bore him five children, of whom Robert M. was the third in order of birth, and of whom two sons and two daughters grew to maturity.
In November, 1852, Robert M., seeking fortune in a new land before he was fifteen years old, crossed the Atlantic and joined an uncle at Trenton, Canada, where he gave about two years to learning the tinner's trade. From 1854 to 1856 he worked at his trade in Jefferson county, N. Y., whence he went to New York City at the request of another uncle. Three years later he was working at his trade in St. Louis, Mo., but he soon went with a Mr. Crippen to Steelville, Crawford county, that state, where he established a tinsmith's shop, which he operated until in the fall of 1861. On September 6, 1861, he became a member of Company E of the Phelps Regiment, with which he served six months, during which he witnessed the battle of Pea Ridge. Receiving honorable discharge at the end of his term of enlistment, he re-enlisted in Company E, Thirty-second Missouri Infantry, August 14, 1862. From a private he was promoted in the following October to lieutenant, and April 14, 1864, he was commissioned captain. He served under Grant until 1863 and afterward until the end of the war under Sherman. It is somewhat remarkable that while he participated gallantly in thirty-two engagements he never missed a roll-call or a meal with his company and received but one wound, a mere scratch by a ball while he was charging on a battery at Jonesboro, Ga. He was mustered out of the service July 18, 1865, returned to Steelville, Mo., and worked as a tinner and sold hardware. In 1870 he moved to Cuba, Crawford county, Mo., and in 1878 to Salem, Dent county, Mo., where he dealt in hardware and house furnishing goods for twenty-one years. From his young manhood he was an active Republican, and for a term he held the office of presiding justice of the county court and he served as postmaster of Salem by appointment of President Harrison. From the time of his arrival in California until his death he had his residence and business headquarters at Visalia.
Captain Askin married, February 22, 1866, Clara Alice Jameson, a native of Missouri, who bore him four children: Charles Robert and Mary Catherine are dead; William C. lives in Missouri; John Herbert was connected with his father in business at Visalia and is still a resident of that city. Mrs. Askin died at Cuba, Crawford county, Mo.. April 12, 1876, and Captain Askin married (second) in that town Miss Frances Amelia Shephard, of New York birth, and they had children, Arthur Wesley, Adney Horace, Mervyn Leroy, Matie Amelia and Flora Dell. Captain Askin was a constituent member of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Salem, Mo., and on coming to Visalia transferred his membership to Gen. George Wright Post No. 111, of that city. In religious affiliation he was an Episcopalian and the surviving members of his family are communicants of that church. At Salem he was active in the work of the Masonic lodge and commandery and in that of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Wherever he lived he was in a public-spirited way devoted to the uplift of his community, and in this respect his son is following in his footsteps, giving generous encouragement to every movement at Visalia for the good of any considerable class of the people.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 784-785
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
GEORGE BRIDGES
California is a field peculiarly alluring to young men of states further east, who, having good health and good character, are determined to prosper by their own efforts. This is proven by a glance at the facts in the life thus far of George Bridges, a prosperous farmer and dairyman near Visalia, Tulare county. Mr. Bridges was born in Morton county, Ind., March 3, 1867, and there he attended the public schools and gained a practical knowledge of farming as it was then carried on in his vicinity. In 1884, when he was seventeen years old, he came to California. His original settlement here was at a point west of Visalia, and eventually he bought ten acres of land near the Shirk ranch, which he still owns, and where for nine years he grew alfalfa. Then he rented a part of the Frans ranch, forty acres, east of Visalia. There he cultivated alfalfa and installed a dairy of thirteen cows, besides raising some vegetables. The following year he rented the Smith ranch of three hundred and twenty acres and increased his dairy to one of twenty-five cows, giving attention to alfalfa and devoting an adequate portion of his land to pasturage. After living there a year he moved to his present residence, two hundred and twenty-six acres of the old Patterson ranch, northeast of Visalia, which tract he has since operated under lease. At this time he has ninety-eight acres in alfalfa, owns one hundred head of hogs and beef cattle and has a dairy of fifty cows. Thus, from a small beginning and not under the most favorable circumstances, he has developed a fine, growing business which stamps him as a man of ability and enterprise and holds much promise for his future.
In 1890 Mr. Bridges married Miss Mary F. Stokes, a native of Tulare county, where her father, Yancy Stokes, was an early settler, and they have four children: Flora May, Stella I., wife of Roy Switzer, George M., and Zelda E. Mr. Bridges is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, devoted to all its interests. He is a man of considerable public spirit, always ready to do his part for the advancement of any measure for the general good of his community.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
Pp 785-786
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler