Tulare County
Biographies
JAMES R. BEQUETTE
Conspicuous among those ambitious men who are fast coming to the front in Tulare county is that native son of the county, James R. Bequette of Lemon Cove, who was born near Farmersville, in 1861. His education in the public school, which was well begun, was interrupted when he was fourteen years old by the death of his father, a native of Missouri, who was a California pioneer of 1852. The years after that event which otherwise would have been devoted to his books he was obliged to spend in laboring for his living. His first independent ventures were in stock-raising, with which he was long successful. In 1909 he went into the fruit business and has since set out many orange trees, his entire place being now devoted to that fruit.
In 1891 Mr. Bequette married Miss Carrie McKee, a native of Missouri and a daughter of the late John McKee. Mrs. Bequette has borne her husband two daughters, Rita and Velma. The former was educated at the Lemon Cove public school and at the Exeter, high school and is now in her seventeenth year. The latter, now in her fourteenth year, is attending school at Lemon Cove. Mr. Bequette's mother was a native of the state of New York. Mrs. Bequette's mother lives at Lemon Cove.
Fraternally Mr. Bequette affiliates with the organization of Artisans at Lemon Cove. While he is interested in political questions from the point of view of the intelligent voter, he is not a practical politician and has never aspired to public preferment. He votes at all elections and usually deposits a Democratic ticket. In a public-spirited way he has always been devoted to the general interests of the community.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 669-670
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JACOB V. HUFFAKER
In Morgan county, Ill., Jacob V. Huffaker was born February 23, 1845, the eleventh in a family of thirteen, and passed away at Visalia, June 16, 1909, in his sixty-fifth year. His mother died when he was young and he was early compelled in a measure to look out for himself. He accompanied his father to Texas, where he herded cattle until in the spring of 1861, passing most of his time in the saddle. As a member of Captain White's company of three hundred and sixty-six wagons, he made the overland journey to California by way of the Platte and Snake rivers through Western Washington and Oregon, and arrived in California seven months after leaving his old home, having experienced many hardships on the way. The party was three days and nights crossing the Snake river, which they accomplished by caulking their wagons, thus transforming them practically into skiffs, which not without considerable difficulty they ferried over the stream. From time to time they met wandering bands of Indians, with whom they had fierce encounters, and Mr. Huffaker, being an experienced sharp-shooter, was able at one time to save the life of a companion named Wells.
At Visalia, Mr. Huffaker began his career in California as a breaker of wild horses and a herder of wild cattle, and in 1871 he rented an old stable at $25 a month and embarked in the livery business. In 1882 he bought property of S. C. Brown on South Church street for $1600. From time to time he took an interest in important enterprises at Visalia, where he was regarded as a representative citizen of much spirit and where he built up an enviable reputation as an honest, energetic, enterprising man of affairs. Fraternally he affiliated with Four Creek lodge No. 94, I. O. O. F., and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
In 1871 Mr. Huffaker married Miss Palestine Downing, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of Joseph and Louisa (Bell) Downing. Her father settled in Sacramento county and later farmed a year near Visalia. He died in Squaw Valley, in 1894, aged seventy-five years, his wife passing away in 1909, aged eighty-six years. Following are the names of their children: Mrs. Jacob V. Huffaker and Mrs. Clementine Weishar, twins; Mrs. Sarah Stout, of Fresno; William; Eli; and James. Mrs. Huffaker bore her husband these children: William H.; Frederick E.; Joseph Edward; J. Arthur ; Mrs. Elsie L. Dollner, and Harold P. Surrounded by children and friends, highly respected by all who know her, she is passing her declining years in her home at No. 530 North Court street, Visalia.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 670-671
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler