Ventura County
Biographies
H. F. Clark
H. F. Clark is one of the young business men of Saticoy. He was born in Horton, Bremer County, Iowa, July 14, 1863. His father, Otis Clark, is a native of Ohio; and for the past twenty years has been a resident of California, and is now engaged in the lumber business at Yuba City, Sutter County. His mother, nee Laura A. Patridge, was born in New York, in 1845, and her death occurred September 30, 1888. She was a devoted wife, a faithful and loving mother, and her loss is deeply lamented by the family. She was the mother of three children, all of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the oldest. He is a graduate of the State Normal School at San Jose, class of 1885. Mr. Clark spent some years in teaching, being for two years Principal of the schools of Brentwood, California, and in 1888 came to Saticoy where he engaged in farming. He has 100 acres of very choice land on which he has recently erected a handsome residence. He has selected a beautiful location for building, and when the arrangements of the grounds are completed it will be one of the attractive places of the community. Mr. Clark is the manager of 900 acres of farm land adjoining his own, the property of his father-in-law, John Nicholl. The entire tract is rented in lots of from forty to eight acres to tenants who are mainly men of families and in comfortable circumstances, the principal crop raised being Lima beans.
Mr. Clark was married, July 27, 1887, to Miss Agnes Nicholl, a native of San Pablo, California, and also a graduate of the State Normal School. They have one daughter, born August 30, 1888. Since taking up his residence in this county, Mr. Clark has been identified with its best interests; and is justly proud of the great State of his adoption.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 467 Transcribed by Sandy Neder
Edward M. Cleveland
Edward M. Cleveland was born in Fluvanna County, Virginia, July 19, 1845. Both his father and grandfather, Jeremiah Cleveland, Sr. and Jr., were natives of Virginia. His mother, nee Sally Wills, was born in the same county, and his grandfather, Miles C. Wills, was also a native of the "Old Dominion." The subject of this sketch was the second of a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living, and he was reared and educated in Virginia. When the great civil war commenced Mr. Cleveland was only sixteen years old. In 1863, when the need of the South for soldiers became great, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the Fluvanna Artillery, under Captain Massey, in Colonel Nelson's battalion. He was in many skirmishes and in the battles of Kelley's Ford and Winchester. In the latter a twelve-pound cannon ball wounded him the the back part of the leg, near the knee, carrying away a portion of the flesh and injuring the cords. He was crippled and in Harrisonburg prison hospital twelve days; was considered unfit for service and was permitted to return home.
After his recovery he worked on his father's farm, and later rented 400 acres of grandfather Willis, which he farmed for five years. He was next employed as a clerk in a general merchandise store with his uncle, A. S. Burgess, of Central Plains, and the following year he came to California. He purchased twenty-five acres of choice land in Santa Paula, which he has improved and where he has made a very pleasant home.
In 1879 Mr. Cleveland was married to Miss M. J. Fowler. She was born in Indiana in 1855, and is the daughter of Mr. Welcome Fowler, of Indiana. Mrs. Cleveland is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Cleveland is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics affiliates with the Democratic party.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 548 Transcribed by Sandy Neder