Ventura County
Biographies
Fred A. Earll
Fred A. Earll was born in Shasta, Shasta County, California, May 13, 1857. His parents, Warner and Cornelia (Scoville) Earll, were both natives of Onondaga County, New York. Warner Earll followed Fremont's trail to California in 1848, and was City Judge of Tehama for a number of years; he was also an Associate Justice on the Supreme Bench of Nevada. He was a prominent lawyer of California, residing at Shasta and Red Bluff for years. He also held the position of attorney for the Central Pacific Railroad, in Arizona, His three children were Arthur R., Fred A., and a daughter, A. H., who is now Mrs. Webb, and resides in Oakland, California. Arthur R. was a graduate of the Law School of California; was elected District Attorney of San Luis Obispo, and died three months after. Their father's death occurred in 1888.
The subject of this sketch attended St. Augustus College, and at the age of fifteen years, having obtained a good English education, he started out to work for himself, and since that time his education has been more of a practical character - obtained behind the desk. He worked for E. M. Derby & Co., lumber dealers, of Alameda, four years. He then engaged in business for himself, dealt in wood and coal, and did a thriving business; but, being anxious to make a fortune by quicker methods, he speculated in mining stocks, and lost his coal business. After that he went to Arizona and opened a stationery and cigar business, which he conducted three years; then removed to Ventura County, bought twenty acres of land, and, after planting an orchard, sold the property and returned to the lumber business. Saxby & Collins offered him the management of the lumber yards in San Buenaventura, which he accepted and conducted for two years. He then went to San Francisco and from there came to Paso Robles, to take charge of the warehouse, lumber yard, storage and shipping business at this point. At the time he came, November, 1886, there was nothing in the town. The railroad had just been built, and the station was in a box-car beside the track. Since then the shipping interests of the town have taken a great start. Shipments of wheat for the past year were about 9,000 tons. Mr. Earll has made real estate investments in the town.
He was married in October, 1879, to Miss Ida Barnes, a native of Dixon, Illinois, daughter of A. M. Barnes, of Ventura. Their union is blessed with two daughters, Bertha May, born in Arizona, and Helen, in Paso Robles.
Mr. Earll, being a native of California, took an active part in the organization of the Paso Robles Parlor, no. 122, Native Sons of the Golden West. They started with twenty-four members, composed largely of the best young business men of the town. Mr. Earll was elected its first president, and still holds that position of honor.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 352 Transcribed by Sandy Neder
C. T. Gilger
C. T. Gilger, the junior member of the firm of Livingston & Gilger, of Hueneme, Ventura County, was born in Ohio, April 13, 1865. His father, Daniel Gilger, is also a native of that State, and his grandfather, Jacob Gilger, was born in Germany and settled in Ohio in the early pioneer days of that State. He was a weaver by trade, and the family still have in their possession cloth made by him at a time when everything they wore was woven from their own wool and flax. Mr. Gilger's mother, Cynthia (Turbett) Gilger, was born in Ohio, of Pennsylvania Dutch parentage. They had three children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He first came to California and to Ventura, with his father and family, in 1871. They returned to the East, settled up their business, and came back to this State the following year, remaining a year in Sutter County, In 1873 the family came to Ventura County, where the father purchased forty-five acres of land, near New Jerusalem, on which he erected buildings and otherwise improved, and engaged in the real-estate business, in which he met with fair success. In 1877 he purchased 120 acres of land.
The subject of this sketch had two farms near New Jerusalem, which he sold and afterward bought ninety-five acres of his father. They are both pleasantly situated and have erected comfortable homes. In February, 1890, Mr. Gilger bought a half interest in their present grocery, hardware and produce business. They have a good stock of goods and have established a fine trade.
Mr. Gilger was united in marriage with Miss Annie Middleswarth, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Fred, born in Ventura County. Politically, Mr. Gilger is a Republican.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 587 Transcribed by Sandy Neder