In Missouri, Mr. Richmond was married to Miss Linda Easterday, a native of that state and the daughter of Daniel Easterday, who was born at Columbus, Ohio, where her folks once owned much of the site of that city. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richmond — Lucile and Virgil in Oklahoma, and Alvin in California. The family attend the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Fresno.
Mr. Richmond was made a Mason in Memphis Lodge No. 16, F. & A. M. in Memphis. Mo., and he is still affiliated there. In Oklahoma he was a trustee of the church, and superintendent of the Sunday School. He belongs to the Sons of Veterans and is a standpat Republican.
J. H. NELSON.
An interesting old settler in Fresno County, who can look back to such a part in laying the foundation for the chief city of Central California that, when the first railway locomotive puffed and snorted into Fresno, he was on hand to haul goods from the train to Tollhouse, and contended with such difficulties that he paid as high as twenty-five cents a bucket for water sold in the town, is J. H. Nelson, who came to California on September 13, 1859. He was born in Bearcreek, Cedar County, Mo., on Washington's birthday, 1854, the son of Len Edward Nelson, a native of Virginia, who was a marble-cutter by trade, but became a farmer. The father married Miss Nan Emmerson, who was born in Tennessee. In 1858 he started across the plains with his family of two children, and the usual ox teams. Arriving in Stockton, he set up for a year as a marble-cutter, and then he went to Sonora, continued to ply his trade and opened a marble yard.
The elder of the two children, J. H. Nelson, crossed the plains when he was four years of age, and then had the experience that he still remembers of wintering on the prairies. Settling with his folks in California, he went to school at Sonora, but at fifteen he was thrown upon his own resources. In 1869, he came to old Millerton to work for Uncle John Emmerson, who ran the old McCray Hotel, and he continued with him for about three years. In 1873, having worked awhile on a ranch at Centerville, he removed to Tollhouse, where a cousin, Joe Carter, ran a dairy on Pine Ridge; and he remained with him until 1874. Then he engaged in lumbering, and later worked in the saw mills; and for a season he ran a mill himself.
On June 7, 1882, Mr. Nelson was married at Tollhouse to Miss Phoebe Waite, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of T. A. Waite, a native of Ohio, who settled in Iowa as a farmer. Her mother was Alary J. Cavin before her marriage, and she was born in Ohio. In 1875, Mr. Waite brought his family to Fresno on account of his health, and located at Tollhouse, where he worked in the mill. The same year he was seriously hurt in an accident, and on June 18, 1876, he died. The mother also died there, leaving eight children, of whom Mrs. Nelson was the fourth eldest. She came to California in her eighth year, and attended the public school at Tollhouse.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nelson engaged in the manufacture of shakes on Pine Ridge, which he hauled to Tollhouse and from there transported by teams to Fresno. In 1884, Mr. Nelson located a preemption of eighty acres at Tollhouse and improved the land, and in the summer time he made shakes on Pine Ridge. He set out an apple orchard on his home place, and later he bought eighty acres adjoining, and then had 160 acres on which he raised both stock and fruit. He used the brand I C, and he still continued to make shakes on Pine Ridge. He had five acres in some of the finest apple orchard to be seen in that vicinity.
In the fall of 1915 Mr. Nelson sold his ranch, and located near Clovis; and since then he has engaged in the scientific work of viticulture. He owns ten acres one and a half miles to the north of Clovis, which he has also set out in attractive vineyards.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, and have added to the social popularity of the family in the communities in which they have lived. Lee Edward is a carpenter near Clovis; Alice J., now Mrs. Burritt, resides at Oakland; Annie D. has become Mrs. R. N. Cobb, of Hoopa, Humboldt County; Laura M., now Mrs. Arthur Cate, resides at Clovis; Mary G., is a graduate of the Clovis High School, now studying for nurse at Burnett Sanitarium; and Edith A. attends Clovis High School. Mrs. Nelson is a member of the Methodist Church of Clovis, and Mr. Nelson is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World.
SHELL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA.
To what extent, in the laying out and directing of a great enterprise, new and approved ideas as to the great value of sanitary methods and appliances and the importance of doing everything possible to make the laborer comfortable and happy, may be employed is well illustrated by the Shell Company of California, with their headquarters at Oilfields. Their camp there is said to be the most modern, sanitary and best arranged oil camp in the United States and perhaps in the world. The streets are well-plotted and the buildings up to date, lighted by electricity and heated by gas. There is a well-stocked general merchandise store; a large dining hall with auxiliary dining rooms; a large and fully equipped club house, and a modern hospital. For this plant, not only are the managers of the company to be thanked for their public spirit, but the company's workers as well have had their honorable part.
The oil property and camp were started about 1900 by Balfour Guthrie and Company, although William Mills Graham before this had started on Section 27, selling out afterward to that firm. Then he was made superintendent for them and began the development here. Finally, the California Oilfields, Ltd., was incorporated, and this gradually purchased the small companies around there until it became the largest company operating on what is known as the East Side Field.
About August, 1913, the Shell Company purchased the California Oilfields, and took over all of their holdings; and they have continued there developments on a large scale, at the same time maintaining the excellence of their buildings; and the result is a prosperous and happy town of more than 600 population. The company even have their own dairy, poultry and hog ranch, and also conduct a large commissary department, with a bakery and a boarding house. There is an abundance of natural gas on the different leases, and this is used in the production of steam, gas and electric power, as well as for heating and lighting purposes. A small refinery is operated, and a compressor gasoline plant.
The company has its own ice factory and refrigerating plant, an excellent water system, and they keep up a modern sewer system, with septic tanks and garbage destroyers. There is also a garage sufficient to house some thirty-seven cars as well as trucks, and stables adequate for the accommodation of eighty or more horses and mules; a large, modern machine shop, with boiler and tank shops, and spacious storehouses and offices designed according to the best architectural and decorative standards; and besides the community buildings for men, there is a large club house with billiard parlors, reading room, ice-cream parlor, library, etc. The large swimming pool affords both recreation and the facilities for preserving health and increasing happiness. In summer time an air dome provides for moving pictures, and in winter such entertainment is given in the lecture hall. There are also grounds for both base- and football.
The school district is named Oil King, and there is a commodious modern schoolhouse with five teachers.
E. S. Durward is the present superintendent, and he is intensely interested in keeping the camp up to the highest standard and introducing improvements whenever they can be made. He never fails to inquire into any proposals for improvements, recommends the best, and puts the matter before the proper authorities. The result is that the employees stick by the company, many having been there for eight or ten years.
In order that the company, employees and staff may keep in touch with each other, a Welfare Committee whose members are elected from amongst the employees by popular vote meets once a month with the superintendent. In these meetings matters affecting to the comfort and efficiency of the employees, improvements, safeguards against accident and any other matters beneficial to the employees and the company are discussed and settled.
Mr. E. S. Durward was born in Scotland, and in that country he studied and became a mechanical engineer. Later he took up the study of mining engineering, and in the oil fields in Egypt followed his profession for three years. Returning