Genealogie Wylie » William Joseph Kittrell K 7803BioObPq 2 (1867-1933)

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1. Web page at:, via http://www.calarchives4u.com/biographies..., 29 juni 2010

   California Biographies
   
   Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
   
   This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
   http://calarchives4u.com/
   
   These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for
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   Source:
   History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
   Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
   its earliest settlement to the present time.
   Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
   The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
   Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
   
   
   WILLIAM JOSEPH KITTRELL. A man of ability and integrity, enterprising and practical,
   William Joseph Kittrell is well known in the business circles of Fresno, being secretary
   and financial agent of the Fresno Agricultural Works, and secretary of the Knob Hill Oil
   Company. He comes of honorable pioneer ancestry, his grandfather, Joseph Kittrell, and his
   father, Francis M. Kittrell, having been among the earlier settlers of San Joaquin county. A
   Virginian by birth, Joseph Kittrell settled in Kentucky when a young man, from there remov-
   ing to Clarksville, Ark. Joining the vast tide of gold-seekers in 1849, he crossed the plains
   to California, and for a year was successfully employed in mining. Going home the following
   year, he returned, in 1852, with his family to the Pacific coast, bringing with him a fine herd of
   cattle, and locating near Stockton. Taking up land he carried on general farming, including
   the raising of grain and stock, being quite successful. He subsequently removed to Stanislaus
   county, where he spent his declining years.
   
   A native of Kentucky, Francis M. Kittrell lived there but a short time before his parents
   removed to Arkansas, where he acquired his early education. As a young man he came with
   his father to California, and lived for a time near Stockton, where he assisted in the pioneer
   labor of improving a homestead. Subsequently locating at French Camp, he followed general
   farming a number of years. In 1867 he removed with his family to Stanislaus county, where he
   continued in agricultural pursuits for four years. In 1871 he bought land on the Sacramento river,
   in Isleton, Sacramento county, and there engaged in his free and independent occupation
   until his health failed, owing to a severe attack of asthma, in 1876. Returning then to Stanis-
   laus county, he remained there until his death, in 1877. His wife, whose maiden name was Se-
   lina Harp, was born in Tennessee, of Dutch ancestry, her paternal great-grandfather having
   been born and bred in Holland. Her father, William Harp, a native of Tennessee, became a
   pioneer farmer of Arkansas. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and located first in San
   Joaquin county, later going to Stanislaus county, where he resided until his death, at the vener-
   able age of eighty-three years. He was an industrious, hard-working man, very successful in
   his agricultural labors, and acquired much wealth. After her husband's death Mrs. Selina
   Kittrell resided for a few years with her father, William Harp. She subsequently married, in
   Stockton, Mr. Zabel, and now resides on Thirty-fifth street, Oakland, Cal. Of her union with
   Mr. Kittrell, four children were born, namely: William Joseph, the special subject of this
   sketch ; Byron C, who died at the age of twenty years; Mrs. Villa M. Purveyor, of Fresno; and
   Francis M., of San Francisco, where he is employed by the Market Street Railway Company.
   Born October 10, 1866., William J. Kittrell spent the days of his childhood and youth in
   Stanislaus county, three miles south of Modesto, and was graduated from the Modesto high school
   in 1886, and from the Stockton Business College the following year. The next six months he was
   an assistant teacher in the college from which he had received his diploma, and on giving up the
   situation located at Fresno Flats, Madera county, where he was clerk and bookkeeper in a gen-
   eral mercantile house for eight months. Accepting a position with James Porteous. in March,
   1888, he continued as bookkeeper and salesman for the Fresno Agricultural Works for six years.
   As the works increased in capacity and output, additional help was needed, and Mr. Kittrell
   gave assistance where it was most needed, and has since 1894 had entire charge of the finan-
   cial department, and is now one of the stock-holders of the company. He is also secretary
   of the Knob Hill Oil Company, which was formed in 1900, capitalizing with $25,000, and
   electing the following named officers : James Porteous, president; W. A. Ferguson, superin-
   tendent ; G. T. Willis, vice-president ; W. J. Kittrell, secretary; and C. C. Wheeler. This
   company owns forty acres of land on the Kern river, and from the wells now in operation takes
   out about two thousand barrels of oil per day, having a fine flow ever since the first well was
   struck. In the plant, the development of which cost upward of $100,000, two large engines and
   two boilers are kept constantly pumping, and the equipments are of the most modern and ap-
   proved style. Mr. Kittrell also owns valuable real estate in Fresno.
   
   In 1888, in Modesto, Mr. Kittrell married Miss Ella Vezey, who was born in San Andreas, this
   state, a daughter of D. D. Vezey. Mr. Vezey, a native of Vermont, came to California in 1848,
   and for many years was a prosperous contractor and builder in San Andreas, but is now a resi-
   dent of Fresno. His wife, whose maiden name was Minerva J. Lewis, was born in Illinois. Mr.
   and Mrs. Kittrell have one child, a son, named Erroll Kittrell. Fraternally Mr. Kittrell be-
   longs to Fresno Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M., and Fresno Commandery No. 29, Knights Templar,
   and is a member of Fresno Lodge of Perfection. Politically he is a sound Democrat, and in relig-
   ion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

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Historische gebeurtenissen

• Geboortedag 10 oktober 1867
• Dag van overlijden 3 februari 1933

Dezelfde geboorte/sterftedag

• Ook geboren op 10 oktober
• Ook overleden op 3 februari

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