History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 by Paul E. Vandor

Author:Paul E. Vandor [Vandor, Paul E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, United States, State & Local, West (AK; CA; CO; HI; ID; MT; NV; UT; WY), General
ISBN: 9783849659004
Google: Mh0DEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
Published: 2020-10-15T00:42:01+00:00

BENJAMIN CASSIUS THOMAS.

A very successful farmer and viticulturist who was also in his time an expert carpenter, is Benjamin Cassius Thomas, who came to California about the middle of the eighties. He was born in Fulton, Callaway County, Mo., on June 21, 1855. His father, John P. Thomas, was born in Kentucky, September 4, 1834; and while yet a babe he came with his parents to Missouri, and grew up on a farm in Callaway County. In Missouri he married Elizabeth Craghead, a daughter of that state, of Scotch descent, and a member of a family well situated as farmer folk.

In 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, with their three children, crossed the plains in an ox team train, traveling to Austin, Nev. They stopped there intending only to rest their cattle, but they stayed twenty years. Mr. Thomas became interested in stock-raising and farming, and had three different cattle ranges where he owned the water. Under the brand T the Thomas ranches were well and favorably known. In 1883, Mr. Thomas sold out and came to Fresno County, California, where he had a brother-in-law, James Craghead. Through him he became interested in fruit-raising, and bought eighty acres situated four miles northeast of Fresno, for which he paid $100 an acre. He gave this his time and his best efforts, and the first year put out about forty-five acres of vines, increasing the amount later until he had all his property in vines or alfalfa. He also set out five acres of peaches. In 1897 he went to Porterville, but later he returned to Fresno County, and then engaged in dairy ranching near West Park.

The year 1913 brought to Mr. Thomas' home its full measure of sorrow. On Blackstone Avenue, while driving to town alone, his devoted wife was killed in a railroad accident. After this tragedy Mr. Thomas sold his dairy and all his acreage except forty acres, and retired from active work, thereafter residing with his son, Benjamin, until his death on his old home place, on January 2, 1916. He was a highly esteemed member of the Methodist Church and popularly active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Three children came to bless the home circle of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Thomas. Luella is Mrs. Hayes, of Porterville: Mattie T. has become Mrs. Williams, of Portland; and Benjamin Cassius is the subject of our story.

In his eighth year Benjamin Cassius Thomas crossed the plains with his parents, and helped drive the ox team, making the long journey into Nevada without serious Indian troubles. There he went to school, and in his spare time gave such attention to the management of horses that he soon learned to ride the range after the cattle, to lasso them, and to break the broncos. He continued with his father until he was twenty-one, and was then appointed deputy sheriff. This was in 1877, and he was under J. C. Harper, the well-known county officer. Mr. Harper died and Benjamin Thomas was appointed to succeed him in 1879.

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