1919 biography for John from The History of Fresno County by Paul E Vandor,
JOHN A. POYTRESS A splendid example of manhood who is pleased to devote his energy and time towards the development and building up of Fresno County is J. A. Poytress, who was born in Gloucester, England, March 10, 1871, the fourth oldest of a family of seven children born to John and Mary Ann Cooper, farmers in Gloucestershire, England. His father died in 1909 while the mother died in 1910. Mr. Poytress' father met with reverses, so when ten years of age, J. A. began working out on farms to assist his parents. However, he received a good education in the local schools. He read of the wonders of California and was attracted by the pportunities that awaited young men without capital but willing to work.
He selected Fresno, arriving in June, 1891, a stranger in a strange land. He found employment on a farm at Easton and applied himself energetically to his work. In September, 1893, he was married at Easton to Miss Mary Wells who was born near Birmingham, Worcestershire, England a daughter of Francis Wells, a well-to-do farmer. After his marriage Mr. Poytress engaged in viticulture and horticulture as well as teaming, a business he has continued ever since. He purchased twenty acres of his present ranch in 1897 and now has eighty-five acres in a body, which he has set and reset to vineyard though a part is in orchard of peaches and apricots. His vineyard is well selected. Thompson seedless and Muscat raisins. He sees it is well cared for and it is the consensus of opinion that he has one of the finest vineyards in the county, his place being located on West Avenue and Lincoln, about seven miles southwest of Fresno. Mr. Poytress also owns a 320-acre ranch one and one-half miles southeast of his home ranch which he devotes to raising alfalfa and dairying, his herd of cows being high-grade Holsteins. He is also raising draft horses, Mr. Poytress being interested in a company that owns an imported Percheron Norman or French draft stallion. He also owns a ranch of sixty acres at Caruthers. He is a firm believer in cooperation and has been a member of the different fruit associations, being an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.
He is a stockholder, director and treasurer of the Danish Creamery Association, having formerly been president of it for one year. He has been an active and prominent member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau since its organization as well as one of the original directors. He is the representative of the stock industry of the county and is chairman of the boys' pig club work.
He is also a director in the Fresno District Fair Association. Mr. Poytress is intensely interested in advancing the cause of education, having been a member of the American Colony school district for seventeen years, and a trustee of the Washington Union High School for the past eighteen years and the clerk of the board for nine years. Prominent in Y. M. C. A. work he is Fresno County committeeman since the association was organized in Fresno and is chairman of the Boys' Summer Camp Committee. Mr. Poytress' first wife died in 1908 leaving him a daughter, Eleanor Mary.
He was married a second time in Fresno to Miss Annie Hopkins who was born in Gloucester, England, and they have five children : Phyllis, Ethel, Annie Jane, Dorothy Dean, and Roderick. Mr. Poytress is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Easton, being chairman of its Board of Trustees, and was superintendent of the Sunday School for nine years. He visited his parents at the old home in England in 1905 and again in 1908. Fraternally he is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood at Easton. Full of patriotism for his adopted country Mr. Poytress was active in the different war and liberty loan drives, being local chairman of the Y. M. C. A., Red Cross and United War Work drives, in all of which he did valiant work.
Fresno Co, CA marriage records:
12 Sept 1899: John A Poytress, 22, b England, TO Mary Wells, 25, b England
04 Nov 1909: John Albert Poytress, 38, b England, TO Ellen Annie Hopkins, 32, b England
JOHN A. POYTRESS A splendid example of manhood who is pleased to devote his energy and time towards the development and building up of Fresno County is J. A. Poytress, who was born in Gloucester, England, March 10, 1871, the fourth oldest of a family of seven children born to John and Mary Ann Cooper, farmers in Gloucestershire, England. His father died in 1909 while the mother died in 1910. Mr. Poytress' father met with reverses, so when ten years of age, J. A. began working out on farms to assist his parents. However, he received a good education in the local schools. He read of the wonders of California and was attracted by the pportunities that awaited young men without capital but willing to work.
He selected Fresno, arriving in June, 1891, a stranger in a strange land. He found employment on a farm at Easton and applied himself energetically to his work. In September, 1893, he was married at Easton to Miss Mary Wells who was born near Birmingham, Worcestershire, England a daughter of Francis Wells, a well-to-do farmer. After his marriage Mr. Poytress engaged in viticulture and horticulture as well as teaming, a business he has continued ever since. He purchased twenty acres of his present ranch in 1897 and now has eighty-five acres in a body, which he has set and reset to vineyard though a part is in orchard of peaches and apricots. His vineyard is well selected. Thompson seedless and Muscat raisins. He sees it is well cared for and it is the consensus of opinion that he has one of the finest vineyards in the county, his place being located on West Avenue and Lincoln, about seven miles southwest of Fresno. Mr. Poytress also owns a 320-acre ranch one and one-half miles southeast of his home ranch which he devotes to raising alfalfa and dairying, his herd of cows being high-grade Holsteins. He is also raising draft horses, Mr. Poytress being interested in a company that owns an imported Percheron Norman or French draft stallion. He also owns a ranch of sixty acres at Caruthers. He is a firm believer in cooperation and has been a member of the different fruit associations, being an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.
He is a stockholder, director and treasurer of the Danish Creamery Association, having formerly been president of it for one year. He has been an active and prominent member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau since its organization as well as one of the original directors. He is the representative of the stock industry of the county and is chairman of the boys' pig club work.
He is also a director in the Fresno District Fair Association. Mr. Poytress is intensely interested in advancing the cause of education, having been a member of the American Colony school district for seventeen years, and a trustee of the Washington Union High School for the past eighteen years and the clerk of the board for nine years. Prominent in Y. M. C. A. work he is Fresno County committeeman since the association was organized in Fresno and is chairman of the Boys' Summer Camp Committee. Mr. Poytress' first wife died in 1908 leaving him a daughter, Eleanor Mary.
He was married a second time in Fresno to Miss Annie Hopkins who was born in Gloucester, England, and they have five children : Phyllis, Ethel, Annie Jane, Dorothy Dean, and Roderick. Mr. Poytress is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Easton, being chairman of its Board of Trustees, and was superintendent of the Sunday School for nine years. He visited his parents at the old home in England in 1905 and again in 1908. Fraternally he is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood at Easton. Full of patriotism for his adopted country Mr. Poytress was active in the different war and liberty loan drives, being local chairman of the Y. M. C. A., Red Cross and United War Work drives, in all of which he did valiant work.
Fresno Co, CA marriage records:
12 Sept 1899: John A Poytress, 22, b England, TO Mary Wells, 25, b England
04 Nov 1909: John Albert Poytress, 38, b England, TO Ellen Annie Hopkins, 32, b England
1919 biography for John from The History of Fresno County by Paul E Vandor,
JOHN A. POYTRESS A splendid example of manhood who is pleased to devote his energy and time towards the development and building up of Fresno County is J. A. Poytress, who was born in Gloucester, England, March 10, 1871, the fourth oldest of a family of seven children born to John and Mary Ann Cooper, farmers in Gloucestershire, England. His father died in 1909 while the mother died in 1910. Mr. Poytress' father met with reverses, so when ten years of age, J. A. began working out on farms to assist his parents. However, he received a good education in the local schools. He read of the wonders of California and was attracted by the pportunities that awaited young men without capital but willing to work.
He selected Fresno, arriving in June, 1891, a stranger in a strange land. He found employment on a farm at Easton and applied himself energetically to his work. In September, 1893, he was married at Easton to Miss Mary Wells who was born near Birmingham, Worcestershire, England a daughter of Francis Wells, a well-to-do farmer. After his marriage Mr. Poytress engaged in viticulture and horticulture as well as teaming, a business he has continued ever since. He purchased twenty acres of his present ranch in 1897 and now has eighty-five acres in a body, which he has set and reset to vineyard though a part is in orchard of peaches and apricots. His vineyard is well selected. Thompson seedless and Muscat raisins. He sees it is well cared for and it is the consensus of opinion that he has one of the finest vineyards in the county, his place being located on West Avenue and Lincoln, about seven miles southwest of Fresno. Mr. Poytress also owns a 320-acre ranch one and one-half miles southeast of his home ranch which he devotes to raising alfalfa and dairying, his herd of cows being high-grade Holsteins. He is also raising draft horses, Mr. Poytress being interested in a company that owns an imported Percheron Norman or French draft stallion. He also owns a ranch of sixty acres at Caruthers. He is a firm believer in cooperation and has been a member of the different fruit associations, being an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.
He is a stockholder, director and treasurer of the Danish Creamery Association, having formerly been president of it for one year. He has been an active and prominent member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau since its organization as well as one of the original directors. He is the representative of the stock industry of the county and is chairman of the boys' pig club work.
He is also a director in the Fresno District Fair Association. Mr. Poytress is intensely interested in advancing the cause of education, having been a member of the American Colony school district for seventeen years, and a trustee of the Washington Union High School for the past eighteen years and the clerk of the board for nine years. Prominent in Y. M. C. A. work he is Fresno County committeeman since the association was organized in Fresno and is chairman of the Boys' Summer Camp Committee. Mr. Poytress' first wife died in 1908 leaving him a daughter, Eleanor Mary.
He was married a second time in Fresno to Miss Annie Hopkins who was born in Gloucester, England, and they have five children : Phyllis, Ethel, Annie Jane, Dorothy Dean, and Roderick. Mr. Poytress is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Easton, being chairman of its Board of Trustees, and was superintendent of the Sunday School for nine years. He visited his parents at the old home in England in 1905 and again in 1908. Fraternally he is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood at Easton. Full of patriotism for his adopted country Mr. Poytress was active in the different war and liberty loan drives, being local chairman of the Y. M. C. A., Red Cross and United War Work drives, in all of which he did valiant work.
Fresno Co, CA marriage records:
12 Sept 1899: John A Poytress, 22, b England, TO Mary Wells, 25, b England
04 Nov 1909: John Albert Poytress, 38, b England, TO Ellen Annie Hopkins, 32, b England
JOHN A. POYTRESS A splendid example of manhood who is pleased to devote his energy and time towards the development and building up of Fresno County is J. A. Poytress, who was born in Gloucester, England, March 10, 1871, the fourth oldest of a family of seven children born to John and Mary Ann Cooper, farmers in Gloucestershire, England. His father died in 1909 while the mother died in 1910. Mr. Poytress' father met with reverses, so when ten years of age, J. A. began working out on farms to assist his parents. However, he received a good education in the local schools. He read of the wonders of California and was attracted by the pportunities that awaited young men without capital but willing to work.
He selected Fresno, arriving in June, 1891, a stranger in a strange land. He found employment on a farm at Easton and applied himself energetically to his work. In September, 1893, he was married at Easton to Miss Mary Wells who was born near Birmingham, Worcestershire, England a daughter of Francis Wells, a well-to-do farmer. After his marriage Mr. Poytress engaged in viticulture and horticulture as well as teaming, a business he has continued ever since. He purchased twenty acres of his present ranch in 1897 and now has eighty-five acres in a body, which he has set and reset to vineyard though a part is in orchard of peaches and apricots. His vineyard is well selected. Thompson seedless and Muscat raisins. He sees it is well cared for and it is the consensus of opinion that he has one of the finest vineyards in the county, his place being located on West Avenue and Lincoln, about seven miles southwest of Fresno. Mr. Poytress also owns a 320-acre ranch one and one-half miles southeast of his home ranch which he devotes to raising alfalfa and dairying, his herd of cows being high-grade Holsteins. He is also raising draft horses, Mr. Poytress being interested in a company that owns an imported Percheron Norman or French draft stallion. He also owns a ranch of sixty acres at Caruthers. He is a firm believer in cooperation and has been a member of the different fruit associations, being an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.
He is a stockholder, director and treasurer of the Danish Creamery Association, having formerly been president of it for one year. He has been an active and prominent member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau since its organization as well as one of the original directors. He is the representative of the stock industry of the county and is chairman of the boys' pig club work.
He is also a director in the Fresno District Fair Association. Mr. Poytress is intensely interested in advancing the cause of education, having been a member of the American Colony school district for seventeen years, and a trustee of the Washington Union High School for the past eighteen years and the clerk of the board for nine years. Prominent in Y. M. C. A. work he is Fresno County committeeman since the association was organized in Fresno and is chairman of the Boys' Summer Camp Committee. Mr. Poytress' first wife died in 1908 leaving him a daughter, Eleanor Mary.
He was married a second time in Fresno to Miss Annie Hopkins who was born in Gloucester, England, and they have five children : Phyllis, Ethel, Annie Jane, Dorothy Dean, and Roderick. Mr. Poytress is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Easton, being chairman of its Board of Trustees, and was superintendent of the Sunday School for nine years. He visited his parents at the old home in England in 1905 and again in 1908. Fraternally he is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood at Easton. Full of patriotism for his adopted country Mr. Poytress was active in the different war and liberty loan drives, being local chairman of the Y. M. C. A., Red Cross and United War Work drives, in all of which he did valiant work.
Fresno Co, CA marriage records:
12 Sept 1899: John A Poytress, 22, b England, TO Mary Wells, 25, b England
04 Nov 1909: John Albert Poytress, 38, b England, TO Ellen Annie Hopkins, 32, b England
Family Members
Spouses
Children
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Eleanor Mary "Nellie" Poytress Grebbell
1894–1960
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Phyllis Annie Poytress Parks
1910–1992
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Ethel Alice Poytress Mason
1912–2001
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CDR Annie Jane Poytress
1913–1980
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Dorothy Dean Poytress Gardner
1915–2001
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Wilson J Poytress
1917–1917
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Rodrick J Poytress
1919–2003
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Kathleen Mary Poytress
1920–2002
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John Robert Poytress
1922–2000
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