Since establishing his home in Tulare county and embarking in the stock business Mr. Francis has met with a degree of success that enables him, in the afternoon of a busy life, to enjoy the comforts so richly merited. The possession of large tracts of land indicates that he has displayed wise judgment in investments. Included in his property holdings may be mentioned his old homestead northeast of Visalia, consisting of four hundred and eighty acres; one hundred and twenty acres in close proximity to Visalia; one hundred and sixty acres in Goshen valley and a forty-acre tract near the last-named farm. Although practically retired from agricultural activities he still attends to the buying and selling of cattle and maintains the oversight of his lands.
The father of Mr. Francis was a Virginian by birth and parentage and in boyhood accompanied his parents to Ohio, settling in Muskingum county and engaging in the tilling of the soil. When the war with Mexico broke out he enlisted in the United States army and started for the front, but was never heard from afterward, and it is supposed that he died in battle or in a hospital unknown. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Holmes, was born in Virginia, and passed away in Ohio in 1899. In their family of seven sons and five daughters George W. Francis was third in order of birth, and was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. March 13, 1830. The family being large and their means small, it was impossible for him to devote much time to school, and his education was acquired principally by self-culture, he having been from childhood a close observer and great reader.
With ox teams, wagons, and a party of emigrants, George W. Francis crossed the plains to California in 1853, and after a journey of five months and thirteen days he arrived at Hangtown, where he began mining. A few years later, in 1856, he went to the mines of Mariposa county. In 1858, abandoning mining, he went to the Kings river region and settled in Drums Valley, where he and Andrew Drum engaged in the hog business. The presence of wild animals, especially bears, incurred constant danger for their drove of hogs, and after a year he disposed of his interest in the business to his partner. About the same time (1859) he removed to a cattle ranch not far from Visalia where eventually he acquired the control of four thousand acres and had large herds of cattle grazing on the plains. When the compulsory fence law was passed, the cattle business no longer being profitable there, he took his herds to San Luis Obispo county, although still retaining his residence near Visalia.
At Visalia, in 1860, Mr. Francis married Clementine Shipp, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of George Shipp, one of the earliest settlers of the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Shipp was born in Tennessee and there grew to manhood and married. Accompanied by his family, in 1852 he crossed the plains, following the southern route, and settled in what is now Tulare county. Immediately after his arrival he preempted land four miles northeast of Visalia and there raised cattle and general farm crops. In 1863 he removed to San Luis Obispo county and devoted his attention to stock raising for some years, but finally retired from active labors. His death occurred in 1894. In Tulare county his name is perpetuated as that of a very early settler. At the time he came to the county he found only a very few residents, and about the time of his arrival there came to this part of the valley such pioneers as Dr. George, Mr. Jennings, Abraham Murray, S. C. Brown, Dr. Cutler, R. Chatten and Nat. Vise, in whose honor the town was named.
Of the eight children comprising the family of Mr. and Mrs. Francis three sons and two daughters are living, namely: Gilmore, who lives near his father's home; Simeon; Walter,
residing near Kingsburg; Mrs. Ida Wilkes and Mrs. Katie Weatherman, of this vicinity. The children deceased were named Andrew, William and Fred. During all of his life Mr. Francis has been an advocate of Republican principles and has supported his opinions at the ballot box. There is one thing that Mr. Francis takes pride in, and that is that he voted for Abraham Lincoln at Venice, Cal., in 1861, when there were but seventy-one votes cast and but two of these were Republican. He was implored at that time to change his principles, as Tulare county never would be won by his party, and also at this time the men raised a purse of $2.50 each for the two men who cast the Republican votes. Mr. Francis owned up to his principles but would not accept the money, and said that he wanted to live and would live to the time when his county would be carried by that party. They then told him he would have to live a thousand years, which he said he would do, it making no difference to him. That this desire was gratified was shown by the election held November 8, 1904, when the Republicans carried the county by an overwhelming majority. All through his active life he has officiated as a school trustee, in which capacity he has been helpful in promoting the interests of the school in his district.
The father of Mr. Francis was a Virginian by birth and parentage and in boyhood accompanied his parents to Ohio, settling in Muskingum county and engaging in the tilling of the soil. When the war with Mexico broke out he enlisted in the United States army and started for the front, but was never heard from afterward, and it is supposed that he died in battle or in a hospital unknown. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Holmes, was born in Virginia, and passed away in Ohio in 1899. In their family of seven sons and five daughters George W. Francis was third in order of birth, and was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. March 13, 1830. The family being large and their means small, it was impossible for him to devote much time to school, and his education was acquired principally by self-culture, he having been from childhood a close observer and great reader.
With ox teams, wagons, and a party of emigrants, George W. Francis crossed the plains to California in 1853, and after a journey of five months and thirteen days he arrived at Hangtown, where he began mining. A few years later, in 1856, he went to the mines of Mariposa county. In 1858, abandoning mining, he went to the Kings river region and settled in Drums Valley, where he and Andrew Drum engaged in the hog business. The presence of wild animals, especially bears, incurred constant danger for their drove of hogs, and after a year he disposed of his interest in the business to his partner. About the same time (1859) he removed to a cattle ranch not far from Visalia where eventually he acquired the control of four thousand acres and had large herds of cattle grazing on the plains. When the compulsory fence law was passed, the cattle business no longer being profitable there, he took his herds to San Luis Obispo county, although still retaining his residence near Visalia.
At Visalia, in 1860, Mr. Francis married Clementine Shipp, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of George Shipp, one of the earliest settlers of the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Shipp was born in Tennessee and there grew to manhood and married. Accompanied by his family, in 1852 he crossed the plains, following the southern route, and settled in what is now Tulare county. Immediately after his arrival he preempted land four miles northeast of Visalia and there raised cattle and general farm crops. In 1863 he removed to San Luis Obispo county and devoted his attention to stock raising for some years, but finally retired from active labors. His death occurred in 1894. In Tulare county his name is perpetuated as that of a very early settler. At the time he came to the county he found only a very few residents, and about the time of his arrival there came to this part of the valley such pioneers as Dr. George, Mr. Jennings, Abraham Murray, S. C. Brown, Dr. Cutler, R. Chatten and Nat. Vise, in whose honor the town was named.
Of the eight children comprising the family of Mr. and Mrs. Francis three sons and two daughters are living, namely: Gilmore, who lives near his father's home; Simeon; Walter,
residing near Kingsburg; Mrs. Ida Wilkes and Mrs. Katie Weatherman, of this vicinity. The children deceased were named Andrew, William and Fred. During all of his life Mr. Francis has been an advocate of Republican principles and has supported his opinions at the ballot box. There is one thing that Mr. Francis takes pride in, and that is that he voted for Abraham Lincoln at Venice, Cal., in 1861, when there were but seventy-one votes cast and but two of these were Republican. He was implored at that time to change his principles, as Tulare county never would be won by his party, and also at this time the men raised a purse of $2.50 each for the two men who cast the Republican votes. Mr. Francis owned up to his principles but would not accept the money, and said that he wanted to live and would live to the time when his county would be carried by that party. They then told him he would have to live a thousand years, which he said he would do, it making no difference to him. That this desire was gratified was shown by the election held November 8, 1904, when the Republicans carried the county by an overwhelming majority. All through his active life he has officiated as a school trustee, in which capacity he has been helpful in promoting the interests of the school in his district.
Since establishing his home in Tulare county and embarking in the stock business Mr. Francis has met with a degree of success that enables him, in the afternoon of a busy life, to enjoy the comforts so richly merited. The possession of large tracts of land indicates that he has displayed wise judgment in investments. Included in his property holdings may be mentioned his old homestead northeast of Visalia, consisting of four hundred and eighty acres; one hundred and twenty acres in close proximity to Visalia; one hundred and sixty acres in Goshen valley and a forty-acre tract near the last-named farm. Although practically retired from agricultural activities he still attends to the buying and selling of cattle and maintains the oversight of his lands.
The father of Mr. Francis was a Virginian by birth and parentage and in boyhood accompanied his parents to Ohio, settling in Muskingum county and engaging in the tilling of the soil. When the war with Mexico broke out he enlisted in the United States army and started for the front, but was never heard from afterward, and it is supposed that he died in battle or in a hospital unknown. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Holmes, was born in Virginia, and passed away in Ohio in 1899. In their family of seven sons and five daughters George W. Francis was third in order of birth, and was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. March 13, 1830. The family being large and their means small, it was impossible for him to devote much time to school, and his education was acquired principally by self-culture, he having been from childhood a close observer and great reader.
With ox teams, wagons, and a party of emigrants, George W. Francis crossed the plains to California in 1853, and after a journey of five months and thirteen days he arrived at Hangtown, where he began mining. A few years later, in 1856, he went to the mines of Mariposa county. In 1858, abandoning mining, he went to the Kings river region and settled in Drums Valley, where he and Andrew Drum engaged in the hog business. The presence of wild animals, especially bears, incurred constant danger for their drove of hogs, and after a year he disposed of his interest in the business to his partner. About the same time (1859) he removed to a cattle ranch not far from Visalia where eventually he acquired the control of four thousand acres and had large herds of cattle grazing on the plains. When the compulsory fence law was passed, the cattle business no longer being profitable there, he took his herds to San Luis Obispo county, although still retaining his residence near Visalia.
At Visalia, in 1860, Mr. Francis married Clementine Shipp, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of George Shipp, one of the earliest settlers of the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Shipp was born in Tennessee and there grew to manhood and married. Accompanied by his family, in 1852 he crossed the plains, following the southern route, and settled in what is now Tulare county. Immediately after his arrival he preempted land four miles northeast of Visalia and there raised cattle and general farm crops. In 1863 he removed to San Luis Obispo county and devoted his attention to stock raising for some years, but finally retired from active labors. His death occurred in 1894. In Tulare county his name is perpetuated as that of a very early settler. At the time he came to the county he found only a very few residents, and about the time of his arrival there came to this part of the valley such pioneers as Dr. George, Mr. Jennings, Abraham Murray, S. C. Brown, Dr. Cutler, R. Chatten and Nat. Vise, in whose honor the town was named.
Of the eight children comprising the family of Mr. and Mrs. Francis three sons and two daughters are living, namely: Gilmore, who lives near his father's home; Simeon; Walter,
residing near Kingsburg; Mrs. Ida Wilkes and Mrs. Katie Weatherman, of this vicinity. The children deceased were named Andrew, William and Fred. During all of his life Mr. Francis has been an advocate of Republican principles and has supported his opinions at the ballot box. There is one thing that Mr. Francis takes pride in, and that is that he voted for Abraham Lincoln at Venice, Cal., in 1861, when there were but seventy-one votes cast and but two of these were Republican. He was implored at that time to change his principles, as Tulare county never would be won by his party, and also at this time the men raised a purse of $2.50 each for the two men who cast the Republican votes. Mr. Francis owned up to his principles but would not accept the money, and said that he wanted to live and would live to the time when his county would be carried by that party. They then told him he would have to live a thousand years, which he said he would do, it making no difference to him. That this desire was gratified was shown by the election held November 8, 1904, when the Republicans carried the county by an overwhelming majority. All through his active life he has officiated as a school trustee, in which capacity he has been helpful in promoting the interests of the school in his district.
The father of Mr. Francis was a Virginian by birth and parentage and in boyhood accompanied his parents to Ohio, settling in Muskingum county and engaging in the tilling of the soil. When the war with Mexico broke out he enlisted in the United States army and started for the front, but was never heard from afterward, and it is supposed that he died in battle or in a hospital unknown. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Holmes, was born in Virginia, and passed away in Ohio in 1899. In their family of seven sons and five daughters George W. Francis was third in order of birth, and was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. March 13, 1830. The family being large and their means small, it was impossible for him to devote much time to school, and his education was acquired principally by self-culture, he having been from childhood a close observer and great reader.
With ox teams, wagons, and a party of emigrants, George W. Francis crossed the plains to California in 1853, and after a journey of five months and thirteen days he arrived at Hangtown, where he began mining. A few years later, in 1856, he went to the mines of Mariposa county. In 1858, abandoning mining, he went to the Kings river region and settled in Drums Valley, where he and Andrew Drum engaged in the hog business. The presence of wild animals, especially bears, incurred constant danger for their drove of hogs, and after a year he disposed of his interest in the business to his partner. About the same time (1859) he removed to a cattle ranch not far from Visalia where eventually he acquired the control of four thousand acres and had large herds of cattle grazing on the plains. When the compulsory fence law was passed, the cattle business no longer being profitable there, he took his herds to San Luis Obispo county, although still retaining his residence near Visalia.
At Visalia, in 1860, Mr. Francis married Clementine Shipp, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of George Shipp, one of the earliest settlers of the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Shipp was born in Tennessee and there grew to manhood and married. Accompanied by his family, in 1852 he crossed the plains, following the southern route, and settled in what is now Tulare county. Immediately after his arrival he preempted land four miles northeast of Visalia and there raised cattle and general farm crops. In 1863 he removed to San Luis Obispo county and devoted his attention to stock raising for some years, but finally retired from active labors. His death occurred in 1894. In Tulare county his name is perpetuated as that of a very early settler. At the time he came to the county he found only a very few residents, and about the time of his arrival there came to this part of the valley such pioneers as Dr. George, Mr. Jennings, Abraham Murray, S. C. Brown, Dr. Cutler, R. Chatten and Nat. Vise, in whose honor the town was named.
Of the eight children comprising the family of Mr. and Mrs. Francis three sons and two daughters are living, namely: Gilmore, who lives near his father's home; Simeon; Walter,
residing near Kingsburg; Mrs. Ida Wilkes and Mrs. Katie Weatherman, of this vicinity. The children deceased were named Andrew, William and Fred. During all of his life Mr. Francis has been an advocate of Republican principles and has supported his opinions at the ballot box. There is one thing that Mr. Francis takes pride in, and that is that he voted for Abraham Lincoln at Venice, Cal., in 1861, when there were but seventy-one votes cast and but two of these were Republican. He was implored at that time to change his principles, as Tulare county never would be won by his party, and also at this time the men raised a purse of $2.50 each for the two men who cast the Republican votes. Mr. Francis owned up to his principles but would not accept the money, and said that he wanted to live and would live to the time when his county would be carried by that party. They then told him he would have to live a thousand years, which he said he would do, it making no difference to him. That this desire was gratified was shown by the election held November 8, 1904, when the Republicans carried the county by an overwhelming majority. All through his active life he has officiated as a school trustee, in which capacity he has been helpful in promoting the interests of the school in his district.
Gravesite Details
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.
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