Reuban M. Heryford, one of Sonoma county's well known prune growers and proprietor of a well kept and thriving orchard in the Piner district, rural mail route No. 2 out of Santa Rosa, is of Iowan by birth but has been a resident of California since the days of his babyhood, having been but three years of age when his parents came here and established their home in Placer county. Mr. Heryford was born in Fremont county, Iowa, March 10, 1871, and is the son of William and Matilda (Holloway) Heryford, the latter born in Kentucky and a member of one of the oldest families of that state. William Heryford was born in Missouri, where he grew to manhood. In 1858 he came to California with his family. His father, Captain Daniel Heryford, who was the leader of a wagon train which put out from Iowa for the California country in that year, upon his arrival here became engaged in mining in the gold fields surrounding Virginia City in Placer county. His father, Captain Heryford, was an officer in the army during the time of the Mexican war and was a man of influence in the gold fields. For several years William Heryford worked in and about the mines in Placer county and in 1864 returned east by way of the Isthmus of Panama with his wife and four children. He established his home in Fremont county, Iowa, and while living in that state three sons were born to him and his wife. In 1874 the lure of California drew him again to the Pacific coast .It was on October 12, 1897, at Santa Rosa, that Reuban M. Heryford was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Van Winkle (Dec 23, 1864 - May 18, 1935), who is a member of one of the pioneer families of Sonoma county.
Mr. Heryford is a democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, for eleven years having served as a school trustee in his home district. His service to the county during the World War was as a Liberty bond salesman. He won the first flag offered for over-selling an allotment. Given four thousand bonds to dispose of, he sold nineteen thousand, eight hundred in two days. He is an active member of the Patrons of Husbandry, affiliated with Farmers grange at Santa Rosa, and is also a member of Redwood Camp No. 93 of the Woodman of the World at Santa Rosa and of the auxiliary organizations, La Rose Circle No. 184 of the Neighbors of Woodcraft.