From "The History of Fresno County" published in 1919
GEORGE WASHINGTON HENSLEY The seventh son in a family of nine children, George Washington Hensley has the further distinction of being a native son of Calaveras County,Cal., born February 15, 1857.
His father, John Jackson, and mother, Margaret (Murray) Hensley, were among the intrepid pioneers of 53, who braved the perils and hardships of a journey with ox teams across the wilderness that intervened between their old Missouri farm home and the golden sands of the promised land. The family, consisting of parents and six children, followed the northern route via Salt Lake City and the Humboldt River, to Calaveras County, Cal., where they established their home.
Their experiences in their new home were similar to those of other pioneers of the early days hardships endured, obstacles overcome, and the gradual betterment of conditions as the country grew and developed.
Most of the early pioneers were interested in mining, for a time at least, and Mr. Hensley was no exception. After devoting some years to the mining industry, in 1859 he moved to Deep Creek, Tulare County, and engaged in the cattle business. In the fall of 1861 he settled on the Fresno River, in what was then Fresno County (now Madera County"), bought a tract of unimproved land and raised stock. He was supervisor of Fresno County one term, on the Democratic ticket. He died December 25, 1902. His wife, a native of Missouri, preceded him six years. She died at the old home, October 11, 1896. Her father, the Honorable Thomas Murray, was active in public affairs in Missouri, and at one time served as a member of the Missouri legislature. He accompanied the Hensleys across the plains in 1853 and settled at Petaluma where he engaged in farming. Of the nine children comprising the Hensley family, a daughter died at the age of five. The other members of the family are: Thomas J., a stockman in Madera County; Samuel P., residing in the same county; Abel H. and W. C. who reside on the old home place in Madera County ; P. J. and G. W, residents of Fresno: John M., ex-sheriff of Fresno County, residing in Madera ; and Martha A., deceased.
George W., being the seventh son of his father, was called by his family and acquaintances Doc Hensley and is still known by that name. From a lad he learned the care of sheep, with his father. In 1868 the flood caught all of his father's sheep below Lane's bridge and all were drowned, but he started again and made a success. Doc Hensley, when seventeen years of age, engaged in the sheep business for himself in Tulare County, near Tipton. In 1877, the dry year Was disastrous and he lost all. He then worked with the California Lumber Company as foreman till 1880, then located in Madera and later followed draying and teaming for two years.
Still later he ran the Club Stables on the spot where the Fresno Auditorium now stands. In 1888 he started boring wells and has continued that occupation for the past thirty years. He is the oldest in this line of work in Central California, if not in the whole state.
He dug his first well on N Street, Fresno, and also dug wells at the County Hospital, the County Court House, the Fresno Fair Grounds and the Jersey Farm Dairy. He bored the first oil well bored in the Kern River District, Kern County, for the Fresno-Bakersfield Oil Company. He bored the first well for irrigation and installed the first pumping plant in Fresno County. Since then this method of irrigation has become universal. He is quite ingenious and has made a number of improvements in well-boring outfits and machinery, one of his inventions being a perforator which has proven very successful and is now in general use.
In partnership with his brother, Abel, he owns the old home ranch in Madera County, one-half section of land devoted to stock-raising.
George W. Hensley was united in marriage with Annie Pennington, a native of Roseburg, Ore., whose father, J. B. Pennington, crossed the plains in the early forties with Whitman, settling in Oregon. Her father was a pioneer and Indian fighter; he died while with our subject, aged over ninety-nine years.
Mr. and Mrs. Hensley are the parents of six children : George W., Jr., a business man in Clovis ; Warner, with the Fresno Fruit Growers Association ; Mrs. Elsie Obanion. on the home ranch : Lillian, Mrs. Robinson of Fresno; Harold, with the California Fruit Exchange and who served in the United States Navy; and May, graduate of Fresno High School, Class of 1919.
In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Hensley is a charter member of the Fresno Lodge of Knights of Pythias.
George Washington Hensley, 73 years, a native of California, died at the home of his son, George Hensley, at Oakhurst today. Hensley is survived by his wife. Clara Ann Hensley of Fresno; three sons, George W. Hensley of Oakhurst, W. C. Hensley and Harold Hensley. both of Fresno; two daughters, Mrs. C. E. O'Banion of Dos Palos and Mrs. Paul Driver of Delano, and a brother, P. J Hensley of Madera.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a m. from the Lisle funeral home in Fresno, Interment will be made in Belmont Memorial cemetery. A. Boise of Clovis has charge of the funeral arrangements.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HENSLEY The seventh son in a family of nine children, George Washington Hensley has the further distinction of being a native son of Calaveras County,Cal., born February 15, 1857.
His father, John Jackson, and mother, Margaret (Murray) Hensley, were among the intrepid pioneers of 53, who braved the perils and hardships of a journey with ox teams across the wilderness that intervened between their old Missouri farm home and the golden sands of the promised land. The family, consisting of parents and six children, followed the northern route via Salt Lake City and the Humboldt River, to Calaveras County, Cal., where they established their home.
Their experiences in their new home were similar to those of other pioneers of the early days hardships endured, obstacles overcome, and the gradual betterment of conditions as the country grew and developed.
Most of the early pioneers were interested in mining, for a time at least, and Mr. Hensley was no exception. After devoting some years to the mining industry, in 1859 he moved to Deep Creek, Tulare County, and engaged in the cattle business. In the fall of 1861 he settled on the Fresno River, in what was then Fresno County (now Madera County"), bought a tract of unimproved land and raised stock. He was supervisor of Fresno County one term, on the Democratic ticket. He died December 25, 1902. His wife, a native of Missouri, preceded him six years. She died at the old home, October 11, 1896. Her father, the Honorable Thomas Murray, was active in public affairs in Missouri, and at one time served as a member of the Missouri legislature. He accompanied the Hensleys across the plains in 1853 and settled at Petaluma where he engaged in farming. Of the nine children comprising the Hensley family, a daughter died at the age of five. The other members of the family are: Thomas J., a stockman in Madera County; Samuel P., residing in the same county; Abel H. and W. C. who reside on the old home place in Madera County ; P. J. and G. W, residents of Fresno: John M., ex-sheriff of Fresno County, residing in Madera ; and Martha A., deceased.
George W., being the seventh son of his father, was called by his family and acquaintances Doc Hensley and is still known by that name. From a lad he learned the care of sheep, with his father. In 1868 the flood caught all of his father's sheep below Lane's bridge and all were drowned, but he started again and made a success. Doc Hensley, when seventeen years of age, engaged in the sheep business for himself in Tulare County, near Tipton. In 1877, the dry year Was disastrous and he lost all. He then worked with the California Lumber Company as foreman till 1880, then located in Madera and later followed draying and teaming for two years.
Still later he ran the Club Stables on the spot where the Fresno Auditorium now stands. In 1888 he started boring wells and has continued that occupation for the past thirty years. He is the oldest in this line of work in Central California, if not in the whole state.
He dug his first well on N Street, Fresno, and also dug wells at the County Hospital, the County Court House, the Fresno Fair Grounds and the Jersey Farm Dairy. He bored the first oil well bored in the Kern River District, Kern County, for the Fresno-Bakersfield Oil Company. He bored the first well for irrigation and installed the first pumping plant in Fresno County. Since then this method of irrigation has become universal. He is quite ingenious and has made a number of improvements in well-boring outfits and machinery, one of his inventions being a perforator which has proven very successful and is now in general use.
In partnership with his brother, Abel, he owns the old home ranch in Madera County, one-half section of land devoted to stock-raising.
George W. Hensley was united in marriage with Annie Pennington, a native of Roseburg, Ore., whose father, J. B. Pennington, crossed the plains in the early forties with Whitman, settling in Oregon. Her father was a pioneer and Indian fighter; he died while with our subject, aged over ninety-nine years.
Mr. and Mrs. Hensley are the parents of six children : George W., Jr., a business man in Clovis ; Warner, with the Fresno Fruit Growers Association ; Mrs. Elsie Obanion. on the home ranch : Lillian, Mrs. Robinson of Fresno; Harold, with the California Fruit Exchange and who served in the United States Navy; and May, graduate of Fresno High School, Class of 1919.
In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Hensley is a charter member of the Fresno Lodge of Knights of Pythias.
George Washington Hensley, 73 years, a native of California, died at the home of his son, George Hensley, at Oakhurst today. Hensley is survived by his wife. Clara Ann Hensley of Fresno; three sons, George W. Hensley of Oakhurst, W. C. Hensley and Harold Hensley. both of Fresno; two daughters, Mrs. C. E. O'Banion of Dos Palos and Mrs. Paul Driver of Delano, and a brother, P. J Hensley of Madera.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a m. from the Lisle funeral home in Fresno, Interment will be made in Belmont Memorial cemetery. A. Boise of Clovis has charge of the funeral arrangements.
From "The History of Fresno County" published in 1919
GEORGE WASHINGTON HENSLEY The seventh son in a family of nine children, George Washington Hensley has the further distinction of being a native son of Calaveras County,Cal., born February 15, 1857.
His father, John Jackson, and mother, Margaret (Murray) Hensley, were among the intrepid pioneers of 53, who braved the perils and hardships of a journey with ox teams across the wilderness that intervened between their old Missouri farm home and the golden sands of the promised land. The family, consisting of parents and six children, followed the northern route via Salt Lake City and the Humboldt River, to Calaveras County, Cal., where they established their home.
Their experiences in their new home were similar to those of other pioneers of the early days hardships endured, obstacles overcome, and the gradual betterment of conditions as the country grew and developed.
Most of the early pioneers were interested in mining, for a time at least, and Mr. Hensley was no exception. After devoting some years to the mining industry, in 1859 he moved to Deep Creek, Tulare County, and engaged in the cattle business. In the fall of 1861 he settled on the Fresno River, in what was then Fresno County (now Madera County"), bought a tract of unimproved land and raised stock. He was supervisor of Fresno County one term, on the Democratic ticket. He died December 25, 1902. His wife, a native of Missouri, preceded him six years. She died at the old home, October 11, 1896. Her father, the Honorable Thomas Murray, was active in public affairs in Missouri, and at one time served as a member of the Missouri legislature. He accompanied the Hensleys across the plains in 1853 and settled at Petaluma where he engaged in farming. Of the nine children comprising the Hensley family, a daughter died at the age of five. The other members of the family are: Thomas J., a stockman in Madera County; Samuel P., residing in the same county; Abel H. and W. C. who reside on the old home place in Madera County ; P. J. and G. W, residents of Fresno: John M., ex-sheriff of Fresno County, residing in Madera ; and Martha A., deceased.
George W., being the seventh son of his father, was called by his family and acquaintances Doc Hensley and is still known by that name. From a lad he learned the care of sheep, with his father. In 1868 the flood caught all of his father's sheep below Lane's bridge and all were drowned, but he started again and made a success. Doc Hensley, when seventeen years of age, engaged in the sheep business for himself in Tulare County, near Tipton. In 1877, the dry year Was disastrous and he lost all. He then worked with the California Lumber Company as foreman till 1880, then located in Madera and later followed draying and teaming for two years.
Still later he ran the Club Stables on the spot where the Fresno Auditorium now stands. In 1888 he started boring wells and has continued that occupation for the past thirty years. He is the oldest in this line of work in Central California, if not in the whole state.
He dug his first well on N Street, Fresno, and also dug wells at the County Hospital, the County Court House, the Fresno Fair Grounds and the Jersey Farm Dairy. He bored the first oil well bored in the Kern River District, Kern County, for the Fresno-Bakersfield Oil Company. He bored the first well for irrigation and installed the first pumping plant in Fresno County. Since then this method of irrigation has become universal. He is quite ingenious and has made a number of improvements in well-boring outfits and machinery, one of his inventions being a perforator which has proven very successful and is now in general use.
In partnership with his brother, Abel, he owns the old home ranch in Madera County, one-half section of land devoted to stock-raising.
George W. Hensley was united in marriage with Annie Pennington, a native of Roseburg, Ore., whose father, J. B. Pennington, crossed the plains in the early forties with Whitman, settling in Oregon. Her father was a pioneer and Indian fighter; he died while with our subject, aged over ninety-nine years.
Mr. and Mrs. Hensley are the parents of six children : George W., Jr., a business man in Clovis ; Warner, with the Fresno Fruit Growers Association ; Mrs. Elsie Obanion. on the home ranch : Lillian, Mrs. Robinson of Fresno; Harold, with the California Fruit Exchange and who served in the United States Navy; and May, graduate of Fresno High School, Class of 1919.
In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Hensley is a charter member of the Fresno Lodge of Knights of Pythias.
George Washington Hensley, 73 years, a native of California, died at the home of his son, George Hensley, at Oakhurst today. Hensley is survived by his wife. Clara Ann Hensley of Fresno; three sons, George W. Hensley of Oakhurst, W. C. Hensley and Harold Hensley. both of Fresno; two daughters, Mrs. C. E. O'Banion of Dos Palos and Mrs. Paul Driver of Delano, and a brother, P. J Hensley of Madera.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a m. from the Lisle funeral home in Fresno, Interment will be made in Belmont Memorial cemetery. A. Boise of Clovis has charge of the funeral arrangements.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HENSLEY The seventh son in a family of nine children, George Washington Hensley has the further distinction of being a native son of Calaveras County,Cal., born February 15, 1857.
His father, John Jackson, and mother, Margaret (Murray) Hensley, were among the intrepid pioneers of 53, who braved the perils and hardships of a journey with ox teams across the wilderness that intervened between their old Missouri farm home and the golden sands of the promised land. The family, consisting of parents and six children, followed the northern route via Salt Lake City and the Humboldt River, to Calaveras County, Cal., where they established their home.
Their experiences in their new home were similar to those of other pioneers of the early days hardships endured, obstacles overcome, and the gradual betterment of conditions as the country grew and developed.
Most of the early pioneers were interested in mining, for a time at least, and Mr. Hensley was no exception. After devoting some years to the mining industry, in 1859 he moved to Deep Creek, Tulare County, and engaged in the cattle business. In the fall of 1861 he settled on the Fresno River, in what was then Fresno County (now Madera County"), bought a tract of unimproved land and raised stock. He was supervisor of Fresno County one term, on the Democratic ticket. He died December 25, 1902. His wife, a native of Missouri, preceded him six years. She died at the old home, October 11, 1896. Her father, the Honorable Thomas Murray, was active in public affairs in Missouri, and at one time served as a member of the Missouri legislature. He accompanied the Hensleys across the plains in 1853 and settled at Petaluma where he engaged in farming. Of the nine children comprising the Hensley family, a daughter died at the age of five. The other members of the family are: Thomas J., a stockman in Madera County; Samuel P., residing in the same county; Abel H. and W. C. who reside on the old home place in Madera County ; P. J. and G. W, residents of Fresno: John M., ex-sheriff of Fresno County, residing in Madera ; and Martha A., deceased.
George W., being the seventh son of his father, was called by his family and acquaintances Doc Hensley and is still known by that name. From a lad he learned the care of sheep, with his father. In 1868 the flood caught all of his father's sheep below Lane's bridge and all were drowned, but he started again and made a success. Doc Hensley, when seventeen years of age, engaged in the sheep business for himself in Tulare County, near Tipton. In 1877, the dry year Was disastrous and he lost all. He then worked with the California Lumber Company as foreman till 1880, then located in Madera and later followed draying and teaming for two years.
Still later he ran the Club Stables on the spot where the Fresno Auditorium now stands. In 1888 he started boring wells and has continued that occupation for the past thirty years. He is the oldest in this line of work in Central California, if not in the whole state.
He dug his first well on N Street, Fresno, and also dug wells at the County Hospital, the County Court House, the Fresno Fair Grounds and the Jersey Farm Dairy. He bored the first oil well bored in the Kern River District, Kern County, for the Fresno-Bakersfield Oil Company. He bored the first well for irrigation and installed the first pumping plant in Fresno County. Since then this method of irrigation has become universal. He is quite ingenious and has made a number of improvements in well-boring outfits and machinery, one of his inventions being a perforator which has proven very successful and is now in general use.
In partnership with his brother, Abel, he owns the old home ranch in Madera County, one-half section of land devoted to stock-raising.
George W. Hensley was united in marriage with Annie Pennington, a native of Roseburg, Ore., whose father, J. B. Pennington, crossed the plains in the early forties with Whitman, settling in Oregon. Her father was a pioneer and Indian fighter; he died while with our subject, aged over ninety-nine years.
Mr. and Mrs. Hensley are the parents of six children : George W., Jr., a business man in Clovis ; Warner, with the Fresno Fruit Growers Association ; Mrs. Elsie Obanion. on the home ranch : Lillian, Mrs. Robinson of Fresno; Harold, with the California Fruit Exchange and who served in the United States Navy; and May, graduate of Fresno High School, Class of 1919.
In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Hensley is a charter member of the Fresno Lodge of Knights of Pythias.
George Washington Hensley, 73 years, a native of California, died at the home of his son, George Hensley, at Oakhurst today. Hensley is survived by his wife. Clara Ann Hensley of Fresno; three sons, George W. Hensley of Oakhurst, W. C. Hensley and Harold Hensley. both of Fresno; two daughters, Mrs. C. E. O'Banion of Dos Palos and Mrs. Paul Driver of Delano, and a brother, P. J Hensley of Madera.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a m. from the Lisle funeral home in Fresno, Interment will be made in Belmont Memorial cemetery. A. Boise of Clovis has charge of the funeral arrangements.
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