A brave old soldier with an enviable war record, and a citizen equally esteemed for his virtues as a man and father, and one who is glad and proud to acknowledge in his devoted wife one of the most loyal and efficient of helpmates, whose influence and foresight have had much to do with his success, while she has contributed to the betterment of the community in which she lives, is John Wesley Fly. who was born near Cassville, Barry County, Mo., in 1844. His grandfather, Jerry Fly, was born in England and settled in Tennessee; from which circumstance it hap-
pened that his father, A. P. Fly, was born in Tennessee. The latter married Miss Rillia Cantrell, a native of Tennessee, who came of Irish ancestors, and he then moved to Arkansas and finally to Missouri, where he established
himself as a farmer, and in Missouri the good parents died. Fourteen children made up the family, and John W. and A. L. Fly, two of the sons, served in the same regiment during the Civil War. Brought up on a farm, John Wesley enjoyed but limited educational opportunities at the public school, and on January 3, 1863, demonstrated his patriotism at Fayetteville, Ark., when he volunteered for service in the
Union Army, and joined Company H, First Missouri Cavalry. He was in the Battle of Little Rock and also the Battle of Camden, and with his regiment went through many severe engagements as well as minor skirmishes, sticking to the dear old Flag for two years and nine months, or until the close of the war, during which time he never received a scratch. In September, 1865, he had the great satisfaction at St. Louis of being honorably discharged from the service. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Fly came home to the farm, having also previously, in 1864, had the benefit of a furlough; and then began seriously to think of establishing himself in domestic comfort. He had been
engaged for some years to a lady whose family were Southerners, and under the circumstances, this might have proved a barrier; but she remained true to him and to the Union, and on June 11, 1864, he was joined in wedlock to
Miss Charioty Clark, a native of Arkansas who was brought up in Missouri, and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Comes) Clark, natives of Tennessee; she was the eighth child in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Fly engaged in farming in Missouri, and bought a ranch in Barry County, which promised all they could desire. In 1883, however, they sold out and moved to Routt County, Colo., where they engaged in the cattle business. They began at the bottom, and studied the industry thoroughly, and in time made his brand, 4/5, a trade-mark of enviable value. They took up land, and for twenty years continued in the cattle business. When Mr. Fly had reached his fifty-sixth year he broke down in health and sold his stock, thinking that cessation of labor and responsibility would
contribute to his cure ; but having been advised by physicians to change to a lower altitude he sold his ranch, and in 1904 came to California. A careful investigation into the merits of the various sections of the Golden State impressed him with the advantages offered by Fresno County, and here he bought the place, three-quarters of a mile from Clovis, now widely known as the result of his management. Originally it contained about fifteen acre's set to peaches ; but he found that this involved too much care and so he sold ten acres and retained five for himself. He also found the land unfavorable for peaches, and cutting down the peach trees he planted the acreage to sultana grapevines. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fly: Fountain E. is a rancher at Gridley, Cal.; Miranda has become Mrs. Voice, of Clovis ; Gertrude, her sister, better known as Mrs. Sellers, lives near by in the same town; Ellen is Mrs. Ducy, of the Barstow Colony, in Fresno County; and Allie is Mrs. Jones, and lives at International in the same county. The estimable couple have twenty-two grandchildren and fourteen great-grand-
children. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clovis, where Mr. Flv has been for years a member of the official board ; and Mr. Fly is a member of Atlanta Post No. 92, G. A. R., at Fresno.
pened that his father, A. P. Fly, was born in Tennessee. The latter married Miss Rillia Cantrell, a native of Tennessee, who came of Irish ancestors, and he then moved to Arkansas and finally to Missouri, where he established
himself as a farmer, and in Missouri the good parents died. Fourteen children made up the family, and John W. and A. L. Fly, two of the sons, served in the same regiment during the Civil War. Brought up on a farm, John Wesley enjoyed but limited educational opportunities at the public school, and on January 3, 1863, demonstrated his patriotism at Fayetteville, Ark., when he volunteered for service in the
Union Army, and joined Company H, First Missouri Cavalry. He was in the Battle of Little Rock and also the Battle of Camden, and with his regiment went through many severe engagements as well as minor skirmishes, sticking to the dear old Flag for two years and nine months, or until the close of the war, during which time he never received a scratch. In September, 1865, he had the great satisfaction at St. Louis of being honorably discharged from the service. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Fly came home to the farm, having also previously, in 1864, had the benefit of a furlough; and then began seriously to think of establishing himself in domestic comfort. He had been
engaged for some years to a lady whose family were Southerners, and under the circumstances, this might have proved a barrier; but she remained true to him and to the Union, and on June 11, 1864, he was joined in wedlock to
Miss Charioty Clark, a native of Arkansas who was brought up in Missouri, and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Comes) Clark, natives of Tennessee; she was the eighth child in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Fly engaged in farming in Missouri, and bought a ranch in Barry County, which promised all they could desire. In 1883, however, they sold out and moved to Routt County, Colo., where they engaged in the cattle business. They began at the bottom, and studied the industry thoroughly, and in time made his brand, 4/5, a trade-mark of enviable value. They took up land, and for twenty years continued in the cattle business. When Mr. Fly had reached his fifty-sixth year he broke down in health and sold his stock, thinking that cessation of labor and responsibility would
contribute to his cure ; but having been advised by physicians to change to a lower altitude he sold his ranch, and in 1904 came to California. A careful investigation into the merits of the various sections of the Golden State impressed him with the advantages offered by Fresno County, and here he bought the place, three-quarters of a mile from Clovis, now widely known as the result of his management. Originally it contained about fifteen acre's set to peaches ; but he found that this involved too much care and so he sold ten acres and retained five for himself. He also found the land unfavorable for peaches, and cutting down the peach trees he planted the acreage to sultana grapevines. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fly: Fountain E. is a rancher at Gridley, Cal.; Miranda has become Mrs. Voice, of Clovis ; Gertrude, her sister, better known as Mrs. Sellers, lives near by in the same town; Ellen is Mrs. Ducy, of the Barstow Colony, in Fresno County; and Allie is Mrs. Jones, and lives at International in the same county. The estimable couple have twenty-two grandchildren and fourteen great-grand-
children. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clovis, where Mr. Flv has been for years a member of the official board ; and Mr. Fly is a member of Atlanta Post No. 92, G. A. R., at Fresno.
A brave old soldier with an enviable war record, and a citizen equally esteemed for his virtues as a man and father, and one who is glad and proud to acknowledge in his devoted wife one of the most loyal and efficient of helpmates, whose influence and foresight have had much to do with his success, while she has contributed to the betterment of the community in which she lives, is John Wesley Fly. who was born near Cassville, Barry County, Mo., in 1844. His grandfather, Jerry Fly, was born in England and settled in Tennessee; from which circumstance it hap-
pened that his father, A. P. Fly, was born in Tennessee. The latter married Miss Rillia Cantrell, a native of Tennessee, who came of Irish ancestors, and he then moved to Arkansas and finally to Missouri, where he established
himself as a farmer, and in Missouri the good parents died. Fourteen children made up the family, and John W. and A. L. Fly, two of the sons, served in the same regiment during the Civil War. Brought up on a farm, John Wesley enjoyed but limited educational opportunities at the public school, and on January 3, 1863, demonstrated his patriotism at Fayetteville, Ark., when he volunteered for service in the
Union Army, and joined Company H, First Missouri Cavalry. He was in the Battle of Little Rock and also the Battle of Camden, and with his regiment went through many severe engagements as well as minor skirmishes, sticking to the dear old Flag for two years and nine months, or until the close of the war, during which time he never received a scratch. In September, 1865, he had the great satisfaction at St. Louis of being honorably discharged from the service. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Fly came home to the farm, having also previously, in 1864, had the benefit of a furlough; and then began seriously to think of establishing himself in domestic comfort. He had been
engaged for some years to a lady whose family were Southerners, and under the circumstances, this might have proved a barrier; but she remained true to him and to the Union, and on June 11, 1864, he was joined in wedlock to
Miss Charioty Clark, a native of Arkansas who was brought up in Missouri, and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Comes) Clark, natives of Tennessee; she was the eighth child in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Fly engaged in farming in Missouri, and bought a ranch in Barry County, which promised all they could desire. In 1883, however, they sold out and moved to Routt County, Colo., where they engaged in the cattle business. They began at the bottom, and studied the industry thoroughly, and in time made his brand, 4/5, a trade-mark of enviable value. They took up land, and for twenty years continued in the cattle business. When Mr. Fly had reached his fifty-sixth year he broke down in health and sold his stock, thinking that cessation of labor and responsibility would
contribute to his cure ; but having been advised by physicians to change to a lower altitude he sold his ranch, and in 1904 came to California. A careful investigation into the merits of the various sections of the Golden State impressed him with the advantages offered by Fresno County, and here he bought the place, three-quarters of a mile from Clovis, now widely known as the result of his management. Originally it contained about fifteen acre's set to peaches ; but he found that this involved too much care and so he sold ten acres and retained five for himself. He also found the land unfavorable for peaches, and cutting down the peach trees he planted the acreage to sultana grapevines. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fly: Fountain E. is a rancher at Gridley, Cal.; Miranda has become Mrs. Voice, of Clovis ; Gertrude, her sister, better known as Mrs. Sellers, lives near by in the same town; Ellen is Mrs. Ducy, of the Barstow Colony, in Fresno County; and Allie is Mrs. Jones, and lives at International in the same county. The estimable couple have twenty-two grandchildren and fourteen great-grand-
children. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clovis, where Mr. Flv has been for years a member of the official board ; and Mr. Fly is a member of Atlanta Post No. 92, G. A. R., at Fresno.
pened that his father, A. P. Fly, was born in Tennessee. The latter married Miss Rillia Cantrell, a native of Tennessee, who came of Irish ancestors, and he then moved to Arkansas and finally to Missouri, where he established
himself as a farmer, and in Missouri the good parents died. Fourteen children made up the family, and John W. and A. L. Fly, two of the sons, served in the same regiment during the Civil War. Brought up on a farm, John Wesley enjoyed but limited educational opportunities at the public school, and on January 3, 1863, demonstrated his patriotism at Fayetteville, Ark., when he volunteered for service in the
Union Army, and joined Company H, First Missouri Cavalry. He was in the Battle of Little Rock and also the Battle of Camden, and with his regiment went through many severe engagements as well as minor skirmishes, sticking to the dear old Flag for two years and nine months, or until the close of the war, during which time he never received a scratch. In September, 1865, he had the great satisfaction at St. Louis of being honorably discharged from the service. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Fly came home to the farm, having also previously, in 1864, had the benefit of a furlough; and then began seriously to think of establishing himself in domestic comfort. He had been
engaged for some years to a lady whose family were Southerners, and under the circumstances, this might have proved a barrier; but she remained true to him and to the Union, and on June 11, 1864, he was joined in wedlock to
Miss Charioty Clark, a native of Arkansas who was brought up in Missouri, and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Comes) Clark, natives of Tennessee; she was the eighth child in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Fly engaged in farming in Missouri, and bought a ranch in Barry County, which promised all they could desire. In 1883, however, they sold out and moved to Routt County, Colo., where they engaged in the cattle business. They began at the bottom, and studied the industry thoroughly, and in time made his brand, 4/5, a trade-mark of enviable value. They took up land, and for twenty years continued in the cattle business. When Mr. Fly had reached his fifty-sixth year he broke down in health and sold his stock, thinking that cessation of labor and responsibility would
contribute to his cure ; but having been advised by physicians to change to a lower altitude he sold his ranch, and in 1904 came to California. A careful investigation into the merits of the various sections of the Golden State impressed him with the advantages offered by Fresno County, and here he bought the place, three-quarters of a mile from Clovis, now widely known as the result of his management. Originally it contained about fifteen acre's set to peaches ; but he found that this involved too much care and so he sold ten acres and retained five for himself. He also found the land unfavorable for peaches, and cutting down the peach trees he planted the acreage to sultana grapevines. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fly: Fountain E. is a rancher at Gridley, Cal.; Miranda has become Mrs. Voice, of Clovis ; Gertrude, her sister, better known as Mrs. Sellers, lives near by in the same town; Ellen is Mrs. Ducy, of the Barstow Colony, in Fresno County; and Allie is Mrs. Jones, and lives at International in the same county. The estimable couple have twenty-two grandchildren and fourteen great-grand-
children. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clovis, where Mr. Flv has been for years a member of the official board ; and Mr. Fly is a member of Atlanta Post No. 92, G. A. R., at Fresno.
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