An old pioneer of Fresno County, and also a forty-niner of the gold days in
California. Mahlon Levis deserves mention when compiling the biographical
historv of this section of the state. He was one of the very first men to plant
grapes on a large scale in the Selma district, and helped to establish and
promote the raisin industry in its pioneer days, and it is to such men as he
that the present prosperity of Fresno County is due. Born in Bucks County, near
Philadelphia, Pa., February 28, 1825, Mahlon Levis was one of seven sons, all
reared on the home farm. Upon the death of the father of the family, in 1838,
the home was broken up and Mahlon first went to Illinois. Later, with three of
his brothers, in 1842, he engaged in the lumber business in the pine woods of
Wisconsin, and con- tinued thus engaged for several years. Then, when the
discovery of gold in California turned men's footsteps west, he journeyed to the
Coast, in 1849, and for two years tried his luck in the mining districts of the
state, meeting with fair success. His companion in mining enterprises, a man by
the name of Pomeroy, and himself then returned to Wisconsin, via New Orleans.
The two men had $1,600 apiece with them as a result of their labors, and, upon
crossing the Isthmus, Mr. Pomeroy was robbed; Mahlon Levis, with the ready
generosity of the old pioneers, divided his $1,600 with his unfortunate partner
and so the two continued to their destination. After his return from California,
Mr. Levis again devoted his attention to the lumber business in Wisconsin, and
here his marriage occurred, uniting him with Maria E. Olden, a native of Canada.
He later engaged in farming and remained in the eastern state until 1873, when
he disposed of his 160 acre farm and went again to California. Finding
conditions here to his liking, Mr. Levis returned to Wisconsin and brought his
family back to California with him, locating in Tulare County, wdiere he
purchased a large band of sheep, 3,000 of which perished from the drought in
1877. Nothing daunted, though financially embarrassed, the sturdy pioneer came
to Fresno County in that year, and settled upon 300 acres of Southern Pacific
Railway land one one-half miles north of the Canal school and four miles
northeast of Selma. Here he started in the planting of grapes, one of the first
viticulturists in that section. In 1878 he planted one acre of mixed varieties,
of which the muscats tested out the best. In 1880 he planted four acres to
grapes which are still bearing and in vigorous condition. Before 1890 he had
fifty acres of his ranch planted to grapes. The rest of his land was devoted to
grain and alfalfa. Later he planted more grapes, until he was one of the largest
raisin-growers, as well as the pioneer of the industry in the district. It must
be remembered that the growers of those days did not have the easy access to
water facilities that are prevalent in the county now, and it was only by
constant and persevering devotion to the culture that they succeeded, so all
honor is due to these real developers of the industry in which Fresno leads the
entire United States. Mr. and Mrs. Levis were the parents of eleven children, as
follows : Emina, the wife of I. C. Houghton, a farmer of Humbird, Wis. ; Ella,
who died in California, she was the wife of Frank Peters and mother of one
child, Maud. now Mrs. Johnson of Taft: Alvin. the third child and eldest son; W.
F., rancher of Selma, married Adah Cockran ; Florence, now the widow of C. N.
Carrington of Selma; Georgiana. wife of J. C. Rorden of Selma; E. A., a rancher
of Selma; Annetta May, wife of Chester Dusy, a druggist of San Francisco; John
E., a rancher of Selma; his twin, Kate, died single in San Francisco; Minnie,
wife of Dr. O. E. Bronson of Fresno. As can be seen, the descendants of this
worthy pioneer couple are carry ing on the developing work started by their
parents, and are counted among the representative citizens of the county.

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Thanks to Savage1852 for the above information