California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

Source:
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.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


MRS. MARY VICTORIA ARNOLD. Ten miles northeast of Visalia, Tulare county, on 
section 30, township 17, range 26, is located the ranch which belongs to Mrs. Mary Victoria Arn- 
old, one of the successful horticulturists of this section. She was born in Texas, near Marlin, 
Falls county, next to the youngest in a family of five children, of whom four are now living, 
and is the only one located on the coast. Her father, Victor Wyres, a native of Georgia, be- 
came a farmer and stockman in Texas, in which state his father, Robert Wyres, followed the 
same occupation. Victor Wyres was located in Falls county (then known as Edwards county), 
his death occurring in Junction City, Tex., in 1901. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Ray, of Ala- 
bama, was a daughter of Dempsey Ray, a farmer of Texas, in which state she also died. 

Mrs. Arnold, then Mary Victoria Wyres, received her education in the public schools of 
Falls and Bell counties, Tex., where she was married in 1878 to George Arnold, who was born 
in Alabama. In 1882 they came to California and located near Grangeville, Kings county, and 
engaged in general farming. Later they removed to the Mussel Slough country, and in 1884 set- 
tled in Tulare county, homesteading a claim near Monson. This quarter section proving al- 
kali land they left it in 1885, pre-empting a quarter section in the vicinity of Visalia. At that 
time there were no roads through this part of the county, and but few improvements on the 
neighboring farms. The improvements since made on the property have brought it to rank 
with the most valuable and productive ranches in the county. Up to within six years ago the 
land was devoted to the raising of grain, and since that time stock-raising and a hundred or- 
ange trees are the principal sources of revenue. The land is irrigated by means of wind- 
mills, modern methods being a feature of the work, and Mrs. Arnold is deservedly mentioned 
as one of the most successful horticulturists and stock-raisers of the county. She is the mother 
of four children, namely : Lizzie, the wife of O. B. Kiteley ; Archie, Arthur Lee and Dollie, 
the three last named being at home. In her political convictions Mrs. Arnold is a stanch 
Democrat, and though unable to cast a vote still wields a marked influence in this direction.