Fresno County Biographies

Alfred Dare Barling

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, February, 2007

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


	Alfred Dare Barling, assistant cashier of the Fresno Loan and 
Savings Bank, was born in New York State, April 24, 1850. In the year 1865 the 
family home was removed to Michigan, where the subject of this mention received 
his education, graduating at the well-known Ann Arbor University. While in 
college he gave special attention to the study of civil engineering, and as 
subsequent events have shown his selection of this department of work was a wise 
and happy one. In September, 1873, Mr. Barling came to California, settling for 
a time in Merced County, where he was engaged with the Farmer's Canal Company, 
of which organization he had entire charge for the time. During the seven years 
he was employed by this company he gave his closest attention to duty, and never 
lost a day's pay. While connected with the company he constructed and developed 
the irrigating ditch that Crocker & Huffman now own. He was also instrumental in 
organizing the first irrigating scheme that was operated in Merced County. Mr. 
Barling was employed by the Mexican Central Railroad Company in 1880, and, as 
chief of the party, went to Mexico, their operations extending from San Blas to 
Guadalajara, much of the work being difficult and dangerous. After remaining 
with this company fourteen months, he went to San Francisco and there 
superintended the building of the great wharf of the South Pacific Coast 
Railroad, two and three-fourths miles in length, containing a double track and 
roadway. In 1883 he came to Fresno County, where he has since resided. He is at 
present assistant cashier of the Fresno Loan and Savings Bank, and he also 
devotes a portion of his time to the raisin industry, owning 160 acres of 
bearing vines, and conducting the El Modelo Packing House, from which were 
shipped in 1890, ninety car loads of packed raisins. Mr. Barling was wedded in 
1873, to Miss Mary Reno, a native of Michigan. He ascribes much of his success 
in life to Mrs. Barlings' excellent advice and sound judgment in business 
matters.
 
Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare 
and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, pp. 394-395.