California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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



WARREN BRUCE. � The down-east Yankee traits of character distin- 
guished by indomitable energy and thrift, so typical of the New Eng- 
land boy, is well represented in 'Warren Bruce, born in Augusta. Maine. No- 
vember 8, 1853. He received a public school education, and as a young man 
engaged in farming near Togus, Maine. He sold his farm and spent one 
winter in the lumber woods at Somerville. Maine, then entered the employ 
of Allen Lambard at Augusta, Maine, looking after his farm and stable of 
fine horses. After five years' service in this capacity he was appointed deputy 
city marshal of Augusta. He made a very popular and efficient officer and 
was the only Democrat in the employ of the city, which was under Repub- 
lican rule. He served on the force for twelve years and was very successful 
in handling the rough element. Six years he served as constable in Ward 
Six, being elected by a large majority � a Democrat in a Republican ward. 
He was in partnership with his brother W. H. Bruce in the hardware, hay, 
grain and grocery business. He sold his interests to Benjamin F. Parrott 
and in 1005 left for Fresno, Cal.. where he arrived in May. He became an 
employee of the Automobile Hardware and Implement Company, of Visalia, 
Tulare County, Cal.. invested heavily in the company and losing all when 
they failed, was obliged to start from the bottom rung of the ladder again. 
He bought a ten-acre ranch near Visalia which he improved, setting it to 
loganberries, peaches, etc., and sold the place at a good profit. He then went 
to Lemon Cove and bought forty acres of unimproved land at sixty dollars 
per acre upon which he sunk a well, built a house and greatly improved it 
in many other ways, afterward selling it for $6,000. He next purchased a 
twenty-acre ranch two and one-half miles west of Caruthers. Fresno County, 
upon which he sunk two ten-inch wells, installed a pumping plant, planted 
fifteen acres of it to alfalfa, set out 460 shade trees and two and one-half acres 
of Thompson seedless grape vines and built a fine new home. He lived on 
the place five years and in that time made it one of the show places of the 
district. It was well equipped with chicken houses, engine house, cattle cor- 
ral, and stocked with 100 hogs. He sold the place at a good profit and as part 
payment took a cottage at 3077 Nevada Street, Fresno. He improved this 
place, painted and repaired the house and exchanged the property for his 
present five-acre ranch, two miles from Fresno, on Fruit Avenue. Since com- 
ing to California he has taken up carpenter work and in his spare time has 
been busy at his trade. He worked on the New Humboldt Bank Building 
and other large jobs in San Francisco after the fire, and one season had 
charge of a steam engine on a threshing machine in Tulare County. He 
helped build the new high school in Tulare. Tulare County, and was engaged 
in boring for oil in Lost Hills district. Kern County, lie assisted in the con- 
struction of three school houses in Porterville, Tulare County, and also had 
charge of the ranch at Trimmer Springs one season. 

lie has overcome all obstacles encountered on the road that leads to 
success and is noted for good judgment in the practical affairs of life.