Fresno County, 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


JAMES FARLINGER.� A most estimable man of forceful character, 
who went through great hardships in life yet always met them bravely and 
without complaint, was James Farlinger, now deceased, who was born on 
March 1, 1848, in New York State. He received but a limited education, for 
his mother died when he was a child, and a disagreeable step-mother made 
his life at home unpleasant for him. At fifteen, therefore, he left to paddle 
his own canoe. He made his way to Saginaw, Mich., not without hardships 
and worries, and through resolute perseverance. 

His first employment was in the Salt Works at Saginaw, and later he 
went into the lumber woods, and thence on to Duluth. While lumbering, he 
met with several accidents, coming out of the camp with one arm broken : 
and at different times he had his legs broken, on the last occasion being laid 
up most of the time for three years. He was headed towards the Coast and 
finally arrived at Lewiston, Idaho. 

Determining to locate on government land, he went into Whitman 
County, Wash., in what is now known as the Palouse country, near the pres- 
ent Uniontown, southeast of Colfax, the county seat ; and there he took a 
homestead, and at the same time a preemption and timber claim. This was 
in 1877, when conditions were as yet so raw that there were no roads, no 
bridges, only an overland trail through the country. He pioneered in the 
truest sense ; broke the soil never tilled before, built a rude house, and made 
other improvements. 

On May 31, 1892, Mr. Farlinger was married at Moscow, Idaho, to Miss 
Ada Marlatt, a native of Vienna, Ontario, and the daughter of George Mar- 
latt, who was born near St. Thomas, Canada, and became a carpenter and 
builder. Her mother was Betsy A. Corless, also a native of Ontario. The 
father spent his last days in Ontario, and there the mother still lives. There, 
too, Mrs. Farlinger was reared and educated. In 1892 she came to Union- 
town, Wash., where she had a sister living, and there she met Mr. Farlinger; 
and the acquaintance, so agreeable to both parties, ripened into marriage. 
The happy couple continued on' the farm and were successful, but when their 
children began to grow up and they wished better school advantages for 
them, they purchased a farm of 217 acres about three-fourths of a mile from 
Uniontown, making a holding altogether of some 740 acres ; and this they 
also improved with a set of excellent buildings and still own. They also 
built a large comfortable brick residence on each farm, and other desirable 
buildings, Mr. Farlinger always being in favor of building up and improving. 
He also purchased lots in the business district of Uniontown and built a 
large brick store which has ever since been rented for the chief mercantile 
establishment of the town. 

Mr. Farlinger's health being poorly for some years, he rented the farms 
and removed to Fresno, where he and his devoted wife purchased a ten-acre 
vineyard about three-fourths of a mile west of Fresno ; and they built a com- 
fortable bungalow, in which they lived in pleasant retirement. Mr. Farlinger 
liked the climate and country, and was contented and happy in the sunny, 
healthful atmosphere ; but disease had made too great an inroad on his health, 
and though he recuperated for a time, he finally passed away, on July 26, 
1918, honored and beloved by those who really knew him. He was a good 
husband and father and his happiest hours were spent with his family. 

Five children had been born to this favored pair: William, who gradu- 
ated with honors from the Fresno High School and served in the United 
States Army until the armistice was signed; Fred, also a graduate of the 
same institution ; Harry, also attending there ; May, graduated with the class 
of '19; and Dixie, a grammar-school student. The last four are still at home, 
the comfort of their mother, who continues to reside in her comfortable 
house, looking after the affairs entrusted to her by her husband, turning 
aside, as opportunity permits, to do such good works as make their appeal 
to her, particularly those associated with the life of the Baptist Church, to 
which she belongs.