Merced County Biographies

ULYSSES GRANT FOUGHT

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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


        A retired citizen of Merced County now making his home in Los Banos is 
Ulysses G. Fought, who was born in Paulding County, Ohio, on December 2, 1867. 
His parents were Elias and Eliza Fought, both natives of the Buckeye State, the 
former a blacksmith by trade and a farmer who had settled in Kansas in its 
frontier days. In their family were eight children, viz.: Fred (deceased), 
Mollie, Henry, Lucinda, Edward (deceased), Ulysses Grant and W. S., twins, and 
Ella.
        Mr. Fought was taken to Kansas when six months old, where he grew to 
manhood and received his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty, 
in 1888, he came to California and was employed in San Diego and in San 
Bernardino, for a short time. In 1889 he came to Merced County and located in 
Los Banos when that was but a struggling village. When he was able he purchased 
a quarter section of land, leased other tracts and raised grain with moderate 
success. He also was road overseer of the fifth supervisoral district in Merced 
County for twelve years. He is now living retired from active participation in 
business affairs, only looking after his personal investments, which include a 
five-acre tract on the edge of Los Banos which he has subdivided into building 
lots.
        On April 30, 1889, Mr. Fought was united in marriage with Miss Susie 
Watkins, daughter of John and Harriet Watkins, who came to California about 
1888. Of this union there were five children: Clyde, Charles, Walter, Cecil and 
Hazel. Mr. Fought is a Democrat in his political convictions, and fraternally, 
belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Los Banos. Of late, he has 
spent considerable of his time in Santa Cruz on account of the health of Mrs. 
Fought, but he retains his interest in the city where he is so well known.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 875-876