Merced County Biographies

IVAN W. LILLEY

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 
        Prominently identified with the best interests of Merced County is Ivan 
W. Lilley, an enterprising and progressive nursery man and horticulturist, 
residing in Merced, where he is engaged in the nursery business. The business 
was established in 1920; later he formed a partnership with Thomas B. Stribling, 
Jr. and they specialized in commercial fruit trees, putting particular stress on 
fig trees, a fruit which is admirably adapted to Merced County climate and soil. 
They also handle ornamental trees and shrubs. Lilley and Stribling maintain 
their nursery at Le Grand, Merced County, where they grow their stock. They 
handle about a million and a half fruit trees annually, employing fifteen men 
during the planting season. Their stock is of the very best to be obtained, and 
they sell throughout the State.
        Ivan W. Lilley was born in the State of New York, on June 6, 1895, the 
son of Dr. W. E. and Mabel (Crosgrove) Lilley, whose sketch may be found in this 
history. He was brought to Merced in 1899, and was graduated from the Merced 
High School in 1913, then entered the University of California, from which he 
was graduated with the degree of B.S., in 1919. He took up horticulture, and for 
one year worked as field man with the Peach & Fig Association in Fresno. He then 
engaged in contract pruning until he established a nursery business in Merced 
County, which has expanded rapidly under the joint management of Messrs. Lilley 
and Stribling.
        The marriage of Mr. Lilley united him with Miss Inez H. Youd, a native 
daughter of Merced. Mr. Lilley's interest centers in Merced County, which he 
considers one of the most fertile portions of the State, and he takes an active 
part in the development of its resources. He is a member of the Merced Chamber 
of Commerce and the Farm Bureau. He is a member of Alpha Chi Chapter of the 
Kappa Alpha college fraternity. In politics he prefers to vote independently of 
any party lines.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 868-869