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 WILLIAM JOSEPH LOHMAN.� The assured success of any insti- tution is the laying of a substantial foundation upon which to build a super- structure designed to stand the test of men and time. The principles by which it is to be governed must be clearly defined, and of a high character. The mind that governs, controls, directs must be clear and far-seeing and forceful, to convince and sway other minds. When such are the conditions attending the establishing of an institution, all signs point to deserved suc- cess. Parlier, the center of one of the most productive regions of all Cali- fornia, has in its First National Bank such an institution, controlled by just such principles, and with a master mind, in the intellect and character of W. J. Lohman, the cashier and director, to put in operation and enforce the standards once set up; and in the daily life of this accomplished gentleman, the citizens have an ample guarantee as to the prosperity of this bulwark of the town. The bank was organized in 1911 by Mr. Lowman and I. X. Parlier. founder of the town, and on February 4. 1912, opened its doors to the public for business. It then had a capital of $25,000, and under the careful manage- ment of Air. Lohman now has a surplus fund of $35,000. J. F. Hayhorst was the president, and J. C. McCord was the cashier. In January, 1913, Air. McCord was succeeded by Mr. Lohman, and in 1918 Mr. Hayhorst gave way to C. A. Parlier, as president. Under each suc- ceeding administration the bank has gained more and more favor with the public, until now, in busy seasons, it often does a business of $100,000 in a day. It acts in part for eastern buyers. The new home of the bank is under construction and will be one of the most modern bank buildings in the entire Valley. It will be equipped with every safety device for the protec- tion of the funds intrusted to its care, with up-to-date furnishings and accom- modations for its patrons, and will cost over $40,000. The bank will occupy the new home about September 1. 1919. W. J. Lohman was born in Nevada County, Cal.. May 2, 1869, and is one of two children, Peter H. being two years older and now city marshal of Selma. The father was Peter Lohman. born in Hamburg. Germany. Janu- ary 16, 1826, who came to the United States and to California, where at Forest City. Sierra County, he married Hanorah (McBride) Feeley. She was born in Dublin, Ireland. December 25. 1828. and died in Nevada County, in 1901. By her first marriage she had four children, three now living: Nora Muller, of Selma ; Mrs. Nellie Goodspeed of Palo Alto ; and J. C. Feeley, of Parlier. The latter is the father of Capt. J. C. Feeley, Jr., who was with the First Gas Regiment in France during the World War, where he spent six months. He is a graduate of the University of California, engineering de- partment, and won his rank by meritorious service. He received his discharge in May, 1919, and has entered the employ of a big mining company in Mexico. Peter Lohman, the father, was a sailor and came to the United States in 1850, and after some wandering, arrived at San Francisco. He tarried only a couple of years in the busy city, and then went to the mines at Downie- ville in Sierra County. In his search for gold, he was very successful. He helped organize the Bald Mountain Extension Mining Company, was a chief investor in the You Bet at Nevada City but, like so many others, reinvested what he had won and lost a good deal of his fortune. He swore hearty alle- giance to the United States in 1865, and was made a full-fledged citizen. He was for years fortunate in his chosen pursuit, and promoted enterprises of great service to the miners. For years he operated a pack train from Marys- ville to Downieville, and he had in his employ Creed Hammond, who subse- quently became attorney general for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He re- tired from mining in 1882, and in 1903 he came to Fresno County and located with his son near Parlier, helping him to manage the twenty acres he then had there; and in 1917, aged eighty-eight years, he died, full of years and honors, and widely respected and beloved. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and belonged to the Royal Arch Chapter since 1856. He was buried beside his wife, in Nevada City, the Masons conducting his funeral. W. J. Lohman who. like his brother, was educated in the California public schools, took a course first in the San Jose Normal School, and then in Heald's Business College at San Francisco, from which he was gradu- ated with honors in the Class of 1890. At San Jose he was a classmate with Senator J. B. Sanford, of Ukiah, later and now Collector of the Post at San Francisco; Thomas B. W. Leland, Coroner, of San Francisco; and George Cosgrave, the attorney of Fresno. Then he went to work with the Birdseye Quick Mining Company at You Bet, staying with them for ten years, and after that farmed and loaned money to others to help them to farm. Follow- ing, as it were, in the footprints of his father, he was also successful ; and when John Muller of Selma invited him to come down and see the country, he was not long in concluding that he liked Fresno County very much, and Parlier in particular. In 1915, Mr. Lohman organized the Riverbend Gas Company, of which he became secretary and one-quarter owner and which includes the following gentlemen in its management: W. J. Lohman, R. K. Madsen, W. W. Parlier and Harry G. Williams. There is invested in this business $230,000 and the company furnishes gas � of an excellent quality, superior to that often found in large cities � to Dinuba, Reedley, Parlier and Kingsburg. W. J. Lohman is also trustee of the Ross School district, an office of peculiar honor that he has held since 1909. He is an efficient member of the Chamber of Commerce of Parlier having served as its president two years, and is an advance guard in its progressive policies. Mr. Lohman has both made and saved quite a fortune, notwithstanding his known generosity, owning three dwellings, office lots, two ranches, and a quarter interest in Riverbend Gas and Water Company, bank stock, first mortgages. United States Bonds and War Savings and Thrift Stamps, amount- ing all told to the sum of $75,000, all made in fifteen years. He is one of the livest men in Parlier, and what he undertakes or supports is generally successful. He is efficient and untiring in his application to duty, however irksome. He has the respect and good will of the community. He served as chairman of the Liberty Bond Committee and Parlier went over the top in every instance, winning all honors, and, in the Victory Loan, Parlier was one of the three towns in the entire valley which won a German helmet. In 1904, Mr. Lohman was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide Mar- thiesen, the daughter of Peter Matthiesen, by whom he has had five children: Raymond Peter, Neal Joseph, Doris Hanorah, Eldred John and Virginia Adelaide, and they constitute an interesting and attractive family.