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


OSCAR E. PRICE.� It has been thought by a few that gold is picked 
up from the ground in California, and in years that are history many flocked 
to the Golden State to pick it up. They met with varying successes and fail- 
ures. It has been demonstrated by a few choice spirits that gold may still 
be picked up here, though not from quartz ; that the soil contains elements 
that will produce gold in proportion to the amount of intelligence and per- 
sistent work a man puts into its cultivation. Hence this story of Mr. Price. 

Mr. Price was born in Sumner County, Tenn., November 10, 1879, and 
Tennessee is responsible for a good many mighty good men. His parents 
were Nim F. and Laura (Crabb) Price, to whom eight children were born. 
Of these seven are living: Oscar E. ; Mattie, now Mrs. Watson; Millie, now 
Mrs. W. Colley of Fresno County; E. T., also in Fresno County; Julius A. 
who served in Bakery Company, No. 308, A. E. F., with the army of occupa- 
tion ; Ophelia, now Mrs. Collins ; and Corrina, now Mrs. Morris. Ernest is 
deceased. 

Oscar E. grew up in his native state, receiving a common school educa- 
tion. In January, 1901, he came to California, his total cash footing up the 
sum of five dollars. This, however, did not by any means represent his 
entire capital, for while the former years went by he developed a strength of 
mind and body that served well his determination. For eight years he 
worked at day's wages, and by the exercise of thrift he found himself pos- 
sessed of enough cash to make a considerable payment on the purchase of 
his forty-acre ranch. There were seventeen acres improved, and he shortly 
after sold ten acres, believing that thirty acres well cared for would be better, 
and he also lightened his burden of debt. This sale enabled him to further 
improve his land and beautify his place by building a home with all the 
modern conveniences, at a cost of thirty-three hundred dollars. He has been 
offered and refused $30,000 for his place. 

On March 5, 1903, Mr. Price and Miss Alice DaMant were married. She 
was born in England and was brought to California by her mother, Elizabeth 
DaMant, when twelve years of age, to join the husband and father, James 
DaMant, at Orosi, where he was a minister in the Baptist Church. Mrs. 
Price completed her education in the schools at Sanger and after her mar- 
riage devoted her time to assisting her husband in developing their ranch, 
and at the same time rearing her little family. They have had four children, 
three of them now living, Ernest, Melba and Arthur P. The family be- 
longs to the Baptist Church and supports the charities of the church liberally. 

The success achieved by Mr. Price is due to an unswerving attention 
to business, and to a stick-to-ativeness that is the answer to the question, 
"How be a success in any undertaking?" Because of his fidelity and loyalty 
to his calling, Mr. Price has been able to pick up the gold from California's 
soil to an extent that should be highly gratifying to himself. In order to 
have a place to spend the summer months, Mr. Price bought a summer 
home at Palo Alto, Cal., in which town Mrs. Price's parents reside.