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 F. VENARD.� Born near Havana, Mason County, Ill., on 
February 5, 1863, William F. Venard is the son of G. W. Venard, a native 
of Ohio, whose parents came from New Jersey. He moved to Kansas in 
1857, then back to Illinois, and once more came to Kansas. In that state he 
settled in 1869, at Burlington; and there he still lives. Mrs. Venard was 
Anna E. Marshall before her marriage ; she was born in Terre Haute, Ind., 
and in 1874 died in Kansas. She was the mother of four children, two of 
whom are still living. 

The oldest child in the family, William F. was brought up in Kansas, 
and attended the public schools and Baker University at Baldwin City; 
and until 1885 he studied dentistry at Burlington. For three years he prac- 
ticed dental surgery in Nebraska, and then he removed to Florence, Colo., 
where he continued his professional work. In 1889 he began in the oil busi- 
ness and worked up in it at Florence. Ten years later, he removed to Cali- 
fornia and Coalinga and for two months worked for L. L. Cory and associates 
on the New York lease. Then he was with Captain McClurg on Sec. 33-20-31, 
drilling for him for four and one-half years. In 1904, he returned to Colorado 
and worked as a driller until 1910, when he came back to Coalinga. 

In February of that year he joined the Good Luck Oil Company as driller, 
and on the first of the following November, he was made field superintendent, 
and this responsible position he has held ever since. When he took charge, 
the company had only two wells, but since then they have put down six 
more, so that they now have eight first-class producers. 

Aside from the oil business, Mr. Venard is greatly interested in viticul- 
ture. Some years ago, with his son. Charles E., he purchased seventy acres 
of raw land in Fresno County, between Reedley and Dinuba, which they set 
out to vineyard and orchard, and brought into bearing, when they sold it 
at a good profit. Since then he has bought other ranches and sold all but 
one which is devoted to orchard and vines. 

At Burlington, Kans., on June 5. 1889, Mr. Venard was married to Miss 
Mary A. Throckmorton, a native of Kansas and the daughter of Job Throck- 
morton, who was born in Ohio and had married Catherine White and who 
was Provo Marshal during the Civil War. In 1857 they located at Burling- 
ton, and he was not only a successful farmer, but the county clerk of Coffey 
County, Kans., and a member of the assembly of the Kansas State Legisla- 
ture. He died on his farm, survived bv his widow who lives at Burlington. 

Four children brightened the home of Mr. and Mrs. Venard, and three grew 
up: Charles E., at Reedley ; William, assisting his father; and Eleanor, a 
graduate of the Coalinga High School and Heald's Business College, and 
head bookkeeper in the First National Bank at Coalinga. 

Mr. Venard was made a Mason in the Lemoore Lodge. F. & A. M., 
in 1903, and he is now a member of Coalinga Lodge, No. 387, F. &. A. M.. 
and a member of Coalinga Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons. He and his 
wife are also members of the Eastern Star at Coalinga, and there, as else- 
where, are highly esteemed by many friends.