Tulare County Biographies

VISALIA PLUMBING AND SHEET METAL COMPANY

Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn

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

 
     To be successful in the fields of mechanics a man must necessarily possess 
thorough training in the science which he attempts to represent. The world of 
today demands skill in every line of labor, and the man who is not prepared to 
compete with his expert neighbor is beaten ere the fight begins. Apropos of the 
above subject, Visalia is the godmother to a plumbing and heating company of 
which she is justly proud, and having helped to maintain its popularity, feels 
that she has a share in its success and growth. The most difficult points in the 
work of installing heating and plumbing apparatus, the erection of windmills, 
tanks and trough, etc., are accomplished by the Visalia Plumbing and Sheet Metal 
Company with the greatest skill and ease, as may be attested by the many 
citizens who have been fortunate enough to secure their services. 
 
     Visitors to the showrooms of the Visalia Plumbing and Heating Company feel 
well repaid for their trip, for there are displayed many models of the most 
up-to-date appliances for toilets, bathrooms, furnaces, etc., and they are 
conceded to have the finest and most up-to-date showroom of that character in 
any town between Fresno and Bakersfield. This business was started about five 
years ago in the Odd Fellows and Masons building on Church street opposite the 
court house. Their fine sheet metal work is not the least of their 
accomplishments, as countless illustrations may testify. The mechanics whom they 
employ are the best that can be secured, and as they guarantee every detail of 
their work they have given general satisfaction. The business has grown rapidly 
and now its annual outputs amounts to $50,000 worth of business and the plant is 
indicated as one of the successful enterprises of the growing and prosperous 
city of Visalia. Against the moderate charges for services, no complaint has 
ever been received; on the contrary, the people of Visalia and locality are 
unanimous in their opinion that the terms are low in comparison with the 
standard of perfection maintained in their work. The firm is owned and 
controlled by Isaac Clark and Frank A. Newton, long established citizens of the 
community.
 
     Isaac Clark was born in Frankfort, Maine, January 12, 1870, and upon 
completion of his education learned the stone-cutter-s trade, which he conducted 
nine years in his home town, removing thence to Augusta, where he worked two 
years at his trade. He then served three year as an apprentice to Malcolm & 
Dyer, plumbers, after which for five years he filled the position of custodian 
of the Augusta city hall. In 1905 he immigrated to California, and choosing 
Visalia as his permanent location, accepted a position as sheet metal worker for 
the Cross Hardware Co. Upon the erection of the factory of the Pacific Sugar 
Co., Mr. Clark was engaged by said company to do the sheet metal work, 
accomplishing the work most satisfactorily. In 1907 he joined Frank A. Newman 
and C. B. Porter in establishing a general plumbing business. Two years later 
Mr. Porter withdrew from the firm, leaving Mr. Clark and Mr. Newman sole 
proprietors. 
 
     In 1897 Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Beck also a 
native of Maine. They have two charming children, Marjorie F. and Addison W. Mr. 
Clark is a valued member of the Knights of Pythias, Calantha Lodge, No. 52, and 
the Bethlehem Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 135, both of which he joined in Augusta, 
Maine.    
 
     Frank A. Newman was born in Cooper county, Mo., January 31, 1869. His 
father, Jesse Newman, died before his son reached manhood, and in the fall of 
1884 the mother, formerly Elizabeth Hill, brought her little family to 
California. Frank A. Newman ranched several years and also served as foreman of 
the Harrell stock and grain ranch. Later he conducted on his own account a three 
hundred and twenty-acre wheat farm in the Stone Corral district, Tulare county, 
and he then became an apprentice to the Cross Hardware Co., and upon completion 
of this service engaged in the plumbing business with Isaac Clark. The partners 
started their venture in a small way, but their trade grew steadily and they now 
employ twelve able assistants. 
 
     Following is a list of buildings which this company have equipped with 
plumbing and heating fixtures: The Exeter high school building, the Lemoore high 
school building, the new hotel at Lemoore and the new high school building at 
Delano. They have also recently installed the heating apparatus in the Kingsbury 
grammar school; the sheet metal and heating work in the Reedley grammar school; 
all the sheet metal work on the First National Bank building at Porterville; 
also on the three-story Blue building on Main street, Visalia. They have 
replaced the old plumbing for new throughout the county jail, the three story 
Harrell building, and put in all the new plumbing in the Merriam building and 
the Tipton and Lindsay grammar school. For years Mr. Clark has made a thorough 
study of the matter of proper heating for public as well as well as private 
buildings and uses the gravity and mechanical systems in order to produce 
complete circulation, replenishing the air in a room from six to ten times 
during one hour. He has obtained the most satisfactory results both regarding 
even temperature and sanitation. Among the residences thus equipped by him may 
be mentioned those of A. Lewis, H. F. Miller, R. E. Hyde and the M. E. Church of 
Visalia. The company has also installed plumbing and heating systems in the 
residences of R. F. Cross, Capt. H. White, Ralph Goldstein, Meyer E. Eiseman, 
two houses for J. F. Carter, Mrs. Oaks� home and numerous other private 
residences in Visalia and throughout Tulare county. 
 
     Both Mr. Clark and Mr. Newman by their rigidly fair and honest dealings 
have won the trust and favor of their many patrons. In every movement pertaining 
to the development of the locality they are always prompted to tender their 
practical assistance. 
 
SOURCE:  History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical 
Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913 Pp 309, 310, 313