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 U. WALDER. � One of the oldest remaining settlers in the 
Arizona district who is well-posted and interesting is William U. Walder, who 
first came to California in 1888, and was fortunate to begin his career of pros- 
perity in Fresno as early as 1892. He was born near East Grinstead, Sussex, 
England, on May 31, 1862, the son of Walter Walder, a farmer, now retired. 
He had married Harriet Uridge, a devoted wife now deceased. Seven children 
were born to the worthy couple, among whom William was the oldest and is the 
only one now in the United States. 

Brought up on a farm, he attended the public schools of his neighborhood 
and remained in his native country until he was twenty-two. Then, in 1884, he 
went to New Zealand, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope; and he was fortu- 
nate, during three years of residence in Auckland, to find his health steadily im- 
proving. 

In 1887 he went back to England, traveling by a steamer that circled Cape 
Horn; and the following year, when the effect of the great California boom was 
being felt even in Europe, he came out to San Francisco by way of the Pacific. 
He liked the country so well that he settled in Alameda County and there followed 
landscape gardening. 

He was married there to Miss Emma Evans, a native of England of Welsh 
descent who had previously gone to New Zealand with a sister, where the subject 
of our sketch met her. Later she traveled to Australia ; and still later came 
out to California. 

In 1892 Mr. Walder located in Fresno and found employment as a horticul- 
turist near Centerville, where he set out orange orchards. In 1894 he went to 
West Park. Four years later, he located in Arizona Colony and engaged to take 
care of orchards. In 1900 he bought his present place of twenty acres on Purley 
Avenue. This property was hog wallow when he purchased it ; but he set to work 
energetically to level and otherwise improve it, and he built himself a comfortable 
residence with well-improved grounds. He also set out a fine orchard of Elberta, 
Muir and Lovell peaches ; and since then he has paid particular attention to the 
study of peaches, becoming an authority upon the subject. He has raised nursery 
stock and set out several orchards for others. He has long exhibited peaches at 
State fairs and in chamber of commerce exhibits, and has obtained favorable 
comment. 

No more public-spirited citizen could be found than William Walder; for 
he has not only endeavored to earn his own prosperity, but he has energetically 
striven to advance the interests through which the people of Central California 
and indeed throughout the state might hope to prosper. He is a member and 
stockholder of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and has been so from its 
organization. A Republican in matters of national politics, he is one of the first 
to throw party lines to the. winds in promoting local movements designed to up- 
lift the community. 

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walder: Florence M., who was 
a teacher, is now the wife of Elmer Johnson and lives at Armona ; Ethel J. is 
teaching in this county; and George W. is attending the Fresno High School. 
The family are Seventh Day Adventists and are affiliated with that church in 
Fresno.