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


CHARLES ELLIOTT WILLIAMS.� The adage that "nothing suc- 
ceeds like success" applies in the accomplishments of Charles Elliott 
Williams, a prosperous rancher of Fresno County. He was born at Crestline, 
Richland County, Ohio, October 23, 1854, a son of Benjamin and Catherine 
(Tyler) Williams, both of whom were natives of New York State, born on 
the Hudson and in Ithaca, respectively. They were farmers in Ohio, as also 
in Illinois, to which state the family removed in 1863, finally settling in Flat 
Rock, Crawford County, where both parents died. The Williams family is 
traced back to England, while the Tylers are an old New York State family, 
members of which were in the Battle of Minnesink. 

Charles Elliott Williams is the third in a family of six children, and was 
educated in the public schools of Crawford County, Ill. When he was 
twenty-one years of age he bought a farm near Flat Rock, where he followed 
farming until he came to California. 

On October 13, 1887, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss 
Emma E. Fry, a native of Henry County, Ind., the ceremony being solem- 
nized at Allison Prairie, Lawrence County, Ill. Miss Fry was the daughter 
of Maurice and Elizabeth (Bible) Fry, natives of Virginia who were early 
settlers of Henry County, Ind., and later pioneers of Allison Prairie, Ill. On 
her maternal side Mrs. Williams traces her ancestors back to Casper Branner, 
who settled in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., in 1750. In 1888, Mr. and Mrs. 
Williams located on Allison Prairie, Ill., where he became an extensive and 
successful farmer, operating over 700 acres of land. Seven children were 
born to them: Eva C, who is now Mrs. Calvert; Jennie May, who died 
when six years of age; Raymond L., in the United States Army, in a regi- 
ment of engineers, serving over seas ; Everett M., assisting his father ; Myrtle 
J., now Mrs. Gladden ; and Hazel F. and Lester E., who are both at home. 

On January 12, 1912, Mr. Williams and his family came to California, 
where he engaged in the mercantile business in Fresno, from February to 
October of that year, when he sold out to engage in farming, horticulture and 
viticulture on a twenty-acre tract eleven miles east of town on Ventura 
Avenue, in the Grandville district. Here he set out a family orchard and a 
vineyard of Thompson seedless raisin grapes, and has since devoted his time 
to the development of the tract. Mr. Williams is a loyal supporter of the public 
school system, as he is also of other institutions and organizations for the 
upbuilding of the county. He is a Democrat in politics, though not a radical, 
since in local matters he votes for the men best qualified for office.