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


DAVID WILLIAMSON. � An honored pioneer of, and one of the most 
successful raisin growers in the Lone Star District of Fresno County is 
David Williamson, the owner of two valuable vineyards. He is what is 
commonly termed a self-made man, and one who has by perseverance and 
intelligent and industrious efforts become a prosperous vineyardist. David 
Williamson was born May 21, 1865, in the Shetland Islands. His parents were 
Henry and Janet (Isbister) Williamson, both natives of the Isle of Unst, 
one of the group forming the Shetland Islands. The father followed fishing, 
and the family consisted of three boys and one girl. 

In 1872 the Williamson family emigrated to St. John, New Brunswick, 
and it was here that David was reared and received his education, being 
brought up on a woodland farm where he learned farming and lumbering. 
In the fall of 1887 the parents moved to California, locating for two years in 
the Temperance Colony, Fresno County. In 1889 the family settled in the 
Lone Star District, where the father purchased twenty acres, which with 
the aid of his son David he improved. At this time there were very few 
vineyards in the Lone Star District, wheat being the principal crop raised. 
At first, David worked on grain ranches, but later on he went into the moun- 
tains, where he was engaged in lumbering. He was a very industrious and 
persevering young man and soon became interested in planting vineyards, 
and he has planted over three hundred acres for himself and others. He has 
planted, improved and sold several ranches in the vicinity of Lone Star and 
now owns an excellent raisin ranch of forty acres east of Lone Star, and 
other valuable vineyards, including a half interest in the "old place," the 
original twenty acres purchased by his father. Mr. Williamson's mother 
passed away on September 23, 1918, at Ashland. Ore., on her eighty-third 
birthday. His father is still living at Ashland and is in his eighty-second 
year. 

In 1898, David Williamson was united in marriage with Miss Catherine 
E. McFarlane, a native of Kansas, daughter of John and Susie E. McFarlane, 
both natives of Canada and pioneers of 1880 in Fresno County, who now 
reside on U Street, Fresno. Mr. and Mrs. David Williamson are the parents 
of five children : Frank, now twenty years of age, who registered for the 
United States Army, but was not called for duty; Harry, who is at home 
helping his father; Max, now nine years old; Doris: and the youngest, 
David B., Jr., now two and a half years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson and 
their excellent family are very highly respected in the Lone Star District, 
and are members of "the First Presbyterian Church at Fowler. Mr. William- 
son is very progressive in business affairs. He was one of the organizers, 
and helped to build, the packing house at Lone Star which is now owned 
and operated by the California Associated Raisin Company, of which he is 
a member and enthusiastic supporter.