Tulare County Biographies

JOHN F. WILSON

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 
        In the year 1919 the Irrigation Equipment Company, of Visalia, 
California, was organized by John F. Wilson, R. C. Oram and W. F. Sanders. These 
men saw the necessity for a more systematic method of irrigating the lands of 
Tulare and adjacent counties and formed their company for the purpose of meeting 
that necessity. They began on a moderate scale, but after the character of their 
work became better known their business increased and new departments were 
added. The company now is prepared to install complete water systems, both for 
domestic and irrigation purposes, does electrical work, carries in stock milking 
machines and separators for the accommodation of dairymen, and does contract 
work in leveling and grading land in connection with the installation of the 
irrigating system.
During the last five years this company has been an important factor in the 
development of ranch lands in the vicinity of Visalia. Among the work done in 
that time may be mentioned the irrigating system and piping plants on the 
Richard Corporation chain of ranches, the development work and irrigation on the 
ranches owned by the Bank of Italy, the fine water system placed in the packing 
house of the Klink Packing Company, and the domestic water supply system 
installed on the Orval Overall ranch. As the business of the company grows to 
greater proportions, its founders take a just pride in their achievements and 
derive great pleasure in the prospects for the future.
        John F. Wilson, president and manager of the company, is a man well 
qualified for the position he occupies. He was born at Streator, Illinois, 
September 1, 1890, but while still in his boyhood went to Portland, Oregon. 
After attending the public schools of that city he took a course in civil 
engineering in Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York, and also studied 
engineering in the University of California. Upon completing his education he 
was with the engineering department of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad Company for a time, after which he was with the engineering department 
of the Pacific States Telephone & Telegraph Company of San Francisco, and then 
worked in the pump department of the Pelton Water Wheel Company. His technical 
training in the universities and his experience with these several corporations 
gave him the ability to solve almost any problem likely to arise in engineering.
        In 1919 he came to Visalia, where he formed the association with Messrs. 
Oram and Sanders, already mentioned. Much of the success of the company is due 
to his tireless energy and his skill in engineering. Mr. Wilson is still a young 
man, with a prosperous and useful career before him. He is a member of the 
Tulare County Board of Trade and of the Visalia Commercial Club, organizations 
interested in the development of the natural resources of the San Joaquin 
valley, and takes an active interest in their doings. He married Miss Helen M. 
Barber, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and they have two daughters : 
Jacqueline and Edith.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 498