California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 FRED BARCROFT. In his lineage, Fred Barcroft, an influential business man of Madera, represents an old-established eastern family and also an aristocratic Castilian race. His father, R. W., was a son of John Barcroft, a merchant tailor of Cadiz, Ohio, and in that city was born, reared and learned the trades of merchant tailor and carpenter. During 1849 ne crossed the plains with ox-teams and engaged in placer and quartz mining in Mariposa county, continuing in that occupation until 1899, when he retired. In addition, he also followed contracting and building. By reason of ill health, he is now debarred from business activities, and is living retired in Ma- dera. After coming to California he married Rafila Orosco, who was born near Casa Grande, Ariz., the daughter of a pioneer Spanish rancher who owned large tracts near Casa Grande and was murdered there by the Apache savages. Afterward his widow brought the children to Cali- fornia and about 1852 settled in Hornitos, Mariposa county. She died November 6, 1901, in Ma- dera, at the age of almost eighty-four years. She was born in southern Arizona and was a mem- ber of the Herrerra family. A devout Roman Catholic, she taught a private school for years, charging tuition when the children were able to pay, but teaching those who were poor without any charge whatever. Her principal object in teaching the children to read and write Spanish was that she might have an opportunity to inculcate in their hearts the doctrines of Catholicism. She was also a skilled needlewoman and devoted considerable time to teaching fancy work. In the family of R. W. and Rafila Barcroft there were seven children, namely : Rafael, who is engaged in the hardware business in Merced ; Fred, of Madera; David, a graduate of the Uni- versity of California and of the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, who died at the age of thirty-one years ; Caroline, who died at the age of nine years; Mrs. Mary Wilkinson, of Stockton; Joseph, who is a justice of the peace in Madera ; and Louisa, who died at sixteen years of age. In Hornitos, Mariposa county, Fred Barcroft was born July 31, 1858. During boyhood he at- tended district schools. When about seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to the tinsmith's trade in Merced under J. Kocher, with whom he remained for five and one-half years. At the ex- piration of his time he started in business for himself, opening a hardware store at Merced with a partner under the firm title of Branson & Barcroft. During the three years he remained in Merced a branch store was started in Madera December 23, 1883, and he came to this city to as- sume its management. October 1, 1884, he sold his interest in the Merced store to his brother Rafael, after which he devoted his entire attention to the Madera business. For the first two years he rented a store room adjoining H. S. Williams' store and then erected a frame building on the site of his present establishment. The shop was neatly and conveniently equipped with ev- ery facility for the conduct of the business. In addition to carrying a stock of hardware and tin- ware, he had plumbing outfits and did considerable business in this line. July 19, 1886, the building was destroyed by fire. He immediately rebuilt, but the building was for temporary use only, it being his intention to replace it as soon as possible. Before he had commenced a new building fire again destroyed his shop, April 20, 1895. All that he saved was a punching ma- chine of his own invention, used in the punching of sheet iron for tanks and well casing. After his second heavy loss by fire, Mr. Barcroft began to construct a more substantial build- ing than those he had previously occupied. Brick was used instead of lumber, and every effort was made to secure a building that could not readily succumb to the fire element, the new structure be- ing three stories and basement, the highest building in the city, and in dimensions 25x80 feet. Even this new building was not to escape unscathed, for the fiery element attacked it also July 2, 1904, with disastrous results. His shops in the rear were destroyed and also the woodwork in the rear and side of the building. But with that quality of grit that has characterized the Cal- ifornian, Mr. Barcroft set about restoring the damaged portions, extending his shop to 38x70 feet, including a two-story brick on the west side of his first building, 25x80 feet, which he leases. He devoted the basement and first floor to a line of heavy and shelf hardware, stoves and tinware. His shop and plumbing establishment are the largest in the city. He handles also gasoline engines and the Aermotor windmills. The Madera Chamber of Commerce numbers Mr. Barcroft among its active members. In poli- tics he votes with the Republican party, and fraternally is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Woodmen of the World, Foresters and Fraternal Brotherhood. His first mar- riage occurred in Hornitos and united him with Carmen Navarine, who was born in that city and died in Los Angeles. Afterward he married Cornelia Reyes, of Madera, a native of Watsonville, this state, and they have one daughter, Dolores.