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 CASSIUS M. BLOWERS. This pioneer rancher of Grangeville precinct, Kings county, claims more than passing notice, as few, if any, have struggled with more disparaging circum- stances, and still brought success out of what to the average man would have seemed an impossi- bility. His introduction to Kings county in 1874 disclosed a sandy desert, practically worth- less, but with the establishment of the irrigating ditch, of which he was an earnest advocate, a new order of things was made possible to the pioneer. His ranch is located three miles north- west of Hanford and is valued at $250 per acre. John O. Blowers, the grandfather of Cassius M., was a native of England and immigrated to the United States at a very early day, settling in Crawford county, Ohio, where he took up land from the government. He made his home there the balance of his life, and passed away at the age of eighty-four years. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church and filled the pulpit of that denomination in Bucyrus, Ohio, being the pioneer preacher as well as pioneer farmer of the locality. His son, Lemuel Lane Blowers, was born on the Crawford coun- ty farm, making it his home until coming overland to California in 1850. The mines were at- tracting the newcomers at that time, and he among many others became interested in the mines on the American river. Four years later he took up land in Yolo county, but his death the following year, 1855, when only thirty-eight years old, prevented the consummation of his well-laid plans. His marriage united him with Caroline Foster, also a native of Ohio, and at her death in 1849 she left five children, of whom Cassius M. was the fourth. Born December 20, 1845, Cassius M. Blowers was only four years old when deprived of the love and care of his mother. When ten years of age he was brought to California by his uncle, R. B. Blowers, who became a pioneer fruit grower of this state, and made the first raisins produced in California. On his uncle's ranch, near Woodland, Cassius M. Blowers spent his boyhood days. When fifteen- years old he began life in new surroundings, and for the following eight years was engaged in teaming to Nevada and the mountain districts. His next venture was farming in Yolo county, but in 1874 he transferred his interests to Kings county, which has ever since been his home. He purchased the right to a railroad claim, paying therefor $600. As previously intimated, he found the land in a condition unfit for cultivation, being a sandy waste, and he at once put his shoulder to the wheel and assisted in the introduction of the Lower Kings river, Last Chance and People's ditches, which have been such a boon to Kings county. In 1877 the ditches were completed, and Mr. Blowers planted his farm to wheat, the following year setting out a few vines. This latter venture proved successful, and to Mr. Blowers is given the credit for shipping in box form, in 1883, the first raisins that were packed in what was then Tulare county, but which is now a part of Kings county. To him also is due the credit for having originated the system of having fruit cut by "piece work," paying cutters according to the amount of fruit handled. This system, which was inaugurated by Mr. Blowers in 1886, has since been generally adopted by the fruit growers of California. Mr. Blowers has added to his holdings as opportunity permitted, and now has two hundred and forty acres in the home ranch, forty-eight acres being devoted to vines, seventy acres planted to peaches, apricots and similar fruits, while the balance is in alfalfa and grain. He also owns two hundred and fifty acres in Fresno county, which is devoted to the raising of stock and alfalfa, besides eighty acres in the vicinity of Lemoore, which is planted to fruit, vines and alfalfa. January 19, 1875, Mr. Blowers was united in marriage with Susie V. McLaughlin, a native of Ohio, and they have eight children, all of whom were born in Kings county on the home ranch. Hulbert Lane conducts a ranch of thirty acres in Kings county ; Russell M. is a rancher and fruit raiser, owning thirty acres given him by his father ; Olive G. is the wife of George Blowers, who conducts a machine shop in San Francisco; Francis carries on a ranch of fifty acres in Fresno county which was given him by his father; Bessie is the wife of Fred Arther, a rancher of Fresno county ; and the three youngest children, Mary, Ralph and Viola Susan, are still at home with their parents. Politically Mr. Blowers is a Republican, and has always taken a keen interest in school affairs, having been a trustee for seventeen years. For about twenty years he has been president of the Last Chance Ditch Corporation, and has also taken an active part in the affairs of the Raisin Growers' Association.