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


HOBERT N. CUTLER. Recognized as one of the most intelligent and skillful agriculturists 
of Fresno county, Hobert N. Cutler owns and occupies a finely improved fruit ranch, lying 
three miles northeast of Selma. In the pursuit of his congenial occupation he has shown much 
wisdom and practical judgment, and by many years of hard labor has acquired a competency. 
Coming from honored New England stock, he was born July 28, 1838, in Holland, Erie county, 
N. Y., a son of William C. Cutler. His paternal grandfather, Caleb Cutler, was born and 
bred in Massachusetts. In the early part of the nineteenth century he migrated to Vermont, and 
for a number of years was engaged in farming in Wardsboro, Windham county. In 1816 he 
moved with his family to the western part of New York, his only capital at that time being one 
yoke of oxen, one cow. and three dollars in Continental money. Taking up a tract of un- 
broken land, he cleared a farm from the forest, not far from Buffalo, and there spent the  
remainder of his life. 

Succeeding to the ancestral occupation, William C. Cutler, who was born in Vermont, re- 
moved with his parents to New York state, and when ready to embark in farming on his own 
account purchased land in Holland, Erie county, where he improved a good estate, on which he 
lived until his death. He married Maria Morey, who was born in Massachusetts, bred and edu- 
cated in Otsego county, N. Y.. and died in Holland, N. Y. She bore him eight children, three 
sons and five daughters, Hobert N. being the fourth child. 

Having completed his early studies in the common schools of his native town, Hobert N. Cut- 
ler turned his attention to agricultural pursuits for a few years. Migrating to Hancock county, 
Ill., in 1860, he taught school in Carthage for two years. Coming to California by way of the 
Isthmus in 1862, he followed farming in Saratoga, Santa Clara county, until 1869. Removing 
then to the western part of Fresno county, Mr. Cutler took up one hundred and sixty acres of 
land in Panoche valley, and subsequently bought another tract equally as large. Improving the 
property, he carried on general farming with good success for a number of seasons. Settling 
three miles northeast of Selma, in the spring of 1879, Mr. Cutler bought his present valuable 
ranch of eighty acres, and has since carried on a large and remunerative business as a fruit- 
grower. Thirty-five acres of his land are planted to vines, twenty-eight acres to fig trees, eleven 
acres to peaches and apricots, twelve acres he devotes to the raising of alfalfa, and in addition 
he has a blue gum grove of three acres which he planted himself. Mr. Cutler is a man of good 
business ability, and is interested in both the Rochdale store at Selma and in the Selma Co- 
operative Packing Company. 

In San Francisco, Cal., November 2, 1869, Mr. Cutler married Hester J. Donnellan, who 
was born in Iowa, and came to California by way of Cape Horn in 1853, being then a young child. 
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cutler, five children have been born, namely : Mary E., a teacher 
in Selma; Stella, wife of O. E. Shepherd, of Del Rev; Ede T., a teacher in the Iowa district ; 
Eleise, wife of John Waterman, residing near Fowler; and William Cheney, a butter manu- 
facturer, of Ferndale, Humboldt county. Mr. Cutler is a zealous supporter of the principles of 
the Democratic party, and has served many times as a delegate to the county conventions. 
He takes great interest in educational matters, and assisted in organizing the seventh school 
district of Fresno county and the Panoche school district. Fraternally he belongs to Selma Lodge 
No. 277, F. & A. M.