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 EDWIN GOWER. As the first commercial manufacturer of olive oil in the San Joaquin valley, Mr. Gower is associated with the establishment and building up of an enterprise of no small importance to the people of this part of California. It was during 1899 that he started a small olive oil plant on his ranch in Fresno county, where, with George C. Roeding as partner, he manufactured olive oil upon a small scale. When the need of a city environment and more adequate accommodations became imperative the plant was moved to Fresno, where a factory was built on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and in 1903 a new company was organized under the title of Roeding Olive Company. The building of the plant was superintended by Mr. Gower. With a capacity of twenty-five thousand gallons per year, pure olive oil is manufactured in large quantities, for sale both in this country and abroad. The high reputation acquired by the product is abundant evidence of its purity, and more and more it is coming into popularity for medicinal and other purposes where a pure oil is absolutely imperative. The west has been the lifelong home of Mr. Gower, who was born at Gold Hill, Nev., September 14, i860, being a son of Sewall and Cornelia (DeVoe) Gower, natives respectively of Maine and New York. His grandfather, Robert Gower, a native of Maine, became a pioneer farmer in Cedar county, Iowa, and for years ran a ferry across the Cedar river at a point that came to be known as Gower's Ferry. His death occurred in Iowa. At an early age Sewall Gower crossed the plains with mule teams and engaged in mining at Gold Hill. Nev., but later removed to San Joaquin county, Cal., and engaged in raising grain on a farm near Stockton. He and his wife now make their home in Santa Cruz. Of their seven children four are living, Edwin being the only son. As a boy he aided in the cultivation of the San Joaquin farm and attended local schools, but during youth he was sent to Iowa, where he attended an old Quaker academy at Springdale, Cedar county. While there he met and married Miss Cora C. Perkins, a native of that county and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Accompanied by his wife Mr. Gower returned to California and for a year resided in San Joa- quin county. In 1887 he came to Fresno county and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of raw land near Fowler, where he set out one-half of the acreage in orchard of various fruits and put the balance largely under alfalfa. This property lies three and one-half miles northeast of Fowler and under his capable supervision has greatly increased in value. In the organization of the Armstrong Fruit Company at Fowler he took an active part and has since held the office of secretary and treasurer of the concern, although, as before stated, since 1899 much of his time has been devoted to the manufacture of commercial olive oil. He is a member of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Possessing a progressive spirit, he is always to be relied upon to assist in developing enterprises for the benefit of this community. When once convinced of the merits of a new movement, his co-operation is always generously given to its progress. His own in- terests, though important and extensive, are never allowed to exclude participation in plans for the public welfare. In every respect he has proved himself a public-spirited citizen of his adopted town. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Gower comprises nine children, all of whom are at home except the eldest, Cornelia, who is married and lives in Fresno county. The others are Emma, Viola, Rosa- mond, Mellicent, Sewall, Edwin, Gertrude and Cora. At no time has Mr. Gower desired to occupy positions of official importance, for his tastes are commercial, rather than political ; how- ever, his interest in educational affairs led him to accept the position of member of the board of high school trustees during his residence in Fowler, and this position he filled with a fidelity characteristic of him in every relation of life. In politics he gives his support to Democratic can- didates. Through his membership in the California Raisin Growers' Association he is con- nected with an organization of the greatest aid in the development of an important industry. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Pythias ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Fowler, where he is past noble grand ; and the Order of Foresters, in which he has held impor- tant official positions.