California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

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


  JAMES B. HERSEY. The ancestry of James B. Hersey, a well-known and esteemed resident of Tulare 
county, is traced back te> the colonial days of our country, when members of his family participated in 
the stirring events which led up to the independence of our nation. The family flourished in the New 
England states for many generations, Randolph Hersey, a native of Maine, finally settling in Montreal, 
Canada, where he became a prominent iron manufacturer, being president of the Pillow-Hersey 
Manufacturing Company. He is also president of the Hersey-Page Pipe Company, the manufacturers 
of water and gas pipes. Later in life Mr. Hersey disposed of his interests in Montreal and after a time 
found his way to California, locating in Santa Clara county, where he purchased a ranch of one hundred 
and sixty acres five miles from the city of San Jose and engaged in general farming and horticulture. He 
is now living retired. By his marriage with Mary Louise Price, who is now deceased, the following 
children were born : John Randolph, general superintendent of an iron manufacturing plant in 
Montreal, where he makes his home ; Theodore, who is engaged in horticultural pursuits in Santa 
Clara county ; Fernando P., of San Francisco; Milton, assayer and chemist in an iron manufacturing 
plant in Montreal ; Arthur, also engaged in the iron business in Montreal ; Laura Beatrice, the wife of H. 
Roland, of Santa Clara county; and James B. After the death of his wife Mr. Hersey again married, by 
the second union having four children : Effie, Florence, Lena and Gertrude, all of whom are living in the 
east. 

James B. Hersey was born March 30, 1856, and in early manhood learned the -trade of a machinist and 
engineer. Coming to California in 1872 he first found employment in San Francisco, where he assisted 
in the erection of the Pacific Rolling Mills. Later he followed engineering at various times, making 
several trips to the Orient as first assistant engineer on ocean liners. He has also devoted several years 
to mining, being located at times in Colorado, California, Arizona, New and Old Mexico and Nevada, 
and at the present time he owns two mines on the edge of Death Valley, which he is now operating, 
having his own stamp mills. Mr. Hersey was in Leadville the year before the discovery of gold in 1877 
and later returned to that wonderful region and followed mining for a time. His experience as a 
horticulturist dates from 1885 and since then he has engaged in this line of business at various times. 
For a period he was located in the Santa Clara valley, where he purchased and improved a ranch of 
sixty acres, all devoted to an orchard. This place is now owned by his brother, Theodore. In 1897 Mr. 
Hersey located in Lindsay, Tulare county, where he has since made his home. The land now in his 
possession was at time of purchase a stubble field, but under the direction of the owner extensive 
improvements have since been made. A pumping plant has been installed and with an invention of his 
own a double quantity of water can be secured. This is the only plant of its kind in the state but it has 
proved a complete success, and in the future, many, no doubt, will take advantage of the improved 
methods. As his ranch adjoins the Southern Pacific Railway it is the intention of Mr. Hersey to build a 
packing house for his own use. Fifty acres of his property are devoted to the cultivation of the 
Washington navel orange and in the future this acreage will be increased. 

In Montreal Mr. Hersey was united in marriage with Albertine M. Holland, and they are the parents of 
the following children : Mansfield Randolph, Ralph James, Clarence Theodore and Mary Louise, all of 
whom are living at home. In his political convictions Mr. Hersey is a stanch Republican, but has never 
aspired to public office.