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 FRANK B. MARKS. Actively engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which more than any other, the strength, wealth and prosperity of our nation depends, Frank B. Marks, of Dos Palos, is numbered among the successful farmers and dairymen of Fresno county. In his selection of a location, and in the improvement and stocking of his ranch, he has been particu- larly fortunate, his home estate being now one of the most productive and attractive in the com- munity. A native Californian, he was born, January 31, 1870, in San Francisco, a son of Bernhard Marks. He comes of German stock, his Grandfather Marks, the descendant of a German family, emigrating from Poland, his native country, to America, settling with his family in New York. Born in Poland, Bernhard Marks came with his parents to this country, and was reared and educated in New York City, and there began life for himself as a clerk. Migrating to California in 1852, he followed mining for three or four years, and then settled in San Francisco, becom- ing principal of the Lincoln school. He subsequently engaged in mining for a time, after which he again taught school in San Francisco. Taking up land in the San Joaquin valley, he was numbered among the reclaimers of the place, remaining there until he was drowned out. Going to Fresno in 1875, he organized the Colony Settlement of Fresno county, arranging with W. S. Chapman, the owner of the land, for its platting. Having laid out Central California Colony, he resided there for a while, and set out fruits and vines as an experiment, successfully improving a large orchard and farm. Bringing the Colony before the public by judicious adver- tising, he sold off all the lots, and afterward laid out West Park Colony, in Fresno county. Moving from there to Merced, he talked up the colonization system, and induced the landholders of that section to lay out the Dean Colony, and others. Returning then to San Francisco, he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as general colonization agent, and traveled extensively throughout the east in the interests of the company. He induced Carr & Haggin to sub-divide land near Bakersfield, in Kern county, and in 1890 persuaded Miller & Lux to divide their land in Dos Palos. The land just south of the Dos Palos Depot was first colonized, but as good drinking water was there impossible to obtain the colony was removed to its present advantageous site the following year, a large colony being established through the efforts of Mr. Marks, who gave large concessions on land in the new colony, and persuaded Miller & Lux to move the houses, etc. Mr. Marks is still associated with the Southern Pacific Rail- road Company, traveling much in the eastern states, and is now colonizing near Gait, in the Sacramento valley, with headquarters at San Francisco. Bernhard Marks married Cornelia D. Barlow, who was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., a daughter of Elisha Barlow, the descendant of an old and honored New England family. She died in Dos Palos, leaving two children, namely: Howard B., employed in the San Francisco postoffice ; and Frank B. Brought up in Fresno, Frank B. Marks there acquired his elementary education, completing it in the San Francisco Boys' High School, from which he was graduated in 1887. Returning then to Fresno, he assisted his father in the land business for a year, and then traveled for a year in the east, visiting all the principal cities. Returning to the Pacific coast, he followed farming in Merced county for eighteen months, and was afterward for a time bookkeeper for Brigham, Hoppe & Co., in San Francisco. Coming to Dos Palos in 1893, Mr. Marks had charge of his father's colony land business for eight years, subsequently locating on his present home ranch, which was then raw land. He began its improvement at once, and on account of the beau- tiful palm trees which he set out the thoroughfare on which it is located was named Palm avenue. Leveling and ditching the original forty acres contained in his farm, Mr. Marks began farming and dairying on a modest scale, and has since greatly enlarged his operations. He has added by purchase to his first purchase, having now one hundred acres of fine land, the greater part of which he devotes to alfalfa. He has one of the best dairies in this section, milking about fifty cows, and keeping much other stock. In the care of his herd he exercises great judgment, feeding green feed all the year round. He has a large silo, one hundred and fifty tons capacity, which he fills with green corn in the fall for winter feed, his silo being the only one in this part of the county. Mr. Marks' contract with the Colony expired in 1901. He assisted in or- ganizing what is now the Rochdale Creamery Association, and helped build the creamery. In San Francisco, Mr. Marks married Frances T. Olmstead, who was born in San Joaquin county, Cal., where her father, Edward Olmstead, was a pioneer settler. Three children have been born of their marriage, namely: Frances Blossom, Howard Edward, and Alice Marie. Politically Mr. Marks always casts his vote with the Republican party.