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


ASA EDWARD MOUTREY. As manager of the Le Grand Rochdale, a general merchandise 
establishment of this place, Mr. Moutrey ranks among the most prominent business men of this 
section. A native Californian, he was born in Plainsberg, Merced county, November 16, 1874, 
a son of Thomas L. Moutrey. The latter was born in Missouri in 1847, his parents being na- 
tives of Kentucky. In young manhood he married Elizabeth Hayes, also a native of Missouri 
and the daughter of Upton Hayes, of Kentucky, a grandson of Daniel Boone. When five years 
old Thomas L. Moutrey removed to Texas with his parents, and while a resident of that state 
served as soldier in the Confederate army, being then but seventeen years of age. After the close 
of the war he followed farming in Texas until 1871, in which year he came to California, first 
locating in Mariposa county and engaging in agricultural pursuits for some time. In 1873 he 
removed to Merced county and located at Plainsberg, where he engaged in ranching until 1903, 
when he removed to Madera, where he remained one year, now making his residence in Le Grand. 
Four children were born to himself and wife, namely : Asa Edward, the subject of this sketch ; 
Lemuel, Margaret and Fleda. 

After attending the public schools of his native county, Mr. Moutrey entered the Pacific Uni- 
versity at San Jose and studied for two and a half years. He then returned to Plainsberg and 
engaged in ranching for a number of years, in 1903 accepting the position of manager in the 
building of the store of the Rochdale Company, since which time he has been in their employ. 
This business is incorporated at $10,000, and carries a full line of general merchandise, three men 
being employed in the discharge of the work. The ability of Mr. Moutrey to plan and execute 
and his thorough understanding of the details of the business have added to the profitableness of 
the enterprise, as well as his uniform courtesy and desire to please the public winning many 
friends, who regard him both personally and commercially as an acquisition to the society of the 
place. In fraternal circles Mr. Moutrey is an Odd Fellow, a Mason and a member of the 
Woodmen of the 'World. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the principles advocated in 
the platform of the Democratic party.