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


THOMAS FREEMAN NEWELL. The agricultural community of Selma has no more worthy 
representative than Thomas Freeman Newell, a farmer of experience and skill, who has met 
with success in his independent calling, and is now living retired from active pursuits. A son of 
Edward Newell, he was born August 1, 1843, in Cumberland county, Me. His grandfather, Enoch 
Newell, a native of Massachusetts, came from honored colonial stock, being descended from 
one of four brothers who emigrated from England to the old Bay State. When a young man he 
removed to Maine, and there spent his remaining years. A life-long resident of Cumberland 
county. Me., Edward Newell followed the trade of a ship-carpenter and joiner. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Mary W. Freeman, was born in Massachusetts, and died in Maine. Of their 
family of five boys and two girls, of whom one son and the two daughters are deceased, 
Thomas F., the subject of this biographical sketch is the youngest. 

Reared and educated in his native state, Thomas Freeman Newell remained at home until 
eighteen years of age, when, accompanied by a brother, he came by way of the Isthmus of 
Panama to the Pacific coast. Locating in Amador county, Cal., he was engaged in mining in 
Volcano for four years, and the ensuing year was a resident of Sonoma county. Visiting his old 
home and friends in 1867, he stayed in Maine eleven months. Returning to California in 1868, 
Mr. Newell bought land in San Mateo county, and was there prosperously employed in 
stockraising, dairying and general farming for twenty years. In 1888 he settled in Fresno county, 
locating on the line of the Centerville and Kingsburg ditch, and buying one hundred acres of 
land lying one mile northeast of Selma. At the time of the purchase, six acres of the ranch was 
devoted to the raising of fruit. He has since improved the entire ranch, having now an orchard 
of forty acres and a vineyard of thirty-four acres, while the remainder of his land yields 
bountiful crops of alfalfa. Although he still lives on his ranch, he rents the land, receiving a good 
annual income. 

In San Mateo county Mr. Newell married Alice M. Shields, a native of Illinois. She died on the 
home farm, in Selma, in 1895, leaving three children, namely: Mabel F., wife of Orland Dolson, 
of Los Angeles ; Mrs. Marie Ross, living near Selma ; and Lillian May, wife of Alexander 
McDonald, of San Francisco. Politically Mr. Newell is a steadfast Republican, but has never been 
an aspirant for official honors.