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


CAPT. WILLIAM HENRY PAYSON. Life on the sea has its attractions for many and by selecting 
the life of a mariner, Captain Payson not only followed the bent of his ambition but emulated 
the example of his ancestors. Born October 2, 1836, in the town of Lincolnville, Me., and 
educated in the common schools of his native state, young Payson, at fourteen, went to sea as 
cook on a coast vessel. At seventeen he began to learn the art of shipbuilding under his father. 
Three years later he again took up a sea-faring life. For twenty-seven and one-half years he 
followed the sea, becoming master of a vessel at twenty-three, and during all this time he met 
with but one accident and lost but two and a half months' work. He engaged only on vessels on 
the Atlantic, and in 1883 he discontinued sea life, locating for a brief time in Camden, Me. In the 
fall of the same year (1883) he took passage for California, arriving November 9. Very soon after 
his arrival he proceeded to Fresno county, purchased twenty acres of unimproved land on 
California avenue, three and three-fourths miles from the city of Fresno, and at once engaged 
in viticulture. Many fine improvements were made on this place, and he had eighteen acres in 
vines. In March, 1904, he sold this place and purchased twenty acres adjoining, where he is 
principally engaged in raising alfalfa, and dairying. 

The Payson family is of Scotch, English and German descent, and the great-grandfather of 
Captain Payson was a brave soldier in America's war for freedom. His son, Noyes Payson, was 
born in Maine and participated in the war of 1812, in which he was a captain. He died in 1850, at 
the age of seventy-two years. In tracing the ancestry one generation farther down, we come to 
the life history of the captain's father, Erastus Foote Payson, born October 8, 1803, in South 
Hope, Me. As a mechanic of no mean ability, he was successful as a shipbuilder during the 
active years of his life and had almost rounded out his four score years when cut off by death, 
in April, 1883. By his marriage he was united with Caroline Gilkey,who was born at Long Island, 
Me., December 17, 181 1, a daughter of John Gilkey, a native of Massachusetts. Her father, 
who was a seaman, removed from the Bay State to Long Island, Me., and followed a sea-faring 
life until he was fifty years old, when he turned his attention to farm pursuits. 

Being the fourth child in a family of nine children born to his parents, William H. Pavson is one of 
only two survivors. His sister, Fidelia C, widow of the late F. C. Hastings, is a resident of 
Massachusetts. The beloved mother died in 1886, at the home of her daughter in South 
Framingham, Mass. The marriage of Captain Payson was solemnized June 17, 1866. in 
Connecticut, when he was united with Frances Caroline Gould, born March 31, 1839, m 
Camden, Me. They have reared three daughters, all residing in Fresno. They are Caroline E., 
wife of J. A. Webster; Adeline G. ; and Lucy R.. wife of F. W. Gregory. Fraternally, Captain 
Payson affiliates with but one secret society, holding a membership in St. Paul Lodge No. 82, 
F. & A. M., of Rockport, Me. In politics, he is independent in both local and national issues.