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 JOSEPH D. PILLSBURY. A man of great integrity, ability and resolution, Joseph D. Pillsbury occupies a place of prominence and influence among the leading citizens of Traver. He is actively identified with its business interests, and is widely known throughout this section of the county as collector for the Alta Irrigation District and as postmaster at Traver. He comes from substantial colonial stock, being a descendant in the ninth generation of one William Pillsbury, the emigrant ancestor, who was born in England in 1615, emigrated to New England in 1640, locating in Essex county, Mass., and became founder of one of the most loyal and patriotic families of the United States, one or more of his descendants having taken an active part in every war in which our country has since been involved. The line of descent from this honored ancestor is as follows : ( 1 ) William Pillsbury was one of the original settlers of Newbury, Mass., where his death occurred in 1686; (2) Moses, born in 1645; (3) Moses, born in 1672; (4) Ezra, born in 1703. moved from Newbury, Mass., to Weare, N. H. ; (5) Ezra, horn in Weare, N. H., in 1740, served in the Revolution under Gen. John Stark, taking part in the battle of Bennington ; (6) Joseph, born in 1762; (y) Joseph, born in 1786, settled as a farmer near Springfield, N. H. ; (8) Daniel H., born in Springfield, N. H., in 1825; and (9) Joseph D., the subject of this sketch, born in San Andreas, Calaveras county, Cal., October 26, 1859. Improving his natural talents when young, Daniel H. Pillsbury learned the machinist's trade, and for a few years followed it in his New England home. Leaving Boston in the fall of 1849, ne embarked on the bark Oscar, which was owned by a stock company, which consisted of the crew, and was provisioned for two years. Sailing by way of Cape Horn, he arrived in California, where the company separated, some settling in Sacramento and others locating in Marysville, where they erected the hotel building that had been brought west on board the Oscar. Mr. Pillsbury, however, went into the mining regions of Calaveras county, where he put through several ditches without the aid of a civil engineer's outfit, using the triangle, the largest one, known as Pillsbury 's ditch, being recognized as a splendid piece of civil engineer- ing. The mines failing, he was afterwards employed in the cattle business in that county until his death, in 1889. He was a man of sterling worth and character, active in local affairs, being a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he became one of its stanchest ad- herents. He married Elizabeth Curley, who was born in West Meath, Ireland, immigrated to America, came with relatives to the Pacific coast in 1853, and died in Calaveras county, Cal., in 1872. She bore her husband six children, all of whom are living, Joseph D. being the second child in succession of birth. Brought up in Calaveras county and vicinity, Joseph D. Pillsbury lived first in San Andreas, then in Eldorado, going from there to Railroad Flat, where the family still own property. Ob- taining his education in the district schools, he remained at home until fifteen years old, when he came to the San Joaquin valley in search of remunerative employment. Inheriting in a marked degree the mechanical ability and ingenuity of his father, he became an engineer, and for eight or nine years went with a threshing outfit in that capacity. Locating in Tulare county, near Hanford, in 1884, Mr. Pillsbury worked as a fanner and engineer for two years, running a harvester. Entering then the employ of the Traver Warehouse and Business Associa- tion, he was clerk for a year, when the hardware business was burned out, and he was given charge of the warehouse, which has since been under his supervision. Mr. Pillsbury was like- wise engaged in the hardware business for several seasons in Traver, and is now one of the leading pharmacists of the place, having a well stocked drug store. For the past nine years he has been postmaster, and for ten years has served as collector for the Alta Irrigation Dis- trict, a position to which he has been elected five times. He is also interested in agricultural pursuits, owning one hundred and sixty acres of good land located southwest of Traver. In Tulare Mr. Pillsbury married Harriet E. Morton, who was born in Sacramento, Cal., the daughter of Darius Morton, who came to California as a pioneer in 1851. Two children have been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pillsbury, namely : Etta L., a pupil in the Han- ford high school ; and Daniel W. Politically Mr. Pillsbury, true to the principles in which he was reared, is a stanch Republican, and has been a member of the county central commit- tee. He served several terms as school trustee, and in 1902 was candidate for the office of county tax collector, running ahead of his ticket. Fraternally he is prominent in Masonic circles as well as in other fraternal societies. He is a member of Traver Lodge No. 294, F. & A. M., which he has served as master for six terms ; was grand Bible bearer of the Grand Lodge of California; is a member of Visalia Lodge of Perfection No. 9 ; was made an Odd Fellow in Mount Whitney Lodge, I. O. O. F., and now belongs to Dinuba Lodge, I. O. O. F., and to the Traver Lodge of Rebekahs ; is a member of the Woodmen of the World ; and belongs to the Fraternal Brotherhood. Mrs. Pillsbury is a most estimable woman, highly esteemed, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.