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


LINDSAY PARKER TIMMINS. Born October 8, 1864, near Ottawa, Canada, Lindsay Parker 
Timmins is a son of John and Margaret (Donnelly) Timmins, who are living on a farm near 
Ottawa; the former a native of La Shute, is a son of Andrew Timmins. who was born in the 
north of Ireland of English ancestry, settled in the Province of Quebec and later removed to a 
farm near Ottawa, where he died. John Timmins was a member of the town council in earlier 
days, and in his religious views is a Methodist. L. P. Timmins is the fifth child in a family of eleven 
children, nine of whom are living. Fie was educated in the district and high schools and learned 
the blacksmith's trade on the home farm. In 1881 he went to Michigan and the same year to 
Minnesota. Deciding to come to California, in 1882 he made the trip and settled in Fresno 
county, where he found employment on a ranch near Fowler, then ran a derrick fork on a 
thresher in the season of '83, and that fall began work at his trade in Fresno. He conducted a 
successful business until 1886, when he sold out and engaged in getting out logs by contract for 
Judge Donohoo and later for Musick & Son. This he followed until 1892. In the meantime in 1887 
he had married, in Fresno, Emma Studor, a native of Yonkers, N. Y. In 1892 Mr. Timmins 
purchased a ranch of twenty acres on Blackstone avenue, which he set out in vineyard. 
January, 1893, he was appointed outside deputy under sheriff Scott, and gave his entire time to 
the performance of the duties of that position for six years. The fall before Mr. Scott took the 
office, Sontag and Evans had committed their several crimes, and were still at large. The 
incoming officer took up the hunt, which terminated in the fight at Stone Corrall, by the Fresno 
posse. Mr. Timmins having originated the plan of capture, was detained from being present by 
the -Heath case then on trial, and where considerable courage was a necessity as feeling ran 
high and revolvers were drawn several times. That evening with a comrade, Mr. Timmins left 
for Stone Corrall, where the fight had taken place. Sontag had received seven wounds, from 
the effects of which he afterward died, and Evans was very badly wounded. Not making the 
capture the desperadoes made their way to the ranch of E. H. Perkins in Wilcox valley and sent 
Mr. Perkins' son to Visalia with an offer of surrender if the reward would be equally divided 
with Mrs. Evans. When the Fresno officers left Visalia the officers of that city refused to go into 
the mountains as they had already lost so many men, but they agreed to watch Evans' house in 
case he should go back there. When the offer to surrender reached them they could not 
withstand the temptation of a capture and securing fast teams, passed the Fresno men who 
also increased their speed and arrived as the others entered the room, where the robbers 
were staying. Jay Scott's advice being heeded that night prevented bloodshed between the 
rival posses. Sontag died in the county jail, and Evans afterward made his escape with the aid of 
Murello, an ex-convict, who was employed at the restaurant that furnished meals to Evans. 
This was done by the ruse of a suspected train hold-up at Goshen. Mr. Timmins and the other 
deputies went to the scene, during which time Evans and Murello escaped to the mountains. 
Pursuit was made at once and continued day and night, the party gradually lessening to 
Timmins, Henry and Peck, who determined to effect the capture or give up their lives in the 
attempt. They persistently followed and searched the mountains, swimming the streams and 
exposing themselves many times to the outlaws, who knew the mountains and were in 
advance, until after two months when the cabin was reached and set on fire, and then a 
running fire and chase began towards the plains, and, Visalia being reached, they found their 
men had surrendered about thirty minutes before. The criminals were sentenced for life, and 
Evans frequently stated that Murello had drawn a bead on Mr. Timmins several times as they 
passed them hidden in the bushes, but was induced by Evans to spare his life as he had been 
kind to him while a prisoner and was attentive to his children when they came to see him. 
During his terms in office the Dilwood and James gangs were run down, about fifteen receiving 
sentence. Also the Saunders case, in which Mr. Timmins secured the evidence which caused 
conviction. In 1899 he left the sheriff's office and entered the police department as a private 
detective and special officer. February, 1901, he was appointed deputy United States marshal 
of the southern district of California, by H. Z. Ozborne, of Los Angeles, having under his charge 
the following counties in the northern division of that district : Merced, Madera, Mariposa, 
Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Kern and Inyo, discharging the duties of his office without favor. He 
stands high in the esteem of his superiors and the citizens of Fresno. 

By his marriage three children have been born, Mabel Margaret, Claude Walter and Alice. Mr. 
Timmins is a member and past master workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and 
also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a 
Republican and a member of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. In all matters that have had 
for their object the advancement of the county, Mr. Timmins has been a liberal supporter. In 
the pursuit of his duties he has shown himself a fearless officer and by his kindly manners has 
gathered about him a host of friends.