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


WILLIAM FRANCIS TOOMEY. The magnitude of the fruit industry in the San Joaquin valley 
has caused a number of men to devote their entire attention to the packing and shipping 
of the products for which this region is famous. Among those who have a thorough knowledge 
of the business and a wide acquaintance among fruit-growers, mention belongs to W. F. 
Toomey, the Fresno local manager of Guggenheim & Co., packers and shippers of dried fruits, 
raisins, nuts and honey. Under his supervision has been erected one of the most modern 
packing plants in the state, and its capacity of one hundred and fifty thousand cases enables 
the manager to control a large portion of the output of the vicinity. Under his supervision 
as manager is embraced the territory lying between Merced and Bakersfield, including the 
branch house at Selma. The company which he represents has its headquarters in San Francisco, 
with packing houses and representatives in Woodland, Fresno, Santa Ana and Selma. 

By birth Mr. Toomey is a Californian. His father, Michael J. Toomey, who was a native 
of Limerick, Ireland, settled in San Francisco about 1869 and embarked in the dairy business, 
establishing the Mount View dairy with a Mr. Green, and building up a large business. In 
1877, while driving a team, his wagon was hit by a train on Fourth and Townsend streets, San 
Francisco, and he was thrown from the wagon and killed. Before coming to California and 
when a resident of the south, he joined the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil war 
and remained at the front until seriously wounded in battle. During the same war his brother, 
J. J. Toomey, also fought on the Union side, while his wife, Mary J. Heartnett, a native of 
Ballybingen, Ireland, had one brother in the Federal army. Since the death of her husband 
Mrs. Toomey has continued to make her home in San Francisco. Of her five sons and one 
daughter all are living but one son. The third in order of birth was William Francis, who was 
born in San Francisco April 10, 1870. At the age of ten years he left the grammar school 
and began to earn his own livelihood. During September of 1886 he came to Fresno and se- 
cured employment on a ranch, where he studied the raising and curing of fruits until he was 
familiar with every detail, from the planting of the tree to the shipping of the fruit. During 
much of the time for seven years he was interested in fruit-raising, and in packing seasons 
worked for the Curtis Fruit Company of New York. In 1891 he was appointed superintendent 
of the Producers' Co-operating Company, with which he remained for two years. For the en- 
suing two years he acted as superintendent and buyer for Castle Brothers, and then for three 
seasons represented the Earl Fruit Company as manager, meanwhile establishing their interests 
in excellent condition. As assistant manager for Porter Brothers from 1897 to 1902 he traveled 
in every part of the San Joaquin valley in their interests, resigning from their employ to form 
his present association. Many of the seasons between 1886 and 1897 were spent, the summers 
in the San Joaquin valley and the winters in Southern California, where he became familiar 
with the handling of oranges and lemons, but since 1897 the dried fruit interests in Fresno 
have assumed such magnitude that he has necessarily spent the entire year in this valley. In 
addition to his many responsibilities as manager, he has interests in orchards and vineyards 
near Fresno. 

The marriage of Mr. Toomey united him with Miss Callie J. Ferrel, of Fresno, a native of Mis- 
souri, and a daughter of Marion Ferrel, who was among the pioneers of Des Moines, Iowa, 
and is now a contractor and builder in Los Angeles. During the entire period of the Civil 
war he served at the front with an Iowa regiment as first lieutenant of his company and to 
this day he carries the ball that he received in a battle during 1863. Three of his brothers 
were also participants in the war. When a child Mrs. Toomey accompanied her parents to 
Fresno, where she was reared and educated. Of her marriage there are two sons, Irving Francis 
and Lloyd Ferrel. Mr. Toomey is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and an enthusiastic 
supporter of every movement that promises to promote the material welfare of his adopted 
city. Although reared in the Democratic faith, he now gives his allegiance to the Republican 
party. On the organization of Fresno Parlor No. 25, Native Sons of the Golden West, he became 
a charter member and was elected one of its first officers. The Woodmen of the World and 
Knights of Pythias also receive his support, through his membership in local organizations 
of the orders. While Mr. Toomey is still a young man, scarcely yet in the prime of life, he has 
gained a success that entitles him to mention among the representative men of the valley, 
while his thorough knowledge of every detail of the packing business makes his services of 
value to the company with which he is associated.