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


CHARLES WILLIAMSON. With a justly won popularity and esteem, Charles Williamson 
is rounding out the years of a well spent life as a vineyardist of the beautiful and productive 
count}' of Fresno, where he has made his home for nearly a quarter of a century. A native of 
Scotland, he was born August 23, 1831, a son of David and Johanna (Henderson) William- 
son, and was reared upon the paternal farm until he was twenty years old. Attracted by the 
manifest advantages of the western world, he came to the United States in June, 1852, and 
located first in the state of Pennsylvania, remaining three years, when he came as far west as 
Illinois. In the latter state he engaged in coal mining for a like period, after which he settled in 
Missouri and followed farming. In 1862 he once more took up the march westward and became 
a resident of Nevada, working in the Comstock mine for many years and winning for himself a 
position of prominence in the county wherein he resided. Becoming interested in the fruit grow- 
ing districts of California, he came to this state in 1881 and purchased a ranch of twenty acres 
located about four miles southeast of Fresno on Cherry avenue, devoting this land to the cultiva- 
tion of grapes and various other fruits, as well as alfalfa. He has made a success of his agri- 
cultural work in the county and has built up for himself a competence and a very desirable home 
among the pleasant and prosperous surroundings of one of the finest counties in the state. 

Mr. Williamson has been thrice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Perry, to whom he 
was united in Missouri, and his second, Asenath Geach Gay, whom he married in Virginia City, 
Nev. By his present wife, formerly Jessie L. Gibson, he has one son, Charles F. In politics 
Mr. Williamson is a stanch Republican and has always been active in the promotion of the prin- 
ciples he endorses, while a resident of Nevada serving as sheriff of his county for two years.