Butte County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. GILSTRAP
WILLIAM H. GILSTRAP.--One of the active developers of the irrigation projects that have made Butte County one of the most productive sections of California during the past twelve years was the late William H. Gilstrap. He was a native of Illinois, and came to California in the early sixties, via the Isthmus of Panama. Upon his arrival he settled fifteen miles east of Visalia, Tulare County, and for many years was engaged in farming. In 1892 he established The News in the town of Tulare. Always active in politics, he assisted in the organization of the Populist party in Tulare County in 1894, advocating its cause in his paper. He stumped the county in its favor, and it was directly to his efforts that the party’s ticket was successful in that county in the elections of 1894. In 1896 he was sent as a delegate from California to the Populist party convention held in St. Louis, Mo. While in Tulare County he was very successful in land colonization projects; and on account of his success there he was called to Gridley, Butte County, in 1905, to take charge of the colonization of the Gridley Irrigation District. He was very successful in getting the matter before the people and in selling many thousands of acres, as also in bringing many new settlers to the county. He engaged in selling real estate on his own account, meeting with more than ordinary success. At the time of his death, on August 16, 1916, he was the owner of three hundred fifty acres, which was divided into small tracts, in the Gridley district. Mr. Gilstrap was a member of the Fraternal Aid, and of Feather Leaf Lodge, No. 260, I. O. O. F., of which he was Past Grand.
William H. Gilstrap was united in marriage with Laura Kesterson, a native of Kansas. Of this marriage four children were born: William D., Clarence H., Mrs. J. H. Hauser, of Gridley, and Mrs. Ray Barber, of Santa Ana.
In 1914, Mr. Gilstrap began operating a grain-threshing outfit in Butte County; and with the aid of his sons he carried on the business successfully until he was called by the “Grim Reaper.” Since the death of their father the sons have conducted the business under the firm name of Gilstrap Bros. Their equipment is modern, and they are busy during the season in threshing wheat, barley, beans and rice in various sections of Butte County.
Clarence Gilstrap, the second son in the family, was born in Tulare County, Cal., December 29, 1878, and was educated in the public schools of his native county. For twenty years he was an employe (sic) of the Traders’ Union Grocery Company, in Visalia. As he prospered, he invested in land in the Dinuba section of that county. He now owns a twenty-acre vineyard—ten acres of Malagas, and ten of Thompson Seedless. He has improved his acreage with a comfortable home and the outbuildings necessary for the conduct of his ranch.
Clarence H. Gilstrap married Miss Nellie Wilcox. Mrs. Gilstrap is a native of Illinois, but was raised in California. They have one daughter, Margaret, a girl of fourteen, who was born in Visalia. Mr. Gilstrap is a member of the Visalia Lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he is a Past Noble Grand; he also belongs to the Canton and the Encampment. After the death of his father, he was made administrator of the estate; and to his duties in this capacity he is giving his personal attention at this time. He is a man who makes and retains friends, and during the short time he has been in Butte County he has become well known, especially in the Gridley section.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1201-1202, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Joyce Rugeroni.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County
Biographies