Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM W. PRINGLE
WILLIAM
W. PRINGLE.--A native son of the Golden State
who, in his enterprising and progressive way, has become a man of affairs in Sacramento
County, is William W. Pringle, who was born at
Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, Cal.,
May 27, 1868.
His father, William Graham Pringle, was born in Kingston,
Canada; while Grandfather Pringle was
a native of Scotland and emigrated to Canada. William G. Pringle was a saddler and harnessmaker by trade, having served his apprenticeship in Montpelier,
Vt.
In the autumn of 1859 he came to San Francisco via
the Isthmus of Panama, and in the spring of 1860 he settled at Half
Moon Bay, and
established a harness and saddlery business that he continued without
interruption until his death in 1909, having lived in California
just fifty years. His wife, the mother
of our subject, was Eliza Dunn, a native of Holyoke, Mass.,
whose parents came from Belfast, Ireland,
to Holyoke, where
she was reared and educated. A cultured
and refined woman, she wielded an influence for good, and at the time of her
passing, in 1873, was greatly loved by all who knew her. Five children were born to this pioneer
couple, of whom William W. was the third in order of birth.
Reared
in the pleasant environment of Half Moon Bay, William W. Pringle received a
good education in the public school; and then he learned the harnessmaker’s trade with his father. However, having a liking for nature and the
great out-of-doors, he chose ranching and horticulture for his occupation and,
having arrived at eighteen years of age, left his trade to start for
himself. Coming to Contra
Costa County, he
took up the study of horticulture and soon became foreman for the J. P. Ames
orchards in Alhambra Valley,
continuing in charge until 1900, when he resigned and located in Sacramento
County. Here he purchased the old Tom Johnston ranch,
on the river, which he has improved until he now has thirty-five acres all
devoted to the raising of pears, plums, and cherries. Since then he has purchased forty-six acres,
a part of the old Warner ranch, also on the river, located in Reclamation
District No. 744. This is also in
orchards of pears, plums, and peaches.
With great care he sees to the cultivation, pruning, and spraying of the
orchards, as well as the picking and packing of the fruit, and is obtaining
satisfactory and profitable results. Mr.
Pringle is well posted as a horticulturist, and his advice is frequently sought
by others. A firm believer in
cooperation as the best method of marketing the product of his orchards, he is
a member of the California Pear Growers’ Association. Fraternally, he is a member and a past grand
of Martinez lodge No. 297, I. O. O.
F., and a member of the Rebekah Lodge at Half Moon Bay, as well as of Seaside
Parlor, N. S.G. W., in the same city, and of Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O.
Elks. Believing that protection is a
fundamental principle for the success of American industries and institutions,
Mr. Pringle is naturally a strong Republican.
Transcribed by Barbara Gaffney.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 668.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles,
CA. 1923.
© 2007 Barbara Gaffney.