Yolo County
Biographies
WILLIAM R. FAIT
The
late William R. Fait occupied a prominent place among the leading business men
and progressive citizen of Woodland, in the growth and upbuilding of which he
had been a large factor for many years, so that his death, which occurred on
February 17, 1930, was regarded as a distinct loss to his community. He was born at Elnora, Daviess County,
Indiana, on the 2nd of February, 1879, and was there reared to young
manhood, receiving his education in the public schools. On coming to California he first located in
San Francisco where he learned the carpenter trade, and then went to Spokane,
Washington, where for five years he engaged in contracting and building. In 1912 he came to Woodland and from the
beginning of his residence here he was recognized as a man of sterling
qualities, sound business judgment and high civic ideals, so that he proved a
valuable member of the community. In a
business way he was successful and much of his work in this section of the
valley was of an important character. He
built two units of the Woodland high school, including the manual training
building, the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Woodland, the larger part of
the Woodland Clinic, the Comstock store at Williams, the Fait apartments, the
Bank of Italy building at Knights Landing, the American Legion building at
Winters, the library building at Davis, many fine homes in Woodland and other
cities of central California and ranch homes throughout the valley. He enjoyed a wide reputation as a trustworthy
contractor, doing well whatever he undertook and taking a justifiable pride in
the high quality of his work. He became
the owner of a valuable and well improved ranch in the Willow Oak Park
district.
On
October 19, 1901, Mr. Fait was united in marriage to Miss Katherine E.
Brasfield, who was born in Colusa County, California, and is a daughter of an
old pioneer family, her mother having crossed the plains in a covered wagon in
1861, and her father having preceded her.
Mrs. Fait was educated in the public schools of Spokane, Washington, and
has been very active in the civic affairs of Woodland. She has served for the past eight years as a
member of the Woodland board of education, and is now the secretary and the
treasurer of that body. She was
secretary and treasurer of the Parent-Teacher Association, is secretary and
treasurer of the Spanish-American War Veterans Auxiliary and is a member of the
Town and Country Club, and Yolo Chapter, No. 60, O. E. S. To Mr. and Mrs. Fait were born two children,
Eleanor and Harrison. Mr. Fait was a
life member of the Spanish-American War Veterans and belonged to Woodland
Lodge, No. 1299, B. P. O. E. He was
loyal and true to every demand of citizenship, was sincere and genuine in all
of his social relations and during the years of his residence in Woodland
commanded the unreserved confidence and esteem of everyone who knew him.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J. W. Major, History of
Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 Pages 328-329. Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Yolo County
Biographies