Fred A. Earll

Fred A. Earll was born in Shasta, Shasta County, California, May 13, 1857. His parents, Warner and Cornelia (Scoville) Earll, were both natives of Onondaga County, New York. Warner Earll followed Fremont's trail to California in 1848, and was City Judge of Tehama for a number of years; he was also an Associate Justice on the Supreme Bench of Nevada. He was a prominent lawyer of California, residing at Shasta and Red Bluff for years. He also held the position of attorney for the Central Pacific Railroad, in Arizona, His three children were Arthur R., Fred A., and a daughter, A. H., who is now Mrs. Webb, and resides in Oakland, California. Arthur R. was a graduate of the Law School of California; was elected District Attorney of San Luis Obispo, and died three months after. Their father's death occurred in 1888.

    The subject of this sketch attended St. Augustus College, and at the age of fifteen years, having obtained a good English education, he started out to work for himself, and since that time his education has been more of a practical character - obtained behind the desk. He worked for E. M. Derby & Co., lumber dealers, of Alameda, four years. He then engaged in business for himself, dealt in wood and coal, and did a thriving business; but, being anxious to make a fortune by quicker methods, he speculated in mining stocks, and lost his coal business. After that he went to Arizona and opened a stationery and cigar business, which he conducted three years; then removed to Ventura County, bought twenty acres of land, and, after planting an orchard, sold the property and returned to the lumber business. Saxby & Collins offered him the management of the lumber yards in San Buenaventura, which he accepted and conducted for two years. He then went to San Francisco and from there came to Paso Robles, to take charge of the warehouse, lumber yard, storage and shipping business at this point. At the time he came, November, 1886, there was nothing in the town. The railroad had just been built, and the station was in a box-car beside the track. Since then the shipping interests of the town have taken a great start. Shipments of wheat for the past year were about 9,000 tons. Mr. Earll has made real estate investments in the town.

    He was married in October, 1879, to Miss Ida Barnes, a native of Dixon, Illinois, daughter of A. M. Barnes, of Ventura. Their union is blessed with two daughters, Bertha May, born in Arizona, and Helen, in Paso Robles.

    Mr. Earll, being a native of California, took an active part in the organization of the Paso Robles Parlor, no. 122, Native Sons of the Golden West. They started with twenty-four members, composed largely of the best young business men of the town. Mr. Earll was elected its first president, and still holds that position of honor.

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