Photograph by Robinson & Churchman, Holt Block, Visalia, Cal.
On the back is written: "Yours truly, John W. Parker, For M.A. Manning, March 3rd 1901".
I bought this photograph from someone in England. The seller of the photo wrote that: They had been told that Parker was a California pioneer from Dinuba, who made his name from logging giant redwoods on his land, M.A. Manning was an Englishman and said to be involved in shipping, hence the picture being found over 110 years later in the U.K. This 1900 U. S. Forest Service publication does indicate that John W. Parker of Dinuba owned 200 acres of land in the Grant Grove area.
On the back is written: "Yours truly, John W. Parker, For M.A. Manning, March 3rd 1901".
I bought this photograph from someone in England. The seller of the photo wrote that: They had been told that Parker was a California pioneer from Dinuba, who made his name from logging giant redwoods on his land, M.A. Manning was an Englishman and said to be involved in shipping, hence the picture being found over 110 years later in the U.K. This 1900 U. S. Forest Service publication does indicate that John W. Parker of Dinuba owned 200 acres of land in the Grant Grove area.
(Added 4/4/14) According to the 1900 & 1910 U.S. Census, there was a John W. Parker in the Dinuba and Lemon Cove area. He immigrated from England in 1876. But in these censuses his occupations are listed as "Book keeper" and "Laborer" in the "Stock" industry, and not as a logger or lumberman.
(Added 1/5/19) It appears that the partnership of Robinson & Churchman ended by December 1900. So I would now assume the date of "March 3rd 1901", was the day Mr. Parker signed the back of the photograph.
This appears to be the biplane flown by Harold W. Blakeley during a cross-country race from San Francisco to Bakersfield (with a scheduled stop in Dinuba). Dinuba's Southern Pacific railroad depot is in the background. Written on the back of this snap-shot: "Ray Calender, Dinuba, Calif. Tulare Co. Apr. 22 - 1914. Blakeley biplane". Ray Calender is listed as a resident of Tulare County in the 1910 Census, he would have been about 14 years old at the time this photograph was taken... perhaps he was the photographer.
After Harold Blakeley took off from Dinuba, he had to land his plane in the Ducor area to make some emergency repairs. He finished the 7 man race in second place.
After Harold Blakeley took off from Dinuba, he had to land his plane in the Ducor area to make some emergency repairs. He finished the 7 man race in second place.
From the studio of E.M. Davidson (Ellis M. Davidson), Visalia. Circa 1893
