The Father of Fresno Irrigation. He was born in New York State in 1819, became a blacksmith and emigrated to California in 1852. He came to Fresno County in 1868 and employed by A. Y. Easterby, built the first irrigation system for lush fields of wheat, which in 1872 prompted Central Pacific to survey a townsite here called Fresno. Directing the Fresno Canal and Irrigation Co., he built hundreds of miles of canals, located hundreds of settlers on farms, expanded cultivation and forged Fresno's favored Kings River water right. He died March 20, 1900 in Calaveras County.

Jim Savage Chapter 1852 E Clampus Vitus

October 3, 1976

Marker is on South Maple Avenue south of East Edgar Avenue, on the left when traveling south.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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