"Born in England, the late Joseph William Homer early settled in New York, whence, while yet a young man, he went to New Harmony, Posey county, Ind. His father, Richard Homer, and other members of his family came to America also and lived in Indiana, where Richard died. After that event Joseph William Homer went down the Ohio river and enlisted for service in the United States army for service in the Mexican war, in which he did duty as a soldier about a year. Returning to Indiana, he later came through Arkansas and Texas and thence west to Los Angeles, and soon engaged in stock raising at Visalia in partnership with his brother-in-law, Ira Van Gordon. Later he lived a mile north of Farmersville, With stock-raising as his principal occupation. When he first came to California the Indians were very troublesome, and he assisted in the construction of a fort for the protection of women and children. He was a pioneer also in the construction of irrigation ditches and was in one way or another connected with many important movements and enterprises. He was well educated, spoke the Spanish language fluently, and taught his own children before schools were established. He voted at the historic local election held under the oak tree. He continued to live at his home at Three Rivers until 1879, when his long and useful life came to an end.
Mr. Homer married Miss Martha Balaam, a native of Kentucky, who bore him these children: Catherine R., S. Ellen, Truman J., Edward B., Thomas and Anna M. Catherine R. married James S. Price, and they have a son, Charles, and a daughter, Alta Florence. S. Ellen married John Hambright, whose parents were among California pioneers, and they have eight children. Truman J. married Alice Rice and they have a child, Carrol S. Edward B. married Anna Swank, and they have five daughters and live near Orange Heights. Thomas married Matilda Mehrten and they have two sons. Anna M. married Harvey Hodges, of Dinuba, and bore him one son.
With Jackson Price, his father, James S. Price, then only about six months old, came overland from Kansas to California in 1863. Later the family removed to Oregon, whence the younger Price eventually came to California, where he has won success as a dairyman and as a stock-raiser. He bought twenty acres of land at $200 an acre and has three and a half acres under trees and vines, the remainder under alfalfa. He has recently sold seventy head of stock, but keeps an average of forty head and about one hundred head of Duroc hogs. Not long ago he sold a male pig for $15. His cattle are of the Holstein breed. Politically he is Republican and his wife is a Progressive Republican. He very ably fills the office of postmaster at Orange Heights. He is an Odd Fellow, a Forester of America, a Woodman of America and a member of the Order of Loyal Protection. Mrs. Price, formerly a member of the Women of Woodcraft, is identified with Rebekah Lodge of San Luis Obispo county."
SOURCE: History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913, pp 788-789, Transcribed by Kathy Sedler