Son of Thomas and Eliza Filcher, who came to America from England in 1842.
At the time of his birth, William's parents lived at the corner of Center and First North Streets in American Fork, Utah. Here both Thomas and daughter Eliza, taught school long before the free system was established. Thomas was "prominent in all civic activities. The couples last three children were born in American Fork, George William, 1954-54; William Burke, 1855-1921; and Charles Henry, 1857-59.
In June of 1859, Thomas and Eliza, along with five of their children, John Taylor, age 21; Ann, age 17; Joseph Adams, age 12; Thomas Joseph, age 8; and William Burke, age 4, left American Fork and traveled by oxen led covered wagon, to California.
William married Amanda A. Grey near Lincoln, CA, on September 19, 1877. Later in life, William served on the Board of Supervisors for Yuba County, California. On Oct. 2, 1896, California Governor Budd appointed W. B. Filcher Supervisor of the Third District in Yuba County.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was written by Josephine Filcher Delmar in 1982:
William Burks (sometimes spelled Berks), 1855-1921, the last son of Thomas and Eliza Filcher who grew to manhood, was born in American Fork about three years after they arrived there. He was just four years old when the came on to California. How long he remained on the family farm, I do not know, though as I knew him, he seemed more a business man than a farmer. He may have farmed and worked in real estate in and around Marysville. At one time he represented Wheatland District, south of Marysville, as a county supervisor so he may have had a ranch and/or business of his own there. He married Amanda Gray when he lived there and they had three children before he was widowed:
1) Roy Melton, 1881-1959, m. Mary Elizabeth Steadman--2 children
2) Ray Boyd, 1885-????, probably died as an infant or young child
3)Ross William, 1887-1915, unmarried.
In 1900, he remarried to Mrs. Eugenia Smith. This was the "Aunt Genie" I knew. She was a good wife and mother to his growing boys. She visited here often and I remember taking Grandmother Clara Filcher to Pacific Grove for a visit in the early 1930's when we stayed at "Aunt Genie's" pleasant home. Sometime in the early 1900's William must have "moved to the ocean" possibly to improve the health of his son, Ross, who was sickly. He worked in real estate there and was associated with or "worked for" Del Monte properties with his Currie "cousins." (This from his grandson, Roy Dean Filcher.)
William and sometimes "Aunt Genie", visited here at the ranch. He was a lovable man who paid attention to me, a young child. I remember him fondly. His grandson, Roy Dean, has given me much family information in the last few years and I am grateful to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSE FOR RENT - NINE DOLLARS(From the December 24, 1948 Pacific Grove Tribune-California)
While clearing out the basement of his Eighth street home recently Jim Southwell, circulation manager of the TRIBUNE ran across some interesting old letters. The letters were written in 1905 by the late W.B. Filcher, real estate and insurance agent of Pacific Grove. Addressed to a Mr. Thomas Leak of Dunsmuir, the letters dealt with certain real properry owned by Leak and handled by Filcher.
The contrast in the rentals of that day and the present, judging by the information contained in the letters is fantastic. Mr. Leak wrote Mr. Filcher complaining that his two bedroom partially furnished house was only bringing $9.00 a month rental. Filcher replied in effect that with the exception of one month during the summer, there were "lots of places" to rent, and that he, Filcher, felt the highest rent Leak could expect was $9.00. "I have one house," wrote Filcher "not very thoroughly furnished on the opposite side of the street from you... the rent is S10 a month and it is idle far more than yours. It rented for $25.OO one month during the summer, but it has been
idle ever since. I think when you look the matter over carefully you will see that it costs money to make money."
"If you spend $100 to $200 to furnish the house properly, you will attract a better type of renter, the type that will not move too often, break up your furniture and steal the linen." Filcher went on to say that a retaining wall had been put up in front of the lot, the costs of the steps and wall amounting to $8.50, a sum that today might cover the cost of one step.
Mr. Filcher, who was in the real estate business in Pacific Grove more than 20 years, moved to this community from Marysville in 1903. With him came his wife, who took over the insurance agency following her husband's death in January of 192I. Incidentally, Mrs. Filcher is still engaged in that business at her current home at 221 l7th street. According to Mrs. Filcher, in those days her husband built a six room house for $3,000. "The rooms were all large ones" says Mrs. Filcher "and the material used, redwood of the finest quality. In addition, the greatest care was taken to insure solid, excellent construction." Imagine building such a home today for $3,000, but Mrs. Filcher assures us that the price was considered quiet "high" at the time!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FILCHER'S CEMENT SIDEWALK(from Feb. 11, 19O7 Ttde)
W.B. Filcher has started a move in the right direction by laying a fine concrete sidewalk in front of his home property on 16th street near Pine. Mr. Filcher is also having the sidewalks on Forest avenue fronting the cottages
he recently purchased from Mrs. Newton repaired, and will soon begin putting in a concrete walk on Twelfth Street where another of his cottages is located. This work is worthy of emulation. There is being aroused a spirit of home and town pride that has not heretofore been evident among the majority of the citizens of Pacific Grove. It cannot be carried too far. The more beauteous our homes and their setting, the longer will those who visit remain. Let us not mar the natural beauty by over-cultivation, but cleanliness, neatness and order must be considered in the making up of a city beautiful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is from:
From the CEDAR STREET TIMES, News and Opinion of Pacific Grove, December 13, 2012:
The News From 100 Years Ago:
T. A. Work team runs away
The Work Company can now offer run-away deliveries to its customers. That's because the firm's four-in-hand team—used to deliver hay, wood, building supplies, etc.—ran away Saturday evening shortly before six o'clock.
The four horses bolted from the property of the E. B. Gross Transfer Company, where they had been left standing for a moment by Work employee E. B. Walker. The animals then slowed and trotted toward their own barn, which was but a short distance from the Gross Transfer barn, but spooked and began rushing down 16th Street past the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Hearst, where the wagon destroyed a hitching post. Another hitching post was broken father down 16th Street in front of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. FILCHER. When the horses reached the smooth, cement sidewalk in front of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Prussia's residence, one of the animals fell and was dragged along for several feet.
That horse was injured by the long wrench-pin which passes through the tongue of the wagon to hold the whiffletrees in place. Three stitches were required to sew up the animal's injury. The horse is expected to recover fully. The wagon was not damaged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the CAGenWeb Monterey County Geneaolgy:
Oglesby, Hannah – died at age 89 at home of Mrs. W.B. Filcher, was a resident of Pacific Grove for 37 years, with GAR Women's Relief Corps, burial Merced County (Pacific Grove High Tide Sept. 22, 1931 p1)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF PACIFIC GROVE NEWSLETTER
Dedicated to Maintaining the Beauty and Individuality of Pacific Grove, Volume 11, Issue 7 October 2011
www.pacificgroveheritage.org.
HISTORIC HOME TOUR A SUCCESS
"Another 2011 Heritage Society
Award winner on the tour was
the W.B. Filcher House (1905). A
beautiful example of the Queen
Anne style, it features Victorian
ornamentation. A recent addition
was designed by Pacific Grove
architect James McCord."
At the time of his birth, William's parents lived at the corner of Center and First North Streets in American Fork, Utah. Here both Thomas and daughter Eliza, taught school long before the free system was established. Thomas was "prominent in all civic activities. The couples last three children were born in American Fork, George William, 1954-54; William Burke, 1855-1921; and Charles Henry, 1857-59.
In June of 1859, Thomas and Eliza, along with five of their children, John Taylor, age 21; Ann, age 17; Joseph Adams, age 12; Thomas Joseph, age 8; and William Burke, age 4, left American Fork and traveled by oxen led covered wagon, to California.
William married Amanda A. Grey near Lincoln, CA, on September 19, 1877. Later in life, William served on the Board of Supervisors for Yuba County, California. On Oct. 2, 1896, California Governor Budd appointed W. B. Filcher Supervisor of the Third District in Yuba County.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was written by Josephine Filcher Delmar in 1982:
William Burks (sometimes spelled Berks), 1855-1921, the last son of Thomas and Eliza Filcher who grew to manhood, was born in American Fork about three years after they arrived there. He was just four years old when the came on to California. How long he remained on the family farm, I do not know, though as I knew him, he seemed more a business man than a farmer. He may have farmed and worked in real estate in and around Marysville. At one time he represented Wheatland District, south of Marysville, as a county supervisor so he may have had a ranch and/or business of his own there. He married Amanda Gray when he lived there and they had three children before he was widowed:
1) Roy Melton, 1881-1959, m. Mary Elizabeth Steadman--2 children
2) Ray Boyd, 1885-????, probably died as an infant or young child
3)Ross William, 1887-1915, unmarried.
In 1900, he remarried to Mrs. Eugenia Smith. This was the "Aunt Genie" I knew. She was a good wife and mother to his growing boys. She visited here often and I remember taking Grandmother Clara Filcher to Pacific Grove for a visit in the early 1930's when we stayed at "Aunt Genie's" pleasant home. Sometime in the early 1900's William must have "moved to the ocean" possibly to improve the health of his son, Ross, who was sickly. He worked in real estate there and was associated with or "worked for" Del Monte properties with his Currie "cousins." (This from his grandson, Roy Dean Filcher.)
William and sometimes "Aunt Genie", visited here at the ranch. He was a lovable man who paid attention to me, a young child. I remember him fondly. His grandson, Roy Dean, has given me much family information in the last few years and I am grateful to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSE FOR RENT - NINE DOLLARS(From the December 24, 1948 Pacific Grove Tribune-California)
While clearing out the basement of his Eighth street home recently Jim Southwell, circulation manager of the TRIBUNE ran across some interesting old letters. The letters were written in 1905 by the late W.B. Filcher, real estate and insurance agent of Pacific Grove. Addressed to a Mr. Thomas Leak of Dunsmuir, the letters dealt with certain real properry owned by Leak and handled by Filcher.
The contrast in the rentals of that day and the present, judging by the information contained in the letters is fantastic. Mr. Leak wrote Mr. Filcher complaining that his two bedroom partially furnished house was only bringing $9.00 a month rental. Filcher replied in effect that with the exception of one month during the summer, there were "lots of places" to rent, and that he, Filcher, felt the highest rent Leak could expect was $9.00. "I have one house," wrote Filcher "not very thoroughly furnished on the opposite side of the street from you... the rent is S10 a month and it is idle far more than yours. It rented for $25.OO one month during the summer, but it has been
idle ever since. I think when you look the matter over carefully you will see that it costs money to make money."
"If you spend $100 to $200 to furnish the house properly, you will attract a better type of renter, the type that will not move too often, break up your furniture and steal the linen." Filcher went on to say that a retaining wall had been put up in front of the lot, the costs of the steps and wall amounting to $8.50, a sum that today might cover the cost of one step.
Mr. Filcher, who was in the real estate business in Pacific Grove more than 20 years, moved to this community from Marysville in 1903. With him came his wife, who took over the insurance agency following her husband's death in January of 192I. Incidentally, Mrs. Filcher is still engaged in that business at her current home at 221 l7th street. According to Mrs. Filcher, in those days her husband built a six room house for $3,000. "The rooms were all large ones" says Mrs. Filcher "and the material used, redwood of the finest quality. In addition, the greatest care was taken to insure solid, excellent construction." Imagine building such a home today for $3,000, but Mrs. Filcher assures us that the price was considered quiet "high" at the time!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FILCHER'S CEMENT SIDEWALK(from Feb. 11, 19O7 Ttde)
W.B. Filcher has started a move in the right direction by laying a fine concrete sidewalk in front of his home property on 16th street near Pine. Mr. Filcher is also having the sidewalks on Forest avenue fronting the cottages
he recently purchased from Mrs. Newton repaired, and will soon begin putting in a concrete walk on Twelfth Street where another of his cottages is located. This work is worthy of emulation. There is being aroused a spirit of home and town pride that has not heretofore been evident among the majority of the citizens of Pacific Grove. It cannot be carried too far. The more beauteous our homes and their setting, the longer will those who visit remain. Let us not mar the natural beauty by over-cultivation, but cleanliness, neatness and order must be considered in the making up of a city beautiful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is from:
From the CEDAR STREET TIMES, News and Opinion of Pacific Grove, December 13, 2012:
The News From 100 Years Ago:
T. A. Work team runs away
The Work Company can now offer run-away deliveries to its customers. That's because the firm's four-in-hand team—used to deliver hay, wood, building supplies, etc.—ran away Saturday evening shortly before six o'clock.
The four horses bolted from the property of the E. B. Gross Transfer Company, where they had been left standing for a moment by Work employee E. B. Walker. The animals then slowed and trotted toward their own barn, which was but a short distance from the Gross Transfer barn, but spooked and began rushing down 16th Street past the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Hearst, where the wagon destroyed a hitching post. Another hitching post was broken father down 16th Street in front of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. FILCHER. When the horses reached the smooth, cement sidewalk in front of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Prussia's residence, one of the animals fell and was dragged along for several feet.
That horse was injured by the long wrench-pin which passes through the tongue of the wagon to hold the whiffletrees in place. Three stitches were required to sew up the animal's injury. The horse is expected to recover fully. The wagon was not damaged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the CAGenWeb Monterey County Geneaolgy:
Oglesby, Hannah – died at age 89 at home of Mrs. W.B. Filcher, was a resident of Pacific Grove for 37 years, with GAR Women's Relief Corps, burial Merced County (Pacific Grove High Tide Sept. 22, 1931 p1)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF PACIFIC GROVE NEWSLETTER
Dedicated to Maintaining the Beauty and Individuality of Pacific Grove, Volume 11, Issue 7 October 2011
www.pacificgroveheritage.org.
HISTORIC HOME TOUR A SUCCESS
"Another 2011 Heritage Society
Award winner on the tour was
the W.B. Filcher House (1905). A
beautiful example of the Queen
Anne style, it features Victorian
ornamentation. A recent addition
was designed by Pacific Grove
architect James McCord."
Son of Thomas and Eliza Filcher, who came to America from England in 1842.
At the time of his birth, William's parents lived at the corner of Center and First North Streets in American Fork, Utah. Here both Thomas and daughter Eliza, taught school long before the free system was established. Thomas was "prominent in all civic activities. The couples last three children were born in American Fork, George William, 1954-54; William Burke, 1855-1921; and Charles Henry, 1857-59.
In June of 1859, Thomas and Eliza, along with five of their children, John Taylor, age 21; Ann, age 17; Joseph Adams, age 12; Thomas Joseph, age 8; and William Burke, age 4, left American Fork and traveled by oxen led covered wagon, to California.
William married Amanda A. Grey near Lincoln, CA, on September 19, 1877. Later in life, William served on the Board of Supervisors for Yuba County, California. On Oct. 2, 1896, California Governor Budd appointed W. B. Filcher Supervisor of the Third District in Yuba County.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was written by Josephine Filcher Delmar in 1982:
William Burks (sometimes spelled Berks), 1855-1921, the last son of Thomas and Eliza Filcher who grew to manhood, was born in American Fork about three years after they arrived there. He was just four years old when the came on to California. How long he remained on the family farm, I do not know, though as I knew him, he seemed more a business man than a farmer. He may have farmed and worked in real estate in and around Marysville. At one time he represented Wheatland District, south of Marysville, as a county supervisor so he may have had a ranch and/or business of his own there. He married Amanda Gray when he lived there and they had three children before he was widowed:
1) Roy Melton, 1881-1959, m. Mary Elizabeth Steadman--2 children
2) Ray Boyd, 1885-????, probably died as an infant or young child
3)Ross William, 1887-1915, unmarried.
In 1900, he remarried to Mrs. Eugenia Smith. This was the "Aunt Genie" I knew. She was a good wife and mother to his growing boys. She visited here often and I remember taking Grandmother Clara Filcher to Pacific Grove for a visit in the early 1930's when we stayed at "Aunt Genie's" pleasant home. Sometime in the early 1900's William must have "moved to the ocean" possibly to improve the health of his son, Ross, who was sickly. He worked in real estate there and was associated with or "worked for" Del Monte properties with his Currie "cousins." (This from his grandson, Roy Dean Filcher.)
William and sometimes "Aunt Genie", visited here at the ranch. He was a lovable man who paid attention to me, a young child. I remember him fondly. His grandson, Roy Dean, has given me much family information in the last few years and I am grateful to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSE FOR RENT - NINE DOLLARS(From the December 24, 1948 Pacific Grove Tribune-California)
While clearing out the basement of his Eighth street home recently Jim Southwell, circulation manager of the TRIBUNE ran across some interesting old letters. The letters were written in 1905 by the late W.B. Filcher, real estate and insurance agent of Pacific Grove. Addressed to a Mr. Thomas Leak of Dunsmuir, the letters dealt with certain real properry owned by Leak and handled by Filcher.
The contrast in the rentals of that day and the present, judging by the information contained in the letters is fantastic. Mr. Leak wrote Mr. Filcher complaining that his two bedroom partially furnished house was only bringing $9.00 a month rental. Filcher replied in effect that with the exception of one month during the summer, there were "lots of places" to rent, and that he, Filcher, felt the highest rent Leak could expect was $9.00. "I have one house," wrote Filcher "not very thoroughly furnished on the opposite side of the street from you... the rent is S10 a month and it is idle far more than yours. It rented for $25.OO one month during the summer, but it has been
idle ever since. I think when you look the matter over carefully you will see that it costs money to make money."
"If you spend $100 to $200 to furnish the house properly, you will attract a better type of renter, the type that will not move too often, break up your furniture and steal the linen." Filcher went on to say that a retaining wall had been put up in front of the lot, the costs of the steps and wall amounting to $8.50, a sum that today might cover the cost of one step.
Mr. Filcher, who was in the real estate business in Pacific Grove more than 20 years, moved to this community from Marysville in 1903. With him came his wife, who took over the insurance agency following her husband's death in January of 192I. Incidentally, Mrs. Filcher is still engaged in that business at her current home at 221 l7th street. According to Mrs. Filcher, in those days her husband built a six room house for $3,000. "The rooms were all large ones" says Mrs. Filcher "and the material used, redwood of the finest quality. In addition, the greatest care was taken to insure solid, excellent construction." Imagine building such a home today for $3,000, but Mrs. Filcher assures us that the price was considered quiet "high" at the time!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FILCHER'S CEMENT SIDEWALK(from Feb. 11, 19O7 Ttde)
W.B. Filcher has started a move in the right direction by laying a fine concrete sidewalk in front of his home property on 16th street near Pine. Mr. Filcher is also having the sidewalks on Forest avenue fronting the cottages
he recently purchased from Mrs. Newton repaired, and will soon begin putting in a concrete walk on Twelfth Street where another of his cottages is located. This work is worthy of emulation. There is being aroused a spirit of home and town pride that has not heretofore been evident among the majority of the citizens of Pacific Grove. It cannot be carried too far. The more beauteous our homes and their setting, the longer will those who visit remain. Let us not mar the natural beauty by over-cultivation, but cleanliness, neatness and order must be considered in the making up of a city beautiful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is from:
From the CEDAR STREET TIMES, News and Opinion of Pacific Grove, December 13, 2012:
The News From 100 Years Ago:
T. A. Work team runs away
The Work Company can now offer run-away deliveries to its customers. That's because the firm's four-in-hand team—used to deliver hay, wood, building supplies, etc.—ran away Saturday evening shortly before six o'clock.
The four horses bolted from the property of the E. B. Gross Transfer Company, where they had been left standing for a moment by Work employee E. B. Walker. The animals then slowed and trotted toward their own barn, which was but a short distance from the Gross Transfer barn, but spooked and began rushing down 16th Street past the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Hearst, where the wagon destroyed a hitching post. Another hitching post was broken father down 16th Street in front of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. FILCHER. When the horses reached the smooth, cement sidewalk in front of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Prussia's residence, one of the animals fell and was dragged along for several feet.
That horse was injured by the long wrench-pin which passes through the tongue of the wagon to hold the whiffletrees in place. Three stitches were required to sew up the animal's injury. The horse is expected to recover fully. The wagon was not damaged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the CAGenWeb Monterey County Geneaolgy:
Oglesby, Hannah – died at age 89 at home of Mrs. W.B. Filcher, was a resident of Pacific Grove for 37 years, with GAR Women's Relief Corps, burial Merced County (Pacific Grove High Tide Sept. 22, 1931 p1)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF PACIFIC GROVE NEWSLETTER
Dedicated to Maintaining the Beauty and Individuality of Pacific Grove, Volume 11, Issue 7 October 2011
www.pacificgroveheritage.org.
HISTORIC HOME TOUR A SUCCESS
"Another 2011 Heritage Society
Award winner on the tour was
the W.B. Filcher House (1905). A
beautiful example of the Queen
Anne style, it features Victorian
ornamentation. A recent addition
was designed by Pacific Grove
architect James McCord."
At the time of his birth, William's parents lived at the corner of Center and First North Streets in American Fork, Utah. Here both Thomas and daughter Eliza, taught school long before the free system was established. Thomas was "prominent in all civic activities. The couples last three children were born in American Fork, George William, 1954-54; William Burke, 1855-1921; and Charles Henry, 1857-59.
In June of 1859, Thomas and Eliza, along with five of their children, John Taylor, age 21; Ann, age 17; Joseph Adams, age 12; Thomas Joseph, age 8; and William Burke, age 4, left American Fork and traveled by oxen led covered wagon, to California.
William married Amanda A. Grey near Lincoln, CA, on September 19, 1877. Later in life, William served on the Board of Supervisors for Yuba County, California. On Oct. 2, 1896, California Governor Budd appointed W. B. Filcher Supervisor of the Third District in Yuba County.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was written by Josephine Filcher Delmar in 1982:
William Burks (sometimes spelled Berks), 1855-1921, the last son of Thomas and Eliza Filcher who grew to manhood, was born in American Fork about three years after they arrived there. He was just four years old when the came on to California. How long he remained on the family farm, I do not know, though as I knew him, he seemed more a business man than a farmer. He may have farmed and worked in real estate in and around Marysville. At one time he represented Wheatland District, south of Marysville, as a county supervisor so he may have had a ranch and/or business of his own there. He married Amanda Gray when he lived there and they had three children before he was widowed:
1) Roy Melton, 1881-1959, m. Mary Elizabeth Steadman--2 children
2) Ray Boyd, 1885-????, probably died as an infant or young child
3)Ross William, 1887-1915, unmarried.
In 1900, he remarried to Mrs. Eugenia Smith. This was the "Aunt Genie" I knew. She was a good wife and mother to his growing boys. She visited here often and I remember taking Grandmother Clara Filcher to Pacific Grove for a visit in the early 1930's when we stayed at "Aunt Genie's" pleasant home. Sometime in the early 1900's William must have "moved to the ocean" possibly to improve the health of his son, Ross, who was sickly. He worked in real estate there and was associated with or "worked for" Del Monte properties with his Currie "cousins." (This from his grandson, Roy Dean Filcher.)
William and sometimes "Aunt Genie", visited here at the ranch. He was a lovable man who paid attention to me, a young child. I remember him fondly. His grandson, Roy Dean, has given me much family information in the last few years and I am grateful to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSE FOR RENT - NINE DOLLARS(From the December 24, 1948 Pacific Grove Tribune-California)
While clearing out the basement of his Eighth street home recently Jim Southwell, circulation manager of the TRIBUNE ran across some interesting old letters. The letters were written in 1905 by the late W.B. Filcher, real estate and insurance agent of Pacific Grove. Addressed to a Mr. Thomas Leak of Dunsmuir, the letters dealt with certain real properry owned by Leak and handled by Filcher.
The contrast in the rentals of that day and the present, judging by the information contained in the letters is fantastic. Mr. Leak wrote Mr. Filcher complaining that his two bedroom partially furnished house was only bringing $9.00 a month rental. Filcher replied in effect that with the exception of one month during the summer, there were "lots of places" to rent, and that he, Filcher, felt the highest rent Leak could expect was $9.00. "I have one house," wrote Filcher "not very thoroughly furnished on the opposite side of the street from you... the rent is S10 a month and it is idle far more than yours. It rented for $25.OO one month during the summer, but it has been
idle ever since. I think when you look the matter over carefully you will see that it costs money to make money."
"If you spend $100 to $200 to furnish the house properly, you will attract a better type of renter, the type that will not move too often, break up your furniture and steal the linen." Filcher went on to say that a retaining wall had been put up in front of the lot, the costs of the steps and wall amounting to $8.50, a sum that today might cover the cost of one step.
Mr. Filcher, who was in the real estate business in Pacific Grove more than 20 years, moved to this community from Marysville in 1903. With him came his wife, who took over the insurance agency following her husband's death in January of 192I. Incidentally, Mrs. Filcher is still engaged in that business at her current home at 221 l7th street. According to Mrs. Filcher, in those days her husband built a six room house for $3,000. "The rooms were all large ones" says Mrs. Filcher "and the material used, redwood of the finest quality. In addition, the greatest care was taken to insure solid, excellent construction." Imagine building such a home today for $3,000, but Mrs. Filcher assures us that the price was considered quiet "high" at the time!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FILCHER'S CEMENT SIDEWALK(from Feb. 11, 19O7 Ttde)
W.B. Filcher has started a move in the right direction by laying a fine concrete sidewalk in front of his home property on 16th street near Pine. Mr. Filcher is also having the sidewalks on Forest avenue fronting the cottages
he recently purchased from Mrs. Newton repaired, and will soon begin putting in a concrete walk on Twelfth Street where another of his cottages is located. This work is worthy of emulation. There is being aroused a spirit of home and town pride that has not heretofore been evident among the majority of the citizens of Pacific Grove. It cannot be carried too far. The more beauteous our homes and their setting, the longer will those who visit remain. Let us not mar the natural beauty by over-cultivation, but cleanliness, neatness and order must be considered in the making up of a city beautiful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is from:
From the CEDAR STREET TIMES, News and Opinion of Pacific Grove, December 13, 2012:
The News From 100 Years Ago:
T. A. Work team runs away
The Work Company can now offer run-away deliveries to its customers. That's because the firm's four-in-hand team—used to deliver hay, wood, building supplies, etc.—ran away Saturday evening shortly before six o'clock.
The four horses bolted from the property of the E. B. Gross Transfer Company, where they had been left standing for a moment by Work employee E. B. Walker. The animals then slowed and trotted toward their own barn, which was but a short distance from the Gross Transfer barn, but spooked and began rushing down 16th Street past the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Hearst, where the wagon destroyed a hitching post. Another hitching post was broken father down 16th Street in front of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. FILCHER. When the horses reached the smooth, cement sidewalk in front of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Prussia's residence, one of the animals fell and was dragged along for several feet.
That horse was injured by the long wrench-pin which passes through the tongue of the wagon to hold the whiffletrees in place. Three stitches were required to sew up the animal's injury. The horse is expected to recover fully. The wagon was not damaged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the CAGenWeb Monterey County Geneaolgy:
Oglesby, Hannah – died at age 89 at home of Mrs. W.B. Filcher, was a resident of Pacific Grove for 37 years, with GAR Women's Relief Corps, burial Merced County (Pacific Grove High Tide Sept. 22, 1931 p1)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF PACIFIC GROVE NEWSLETTER
Dedicated to Maintaining the Beauty and Individuality of Pacific Grove, Volume 11, Issue 7 October 2011
www.pacificgroveheritage.org.
HISTORIC HOME TOUR A SUCCESS
"Another 2011 Heritage Society
Award winner on the tour was
the W.B. Filcher House (1905). A
beautiful example of the Queen
Anne style, it features Victorian
ornamentation. A recent addition
was designed by Pacific Grove
architect James McCord."
Family Members
Siblings
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Elizabeth A "Betsy" Filcher Currie
1837–1881
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John Taylor Filcher
1838–1904
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Eliza Filcher Chipman
1841–1878
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Anna Filcher Morrison
1842–1944
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Sarah Filcher
1843–1844
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Lucy Hannah Filcher
1845–1848
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Joseph Adams Filcher
1846–1925
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Thomas Joseph Filcher
1851–1930
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George William Filcher
1854–1854
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Charles Henry Filcher
1857–1859
