JOSEPH E. YANCEY (1860-????)
History of Kern County Calif. by Wallace M. Morgan. Page 729


JOSEPH E. YANCEY

The suburban community known as Broad Ripple, which then was adjacent to and now forms a portion of the city of Indianapolis, Ind. made an interesting environment for the early years of Joseph E. Yancey, who was born on a farm at that place March 12, 1850 being a son of Joseph A. Yancey, a Kentuckian, who became well known among the stock raisers in the vicinity of Indianapolis. In that city he was educated, and at the age of sixteen he started out for himself, working at various occupations until he came to California in 1880 and settled at Bakersfield. For two winters he carried on his studies in the Crocker school, while in the intervening summers he was employed as a clerk or farm hand. During the year 1882 he entered the employ of the Kern County Land Company, then known by the firm title of Haggin and Carr, and for three years he acted as superintendant of their Mountain View ranch. After which for two years he followed mining at the Long Tom mine. A subsequent experience lasting two years as roadmaster of the Sumner road district was followed by employment in teaming, general contracting and building canals for the Kern county Land Co. and for the Southern Calif. Construction Co. at Barstow. The business of a contractor filled his time and kept him busily occupied until July, 1899, when he discontinued in order to become street superintendent of Bakersfield. In that capacity he served for twelve consecutive years or until after the consolidation of Bakersfield and Kern into one city. In addition to filling that position he also served as city health officer and plumbing inspector. In an official capacity he proved prompt, efficient, reliable and intelligent and the difficult duties of his responsible post were discharged with exactness and to the general satisfaction. Since resigning as street superintendent he has resumed contracting and building and now makes a specialty of general contracting and building. The supervision of his building operations consumes all of his time, although he is also interested in the McKittrick Oil Co. and in oil lands in the Temblor and McKittrick districts.

Fraternal connections have been formed by Mr. Yancey with the Benevolent Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  Politically he votes with the Republican party.  Some years after he came to Kern County he married Miss Rose L. Williams who was born in Fort Scott, Kansas but came to California at an early age and received a superior education in the schools of this state. From an early age she has been a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in the faith in that denomination she reared her adopted daughter, Lena, now Mrs. Harvey DeWar of Bakersfield. Her  (Rose's) parents, George and Achsah (Riggs) Williams were identified with pioneer agricultural interests in Kansas but left that state in 1875 to identify themselves with the Pacific coast country.  The beautiful philanthropic spirit which throughout lie has been a leading element in the character of Mrs. Yancey  led her to take up work among the homeless children and waifs of Bakersfield and in cooperation with Mrs. Coolbaugh she started the Kern County Children's Shelter  which from the first has proved a most important undertaking and has increased in size to such an extent that about twenty-five children are now cared for by the organization.  After the plan first became merged into definite form, Mrs. Yancey officiated as superintendent of the shelter having the movement in charge for three years during the building of the new home and when completed she resigned on account of  a nervous break down.   However it was largely due to her efforts and self-sacrificing and constant assistance that it's success may be attributed.

 

  


Rosa Yancey


Lena Yancey DeWar