Photo thanks to John Bracchi - jbracchi @ mac.com
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