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C. J. GIDDINGS.
A gentleman of pleasing address and quiet appearance, frank and kindly in manner, and popular among the people
of his community, characterizes C. J. Giddings, the subject of this brief review. Like many of the enterprising
citizens of Tulare county, Mr. Giddings hails from the old Buckeye state, but the major portion of his active life
has been spent in the locality of which this history treats, having lived to see and have a part in the wonderful
changes that have taken place here. He was born near Cleveland, Ohio, on the 29th day of December, 1843, the son
of Sidney and Polly (Sackett) Giddings, who were both born and reared in Ohio. The father of Sidney Giddings came
to Ohio from Massachusetts in about 1810, making the trip by ox team and being one of the pioneers of his section
of Ohio. Sidney Giddings, who was a farmer by vocation, died when his son, C. J., was but eight years old, and
eight years later his widow also passed away. At the age of eleven years C. J. Giddings began working on farms
and was bound out for three years. During the second year the man to whom he was bound, sold his farm, thus releasing
him, and he then started out on his own account. His great ambition was to secure an education and he worked his
way through the common schools, but also fitted himself for office work, which he followed for some time. He had
one sister, younger than he, Sophia, who later became the wife of Frank E. Welsh, and he took care of her during
the years of their youth. Thus in the stern school of necessity he learned those important lessons which had so
great an influence on his later life and he has always had a broad sympathy for others in similar conditions, many
less fortunate than he having received help from him when help would be most needed and most appreciated.
In November, 1869, Mr. Giddings came to California, locating in Woodland, where he obtained a position in the county
clerk's office as auditor and bookkeeper. He was there four years, proved himself a capable and efficient officer,
and during the years of his incumbency he was acting county clerk. In 1873 he came to Tulare county, locating near
Hanford, prior to the organization of Kings county, and there bought a ranch. In 1876 he sold that property and
came to Visalia, where he has since resided. In 1877 he opened an abstract office, in which he was successful,
and in 1880 he accepted a position in the Bank of Visalia, of which he became the cashier. Later he was made vice
president and eventually became president of the institution. The bank was changed to the National Bark of Visalia
and Mr. Giddings became its vice president, retaining that position until 1912, when he became president, which
position he holds at the present time, though in 1921 the bank was sold to the Bank of Italy, but the two former
banks are still in process of liquidation. In 1922 Mr. Giddings bought an eighty acre ranch in the Oak Grove school
district, which he has devoted mainly to dairy purposes, maintaining a fine herd of high class Guernsey cattle
on it. He also owns an eighty acre dairy ranch east of Visalia and several beautiful residence properties in Visalia.
He is essentially a man among men, commanding respect by innate force as well as superior ability, and as a citizen
he easily ranks with the most influential of his compeers in affairs looking toward the betterment of the community.
In 1869 Mr. Giddings was married to Miss Minnie Holcomb of Ohio, who died in 1906. To them was born a daughter:
Blanche, who is the widow of J. O. Hickman, late of Hanford. In 1908 Mr. Giddings was married to Miss Anne Olsen
and they have three children: Claude S., Josephine and Clarence J. Mr. Giddings is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, having passed through
the chairs in the two first named organizations.
From:
History of Tulare County, California
By: Kathleen Edwards Small
and
Kings County, California
By: J. Larry Smith
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Chicago 1926
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