Yolo-Fresno County CA Archives Biographies.....Flowers, Otis O. 1880 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com December 8, 2005, 12:17 pm Author: Tom Gregory OTIS O. FLOWERS Long identification with the wine industry has enabled Mr. Flowers to acquire an experience which, coupled with his keenness of observation and acute perceptive qualities, gives him a knowledge of his specialty equalled by few men of the west. It was his recognized familiarity with the work and judicious energy in its prosecution that brought him the enviable offer of a position as superintendent of the Yolo winery for the California Wine Association, a responsible post occupied by him for a number of years. Prior to his incumbency of this office he had a varied experience that gave him a thorough knowledge of the business as conducted in different large wineries of the state. In each position lie gave of his original ideas, his intelligent study and his tireless energy to the upbuilding of the business, thereby rendering possible the attainment of results impossible under less intense methods and less devoted application. A consideration of the life and lineage of Mr. Flowers shows that he belongs to an old, earnest family whose representatives were helpful in the early development of our country. His parents, William A. and Louisa (Wiggins) Flowers, were natives, respectively, of Madison county, Ill., and Pickaway county, Ohio, and his maternal grandfather, Thomas Wiggins, for years held a place among the most influential men of the latter locality. As early as 1859, when the Pike's Peak gold excitement occurred, William A. Flowers crossed the plains from Illinois to Colorado with a large company of Argonauts, but he failed to find the fortune he had anticipated, so took up any occupation that offered an honorable living. During the Civil war he served as a government teamster and crossed the plains many times with supplies for the troops. Upon receiving a discharge at the close of the war he went to Ohio and settled on a farm in Pickaway county. There he married Miss Wiggins, previously mentioned. In the same locality eight children were born, all but two of whom still survive. The family removed to Missouri in 1891 and settled on a farm near Carthage, where he and his wife still make their home. During the residence of the family near Circleville, Ohio, on a farm located on what was known as the Pickaway plains, Otis O. Flowers was born August 8, 1880. A peculiar coincidence about his birth anniversary is that in 1888 he was eight years of age on the eighth day of the eighth month. Very few persons, even with the most exhaustive study of their anniversaries, would be able to duplicate such a similitude of dates. With the other children, among whom he was third youngest, he accompanied the parents to Missouri in 1891 and aided in making productive a large farm near Carthage. At the same time he did not neglect his studies. In 1899 he was graduated from the Carthage Collegiate Institute. His first business experience was gained while working as a bookkeeper in a large paint concern. During the spring of 1901 he came to California and secured a position as foreman on the ranch of the Occidental Land Company near Fresno. The following year found him learning the business of wine-making at the Scandinavian winery of the California Wine Association, which later transferred him to the Walitoke winery on the Great Western vineyards near Reedley, Fresno county. After a few months there he was appointed winemaker at the Fresno winery, where he worked for one season. Another season was spent at Egger's vineyard and from there in 1906 he was transferred to Woodland as superintendent of the Yolo winery, just purchased from Eisman & Co. by the larger organization. As general superintendent of the winery Mr. Flowers maintains the excellent reputation established by this concern during the thirty years of its existence. Every modern improvement has been introduced for the benefit of the plant. Especial attention is given to producing a wine of superior quality. The quantity, however, is not neglected, as may be understood from the statement that two hundred thousand gallons are manufactured in one season. To secure so large an output it is necessary to buy enormous quantities of grapes, and these are purchased from the vineyardists of Yolo, Colusa and Sutter counties. By means of a switch extending into the winery the task of unloading the grapes.is not difficult, nor is it an arduous task to load the immense output for shipment. The superintendent gives his attention closely to the winery and takes no part in politics aside from voting the Republican ticket, nor has he any important fraternal associations other than membership with the Eagles and the Moose. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/flowers111bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb