Barstow, Richard Nason

Richard Nason Barstow, born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, on February 3, 1853, was the son of Hon. James Townsend and Sarah J. Brown Barstow. After working in Boston, he relocated to California in 1880 to serve as the superintendent of the Jones-Hill Hydraulic Mining Company in Georgetown, Eldorado County. By 1887, he settled in Fresno County and successfully developed a vineyard in Central Colony before transitioning to a massive 3,000 acre grain lease. He later purchased 320 acres and founded Barstow Colony, where he pioneered intensive alfalfa farming despite facing ridicule from skeptics. His persistent and innovative agricultural methods eventually transformed the colony into a thriving horticultural and viticultural section.

Beyond his ranching achievements, Barstow achieved great prominence in local public service after being elected Fresno County recorder on the Republican ticket in 1902. He served consecutive terms following multiple reelections, introducing modern transcription devices like typewriters and loose-leaf books to drastically improve the county record system. In 1881, he married Agnes H. Baldwin in Auburn, California, and together they raised two sons, George and James Townsend. He remained actively involved in agricultural pursuits by managing a large vineyard, a seventy-five cow dairy, and 250 acres of alfalfa. As a self-made pioneer and dedicated member of the County Recorders Association of California, his enduring leadership left a significant mark on the history of Fresno County.