Clifford, Vinton Julius

Vinton Julius Clifford, born near Queen City, Missouri, on March 27, 1869, was a scientific viticulturist who contributed significantly to the extension of the California vine industry. The son of Nelson Clifford and Margaret Currier, he was raised on a farm and attended local country schools until moving to California on October 5, 1888, to join his sisters. He initially worked on the grain ranch of J. Cole and Son for five years before spending a decade with the Fresno Flume and Irrigation Company as a flume herder and shipping clerk. His early experiences in the region included driving big teams and hauling grain across fields where the town of Clovis was later established.

Throughout his career in Fresno County, Clifford successfully bought, improved, and sold multiple properties, eventually accumulating a 160 acre tract east of Clovis and leasing a 60 acre vineyard to raise Muscat and Thompson seedless grapes. Beyond agriculture, he served for eight years building bridges and oiling roads for Supervisorial District No. 2, and spent another eight years buying grapes for the Barton vineyard. He was deeply involved in his community, serving seven years as a trustee of the Jefferson school district, maintaining an influential role on the Democratic County Central Committee, and leading local Masonic and Eastern Star chapters. Married to Hattie E. Ploetz on December 27, 1899, with whom he had two children, Gladys M. and Victor Addison, his life exemplified the prosperous growth and leadership of early Fresno County settlers.