McKenzie, William H.

Born at Fort Miller in March 1857, William H. McKenzie was the son of Irish natives who immigrated to California via the Isthmus of Panama. Beginning his career in public service in 1874 as a deputy under Sheriff Ashman and Assessor J. A. Stroud, he was elected Fresno County Assessor in 1880 under the new state constitution and later served twelve years as Fresno’s city treasurer. Beyond public office, McKenzie was a prominent financier and developer, co-founding an abstract title company, serving as cashier and manager of the Fresno Loan and Savings Bank, and helping establish the Fresno Electric Railway Company.

McKenzie expanded his commercial enterprises into mining, Coalinga oil development, and real estate, co-building the landmark ten-story Griffith-McKenzie Building in Fresno and maintaining a 12,000-acre cattle ranch that encompassed the historic Millerton courthouse and fort sites. Married to Millerton native Carrie E. Hoxie, he remained an influential figure in local Democratic politics until his death, leaving his valuable trust estate under the stewardship of his half-brother, former county clerk Truman G. Hart, and his son, Alfred H. McKenzie.