Sanger in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

William "Yank" Hazelton

1824 -1906

Photographed by Lester J Letson, September 30, 1995

1. William "Yank" Hazelton Marker

Egg-shaped granite stone set into a berm in front of the Hazelton homestead.

Inscription. "Yank" Hazelton, son of Joseph, a blacksmith, and Sophia Cleveland, was born in Coeyman, N.Y., in 1824. He emigrated to California through San Diego in 1853. He settled on this site and homesteaded this land in November, 1857, with his wife of 2 months, Mary Jane, daughter of Henry and Delilah (Miller) Akers. In 1861, Yank went to Mexico on one of his last cattle buying trips. He brought back some oranges, in his saddlebags, as a surprise for his family. Mary Jane planted the seeds from these oranges from which grew the trees that started the first orange orchard in Fresno County. Yank, Mary Jane and four of their children are buried here on the homestead. The Hazelton orange business is continued today by Yank's Great-Great Grandson, Douglas Hazelton and his children.

Erected 1995 by Jim Savage Chapter 1852, E Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 38.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1857.

Location. 36° 47′ N, 119° 25.733′ W. Marker is in Sanger, California, in Fresno County. It is on Trimmer Springs Road near East

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Belmont Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21136 East Trimmer Springs Road, Sanger CA 93657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Choinumni (approx. 4.6 miles away); Kings River - Centerville (approx. 5.1 miles away); Kings River (approx. 6.6 miles away); Dalton Mountain (approx. 6.8 miles away); Sanger (approx. 9.1 miles away); Academy (approx. 9.4 miles away); Academy Methodist Church (approx. 9.6 miles away); Major James D. Savage (approx. 10.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanger.

More about this marker. On Trimmer Springs Road about 6 miles from where Belmont Road dead-ends into Trimmer Springs Road.
The Hazelton family has created a large turnout suitable for mobile homes to stop and view the monument in front of their private residence.

Regarding William "Yank" Hazelton. The homesteaded property is still covered in orange orchards. There are numerous orchards surrounding the Hazelton property since irrigation and mild winters made the valley a great place to grow oranges. As a Cattleman, Yank Hazelton once battled with Moses J Church over his grazing of sheep on land Yank grazed cattle on. After 2 attempts on Church's

Photographed by Hazelton family photo

2. William "Yank" Hazelton Marker

Descendants of the Pioneer Hazelton family stand next to the monument in this undated picture. The orange orchard is clearly visible behind them.

life, Moses took a chance and stopped at the Hazelton ranch. Yank and family invited him in and the men had dinner together. There were no more attempts on Moses Church's life after their meeting.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The Moses Church Marker - Also placed by Chapter 1852, E Clampus Vitus

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 3,391 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.