Edmond Bush, born in the year of 1816 on A South Carolina Plantation Edmond ‘s father was a Native American, while his mother a black slave. In 1849 at the age of 32 Edmond and his owner a German man named Mr. Wysinger traveled across the hostel Indian country reaching the California Grass Valley in the fall of that same year the journey was historical as never before had an African American made the trip from coast to coast.
After his meeting of his Wife Pernesa in 1862 the couple would settle in Visalia California where they would raise eight children. Jesse B., Rueben, Walter, Harvey, Arthur, Marion and Daughters Martha & Bertha. Edmond a community preacher wanted his children to be educated as white children were he attempted to enroll his son Arthur into the Visalia Public School October of 1888, he was denied entrance due to California educational code established separate schools for white students and minority.
The very code would become a legal battle with Wysinger versus S.A. Crookshank, which was heard after two years by the California Supreme Court, which ruled on January 29, 1890 that the Code was in error and Arthur Wysinger was allowed entry into the School. Arthur is believed to be the first African American to graduate from the Visalia School. The court case would lead to other Schools allowing the entrance of minority students.
Edmond would not see the great event as he passed on February 2, 1891
After leaving residing in Oakland after his fathers death, Ruben Carl return to the central Valley (Fowler) where he was successful in farming. Using the strong determination that he inherited from his father Shown here with his wife.
Photo: Reuben's son Vossa E. Wysinger, age 22 (1917)
January 17, 1895 - March 21, 1987
Married Kathleen Boatman - born August 14, 1900
Mr. Reuben Wysinger, a native son, owns a good ranch of fifteen acres planted in Muscat, Tompkins and seedless raisin grapes. These grapes yield, on an average, a ton to the acre and are marketed for $50 to $100 an acre. He also has a peach orchard of the "Muir" and "Alberta" peaches, which yield two tons to the acre and sell all the way from $100 to $150 an acre.
Mr. Wysinger and two other colored gentlemen, realizing the possibilities of this section of California in the fruit industry, decided to procure a plot of land while the price was within their reach. They purchased a plot of eighty acres, paying $100 down and in five months paying another hundred dollars, which entitled them to a deed, with five years in which to pay the remaining indebtedness at 10 per cent interest. They paid twenty dollars an acre at the date of purchase, some fifteen years ago [1904]. Today one could not buy the same ground for several hundred dollars an acre. After securing the deed to the plot each man settled on his share and began the cultivation of the laud. It will be impossible to give the experience of every one of the gentlemen, but that of Mr. Wysinger can safely be taken as an example of them all. His experience and perseverance show what one can do with a will.
He was employed during the day. After night, with the assistance of his wife, he planted his peach orchard and vineyard. Owing to their lack of experience, it required years of hard work before they were able to secure a crop of anything. They never faltered and finally conquered, and today they have a wonderful ranch that any one in the valley would be proud to own. The best part of it all is, they own a beautiful, modern home and an automobile from the products of a well-paying ranch.
They have a family of three children [Vera, Ethel & Voss], to whom they are giving the best education that the State affords. They are also giving them actual experience in ranch life, so that, if they wish, they can remain on the ranch and be independent."
