when a lad, and grew up on a farm there. He also attended the public schools; and if they were not of the best or their sessions of the longest, he got out of the instruction imparted what he could.
When old enough to do so, Mr. Mefford began to work in the water fields. He sought and secured a position with Joe Caldwell of Westminster, than whom, perhaps, no better master mechanic could be found engaged in that occupation; with the result, that when he had finished his apprenticeship, he and Joe were about evenly mated, the one scoring some points of advantage over the other.
In October, 1917, at Riverside, Mr. Mefford was married to Mrs. J. H. Roberts, whose maiden name was Laura J. Clatworthy, a native of England who came to and settled in America, and finally very wisely chose California for her home, where she has lived for twenty-five years. With her domestic experience, she was able to accord home comforts to our subject, and thus to help lighten the arduous work in which he was daily engaged, and by which he was to build up that enviable reputation of having drilled good wells all over the county.
Mr. Mefford started in business for himself at Santa Ana twenty years ago, and since then he has contributed much to the great work of developing water in Southern California. He understands the difficult technical processes involved, and he also has special gifts in divining the sources of good water. His years of hard labor have enabled him to boast of hundreds of satisfied customers, and among other places of note owing half of their success, in the matter of natural resources, to his skill in commanding an adequate water supply, may be mentioned the famous Irvine Ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Mefford live at 1004 West Fourth Street, Santa Ana, where they dispense a whole-hearted hospitality to their friends.
Mr. Mefford enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War in Company L, Seventh Regiment, United States Volunteers, and was encamped in San Francisco. For twenty years he was a member of the Orange County baseball nines, and in that wholesome sport he is favorably known by many.
