John Ivan Polson & Alta Nadine Cole

THE POLSON-CHENEY FAMILY

Husband: John Ivan Polson

Born: 29 JUN 1897 in Pawnee, Oklahoma
Married: 01 SEP 1921 in Clovis, California
Died: 12 OCT 1986 in Clovis, Fresno County, California
Buried: in Clovis Cemetery, Clovis, Fresno CO, California
Father: Irvin Polson
Mother: Martha Jane Kessler
Spouses:
Occupation: Farmer, State and County Agricultural Inspector
Hobby: Bridge

Wife: Alta Nadine Cole

Born: 03 JAN 1900 in Clovis, California
Died: 18 DEC 1998 in Fresno, Fresno County, California
Father: Alvin Rice Cole
Mother: Mary Olive Clifford
Spouses:
Occupation: School Teacher
Hobby: All Card games but especially Bridge

Children
01 (M): John Ivan "Ivan" Polson, Jr
Born:
Died:
Spouses: Betty Zoraida Cheney

02 (F): Janice Olive Polson
Born:
Died:
Spouses: Charles Reid Bell

Additional Information

John Ivan Polson:

Notes:
John Polson moved west in 1909 from his birthplace in Pawnee, Okla. His father loaded the family of 6 boys and 3 girls, their household belongings, a milk cow, a team of horses, tools, a dog and a cat in a rented boxcar for the trip to California. John would tell the story about how the family had looked after the cat the entire trip, and when they got to Clovis "that darn cat jumped out of the boxcar and we never saw it again".

John, being the youngest, had the chore of taking the cow by its halter and leading it down the main street of Clovis to the 10 acres of vineyards his father had bought on Villa Street. No one in Clovis had ever seen a red-colored cow before, so they would come out of their homes and businesses to look at it. John thought there was something strange about him, but everyone was just looking at the cow.

When Irvin left to return to Oklahoma, John decided to stay in Clovis. He lived with his sisters Ethel, Elsie and brother Earl in a house on Sunnyside that Irvin left them. Even though times were tough, the children made it on their own. John even managed to keep going to school and graduated in 1918 from Clovis High School. He earned 16 letters in athletics - including prominence in tennis, basketball, baseball and track. He was especially good at baseball, and played 5 years for Clovis High, including his last year of grammer school.

From 1920 to 1957, John was with the Fresno County Agriculture Department. His last position with the county was Director of Rodent and Weed Control. After 1957, Polson was with the Department of Agriculture serving in Fresno County. He was a fruit and vegetable inspector and supervisor. John also operated his own grape farm on Bullard Avenue in Clovis.

John's services to the community included being on the gas rationing board during World War II, and being president of the Clovis chapter of the American Red Cross. John served what is believed to be a record 54 years as a judge of agriculture exhibits at the Fresno District Fair and also served as judge in neighboring county fairs. He was on the Clovis School Board for three terms. He served on the Clovis Planning Board and the City Council. John was mayor of Clovis in 1972, and was elected to the Clovis Hall of Fame in 1980.

In 1984, John was the grand-marshal of the Clovis parade and rodeo. "He will be seated at the head of the entourage in an old-fashioned but spruced-up surrey. His attire will be Western from his hand-tooled boots to his five-gallon hat. His outlook and attitude seem as upright as his carriage, which is ramrod straight. And there's a certain light in his eyes when he looks at his wife or speaks of her. He wears his smile like a victory banner." (From the Fresno Bee, April 1984)

John was a people man. He genuinely liked people and treasured friends above all other things. He was the town expert on the local history of the citizens. He knew where everyone came from and when--who married into what family, and in general, complete genealogies. John had a terrific memory and this gift served him well in his Masonic Lodge work. In later years, John enjoyed going down to the local cafe in the morning to have coffee with his friends and discuss town events and happenings.

Alta Nadine Cole:

Notes:
Alta was born in Clovis, but her family moved to Richmond and then Modesto between 1906 and 1916. They then moved back to Clovis. Alta graduated from Clovis High School in 1918.

At first Alta was going to go into nursing. She went to work at the Burnett Sanitarium to train as a nurse. She spent 8 months in training before deciding nursing was not for her. She left the Sanitarium on Sunday, and began Fresno Normal School on Monday to study teaching. She brought a cot with her, and moved in with two friends to share expenses while studying. By attending summer school at Huntington lake, Alta was able to graduate with a degree in teaching in 1920.

In 1930, Alta was listed on the Federal Census, Fresno County, Township #2, line 66. She was living with John (32), Ivan (6) and Janice (2 1/2) on Bullard Avenue. John was listed as a County Inspector who owned his own home and had a radio.

Alta taught for 16 years, taking 3 off when the children were infants. Her last school was Weldon Elementary.

Marriage Notes
John and Alta were married at 6 A.M. The early hour was dictated by the choice of honeymoon location--San Francisco. In 1921, it took all day to drive from Clovis to the City.

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