Joe Ely, Last of the Yokohl Indians, Tulare County, Calif.

Joe Ely, Last of the Yokohl Indians, Tulare County, Calif.

Joe Ely, of Exeter, CA, was a member of the Yokohl ("beautiful valley") subtribe of the Yokuts Indian tribe. He was born in 1869, and died at age 42 in 1911. The Yokohls' head village was located near the river channel north of Highway 69 on what now is known as the Rocky Hill Ranch. Joe was the son of an Indian called Ely, who worked on the Hugh Hamilton ranch. When Joe was 12, his father died and the Hamiltons took him in. Shortly after that, Hugh Hamilton died and Joe was taken in by that man's uncle, another Hugh Hamilton. Joe learned all farming skills, including handling large teams of horses pulling threshers. When the Hamiltons moved into Exeter, Joe learned the barbering trade.

Annie R Mitchell History Room

San Joaquin Valley Library System

Annie R. Mitchell History Room

This image is being made available for educational and research purposes only, under the Fair Use clause of the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 section 107 U.S.C.) Further questions regarding the image or its use may be directed to the Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia, CA 93291

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