From the Lodi Sentinel, 2 Feb 1918:
Early-Day Settler Had Been Ill Only for a Week -- Hold Funeral Services Next Monday
Was One of Five Surviving Members of San Joaquin County Pioneers, Organized in the Days of [illegible]
Ezra Fiske, one of the oldest and best known pioneers of this section, passed away yesterday morning at 6:50 at the home of Mrs. Sam Howe on South School street, after an illness of only a week.
The dear old man, who lived to be 92 [?] years, 5 months and 6 days of age, had broad and liberal ideas. Even up to the time of his declining years he kept up to the time on all questions affecting public welfare. For the past 25 or 30 years he had been recording the temperature, and for 16 years he kept track of the rainfall of this section for the government, sending in monthly reports to Washington, D.C. up to within the past two years, since which time Mrs. Howe has been keeping the rainfall. As a recompense for his work the government sent him the reports on every subject printed by the government. He took great delight in reading and studying these reports, daily adding to his storage of knowledge. Mr. Fiske recorded the rainfall for The Sentinal readers also.
He was a native of Massachusetts. His father died when he was 5 years old and his mother when he was 19. He was a machinist during his younger life, and in 1849 came to California around Cape Horn, making the trip in 157 days. Soon after he arrived he engaged in mining at Mokelumne Hill and at Rich Gulch. In those days he was quite active, and when the San Joaquin County Society of Pioneers was formed he was chosen secretary. Of this society, which then had more than 500 members, there are now but four remaining -- R. E. Wilhoit of Stockton, B. F. Rodgers of Merced, E. R. Hedges, former of Hedges & Buck of Stockton but now residing in Oakland, and James Turner of French Camp.
In the early days he acquired a farm of 390 acres 3 miles south of Lodi. One hundred and sixty acres of this land he pre-empted and the balance was purchased. This is now known as the John Mettler place. Seventeen years ago he sold the ranch and since that time has resided at the home of Mrs. Sam Howe.
His only survivors are two nephews and a niece in Massachusetts.
The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence of Mrs. Sam Howe under the direction of Hale & Bowden. Rev. Schwimley will officiate and interment will be made in Lodi cemetery.