History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I, Part 112

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1362

USA > California > Fresno County > History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I > Part 112

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Daniel Brown, Jr., was reared in Petaluma and received his preliminary education in the public schools of that city, after which he entered the University of California, then the Hastings Law College, from which he was

Q. Kregenhagen

Elizabeth Krigenhagen

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graduated in 1884 with the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the bar of the state and practiced his profession about a year. He then secured a position in the cashier's office in the United States Mint at San Francisco, where he remained until coming to Fresno in 1890. He was here engaged in the livery business for six years, having a stable on I Street. In 1900 he accepted a position as assistant cashier of the Fresno National Bank, in which he had been a director for several years. In 1902 he became cashier and held that position until the death of the president, Mr. Patterson, when Mr. Brown was made president of the institution, a position he occupied until the bank was purchased by the Bank of Italy. He devoted many years to the upbuilding of this bank, which was one of the most substantial organi- zations in the San Joaquin Valley. When the bank was re-organized as the Fresno Branch of the Bank of Italy, Mr. Brown became a director and chair- man of the advisory board, the position he now occupies. He is also a direc- tor of the Fresno Building and Investment Company and the Central Land and Trust Company, besides being interested in several other financial affairs, all of which have the hearty cooperation of Mr. Brown, whose whole time is given over to the management of the interests in which so many others have become interested, and that have done much towards the development of the varied interests of both city and county. Mr. Brown is a charter mem- ber of the Sequoia Club, University Club, Sunnyside Country Club of Fresno, and the Bohemian Club of San Francisco. Politically he supports the policies of the Democratic party and has served on the county central committee for years. He is public-spirited, successful, and among the most enterprising citizens of Fresno, in which city he wields a strong influence for the good of the community.

ADOLPH KREYENHAGEN .- A ranchman who started life with the inestimable heritage of superior parentage, and who has, as might have been expected, attained to a success that has enabled him not only to do well by himself and his immediate circle, but to serve the state, in which he is a loyal citizen, and to advance California husbandry on a large scale, is Adolph Krey- enhagen, who was born near Gilroy, in Santa Clara County, on August 9, 1864, the son of Gustaf and Julia ( Ilering) Kreyenhagen, both of them natives of Germany. The father enjoyed all the benefits of a higher education in his native land, and when he sought greater freedom and opportunity in the United States in 1846, he became a professor of Latin, Greek and mathematics in St. Louis, Mo. Four children were born to the worthy couple there, but three died in the city of their birth; the other, Emil, is now living near Coalinga.

In 1854, aroused by the wonderful stories of mining adventure coming from the Pacific Coast, the father hurried across the Isthmus with thousands of others to California, and for a time conducted a mercantile establishment in San Francisco. Then he located on a ranch near Gilroy and at the same time he also operated the Peach Tree Ranch in Monterey County and engaged in sheep-raising, but he had hardly begun to prosper when he lost nearly all the sheep he had in the floods. This was in 1865. Then he removed to Los Banos, in Merced County, and there ran not only a store, but a hotel and a stage station. The place was then a large center for freighters who were hauling supplies from San Francisco to Visalia and Bakersfield through the valley before the time of the railroads; and it was almost impossible that one who rendered the proper service should not do well. Mr. Kreyenhagen was just the man for such a place, although he was also capable, as we shall see, of better things; and in thus maintaining his several establishments, he con- tributed his share toward the rapid development of that part of the state.

In 1875, Mr. Kreyenhagen located in Fresno County, at Posa Chene, now called Kirk Station, east of what is now Coalinga. Once more he opened a general store and hotel, and went into the sheep and cattle business as well;

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he built a sheep-shearing station and some seasons handled as many as 150,- 000 sheep in the public corral. In 1887 he retired, and three years later, the favorite of a large circle of friends, he breathed his last. Among other notable holdings, the Fresno Hot Springs was owned and managed by Mr. Kreyen- hagen, and this famous resort is still the property of the estate's heirs. His widow survived him until August 2, 1906, passing away at Fresno Hot Springs.

Adolph Kreyenhagen was reared in this valley from 1865, coming to Fresno County in 1874, and receiving his education in the public schools, St. Mary's College in San Francisco and at Heald's Business College in the same city. From the time he was a boy he rode the range and learned the stock business and after his schooldays were over devoted his entire time to it. As- sociated with his three brothers, Emil, Hugo and Charles, they have engaged in cattle-raising and for the purpose purchased and leased large tracts of land. They incorporated as Kreyenhagens, Incorporated. They own 10,000 acres of land and lease about 37,000 acres more. The three ranches they own are known by their Spanish names, Las Canoas, Zapato Cheno and Las Pol- vaderas, and they are located southeast of Coalinga. Kreyenhagens, Inc., is one of the largest cattle-growers and landowners in the county. Their brand being the bar C, is a C with a bar through the center. The brothers are also interested in the Hays Cattle Company of Kirkland, Ariz. For two years they also owned and managed the Crescent Meat Market of Coalinga. In early days, in fact, they did teaming and hauled freight between Posa Chene and Gilroy, and between the former and Banta Station, using an eight or ten horse and mule team for the purpose, usually taking ten days to make a round trip. While their main business is cattle-raising, they generally sow about 2,000 acres to grain each year.

Adolph Kreyenhagen is a stockholder in the A. P. May Company in Coalinga. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Coalinga, and a di- rector until the consolidation with the First National Bank, continuing as a stockholder in that substantial institution.

Mr. Kreyenhagen was married in Fresno, June 26, 1888, to Miss Eliza- beth Crump, born on Fancher Creek, Fresno County, the daughter of John G. and Nancy Ann (Cox) Crump, natives of Virginia and Missouri, respec- tively. Her father crossed the plains in 1850 and was a miner in Calaveras County. In 1861 he came to Fresno County and married Nancy Ann Cox, who crossed the plains with her parents in 1849. In 1872 he located on the West Side, becoming a cattle-grower and landowner in Warthan Canyon and was a man of influence and prominence. Her parents passed away at their home. Mrs. Kreyenhagen was reared and educated in this county, residing with her parents until her marriage to Mr. Kreyenhagen. They have three children : Edna is a graduate of the University of California and was formerly a teacher in the Coalinga Union High School. She is now the wife of Elmer M. Leinzen of San Francisco. Theodore was educated in Hanford High and Oakland Polytechnic College and resides on the home ranch where he is of invaluable help to his father. He is also a director and secretary of Kreyen- hagens, Inc., as well as a stockholder in the Hays Cattle Company. Viola is still attending the Coalinga High School.

When Mr. Kreyenhagen came to Posa Chene there were only a half- dozen white families living here. The rest were Mexicans living mostly in the mountains. The country was given over to stockmen's camps at the few watering places. Mr. Kreyenhagen's father was the first to begin raising grain on the West Side. Adolph Kreyenhagen now sees the many opportu- nities that they had of obtaining valuable lands and water rights, yet the early settlers did not grasp them as it was impossible to foresee the future possibilities. In early days the Kreyenhagens sold 1,080 acres for $12 an acre -Sections 25-36-30-24-that are now producing oil and are among the most

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valuable in the Coalinga oil fields, being worth millions. Mr. Kreyenhagen in 1895 planted the first fig orchard on the Zapato Cheno Ranch, the first figs set out on the West Side. They have grown to gigantic size and produce abundantly. He also set out a family orchard and finds that apricots, Bart- lett pears and plums do excellently, but the figs take the lead. Thus his ex- perimenting in fruits will undoubtedly some day also bring horticulture to the front on the West Side. Mr. Kreyenhagen is enterprising, a believer in building up the community, ever ready to assist others who have been less fortunate, but always in an unostentatious manner. In fraternal matters he is a Modern Woodman. Mrs. Kreyenhagen comes of a splendid family and is a very refined woman, always encouraging her husband in his ambitions, and both hold an estimable place in the hearts of the people of Coalinga, where they are among the leading citizens.

REV. F. FELICIAN FRITZLER .- As pastor of the Wartburg Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, Rev. F. Felician Fritzler is faithfully carrying on the work to which he has been called. Of German parentage, he was born in Southeastern Russia, and was educated in that country in the grade schools and a school which corresponds to our high school, only that it in- cludes two years of university work. After finishing his education, he taught in the public and high schools of his native land for nine and one-half years, in "Norka" Russia. Seeking greater opportunities in the new world, Rev. Mr. Fritzler arrived in New York, June 24, 1911, and from there went to Atchison, Kans., where he entered the Theological Seminary, in the fall of 1911. He completed the course in the spring of 1914, and the following fall entered the University of Nebraska, at Lincoln, and graduated from that institution in June, 1915, with the degree of A. B. After his graduation, Rev. Mr. Fritzler taught German in his Alma Mater for one year, during which he completed his course for the Master's Degree. He was ordained a minister on October 24, 1915, at Iowa City. While teaching at the state uni- versity he organized a "Zoar" Evangelical Lutheran Church at Havelock, Nebr., erected a church, and secured its incorporation.

On October 4. 1916, Rev. Mr. Fritzler took his present charge, and since that date has worked unceasingly for the welfare of his church and congre- gation. A highly educated man, with a fluent command of English, he is meeting with deserved success in his labors and is held in high esteem by his church members and by the community in general. The Wartburg Evangelical Lutheran Church was first organized and incorporated in 1904, the Rev. Lutz Horn being its first resident pastor. His successor was Rev. H. S. Feix, who came in 1905 and erected the church building; and he was followed by Rev. W. J. Roehmer, who remained as pastor four years, and was succeeded by Rev. John Gutleben, after whose removal, the pulpit was filled by William Brandes until Rev. Mr. Fritzler took the charge. The church building has been remodeled and improved under the direction of the present pastor. There are 250 communicants, a Ladies' Aid Society of forty-two members, and a Sunday School of 174 members.

LOUIS PETERSEN .- A model self-made man who has contributed much to the development of Central California, both commercially and in artistic matters, is Louis Petersen, the pioneer painting contractor of Fresno, who was born at Seland, Denmark, February 27, 1856. In his native land he learned the trade of painter and followed it until coming to America in 1881. For a couple of years he worked at his trade in Chicago, and then he located in South Dakota, where he took up a quarter section of government land, proved up on the same, and remained there for four and a half years. This was just long enough for him to lose all that he had put into the place, and he came to California in the great "boom" year, broken in pocketbook, if not in spirit.

He was bound to succeed, however, and so started again to work at his trade ; at first in San Diego, and then in Ventura County. Two years later,

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in 1889, he arrived in Fresno, and in 1890 he bought ten acres of raw land near Selma, which he improved with vines and sold at a good profit about twelve years later.

In 1903 Mr. Petersen started in business for himself as a contract painter ; and in that field, where he maintains his leadership, he is still active. He has painted the Brix Block and residence, the Einstein residence, the Lynch Block, the Teilman residence, the Milo Rowell block, and the Kern-Kay Hotel, as well as many others. He is a member of the Painters Union of Fresno, and at one time was treasurer of the Danish Brotherhood.

Fortune has smiled upon Louis Petersen, to the great satisfaction of his many friends, and he has been able luckily to subdivide part of an acre he bought at 137 Seventh Street, his home place, and to dispose of the same in choice building lots. He also owns other real estate, including a flat build- ing on O Street, and takes great pride in maintaining the same in such "apple-pie order" as adds to the local wealth and artistic standards of the neighborhood.

CHARLES TEAGUE .- A prominent and unusually successful operator of California land, who has handled the largest properties in Fresno County and, while advancing his own interests, has aided thousands in oppressed foreign lands to acquire a title to homesites in the Golden State, is Charles Teague, who has sold a larger acreage to absentees than any other operator in Fresno County. He pursued the policy of offering the best to people who were not on the ground to make their own investigations. Even with this conservative policy, homeseekers are often discouraged by hearing disparag- ing statements relative to conditions in Fresno after their arrival- state- ments emanating from local people who do not appreciate local advantages -which is most discouraging to new arrivals. These new arrivals, however, have grown wealthy on lands the wiseacres condemned. It is stated that ninety percent. of the land sold by Mr. Teague was marketed for less than sixty dollars an acre. Much of this property has sold, after being planted to vineyard and orchard, for more than a thousand dollars an acre, and there is not an acre that has not greatly advanced in value. Mr. Teague has always had the greatest faith in Central California, and contends that the oppor- tunities are as good in Fresno now as at any previous time.

Mr. Teague is a native of Devonshire, England, where he was born in March, 1869. His father was William T. Teague, who came to San Fran- cisco in 1871, bringing his family with him. The lad attended the San Fran- cisco schools until 1881, when he came to Fresno. By 1890 he had acquired land for himself, and ever since then he has been buying and selling Califor- nia acreage. In 1892 he organized the Shephard-Teague Land Company, and in 1912 he brought into existence the Teague Investment Company, of which he is president and manager. He is also interested in and manager of several other large land companies.

Through his efforts, mainly, the First National Bank of Clovis was organized in 1912, and he was its president for several years, until he could no longer devote his time to the institution. He organized the Producers' Oil Company, the first company to develop oil in commercial quantities in the Midway field; and in the spring of 1913, when the fate of the Asso- ciated Raisin Company was in the balance, the future of that concern was assured largely through Mr. Teague's public-spiritedness and sacrifice. Ac- cording to the Fresno Republican of that period, it was Mr. Teague's ener- getic action that saved the day. He was the first subscriber for stock, opening the offering with a subscription of $2,500; "and then," says the report, "came what had been expected and feared-the dropping out of the stockholders until no more takers were heard. One of the most critical moments in the meeting had come, and Charles Teague proved himself equal to the occasion. 'I will take $500, if nine others will do likewise,' shouted Mr. Teague from

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his seat. Immediately there was a rush of takers, which filled his order. Finding that assuming the leadership brought results, Teague came back with the proposition that he would take another $250 worth of stock if nine others would take like amounts. Again his challenge was accepted, and an- other $2.500 was added to the list and twenty-five more squares erased from the blackboard." When the subscriptions were closed, it was found that Mr. Teague was third on the list, having pledged himself altogether for the sum of $4,250 in order to steady the Associated Raisin Company.

Mr. Teague has disposed to advantage of the most extensive properties in Fresno County, and has interested an immense amount of capital to invest in this section. He has ever been as eager to assist families without means to settle here, giving such attractive and favorable terms as would enable them to pay for their lands out of a portion of their crops. Many of the settlers in this community, assisted by Mr. Teague, have thus become among the most prosperous ranchmen in Fresno County.

As an illustration of Mr. Teague's practical public spirit it may be men- tioned that after the outbreak of the World's War in 1914, when a committee was formed in San Francisco to offer the Belgians land in California, Mr. Teague immediately designated 500 acres of his Fresno County holdings to be subdivided for them, and stated that he would not accept any money on the land until it had produced a crop, and then only would he take an- nual payments. He also agreed to give the refugees employment until their lands were productive, to guarantee their grocery bills, and finally to have an impartial body of appraisers fix the value of the land, and the moneys due him. Before and since then, Mr. Teague has colonized 60,000 acres in Fresno County, and has brought in families from all over the United States and Europe.

Charles Teague was married to Marguerite E. Butters, the ceremony taking place on August 14, 1913. The bride is a daughter of the late Henry A. Butters, of San Francisco, the capitalist of South African fame. Mr. Teague is one of the organizers of the Sunnyside Country Club of Fresno.

WILLIAM RENNIE .- Full of opportunity for travel and, it is fair to assume, of good, old-fashioned adventure, with more than a suggestion of the romantic, was the early career of the subject of this very interesting sketch, a native of "bonnie Scotland" and the son of William and Elizabeth (Rennie) Rennie of Stirlingshire, and members of the clan made famous through John Rennie, the British engineer and architect. William Rennie was a coal operator and coke and iron manufacturer in Stirlingshire, and he had offices in Glasgow, in which city, so favorably situated on the bustling and beautiful banks of the Clyde, he resided with his family. His brilliant career, however, was cut short by death when he was only thirty-nine years of age, so that the three of the five children who grew to maturity were all too soon deprived of an invaluable leader.

The second eldest in the family, William was reared in the country so dear to every Scottish heart, and in old but progressive Glasgow, a city as live with the spirit of modern times as it is full of the traditions of the past, he was educated. Arriving at the age of fourteen, he entered the Loretto School near Edinburgh, and at eighteen left the class-room to spend a year in travel over the Continent.

Attaining his majority enriched through such advantages. William went to New Zealand, a long trip to most Americans, but rather a matter-of-fact experience for a Britisher ; and for six busy years he was with the New Zea- land-Australian Land Company. After a while, a longing to see the old folks at home led him to start back, and in 1886 he got as far as San Francisco, but he did not reach his ancestral hearth until eighteen years later. He arrived on the Pacific Coast just at the beginning of the great "boom" in California, and from San Francisco he went to Napa County where, with his

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brother James, he took up the dry-wine manufacture. The firm was known as Rennie Bros., and their headquarters were at St. Helena. Thus, when he first reached the State, he got into the wine business, and he has been identi- fied with it for thirty fruitful years, during which time he did much to raise the standards governing that industry. He bought property in St. Helena, Napa County, set out his vineyard, and constantly adding improvements, kept it until 1904 when he sold it. Besides building the finely-planned and equipped winery at St. Helena, he was also instrumental in putting up the first stone bridge-of gray stone blocks-constructed in Napa County.

When Mr. Rennie came to Fresno County in 1900, he took charge of the Barton Vineyard which included 960 acres of land situated about two and a half miles northeast of the court house, succeeding Colonel Trevalyan who had been superintendent of the place for fourteen or fifteen years. Wine, raisin and table grapes were grown, and there was plenty to do. The Barton Vineyard, in fact, was one of the first vineyards to be set out in that section ; there were 150 acres given to raisin grapes, 100 to table grapes, and 500 to wine grapes; 100 acres were also devoted to grain and buildings: 4,500 tons of grapes a year were turned into wine, making about 325,000 gallons of the favorite beverage; while for ten years, from 1905 to 1915, the average crush was 11,800 tons, aggregating almost one million gallons of wine, and from 100,000 to 250.000 gallons of commercial brandy a year. In 1915, however, fire destroyed a part of the winery, causing a loss of $190.000, including coop- erage, wine-making machinery and buildings, and 800,000 gallons of wine.

Mr. Rennie also owns other acreage devoted to horticulture and viticul- ture, and he is interested in quicksilver mining in Napa County. He was a director in the Central Bank of California at Fresno, and both because of striking personality and high, unswerving standards in all of his business methods, and his long career as a man of affairs, he is still looked to as a pillar of financial strength and a leader whose experience and judgment are of real value in commercial undertakings. He is a stanch Republican and Protectionist, and not only supports every movement for the betterment of the locality, but takes an active part in national politics and the advancement of American political and commercial interests.

Modest by nature, yet liberal-hearted, Mr. Rennie finds pleasure in doing and giving, but all his benefactions are wrought in an unostentatious man- ner, so that often the right hand does not know what the left has accom- plished. Particularly may he be proud of his Masonic record, for he was made a Mason in one night, by special dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, at the Robert Burns Lodge at Dumfries. He was also a member of the Knight Templars and affiliated with the Napa Commandery.

Two children, a daughter and a son, are the joy of Mr. and Mrs. Rennie's home. Miss Elizabeth leads in social movements, while William Rennie is at present serving in the United States Army, and was recently for thirteen months over-seas. He belonged to the American Expeditionary Forces that have effected so much for the military glory of the nation; and, just before the armistice was signed, he passed all the requisite examinations as a can- didate for officer.

CHARLES G. BONNER .- In the life of this successful citizen of Fresno are illustrated the results of preseverance and energy, coupled with judicious management and strict integrity. He is a citizen of whom any community might well be proud, for men possessing the fundamental char- acteristics of which Charles G. Bonner is heir have ever been regarded as bulwarks of their communities. A native son of the Golden State, he was born in San Francisco, February 4, 1869, the youngest child and only son of Charles and Rosa (Gore) Bonner. Charles Bonner was born in Canada and was a descendant of an old and honored family of New York State. At the age of sixteen he came to California, via Panama, and upon his arrival

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went to the mines and in time he became an expert mining man. He went to Nevada and became superintendent of the Gould Curry mine at Virginia City. He died in San Francisco in 1871. His wife was born in Cambridge, Mass., and was a granddaughter of ex-Governor Gore of Massachusetts. She came to California in an early day, where she grew up and was married to Mr. Bonner. She passed away in San Francisco.

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History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I, Part 112

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858- Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1362

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1362