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 141

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 141

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Having a desire to come to the Coast, he answered the call of the West, and in 1885 located in Modesto, Cal., where he engaged in farming for one vear, and then removed to Fresno County in 1886. For two and a half years he leased land south of Fresno and at the end of that period he purchased a ranch on Elm Avenue, operating the place for about ten years, selling it in 1898. Meantime he also leased about 3.000 acres of land in the county, which he farmed to grain. In this business he used many big teams and a combined harvester for gathering the grain. During these years, he had many trying

H. B. Bissell

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experiences from loss of crops and also the very low price of grain. He con- tinued grain-farming until 1906, when he quit.

Meantime, during these years of struggle, he had purchased his present place, known as the old Shipp place, of 320 acres, at twenty dollars an acre, the nearest neighbor at that time being about two miles distant; nor did it have any water right from the canal. Later he purchased 160 acres adjoin- ing so he had 480 acres in all. Nothing daunted, he immediately went to work to improve it for intensive farming. He sunk wells, found abundant water, which rose close to the surface, and although he was ridiculed by those who thought it impossible, he installed a pumping plant to irrigate his ranch. This was the first pumping plant in his section ; it had a six-inch centrifugal pump, run by a twenty-horsepower engine. Thus it came that he set out the first vineyard above the general irrigation ditch, and, despite the scoffers, he made a success of his vineyard and orchard, which are now irri- gated by three pumping plants. At various times he has sold a portion of his holdings, retaining 160 acres which he has developed into a wonder- fully productive and valuable place, and erecting a large comfortable resi- dence, constructed of cement blocks, making it one of the show places of the district. To evidence the wonderful change and development from the original stubble-field, it need only he stated that his last sale of eighty acres was for $750 per acre-for the land which he had purchased for twenty dol- lars per acre.

Viticulture and horticulture, however, did not engross all of Mr. Bis- sell's time, for, among other activities. he was one of the original stock- holders in the First National Bank of Clovis, in which he was afterwards chosen a director, being retained ever since. He has supported the various raisin associations from the days of Theo. Kearney, and is today an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company.

Mr. Bissell was bereaved of his wife on July 1, 1908, leaving two sons: Lora Clyde, who was married in 1904 to Miss Maud Early, but who passed away August 15, 1909, leaving a child, William Hugh ; and Raymond H., who was born August 28, 1890, and who is married to Hilda Franck and has one child, Dorothy Ann, and who is assisting his father in his ranching enter- prises. About six years after his wife's death, Mr. Bissell married again, the ceremony being performed in Oakland which united him with Miss Irene L. Bissell, who was born in Sharon, Medina County, Ohio, a daughter of E. S. and Mary A. (More) Bissell, farmers in that state.

Mr. and Mrs. Bissell are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Clovis, where they have many friends and are highly respected. It is to such men as Hugh B. Bissell that Fresno County owes much of its present development and greatness. Endowed by nature with energy, strength and ambition, and seeing the possibilities of the rich soil, and having faith in his own judgment, he proceeded to carry out his plans, and he has lived to see, not only his own section, but vast areas in Fresno County blossoming like the rose.

CHARLES S. HAYCRAFT .- Altruistic tendencies, uprightness and true Christian character make Charles S. Haycraft a safe counsellor and considerate friend. Jealous for his honor, he always keeps his word, and his generous impulses lead him to have a thought for the other fellow in all his transactions.

Mr. Haycraft was born in Lewis County, Mo., August 31, 1871. His father. E. R. Haycraft, was born in Kentucky, and died in Fresno County in 1908, at the age of eighty-four years. He was a pioneer California gold miner, his mines being located on the Feather River. He crossed the plains in 1849 with ox teams, and from that year until 1851 operated his mines. He went back to Missouri via the Panama Canal. At the time of his death he owned a place on Chestnut Avenue, Fresno. The mother was Amanda

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Miller, born in Kentucky, near Elizabeth. They were married in Missouri, in which state the father was a farmer. In 1887 they came to California, Charles then being sixteen years old. There were four children to bless this marriage: L. M., who died in the fall of 1917, he formerly owned the old Haycraft ranch on Chestnut Avenue; Bettie D., wife of J. W. Briscoe, of Bakersfield ; W. E., a rancher, now owning part of the old Haycraft home- stead ranch ; and Charles S., of this review.

Mr. Haycraft attended the common schools in Missouri and California. He is the youngest of the family, and has lived in Fresno County since 1887. He went back to Missouri to marry Miss Edith Porter, with whom he be- came acquainted in California. She is the daughter of J. W. Porter, who resides near Malaga. They have no children.

Mr. Haycraft is now owner of two ranches: his home ranch of forty acres, lying two and a half miles from Fowler and the other on Chestnut Avenue, southeast of Fresno, of twenty-four acres.

Mr. Haycraft is a member of the Baptist Church in Malaga, of the Raisin and Peach Growers Associations, and of the Woodmen of the World. in Fresno. In politics he is a Democrat, and in his daily life a successful and influential man.

CARL M. JACOBSEN .- An honored pioneer of Fresno County, one who has taken an active part in its development, whose original idea con- cerning the establishment of the Cooperative Raisin Growers Association was afterwards adopted, and, withal, a man of progressive spirit and enter- prise, is Carl M. Jacobsen, who came to Fresno County about thirty-eight years ago. He is a native of Denmark, horn near Holstebroe, Jylland, in July, 1860, a son of Jacob Petersen, a Danish farmer, who is now deceased. His mother, who in maidenhood was Christine Nielsen, came to California and spent her last days with her son. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Petersen were the parents of seven children, five of whom emigrated from Denmark, three coming to the United States and two going to Australia.

Carl M. Jacobsen is the third oldest of the family and when nine years old his father died. His early education was received in the public schools of Denmark, which he attended until thirteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a blacksmith and after serving his allotted time he worked as a journeyman for several years. When nineteen years old, having decided to see more of the world, he immigrated to the United States, arriving at New York City, where he remained but a short time, the follow- ing month continuing his journey westward until he reached Fresno County, Cal. For four years he was employed with Miller and Lux, extensive land- owners and cattlemen, being located on their Dos Palos ranch where he be- came a foreman and afterwards the blacksmith for the place. In 1883, de- siring to engage in business for himself, he established a blacksmith shop in Fresno, locating on Front Street, where he remained until he removed to Livermore and there worked for four years at his trade, subsequently re- turning to Fresno where he continued. Later, Mr. Jacobsen engaged in the restaurant business for one year; however, this undertaking not proving a success he resumed work at his trade.

During the year 1894, Mr. Jacobsen purchased his present ranch of twenty acres, on Kearney and Boulevard Avenues. This was raw land when he bought the place, but was soon leveled and cultivated, a vineyard set out and alfalfa planted. He further improved the corner by establishing a black- smith shop which he conducted for years and in 1910 sold the shop to Martin Hall, who moved it to Rolinda. In 1914, Mr. Jacobsen purchased the shop at Rolinda and again engaged in business, this time in a more extensive way and with better facilities, as he installed electric power, and up-to-date machinery, being the first person to receive electric power from the Kearney Electric line. Here he continued to follow his trade until March 1, 1918, when he rented his shop in order to give his attention to

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his ranch which he plans to set out to sultana grapes. He has recently resumed the management of his shop and added a garage and auto repair shop.

The first marriage of Carl M. Jacobsen occurred at Livermore, Cal., when he was united with Miss Inga Christensen, a native of Denmark who came to California in 1884. She passed away in Fresno, leaving besides her husband, two daughters: Ida, now Mrs. Hugh Cox, residing at Surf; and Amanda, who married Charles Duncan and now resides at Coalinga.

The second marriage of Mr. Jacobsen was solemnized in Fresno, when he was united with Miss Alma Hegg, a native of the Hawkeye State. This marriage was blessed with six children, five of whom are living: Leonard, the manager of the telephone company at Dinuba ; Ingwar, a student in the high school at Kerman; Mabel; Irving; and Earl.

Mr. Jacobsen is very resourceful and original in his ideas, and has taken the initiative in many progressive movements and business enterprises that have been carried to successful completion. He was one of the men to sug- gest an organization of the raisin-growers, through an article printed in the Fresno Republican, and also suggested the name of M. Theo. Kearney for president, who accepted and was elected. Mr. Jacobsen was also very successful in developing and enlarging the business of the Scandinavian Fire Insurance Association, by soliciting business and arousing interest in the organization which has grown to be very strong and successful, and in which association he was a director. Mr. Jacobsen is a member of the cooperative store in Fresno ; was one of the organizers of the Danish Creamery, and was one of the first persons in his locality to have a telephone installed, going out and securing the first ten subscribers to the telephone line.

Fraternally he is a member of the Danish Brotherhood, Modern Wood- men of America, and was, at one time a member of the Fraternal Brother- hood and acted as the president of the local lodge for three terms. In politi- cal matters he supports the Republican platform and religiously is a member of the Lutheran Church in Fresno.

CHARLES FRANKLIN McKEAN .- The youngest child of a family of ten children of Archibald and Ellen (Stoutenberg) Mckean, Charles Franklin McKean's father was born in Scotland and married in Canada where he en- gaged in the saw mill business and farmed in the Province of Ontario.

Charles Franklin Mckean was born at Callenwood, Ont., Canada, No- vember 3, 1876. He grew up in Canada, attended the public schools there and was fifteen years of age when he came with his parents to Pasadena, Cal., where he resumed his schooling in the public schools and in the Troop Polytechnic College.

At the age of sixteen he came up to Hanford where his brother A. D. was then engaged in running a threshing machine. Since that time his home has continued to be in Kings and Fresno Counties. He saw Riverdale before the advent of its railroad, viz., the Hanford and Summit Lake Railroad, now a part of the Southern Pacific system, and has watched with keen interest the growth and development of Riverdale. Mr. McKean, as in fact also his brother A. D. (before he became a banker), and his father and grandfather, all have a talent for machinery. Charles Mckean worked at threshing, running the portable steam engine and tending the threshing separator for three years, for his brother A. D., and then he launched into business for himself. He bought a threshing outfit consisting of a 32x54 Case Separator and a forty- five horsepower Case traction steam engine. He now owns and operates two sixty horsepower Holt Caterpillar tractors and contracts with the farmers of his locality to do their plowing, seeding, harvesting and threshing, and in this line he is more than ordinarily successful.

Mr. McKean is now one of the oldest continuous residents and business men in Riverdale, where he has built several buildings, residences and the first and leading garage in Riverdale. He is at present contemplating its sub-

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stantial enlargement. Mr. McKean owns some very choice inside property at Riverdale. He is one of the best builders and boosters for Riverdale and is highly regarded.

At Bakersfield on December 24, 1913, Mr. McKean was married to Miss Elva M. Monasco of Riverdale, a native daughter who was born at Watsonville and is a daughter of Mrs. J. Ahlman now living in Riverdale. Mr. and Mrs. McKean have no children.

Mr. McKean's father died at Pasadena when about sixty-five years old. His mother still lives at Pasadena and although seventy-three years old, is hale and hearty.

JOHN DUNKEL GARMAN .- A man who for many years was actively aiding in the building up of Fresno, is John Dunkel Garman, born in Cam- bria County, Pa., on October 25, 1854. His father, William A. Garman, was also a native of that state, being engaged in farming and brick contracting and building in Cambria County. His wife was in maidenhood Catherine Dunkel, also a Pennsylvanian; both were Presbyterians and passed away in Cambria County. Of the twelve children born to this worthy couple, John Dunkel was the fifth oldest and the only member of the family in California.

After completing the public schools at the age of sixteen years, he began working at the brick-layers' trade under his father, continuing with him until 1879, when he removed to Adel, Iowa, and there he worked at his trade until 1882, when he came to Fresno County, and in Fresno he worked as a brick-layer on the building of the Hughes Hotel and many other of the early brick buildings in the city. In time he became foreman on construction of buildings. This occupied all of his time until 1914, when he located on his ranch thirty miles northeast of Fresno, on Little Dry Creek. Here he has 400 acres devoted to grain and stock-raising, having improved it with a comfortable modern residence and other farm buildings.

The marriage of Mr. Garman occurred in Adel, Dallas County, Iowa, on February, 1882, uniting him with Miss Mary E. Loper, who was born at Adel, Iowa, a daughter of J. W. Loper, a pioneer rancher of the Little Dry Creek section, and who is also represented in this work. Mr. Garman was bereaved of his faithful wife on May 31, 1919. She was a consistent Chris- tian all of her life. She was a charter member of the Christian Church in Fresno, where she was very active and much loved by everyone for her noble traits and exemplary life. She left one son, Roy, now city editor of the Fresno Herald.

Mr. Garman is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Fresno, and politically is a stanch Republican. In the fall of 1886, with his wife, he made a trip back to Pennsylvania and while there they lost their first-born child, Florence Myrtle. They returned to Fresno again in the spring of 1887, when a full appreciation of living in California fully dawned upon them.

EDGAR SNOWDEN VAN METER .- There are many names of eminence connected with Fresno's fraternity, among whom the well known city attorney of Fresno, Edgar Snowden Van Meter, has made a name for himself. A descendant of one of the old Knickerbocker families of New York, who in early days moved to Virginia, he was born in that state, August 1, 1850, at Morefield, Hardy County, in what is now West Virginia, and when two years old crossed the plains in a wagon with his parents, who removed to Illinois, at that time almost a frontier state, with its rich plains compara- tively sparsely settled. Death claimed the father of the family while living in Illinois, where they remained until Edgar was five years old, when they returned to Virginia.

Educational facilities were far different in those days from the advan- tages enjoyed by children at the present time, and young Edgar received his education in the old brick church, which served as both school house and church. At the age of seventeen he taught school, and studiously inclined,

John. Borello.

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read law, studied history and the Bible. In 1870, when twenty years of age, he went to Illinois and for three years was on a farm in Piatt County, in the meantime studying law and teaching school. He reaped the fruit of his in- dustry when he was admitted to the bar at Springfield, Illinois, January 1, 1877. For ten years he practiced law successfully in Clinton and Blooming- ton, Ill. He was city clerk of Clinton, district attorney of De Witt County and also deputy county clerk of that county. In 1888 he came to California, locating in Fresno where he has built a lucrative practice, and in 1890-91 was appointed deputy district attorney under W. D. Tupper. In May, 1917, Mayor William F. Tooney appointed him city attorney of Fresno, a position he is ably filling.

Mr. Van Meter has been twice married. His first wife, in maidenhood Carrie Summers, a native of Michigan, died in 1900. She bore him six chil- dren, namely: Edna, James P., deceased ; Harry S., a member of the Fresno police force was shot and killed while on duty in 1902; Harlow G., who is in the butcher business in Coalinga; Mrs. Ethel Hooper of Fresno, who is the mother of two sons; and Walter, a member of Fresno's fire department. In his second matrimonial venture his fortunes were linked with those of Miss Cora B. Reynolds, one of California's daughters, born in San Diego, a woman of education and fine character. Mrs. Van Meter is very active in the order of "Native Daughters of the Golden West." Mr. Van Meter is fond of hunting and fishing, in the pursuit of which he spends much of his spare time. He is the owner of West Side undeveloped farm land and also city property. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Lodge No. 242, Clinton, Ill., F. & A. M., and is now a member of Fresno Lodge. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

JOHN BORELLO .- A progressive and prominent man who left his native heath to become a valued citizen of the state of California, is John Borello, president of the Borello Brothers Company, Inc., manufacturers of soda water and soft drinks.

Born in Torino, Piemonte, Italy, on January 17, 1861, he was the son of Andrew and Margarita (Chiamberlando) Borello. When but a lad his mother died in their native land ; then his father came to this country, arriv- ing in New York in the year 1874. In the meantime his brother Frank re- solved to seek his fortune in America. Shipping before the mast on a vessel bound for California, he landed in San Francisco. Here he was joined by his father. Seeking a more favorable location in which to establish himself in business, he went from San Francisco to Merced. Finally, he moved to Fresno in 1881, where he started the present business. Again his father joined him, but only lived a short time, his death occurring in 1883.

John Borello remained in Italy during his childhood and early youth. He was educated in the public schools of his native land, receiving a good education. In 1886 he came to Fresno, where he went to work for his brother. Being desirous of learning the English language, he used his earn- ings to study each evening under a private teacher, Mrs. Cummings, con- tinuing his studies for more than two years, perfecting himself in reading and speaking English, as well as in mathematics. He continued with his brother for ten years, at the end of which time he acquired a half interest in the business. On January 31, 1905, the business was incorporated, as Borello Bros. Company., with the older brother as president of the company and John as vice-president. After the death of his brother Frank, which occurred in May, 1912, he succeeded him as president, and has continued to increase and enlarge the business. In 1912 the present plant was built. It is equipped with all modern conveniences, and the average working force is ten men. The Borello manufacturing plant is located at 1235 G Street and has a large fireproof building. 100 by 150 feet, with concrete floor and a most modern and full equipment for making sodas and soda fountain supplies. The labora- tory occupies a separate room, where cleanliness is the first thought. Here

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all the extracts and syrups are blended and are kept in glass jars and bottles until prepared for shipment and delivery to the trade. The whole plant is kept in the best of order and in sanitary condition. Their exhibit was awarded a silver medal both at the Panama Pacific Exposition at San Francisco and at the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego.

On July 15, 1893, occurred the marriage of John Borello .and Miss Eugenia Cebrelli. Four children have been born to this fortunate couple. Clara, a graduate of St. John's Academy, is her father's bookkeeper. Andrew served in the United States Army seven months and has just been honorably discharged ; he is now assisting his father. Mary J. and Frank are attending St. John's Academy. Since Mr. Borello became a citizen of our country, he has voted with the Democratic party. Through membership in the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants' Association, Commercial Club and the Druid, he keeps in touch with his fellow men in a social way, and withal holds the respect and esteem of the community for his proficient business policy and good citizenship.

ABRAM H. KEYSER .- A real old-timer who, despite the vicissitudes of life, has always done something to improve a community in which he has lived and toiled, is A. H. Keyser, who came to California in the Centennial Year, after he had been eaten out of house and home in Kansas by the grass- hoppers. When this experience had been repeated for several years, he asked a Mr. Klein what was best to be done, and the latter told him that he and his brother ought to go to California, for they were young. and this was the country of young men. So, instead of going to Philadelphia to see the great show, they came on to the Golden State. A. H. Keyser was then twenty, and his brother Andrew was eighteen, and they worked energetically for a year at Los Gatos, and then for another year at the New Almaden Quick Silver mine, leaving that line of activity to engaged in farming.

They bought some old horses and an outfit, leased land and put 500 acres near Hollister into wheat. The year 1878 was a good one, and they not only had good crops, but they were favored with good prices. They also ran a hay-baler between seasons, and were busy all the time. They continued farming there for ten years, leasing from two of the large landowners, and putting in 1,000 acres a year. About 1883 they moved their outfit to Fresno County. They helped to grade Kearney Avenue and to build it up, and leased land from Kearney, and for ten or twelve years raised large quantities of grain.

In partnership with his brother Andrew, A. H. Keyser in 1883 bought eighty acres on California and Kearney Avenues, making the purchase from Jeff James, and set the land ont to vines. They otherwise improved it with various buildings, and some of the acreage they devoted to grain farming, and bought a combined harvester. They raised lots of hay; and they also contracted to level, check and grade land. They hauled lumber from Pine Ridge to Fresno, and on such a scale that 10,000 feet was considered a load. In this way the brothers continued together until 1900, when they engaged in vineyarding, leasing 200 acres of the Kearney Vineyard and running it until Andrew went to Nome, Alaska, to take up mining. A. H. Keyser followed later, and at Nome he succeeded. He made money, too, prospecting in the hills, but by unfortunate investments they lost all that they thus made -A. H., the hard earnings of three years and Andrew all that he had acquired in a year longer in the frozen North. In 1902 they returned to California and dissolved partnership.

A. H. Keyser then bought twenty acres of his present place at the corner of Valentine and California Avenues, improved the land and there farmed, and later added ten more: while his brother went to the Lone Star vineyard, bought first forty and then forty acres, sold the eighty acres, and then bought and improved another eighty: and now he resides, retired, on Blackstone Avenue, where he has twenty acres.

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A. H. Keyser was born near Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa., on February 22, 1856, the son of Isaac Keyser, a native of that state, and Susan Swank, who was also born there. The parents removed to Linn County, Iowa, where the elder Keyser was a farmer, and then to Nemaha County, Kans., forty miles west of Atchison. There Isaac Keyser, after extending his enviable reputation as a farmer, died; and the mother, at the age of ninety-three, came to California and died at the home of her son, Andrew, in Fresno. She was the mother of four boys and four girls, of whom three boys and two girls are still living. Besides his brother, Andrew, there is another brother, Theodore, at San Jose.

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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 141

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