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 II, Part 114

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1424

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 II > Part 114

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On the completion of his postgraduate course of studies Dr. Boyd re- turned to Fresno, in August, 1917, and is now located in the Mason Building as an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. He is meeting with success in his chosen work, is building up a good practice in Fresno, and stands high in his profession in the community. He operates at the Fresno Free Clinic, and also at the Burnett Sanitarium, and is a member of the American Medical Association, of the California Medical Association, and of the County Medical Society. Fraternally, he is a member of Riverdale Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the Riverdale Lodge of Modern Woodmen of America.

Dr. Boyd's marriage united him with Josephine Orth, a native of Chi- cago, Ill.

OSCAR D. ATKINS .- In the senior member of the well-known firm of Rees and Atkins, Fresno possesses a man of ability and thorough experience in all branches of building operations in the person of Oscar D. Atkins.

Mr. Atkins was born in Lafayette, Ind., October 14, 1869, and brought up and educated there. He learned the carpenter trade and followed this line of occupation in his native state. In addition to this his fifteen years' experi- ence in lumber yards and planing mill work in Indiana gave him additional knowledge to apply in his occupation as contractor, which he began at the early age of nineteen.

In September, 1912, he removed from Indiana to Fresno, Cal. The first year in his new home he was foreman for Fred Stone, the contractor. In the fall of 1913 he formed a partnership with Thomas J. Reese under the firm name of Reese and Atkins and this firm, since its inception, has been quite as successful as it has been busy, meeting with well merited recognition

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from the citizens of Fresno. They have erected some of the finest residences in Fresno in the past four years, and have to their credit 114 homes and apartments ranging in value from $1,800 to $15,000; also thirty-six garages, a $10,000 brick storehouse, all of the carpenter work in the Fresno Fair Grounds, the interior finish of the Liberty Market and the remodeling of the Cosmopolitan Hotel. They have done $20,000 worth of repair work and put- ting in new fronts in store buildings. Noteworthy in the list of their very creditable work we would mention: "The Littlefield Apartments," a number of fine homes in the Alta Vista Tract, twenty-seven houses for Montgomery Thomas, five houses for S. W. Dietrich, six tank houses on different ranches in the country and the residence of N. M. Bangs on Van Ness Avenue. Mr. Atkins, who is an expert in designing artistic homes, drew the plans for the houses. He was one of the first men to buy lots and build in the "Alta Vista Tract" and has built three homes for himself and disposed of them. His new home on Huntington Drive is one of the most modern and artistic in Alta Vista.

Mr. Atkins has been twice married. His first wife, a native of Indiana, whose maiden name was Pearl Blake, died, leaving two children, namely : Ralph B., formerly book-keeper in the Farmers National Bank of Fresno, now a corporal in the United States Army Medical Department, and Goldie D., who is attending school in Indiana. His second wife, before her marriage, was Ida M. Sellers, also a native of the Hoosier state. She is a prominent member of the First Christian Church of Fresno. In his religious views Mr. Atkins is a Methodist, and is a member of the First Methodist Church of Fresno. His successful efforts in making Fresno the "city beautiful" will stand as an enduring monument to his name.

GIOVANNI MALANCA .- An Italian-American who has reflected, in his successful career, much credit on the land of his birth, is Giovanni Ma- lanca, a native of Lucca, Italy, where he was born on January 1, 1871. He followed grape and fruit-raising until he came to America in 1893, and thor- oughly learned the science of both viticulture and horticulture.

When he reached California, he located for a while in San Francisco, and for three years worked in vegetable gardens. In December, 1897, he ar- rived in Fresno, and here he rented sixty acres near Fowler. He lost nearly all his money in the venture, however, and was glad to sell out his crop of grapes for seventy-five dollars. Taking up his residence in Fresno, he en- tered into partnership with R. Tocchini, on G Street, where he engaged in the hotel. and liquor business in October, 1898. After twelve years he sold out and bought the corner of Fresno and F Streets, where he erected a two- story brick hotel.

In 1906 Mr. Malanca returned to Italy and married Miss C. Genoviessi, by whom he has had three children, all of them born in Fresno and now stu- dents at the Catholic Sisters School. They are Libertina, Angelo and Geneva.

EDWARD O'NEAL .- When a man occupies a position of trust and re- sponsibility by reason of merit, it is certainly more satisfactory than if he secured it by "pull." To have reached the top, knowing every step of the way gives a man confidence in himself, and this, in turn, creates confidence in him by those with whom he comes in contact. Mr. O'Neal is a good exam- ple of this.

He was born near Weatherford, in Parker County, Texas, March 4, 1879. He was raised on a farm and educated there. He worked on a farm until he was twenty years of age, when he started into the oil business, entering the employ of the Texas Oil Company at Gates, Texas. This company sent him to Tulsa, Okla., where he remained for a time. He became an expert oil man, filling different positions in the oil fields and in the refining depart- ments. For three months he was with the Pierce-Fordyce Oil Company at Fort Worth, Texas. In 1911 he came to California and went to work for the

C. milla Ida Milla

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Producers' Transportation Company, at San Luis Obispo, where he remained for two years. He started in as pipeman, soon became assistant foreman, and later district foreman. In 1913 he moved to Coalinga, where he was with the same company in the oil fields, becoming district foreman in the Coalinga fields.

In March, 1918, Mr. O'Neal was appointed city marshal and tax collec- tor for Coalinga. To this appointment he is giving the same careful attention that has characterized all his work. He is fearless in the discharge of his duties as a peace officer. He has made some very important arrests, at one time apprehending a diamond thief who had stolen in Coalinga, recovering all the diamonds. At another time, when the Wallace Hardware Store was robbed, Mr. O'Neal succeeded in capturing the thief. A crazy man who was running amuck in Coalinga, was taken in tow, and is now in the Fresno County jail. This is considered one of the most important arrests that he has made, as it turned out that the man is a German spy. Because of his activity in the discharge of his duties, Mr. O'Neal is regarded as the right man in the right place, and has many friends in Coalinga and vicinity. He was made a Mason in Oak Cliff, Texas, and is a member of the Oil Workers' Union.

He was married to Ada Thompson, of Texas, and they have four daugh- ters: Lena Mae; Pauline; Pearl; and Ella. In the fall of 1918 Mr. O'Neal resigned his position as city marshal to resume his work in the oil fields.

CAESAR MILLA .- The head of the distilling department of the great Mattevista Winery, situated seven miles southeast of Fresno, Caesar Milla, the subject of this sketch, was born November 1, 1875, in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, a son of Joseph and Filomina (Mattei) Milla, the parents of seven children, Caesar being the eldest. The mother passed away in 1913, in Switzerland; the father still resides there and has reached the age of _ seventy-eight years.

Caesar Milla was reared in his native land until he was fifteen years of age, when he emigrated to the United States, coming directly to the Matte- vista Winery, which is owned and has been developed by his uncle, Andrew Mattei, the millionaire viticulturist and wine-manufacturer. Caesar Milla was employed by his uncle in the winery where, by hard work and intelli- gent efforts, he soon gained a knowledge of the business and was promoted from one department to another, and in course of time mastered the business, from the planting of the vines to the bottling, shipping, and selling of the wines. So well did he grasp the entire business that he became the superin- tendent of the winery and held this responsible post until 1917, when his cousin, Andrew Mattei, Jr., was made superintendent, and Caesar Milla be- came the head of the distilling department. The parents of Caesar Milla be- ing in modest circumstances, and having a large family to support, Caesar continued to aid them financially and for twenty years sent his earnings back to his mother to help support the family.

In 1908, Mr. Milla purchased a ranch of forty acres, twenty of which are devoted to wine grapes and the rest to raisins; and the place is further improved by a beautiful bungalow, which he built in 1917. In 1910, Caesar Milla was united in marriage with Mrs. P. Milla, the widow of his brother, her maiden name having been Ida Poletti, a native of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Milla are the happy parents of two children: Florence, and Caesar, Jr. Mrs. Milla had one child by her first husband, P. Milla, a daughter named Lena.

Mr. and Mrs. Milla are members of the Catholic Church at Fresno, and in politics he supports the Republican ticket. Mr. Milla is a man of great executive ability and sound business judgment, and is making a success of his forty-acre vineyard, which he operates in addition to his responsible posi- tion at the winery. Mr. and Mrs. Milla are highly respected in their com- munity where they enjoy a large circle of friends. 108

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LOUIS SCHOLLER .- Both as a business man and as a rancher and horticulturist, Louis Scholler has been identified with the growth of Fresno, city and county, and is well known in Central California as a progressive, popular man of affairs. Born in Bavaria, Germany, October 4, 1864, he at- tended the schools of his native country, and there learned to read the English language. Even when a mere youth, he desired to make the most of his opportunities, and crossed the sea to try his fortunes in a newer country, in 1883. Upon arrival, he came direct to California, settling in San Francisco, where he engaged in the manufacture of soap and toilet waters. He later went to British Columbia under contract with the British Columbia Soap Works to manufacture soap for that concern. In 1889 Mr. Scholler came to Fresno, and has been very active in business affairs ever since. Besides his many business interests, Mr. Scholler has aided in the agricultural develop- ment of the county. He is the owner of a twenty-two-acre orange grove at Lemon Cove, that famous orange belt where the early varieties are grown; and he also owns a 120-acre dairy and stock ranch, six miles west of Fresno. In partnership with O. L. Everts and D. S. Ewing he built and owns a modern brick garage on the corner of Stanislaus and I Streets, Fresno, and altogether, has taken an active part in the rapid growth of Fresno and Fresno County. A public-spirited citizen, he has been to the fore in all movements for the advancement of community interests, and has given both of his time and sub- stantial aid to the furthering of such projects. Mr. Scholler is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Fresno, the Commercial Club, and of Fresno Lodge No. 439, B. P. O. Elks.

E. I. BABER .- One of the most important of local industries, the Eisen Vineyard, as well as the very interesting history of its founder, are recalled by the life sketch of E. I. Baber, the well-known viticulturist and manager of the vineyard. He was born in London, England, in 1854, the son of a business man, Henry Baber, who had married Mary Benjamin. E. I. was educated in the world's metropolis at the College of Preceptors. His preparation was thorough, as is typical with British youth, and on completing his studies, he assisted his father in trade. England, commercially speaking, failed, however, to attract him long; and on January 5, 1872, he went to South Africa, where he spent some time in the interior as a representative for a Cape Town firm. Later he went to the diamond fields at Kimberley and, as a result, made two or three trips back to London, trading in diamonds.

While on his last visit to the mother country, he intended to return to South Africa, but during an interview with an aunt, in Dublin, he determined to change his plans and go to the United States instead. He arrived in New York in 1875 and was naturally captivated with harbor and town, but he also heard so much of California that he soon decided to push on to the extreme West. By August, therefore, he had arrived in San Francisco and shortly went to Nevada City, where he clerked in a hotel for eight months; then he returned to San Francisco where he met Francis Eisen, in the office of whose flour-mill he later found employment.

Having taken a strong fancy to Mr. Baber, Mr. Eisen induced him to come to Fresno to take charge of his landed holdings; and October, 1880, found him in Fresno and established in his new quarters. The opportunity, as he soon learned, was full of promise, for Mr. Eisen had started improve- ments here as early as 1872, when he experimented with tobacco and cotton. He grew them both successfully at the time, but the railroad rates then pre- vailing were prohibitive and he was compelled to turn to other lines. He built a headgate at a dam he had constructed on Fancher Creek on the Hobbler ranch to bring water in a detour to his ranch for irrigating his vineyard, which he commenced planting in 1872, the first vineyard of the county. He also put in a turbine and the power was used to run the machinery and crushers at his winery, for four years, when, more power being required, they installed

Marie Ded.

John Del

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a steam plant. They propagate their own vines, and now the vineyard has more than thirty different varieties grafted onto wild stock.

Mr. Eisen is rightly credited with being the founder of the vineyards in this vicinity, for, by his experiments, he demonstrated the commercial possi- bility of grape-growing on this soil. When he started to plant grapes, he was ridiculed but he knew what he was about, and soon showed the doubting Thomases that he could succeed. It was his pioneer enterprise, therefore, that established the wine-industry here.

It was Mr. Eisen, also, who gave such an impetus to the raisin industry, although in this his part was accidental. In 1878 it had become too late to pick some of the grapes and they dried on the vines. Seeing that they were in good condition, however, Mr. Eisen picked them, after which he shipped them to Goldburg & Bowen, San Francisco. There they attracted much admiration, and some of them even found their way back to Fresno stores. Twenty acres of muscats yielded, for several years, an average of ten tons green to the acre, and have sold to a Boston firm as raisins unassorted, for as high as 6% cents per pound. The vineyard has been planted and replanted, and 500 acres are now devoted to shipping and wine grapes. Naturally, the Eisen Vineyard has a large winery, with a storage capacity of nearly one million gallons, and fermenting capacity of about twice that amount. It is one of the largest wineries in Fresno County.

The highly revered founder of this notable institution, as well as his estimable wife, are both dead, but his children have incorporated it as the Eisen Vineyard Company, and under that name they continue the business. In many ways, Mr. Eisen was a benefactor to Fresno County, and when he died, about 1893, Central California sustained a loss more and more apparent as the years have gone by.

Mr. Baber is popular socially, especially in the circles of the Elks and the B'nai B'rith ; and numerous friends esteem him as a man who, given a great trust, has proven his ability and worth.

JOHN OED .- Having given the best years of his life to the building up of the fruit industry in California, it is natural that John Oed should be interested, not only in the general development of agriculture here, and in viticulture, with which he has had most to do, but in the preservation of a record of historic events, and the collation and editing of the Golden State's annals. In this his interest is shared by his good wife, who has also helped to make California history; for the liberal-minded and large-hearted couple are truly one, and as a well-mated pair enjoy the esteem and the good-will of all.

Mr. Oed was born in Bavaria, Germany, on January 23, 1853, where he attended the excellent public schools, and in 1872, or when he was nineteen, he came to the United States. His first two years here were spent in Chicago; but attractive as was that city, particularly on account of his fellow country- men there, in 1874 he moved further west and reached Mendocino County, Cal. He found work at Cuffey's Cove and for some time was busy at lum- bering.

In 1877 he came to Fresno County and located in Central Colony, where he bought forty acres of raw land and began improvements; but the land company did not complete their water system and he let the land go back. Later he bought 160 acres from the Southern Pacific Railroad, the land being east of Malaga and costing seven and one-half dollars per acre, and this he irrigated by digging ditches. He was a stockholder in the Fowler Switch ditch which furnished the settlers with water, later, however, he obtained water from the Church system. He leveled the land, and set out orchards, vineyards and alfalfa. After a while he sold off eighty acres and continued improvements. Then he bought sixty acres more and had 140 acres, mostly in vines.

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In former days, raisins commanded only a very low price, from one to one and a half cents a pound, and business in that field was very discourag- ing ; but he became interested in the first cooperative association started in Malaga, and known as the Malaga Cooperative Raisin Association, and he has been a member of all the other cooperative societies since. In the early days, too, when times were hard and he hadn't yet got nicely started, he would go to Puget Sound and work in the shipyards, and so earn money with which to pay his interest, and to tide him over. He finally sold forty acres, then forty acres more, and seven years ago he sold the balance, or sixty acres, and moved into Fresno, where he owns a fine residence that he built at 130 North Angus Street.

Mr. Oed was married at Fresno, in 1888, to Mrs. Marie (Roth) Bacher, a native of Wuerttemberg, Germany, who came to Hartford, Conn., in 1872, and out to Fresno six years later. She belongs to the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Fresno. Mr. Oed is a member of Herman's Sons, and is an officer of that flourishing organization. In politics he is an independent and seeks to vote for the best men and the best measures.

CHRIS KASTNER .- A successful young business man, who is one of the partners in the Central Market at Clovis is Chris Kastner. He was born September 12, 1878, at Callicoon, Sullivan County, N. Y. His father was a farmer, Christian Kastner, who was born in Germany. Christian came to this country, in company with his parents, landing at New York in 1845. they having had the good sense to get out of that troubled land before the dis- astrous revolution ; and reaching the interior of the Empire State, the elder Kastner settled at Callicoon. The father is still living. at the ripe age of eighty-four. He married Caroline Wagner, a native of Cumberland County, N. Y., and a most estimable woman, who rounded out her earthly career in 1904. She was the mother of twelve children, eight of whom are still living.

Born the fourth youngest. Chris was bought up on his father's farm, and when about sixteen years of age, he set out for himself. He was appren- ticed to a butcher in Liberty, N. Y., and there learned his trade. At the end of two years, he came to California ; and in 1898 was plying his trade in San Francisco at the market of Wilfert Brothers. He remained there three years, profiting in every way by his life in the bustling Pacific city.

He had set his gaze on Clovis, however, and when the opportunity was presented to come here and work for Petersen Brothers, he gladly availed himself of it. and for three years made a success in that establishment. Cir- cumstances then induced him to return to New York for a three-months' visit, and when he came West again, he stopped awhile at Reno, Nev. Then he went to Spokane, where he was for three years in business for himself; and he sold out, only to enable him to return to his first choice-Clovis. Having bought a third interest with Hemmingsen & Neilsen in the Clovis Central Market, he continued as a minor partner until he bought out Mr. Hemmingsen, when the firm became Neilsen & Kastner: but in September, 1917, Mr. Kastner's former employer. Petersen, bought out Neilsen's interest, and then the firm became Petersen & Kastner.

As a part of their fine equipment, these enterprising merchants have three acres one mile from Clovis, where are situated their slaughter-houses and cold-storage plant, with a two-ton ice machine. Mr. Kastner is also interested in fig-culture, of which he has twenty acres, east of Clovis.

During his residence at Clovis, Mr. Kastner was married to Miss Georgia Bell, a native daughter of Selma, and a graduate of the excellent high school there, and also of Heald's Business College at Fresno. Their marriage has proven a happy one, and they have one child. Elizabeth. Mr. Kastner is a popular member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 139. Clovis, where he was Noble Grand for two years. He was also a member of the Encampment and Canton at Reno, where he served as Lieutenant. He is a Republican, but when it comes to local issues, he lays aside party politics.

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GEORGIA EMILY THOMPSON, M. D .- The medical profession of Fresno, has among its representatives, Dr. Georgia Emily Thompson, a phy- sician and surgeon of acknowledged ability and the only woman in Fresno, who is conducting the practice of medicine and surgery, alone. Dr. Thomp- son is a native of New York state and a descendant of an old and honorable family of the Empire State, two of whose members have contributed to the annals of American history ; her great grandfather having been color bearer at Yorktown, the place made notable in American history by the surrender of General Cornwallis to Gen. George Washington, in 1781; her father, George W. Thompson, served in the Fiftieth New York Engineers, from 1861 to 1865, in the Civil War. Dr. Georgia Thompson's school days were divided between Colorado and California. She attended the public schools of Denver, and while a child passed many of her winters in Southern California. After two years at Denver University she entered Leland Stanford, Jr., Uni- versity, where she was graduated in 1910 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1914 from the same institution she received her degree of M. D. Dr. Thompson first started the practice of her profession in San Francisco, but in 1916 opened an office in Fresno, continuing her practice of medicine and surgery.

JAMES B. RANDRUP .- A very energetic and successful young man, who has improved many acres, thus contributing materially to the develop- ment of Fresno County, and who has great faith in the future of Central California, is James B. Randrup, who arrived here in the late nineties. He was born at Dalby, Jylland, Denmark, on March 29, 1879, the son of Jorgen Sorensen Randrup, a farmer who owned a small place and served in the Danish army. He was in the thick of the battles during the Danish-Prussian War, and was crippled from exposure. After the war he followed farming until he died, aged nearly eighty years. Mrs. Randrup, who was Anna Vind- feldt before her marriage, died in 1916, the mother of eight children: J. B., who died in 1879 when he was eight years of age; George, a rancher in Fresno County ; Marie, who is Mrs. Severin of Fresno; Johanna, who died when she was sixteen; James B., the subject of this review; Margaret, who is Mrs. Hansen of Fresno; and Peter and Jorgen, who are in Denmark.

Brought up on a farm, James B. attended the public schools, and from his boyhood was set to work to help make up for his father being crippled in the war. He drove a team and in 1898, when he had passed his eighteenth year, he left Denmark for New York. And soon thereafter he came to Fresno, arriving in May.

Mr. Randrup immediately went to work on a farm for Andrew Iversen, on White's Bridge road and at the end of two years and two months, he en- gaged for four months in harvesting in the fall of 1900. Then, in partnership with Mads Madsen, he bought a farm outfit and leased land from Simpson brothers on Dry Creek, where he put in two crops. The crops were fair but on account of low prices they did not make any money. Then Mr. Madsen died, and the partnership was dissolved. He next leased a grain-farm on Dry Creek from D. C. Sample, and raised grain for two years. He then made a contract with Mr. Sample to improve some land for him in Empire district, west of Fresno. He moved onto it and improved 160 acres of raw land. He leveled and checked it, and sowed it to alfalfa, and he got sixty acres for his share. He had put in a pumping-plant, the first in that section, and he con- tinued to raise alfalfa, which he sold in Fresno.

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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 II, Part 114

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858- Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1424