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 126

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 126

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In 1899, Jes Andersen took a trip to his native land and while there he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Paulsen, and returned with his bride to his Fresno County ranch, in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen have been blessed with six children ; Marie, Pauline, Selma, Dagmar, Hans, and Paul. Mr. Andersen is a leader among the Danes of Fresno County, and is a very prominent member of the Danish Lutheran Church, of which he is a trustee; also an ex-president of the Danish Brotherhood, an auxiliary organization having a hall two and one-half miles west of Parlier, used as a social center.

Mr. Andersen has shown his interest in educational matters by serving for six years as a school trustee for Ross School District. Not only in hor- ticulture and viticulture has Mr. Andersen made a success, but his ability as a financier has been recognized by the assistance he rendered in the organ- ization of the First National Bank of Parlier, of which he is a stockholder ; he is also a member and stockholder in the California Raisin Growers; Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Association, and the California Peach Growers; and is a stockholder in the Peach and Raisin Growers' Association.

Hans Andersen, the father of Jes, immigrated from Denmark in 1900, and joined his son in Fresno County, making his home with his sons. The father passed away in 1917, at the home of his son Jes, having attained the advanced age of ninety-one years.

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ARTHUR C. GEORGESEN .- One of the rising young men in the raisin industry in Fresno County, Arthur C. Georgesen, as manager of the Madison Vineyard, is demonstrating his ability in no uncertain manner. Born in Waushara County, Wis., May 31, 1888, he is a son of L. M. and Han- nah (Rasmussen) Georgesen, the tenth in order of birth in a family of four- teen children. He is the only member of the family in California, having come to seek new opportunities in the Golden State in 1910. Since his ar- rival in Fresno County, that same year, Mr. Georgesen has applied himself to the raisin industry, and his thorough knowledge of every phase of the busi- ness has been of inestimable value to him in his present position.

The Madison Vineyard consists of 520 acres, all under cultivation, and yielding good returns to the owners under Mr. Georgesen's capable manage- ment. During the busy season, he has a host of men under his supervision, and other times about twenty are employed. The average yield is one one-half tons per acre. From sixty acres of table grapes, he gathered 14,000 crates, a very good showing for both the vineyard and its manager. In April, 1919, the Madison Vineyard was purchased by W. W. Parlier, Fred Nelson and associates, the name being changed to Sun Maid Ranch, and Mr. Georgesen was retained as manager.

The marriage of Mr. Georgesen united him with Miss May Deman, the daughter of Mrs. Amanda Deman, and one child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Georgesen, a daughter, Dorothy. Mr. Georgesen is thoroughly in line with the spirit of progress which permeates Fresno County, and can be counted on in all movements for advancing the County's best interests. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias in Fresno.

KARL WINTER .- The ancestry of Mr. Winter traces back for genera- tions to the time when his forefathers applied to the Russian government for a permit to establish a colony of German immigrants in the valley of the Volga, for the purpose of escaping from Prussian militarism. When this permit was granted, these brave men and women left their homeland, to build up a home where they could be free to pursue their own course in life; they cultivated the soil in that great fertile valley, and kept up the religious fires kindled by Martin Luther during the Reformation. But they were and are essentially Russians, notwithstanding their language and re- ligious inclinations, and they have developed the great agricultural resources in that region of Russia. Coming from such stock, Mr. Winter's attitude toward militarism is the same as that which characterized his forbears, so that in the strife for world domination his loyalty to this country has never been questioned.

Mr. Winter was born October 24, 1873, a son of Daniel and Mary (Schaeffer) Winter, who lived about sixty miles from Saratov, in Russia. Mr. Winter grew up on his father's farm and attended the home schools. He became a reader of the newspapers of his country, and engaged in cor- respondence with friends on this side the Atlantic, so that he became filled with the ambition to be a citizen of the great United States, with California as the objective point. He was married at the age of twenty-one to Miss Mary Schmidt, a native of the same colony, and it is to her Mr. Winter gives the credit for much of the success that has come to them. It is certain that she has been a wonderful helper and inspiration to her husband, and to- gether they have wrought much good in the community in which they live. In the struggles incident to establishing themselves in their new home, they have never lost sight of the higher things of life, and they are both active members of the Salem Congregational Church. They both worked and con- tributed to the erection of the beautiful $8,000 church on McCall Avenue, which was built in 1917. It is said to be the finest and largest edifice of any country congregation of that denomination in America. Mr. Winter is one of the board of trustees of the church, and is regarded by all who know

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him as a man of the highest honor and probity. Theirs is a happy, though not elaborate home, and is graced by four children: Kristina, now the wife of H. H. Kramer; Daniel, Annie and Leo. Mr. Winter's mother died in Russia, in 1918, aged seventy-one; the father died in his native land at the age of seventy-six. There is a brother, August, near Fresno, while there are two brothers and one sister in Russia.

In 1900, Mr. Winter came to Fresno County, and immediately began working for ranchers. Industry and frugality were his greatest possessions, as they are still, and they have contributed to his success as a man for he is highly regarded as one of sturdy Christian character. His first purchase was only twenty acres, and this he improved, planted and sold to good ad- vantage; his next holding was a piece of forty acres, which he likewise im- proved and sold. He is now the owner of sixty acres on North Avenue, about ten miles from Fresno and four miles from both Sanger and Del Rey. This he is planting to vines, trees and alfalfa. He also owns forty acres of unimproved land on Jensen Avenue and a ninety-acre tract near Chico, Butte County.

ANGEL ARRIET .- An old time stockman of the West Side, now en- gaged in dairving and viticulture on California Avenue where he is meeting with deserved success, is Angel Arriet who was born at Célvite, Navarra, Spain, September 3, 1863. He is the son of Miguel and Francesca (Luper- ena) Arriet, natives of France and Spain, respectively, the father having been a farmer and carpenter. Both passed their entire lives there, the mother dy- ing in 1890, aged about forty-four, and the father in 1914, at the age of eighty-five years.

Angel was the eldest of their eleven children, and was reared on the home farm until he came to California in 1884 and entered the employ of Miguel Arburua, a sheep grower of Los Banos to care for his flocks on the West Side. In 1888 Angel entered into partnership with his brother Pedro, and they purchased a flock of sheep and continued together, meeting with good success until about 1900, when they divided their flocks, each tak- ing one-half and dissolved partnership. Wishing to engage in ranching Mr. Arriet sold his sheep in 1905 and purchased his present place on California Avenue, five miles west of Fresno where he has been engaged in dairying ever since. He now owns sixty acres, twenty of which are in Thompson seedless raisin grapes and forty in alfalfa. He is a careful and thorough farmer, keeping his ranch in the best of order.

Mr. Arriet was married in Fresno, September 28, 1905, being united with Miss Dominica Camino, who was born at Whart Cize, St. Jean Pied de Port, Basses Pyrenees, France, a daughter of Jean and Mary (Inchauspi) Camino, who were farmer folks in the Pyrenees region. Mrs. Arriet received a good education in her native France, and came to Fresno in 1904. Of this union there are four children : Josephine, Michael, Bernard, and John. Mr. and Mrs. Arriet are loyal to their adopted flag and particularly do they appreciate the splendid opportunities California has afforded them. Believing in co-opera- tion, Mr. Arriet is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, as well as the San Joaquin Valley Milk Producers Association and is also a stockholder in the Danish Creamery.

HENRY BERGTHOLD .- An enterprising, successful and highly es- teemed rancher, living on his attractive place near Reedley, Fresno County, is Henry Bergthold, who is an up-to-date, scientific viticulturist and horti- culturist. His ranch of twenty acres is devoted to prunes, sultana and raisin grapes, and on an average yields two one-half tons of grapes to the acre.

Henry Bergthold is a native of Minnesota, where he was born on October 1, 1883, near St. James, Watonwan County, the son of Jacob and Barbara (Linscheid) Bergthold, who were both natives of Australia, having settled in Minnesota in 1883. Their family consisted of nine children,

congel Arriet

Dominica Crick

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five of whom are living: Edmund; Gustave; Rudolph; Henry; and Alfred, all being residents of Fresno County. For a number of years Jacob Bergthold followed agricultural pursuits in Minnesota and in 1904 the family migrated to California, locating at Reedley. During 1914 both Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bergthold passed away.

Henry Bergthold received his education in the public schools and followed farming until coming to California. He has been a resident of Fresno County since 1904, and has farmed nearly all the time since, having lived on his present ranch since 1913, where he built himself a beautiful home in 1914. While he is especially fitted for conducting a ranch, yet he can adapt him- self to other employment and conditions, as his services have been in de- mand in various stores, and, when help was needed, at the post-office. Henry Bergthold formerly owned the property now owned by Mr. Muller,

On May 8, 1909, Henry Bergthold was united in marriage with Miss Marie Muller, a daughter of Gottlob and Louise Muller. Of this happy union there were born four children: Arthur; Louis; Reuben, and Ruth. Mrs. Bergthold is a native of Germany, where she was born, May 19, 1887. Her parents came to the United States in 1895 and located in Kansas, where they remained until 1908, when they migrated still farther west, settling in California. Her father died at Reedley in 1917; her mother still resides there. Mr. Bergthold belongs to both the Raisin and Peach Growers asso- ciations. He is a member of the First Mennonite Church of Reedley.

ANDREW MORTENSEN .- In its inexhaustible natural resources, and topographically and geographically considered, the United States may well be called the greatest country on the globe. But in these lies only a part of her greatness. It is when she is considered from a sociological stand- point, that we see what has taken place in the Western World, a miracle . acknowledged by even the older nations-the commingling of many nation- alities, the blending of their diverse customs and habits-all this has produced here, and for the first time, the newest and best type of society.

Andrew Mortensen is a striking illustration of one of the elements in this fusion, for the making of the ideal American. He was born in Denmark, January 29, 1874, and is the son of Niels and Caroline Mortensen, a worthy pair also of that worthy country. Three children, all living, make up the family, which immigrated to this country in 1884, and located in Minnesota. For fourteen years they remained in that prosperous northern State, by their toil and frugality, as well as their highly-intelligent way of doing things, and their exemplary living, both contributing to and sharing the wealth of the country, and then they moved south to Texas. In 1906, however, having learned of the still greater advantages in California, and especially in the central part of the State, they came to Fresno County, and here, welcomed, esteemed and honored, they are still living. The three children are: Chris- tine, who is Mrs. Christensen ; Myrtle, now Mrs. Wintermute, and Andrew, the subject of our sketch. Andrew Mortensen was united in marriage to Miss Clara Reves, whose parents were both born in Denmark. This happy union was blessed by the birth of seven children, namely: Edmund, Freddie, Ella, Roy, Henry, Verna, and Agnes.

Three years after coming to California, Mr. Mortensen purchased his ranch of thirty-five acres lying about three-fourths mile southeast of Reed- ley, and since then he has so greatly improved and beautified it, that he has brought it to a high degree of order and service, and greatly enhanced its value. Six tons of raisins have been obtained from four acres of soil, and he has been quite as fortunate with other products in proportion. The produc- tion well shows what a man of superior intelligence and untiring industry can do with Fresno County land.

Mr. Mortensen and family are social favorites in their community. They attend the Danish Lutheran Church, and are loyal Americans, true to the land of their adoption.

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D. J. KLEINSASSER .- A recent addition to the real estate, loan and insurance business circles of Reedley, is the firm of Kleinsasser & Besoyan, which was established in 1917. D. J. Kleinsasser, the senior member of the firm, a native of South Dakota, is the subject of this review. He was born on November 1, 1889, and was reared in South Dakota where he 're- ceived his education in the public schools. Mr. Kleinsasser has confined his attentions to agricultural pursuits up to the time of his present busi- ness undertaking.

D. J. Kleinsasser is the son of Rev. J. Z. Kleinsasser of the Mennonite Church, whose first wife was Miss Anna Hofer. His second wife was Miss Lena Fost. Both were natives of Russia. By his two marriages Rev. Kleinsasser became the father of seventeen children, thirteen of whom are living: Andrew A., who resides in South Dakota; John J., who was in the United States Army, and honorably discharged in June, 1919; Z. J .; Jacob J .: Joseph J .; D. J .; Paul J .; Mary J .; Rachel; Lydia; Anna; Kate; and Mike. Rev. J. Z. Kleinsasser moved to California in 1910 and eventually settled in Tulare County, where he purchased 800 acres of land devoted to vines and alfalfa and which he has since sold. When the Kleinsasser family arrived in California, in 1910, they possessed $80,000 in cash. In December, 1918, he bought eighty acres in cling peaches south of Reedley, where the family now reside.

On July 29, 1910, a great cloud of sorrow overcast the sunny home of the Rev. J. Z. Kleinsasser, which was caused by the death of Mrs. Kleinsasser and her daughter Annie, in an automobile accident at Reedley. D. J. Kleinsasser was also in the accident, but escaped with a severe scalp wound, which left a scar that will remain during his lifetime.

On April 11, 1912, D. J. Kleinsasser was united in marriage with Miss Agnes G. Eidsen. In September, 1918, Mr. Kleinsasser took up ship-building at Mare Island, doing his bit for the government, serving four months. Kleinsasser & Besoyan are enjoying a growing business and friends pre- dict for the new firm a bright and prosperous future.

S. GEORGE .- The growing of raisins has made Fresno County famous and afforded opportunities for success to very many, but there seems to be an affinity between this business and the foreigner, for they are few who do not make a success at it. Prominent among the successful ones is S. George, who owns four good raisin ranches near Fresno and resides in Fresno with his family, at 327 F Street, in a bungalow that he built twenty- six years ago. One ranch of forty acres lies six miles west of Fresno on Whites Bridge road, another forty lies eight miles east of Fresno on Cali- fornia Avenue, another of twenty-nine acres is near Malaga, and a fourth of thirty-seven and a half acres is in the Lone Star district ..

Mr. George was born near Harpoot, Turkey, at a little town called Arapger, in 1864. His father was George Geehanshian, a tailor at Arzroom, Turkey. He died in Fresno about twenty-five years ago at the age of eighty- five years. The mother was Annie Fereshedian, and is now living with a son, Chet George, at 462 I Street, Fresno. She is now ninety-five years old. They had four sons and three daughters. The sons all came to Fresno and two died here. Two of the sisters also live in Fresno, but one lives in Turkey.

Mr. George had but little schooling. He learned the tailor's trade with his father in Turkey. He made up his mind to get away to a land of freedom, where he would have the opportunity of earning money to bring his relatives to this country, to save them from the ravages of the Turk. He left home for the land of opportunity in 1886, sailing from Smyrna via Liver- pool to New York, reaching that city in December of that year. He went to Philadelphia and worked at his trade for Wanamaker & Brown for two years, then in 1888, he came to Fresno. Here he engaged in the tailoring

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business, and helped to establish the firm of George Bros., Clothiers and Merchant Tailors, Fresno, then on J Street, now on Mariposa Street. He sold out his interest in this business about twenty years ago, and has since devoted his energies to the raisin industry. He assisted in getting all of his family to America.

Mr. George was married in Fresno in 1897, to Miss Aznive Paul, a native of Arzroom, who died April 1, 1910. There were born to this union six children : Henry, who assists his father in the operation of the ranches; Rose; Violet; Lily ; John, and Marguerite. He was married a second time on September 24, 1911, to Miss Christina Manoogian, and they have one child, Lawrence.

Mr. George is a progressive man and with his family enjoys the esteem and confidence of the community. He is a Republican in politics, and is an enthusiastic supporter of the government in all its aims.

EDWARD L. BALLARD, D. C .- A practicing Chiropractor as well as a practical rancher, who is successfully conducting this rather unusual combination of pursuits, is Dr. Edward L. Ballard, who resides about six miles northeast of Sanger. He is a native of the Blue Grass State having been born in Uniontown, Union County, Ky .. on Independence Day, 1884. a son of Joseph F. and Lucinda (Morgan) Ballard. Mrs. Ballard was a cousin of Gen. John Morgan, the noted officer of the Confederate Army, dur- ing the Civil War.

In 1890, Joseph F. Ballard, with his wife and family, migrated to Cali- fornia and in 1895 settled in Fresno County where he followed agricultural pursuits, owning thirty acres of land east of Sanger. He was a very popular and highly respected man in his community and in 1910 he passed away. His widow now resides with her son, Dr. Edward L. Ballard. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Ballard were the parents of: Berton; Lewis; Edward L .; Anna ; William ; and Ruth.

Edward L. Ballard was reared in Fresno County and attended the public schools of Sanger and Fairview districts. Becoming interested in Chiropractic, he entered the Pacific Chiropractic College, Portland, Ore., where he was graduated in 1915; he then continued his studies in the Los Angeles Col- lege of Chiropractic, in which institution he also taught seven months, graduating therefrom, in 1916, with the degree of D. C. Since then he has practiced his profession in Fresno County.

Mr. Ballard owns and operates a fertile ranch of twenty acres which he devotes to the raising of alfalfa, vineyard and orchard. He is a worthy and enterprising young man whose friends predict a useful and successful career. He is an active member of the Christian Church in Sanger, and is held in high esteem in his community.

JOHN A. SCHMIDT .- A loyal American citizen of foreign parentage, whose life illustrates the splendid opportunities offered by the United States of America to rising youth, is John A. Schmidt, who has been a resident of Fresno County since 1907, and who lives two miles north of Reedley. He is a native of Kansas, where he was born on October 4, 1877. He attended the grammar schools of his native State and graduated from the high school. Later, too, he spent a couple of years at college, and then for a while he taught school.

His parents were Andrew and Anna Schmidt, native Germans who were born on Russian territory, and who immigrated to the United States in 1873. They pushed West to Kansas, and in that inviting commonwealth they made their home and lived the lives of farmer folk. They were hard-work- ing, thrifty people, and successfully reared a family of thirteen children. Seven of these are still living, and one, John A., the subject of our story, is a resident of the Pacific Slope.

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John A. Schmidt owns a fine ranch of forty acres, which he devotes to grapes, apricots and alfalfa. He farms scientifically, availing himself of every improvement in method or apparatus; he takes pride in maintaining a model place, and the high quality of his products speaks for him. Mr. Schmidt is by nature public-spirited, and for years he has taken a deep in- terest in civic affairs in Fresno County. His fellow citizens have honored him with the office of deputy assessor of the Alta district, which he has held, to everybody's satisfaction, for six years. He has served as clerk of the school board in the Fink district since 1915, for which he is peculiarly fitted by his experience as a teacher.

In 1903, Mr. Schmidt was married to Miss Anna, the daughter of Peter Funk ; and by his estimable wife he has had twelve children. The living are : Arthur L., Ernest A., Samuel H., Ruby E., Alice E., Grace P., Harold W., Stella R., John W., and Waldo W. Mrs. Schmidt, who also once lived in Kansas, attends with her husband the Mennonite Church. Both have many friends and well-wishers, who value their kind-heartedness and neighborly disposition.

MIGUEL VILLANUEVA .- Among the men who have made a success of sheep and wool-growing in Fresno Courity, mention should be made of Miguel Villanueva, who was born in Aincioa, Navarra, Spain, July 4. 1872, the youngest of a family of four children born to Francisco and Fillippa (Gal- duros) Villanueva. who were well-to-do farmers and stock raisers in Navarra, where they spent their last days. Miguel, the only one of the family to come to America, was educated in the public schools. Reared on the farm, he remained at home until twenty, when, having become interested in California, he deter- mined to come here to try the opportunities offered here. Leaving home in December, 18º2, he arrived in Bakersfield, Cal., in January, 1893, and imme- diately obtained employment with Miguel Urrutia, a sheepman, with whom he continued to work for six years. During this time he learned the ins and outs of sheep-growing in California. As early as 1894 he had ranged sheep around Coalinga and on the Cantua in Fresno County. Quitting the employ of Mr. Urrutia to engage in business for himself, Mr. Villanueva with a partner, Jose Larrea, purchased a flock of sheep. Before the end of the year he bought his partner out and continued business alone until 1907. He then took in as a partner Mr. Florencio Serrano, and they have continued together ever since. They own 160 acres on the Cantua where they have been raising grain. In 1911 they bought sixty-two acres in Tranquillity which they have improved for alfalfa and where Mr. Villanueva makes his home. Mr. Serrano having charge of the Cantua ranch. Both places are well improved with good buildings. Their herd has become large and is now run in two flocks. They also own a residence at 761 S Street, Fresno.

In Fresno occurred the marriage of Mr. Villanueva and Miss Manuela Yturri, who is also a native of Mesqueriz, Navarra; and to them have heen born nine children: Mariano, Jose, Gracian, Marie, Justo, Braulia, Firmin, Matias and Ermine Jilda.

Mr. Villanueva is one of the original stockholders of the Growers National Bank of Fresno.

AUGUST TORESON .- Sweden has contributed largely of her sturdy sons to the permanent settlement of California, and from among the many worthy Swedish residents of the Golden State, particular mention is made of August Toreson, the successful horticulturist and viticulturist who owns a beautiful ranch home three one-half miles southwest of Reedley.

August Toreson was born in Sweden, in 1866, and received his educa- tion in his native country. In 1890 he emigrated to the United States, and having heard of the many and varied opportunities offered to homeseekers, and of its glorious climate, he decided to follow the example of so many of his own countrymen and cast in his lot with the citizens of the Golden State.

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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 126

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