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 128

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 128

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When a young man in Armenia, H. S. Serian married Rosa Scandarian, a native of that country, and they are the parents of four children, all living at home. They are: Roxy, Moses, Serak, and Aram. Mr. Serian came to America alone, his wife joining him eight years later. After coming to the United States Mr. Serian worked two years in a factory in New York City, from thence going to Chicago where he worked four years in a shoe factory. In 1897 he came to California, settling at Parlier where he rented land from Louis Say for four years, afterwards renting the Harry Say place north of Selma for three years, and during this time, in 1901, he purchased his first eighty acres, the nucleus of his present place, working both places and plant- ing his eighty acres with his own hands. In 1912 he added another thirty acres to the eighty, and in 1918 bought ten acres more, and in 1919 bought another forty, making 160 acres altogether.

Nine years ago Mr. Serian was taken with a serious affection of the optic nerve, and despite the best medical aid his eyesight began to fail, resulting two years ago in total blindness. He is dependent upon his little son Serak to lead him about. He has been phenomenally successful since coming to California. In 1917 he built on his ranch a beautiful $12,000 country residence, thirty-two by sixty-two feet in dimensions, the finest home between Selma and Parlier.

Beginning at the foot of the ladder in a foreign country, without means or influence, incumbered with debt, he has prospered and steadily advanced to the position he now occupies, a man of influence in the community in which he lives.

MARTIN CHRISTENSEN .- An excellent example of what can be ac- complished in California, by an energetic young man without means but endowed with good character, thrift and a persevering nature that can sur- mount all obstacles to success, is manifested in the career of Martin Christen- sen, a prosperous viticulturist residing in Sanger, Fresno County, Cal.

Martin Christensen is a native of Denmark, where he was born on De- cember 21, 1878, a son of James and Mary Christensen, also of Denmark. He was reared and educated in his native land, and in the year 1901 he immigrated to the United States, locating at Wheatville, Cal. Here he was engaged in dairying for three years. Mr. Christensen has spent seventeen years in Fresno County. He is a progressive farmer and believes in using the most up-to-date methods in the cultivation and propagation of his products.

Mr. Christensen is deserving of much credit for achieving the success he has won in so short a time, as he began with nothing, and in a few years became the owner of a forty-acre ranch, devoted to raising Thompson seed- less grapes. His well kept ranch evidenced the marks of thrift and progress of this enterprising rancher. In the fall of 1918 he sold out and intends making a trip to his native land for a visit.

On July 6, 1915, Martin Christensen was united in marriage with Jo- hanna Neilsen, a native of Denmark, where she was born on January 29, 1886. They were engaged to be married while he was on a trip back to his native land, then she joined him in America and he met her in San Francisco and they were married there. Their marriage was blessed by one child, a son, Gunnar. The Christensen family are members of the Danish Church.

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CHRISTIAN SORENSEN .- A native of Denmark, Christian Sorensen was born near the town of Randers, Jutland, on December 10, 1865, and was the third child of a family of six born to Soren and Christine (Pedersen) Sorensen, also natives of Denmark, both of whom are now deceased. Their six children are: Soren, a rancher who resides three miles west of Selma; N. P., who owns ten acres of land three one-half miles southwest of Parlier; Christian; Christine, who is the wife of Knut Christensen, a farmer resid- ing in Denmark; Anna M., whose sketch appears upon another page of this history, and who is the widow of Niels Andersen; Mette Marie, who married Knud Knudsen, and resides at Vejle, Denmark.

Christian Sorensen was reared in Denmark, where he worked out by the month on farms and gained valuable knowledge and experience in stock- raising, dairying and farming. Having two older brothers in California, he decided to take a trip to America, so engaging passage on the good old ship Thingvalla, of the Thingvalla Line, he sailed from Copenhagen, January 10, 1893, landing in New York City about February 1st., and from there he con- tinued his journey at once to Fresno County, Cal., where his brothers, N. P. and Soren, were living. He secured employment in the Fresno Colony, working on farms, in which occupation he continued for several years. In 1900, he rented a farm near Sultana and after three years purchased the place, consisting of twenty acres, improved it, and subsequently added more land until he possessed thirty acres. This ranch he recently sold and has purchased twenty acres located three one-half miles southwest of Parlier.

On March 2, 1909, Christian Sorensen was united in marriage with Christine Christensen, a native of Denmark, who came to Fresno County when a young lady. This happy union has been blessed with four children : Holger; Einar; Alfred; and baby Ellen, who was born May 19, 1918.

Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen are justly esteemed in their community and have many friends. Mr. Sorensen is a prominent member of the Danish Lutheran Church and the Danish Brotherhood, and in political matters is a Republican.

THEODORE H. SCHUKNECHT .- Among Fresno County's success- ful men of the later period is Theodore H. Schuknecht, who owns two ranches of forty acres each in the Lone Star section, and sixty acres in Tulare County. Mr. Schuknecht was born near Waterloo, Iowa, February 24, 1868. His father, Christopher, and mother, Fredericka (Rahn) Schuknecht, were both born and married in Germany, and immediately after marriage came to America. They became the owners of a 160-acre farm, and also of a hardware store in Tripoli, Iowa, which they operated in connection with the farm. They raised a family of thirteen children, of whom Theodore is the sixth. Three girls and five boys are still living. Ten grew to manhood and womanhood.

Mr. Schuknecht spent his boyhood days in Iowa, attended the common schools, and spent a short time at the high school. At the age of nineteen the whole care of the home place fell upon him, because of an accident to his father, who was gored by a mad bull, and died at the age of fifty-five. His mother died in Iowa at the age of sixty-three years.

In 1892 Theodore Schuknecht was married to Miss Mabel Bennett, whose parents, E. C. and Amelia (Dickey) Bennett, were likewise early set- tlers of Iowa. They were originally from Connecticut and Pennsylvania, re- spectively. Mr. and Mrs. Schuknecht have one child, Randolph, who grad- uated from the Fowler High School.

Mr. Schuknecht owned a farm of 160 acres in Iowa and farmed there un- til 1907, when, desiring to get away from the rigorous winters of Iowa, they moved to the Pacific Coast. He had his heart set on the Rogue River Valley, Ore., and consequently bought tickets for Medford, Ore., but when he arrived there he was afraid of the damp climate, on account of his son, who was in feeble health. He decided to see more of the country before he settled down, and so came to Fresno County, Cal., looked over the country and took an

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option on forty acres, which has become his home. He then made an extended trip through Southern California, but returned to Fresno and began to im- prove his place. This was twelve years ago. Four years later he bought another place of forty acres adjoining on the north, and in 1917 bought sixty acres at Orosi, Tulare County. The two ranches near Lone Star are devoted to Thompson seedless and muscat raisins, while the ranch at Orosi is devoted to malagas and emperors; there are eight acres of black mission figs and eight acres valencia oranges, the balance being devoted to the home build- ings and to alfalfa. He rents out the two ranches at Lone Star, and with the aid of hired help takes care of the Orosi ranch himself.

His raisins are very choice. A certain woman made a business for several years past of supplying particular and discriminating customers in the East with choice layer raisins put up in fancy packages. She bought them from the painstaking growers, and for two seasons sold the raisins bought from Mr. Schuknecht, and grown on his ranches in Fresno County, to the White House, at Washington, D. C., so that his product has found its way to the table of President Wilson.

Mr. Schuknecht is a progressive and wide-awake man. In politics a Re- publican, he has a keen insight into political matters, and fights graft and grafters. He helps along every worthy object, stands four-square behind the government, and patriotically supports its war measures. He is interested in the Raisin Growers' Association, and has served as member of the school board of the Lone Star district. He and his family are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Fowler. Mrs. Schuknecht supplies all that is needed in the home-maker, and her worth is known outside the family gates.

FRED H. HANSEN .- A Fresno family of special interest is that of Fred H. Hansen, the vineyardist. His grandfather, Fred Hansen, was a sailor who settled in the United States and reared a family, in which our subject's father, Fred Hansen, was the eldest son. He grew up in Tennessee as a farmer, and in 1884 he brought his family to San Francisco, where he was a carpenter and builder, and where he continued to reside until he died. There also passed away his good wife, who had been Martha Murray, a native of Tennessee, and who became the mother of six children.

Born in Bradford County, Tenn., on August 26, 1882, Fred H. was the oldest child, and now the only one in California ; he was brought up in San Francisco, where he attended both the grammar and high schools. In June, 1898, however, when the martial spirit was at its height, he left the high school for service in the Spanish-American War, and joined Company K, Fourteenth United States Infantry. With the regiment he went to the Phil- ippines and nine months later he was honorably discharged. He immediately reenlisted in Company K of the same regiment, went to China and there helped relieve the hard-pressed legation at Pekin. Then he returned to Ma- nila, from which point his regiment was sent home, but he was transferred to Company A of the Tenth United States Infantry, and served in the southern islands and the Moro country. At the close of his term he was honorably discharged at Pt. a Princessa, Island of Palawan, when he made his way back to San Francisco.

In that city, on February 16, 1905, Mr. Hansen was married to Miss Christene Spomar, a native of Great Falls, Mont., and the daughter of A. S. and Anna (Rhinehart) Spomar. The father was a stockman who later came out to San Francisco and now resides in Fresno, near which town for some years he was engaged in vineyarding. In 1906, after the big fire in San Fran- cisco, Mr. and Mrs. Hansen located in Fresno County and engaged in viti- culture, and soon after they bought their present forty-acre ranch two miles northwest of Clovis. Mr. Hansen immediately began the work of improv- ing the land, and since then he has set and reset the vineyard, so that his property is now very valuable. He has also bought twenty acres one and a

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half miles to the north in the Garfield district, and has leveled and checked the land and planted it to alfalfa ; and he has purchased twenty other acres in the same district, which he has set out to Calimyrna figs.

For the past six years Mr. Hansen has been the representative of the Earl Fruit Company for the Clovis district. He has charge of two packing houses, one at Melvin and the other at Glorietta, and has brought to a very desirable status their specialty of shipping fresh grapes, peaches and plums. He is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, as he has been of the successive preceding associations for boosting the raisin industry ; and is also a member and a director of the California Fig Association. In social and commercial circles he is a familiar figure as one of the active members of the Commercial Club of Fresno.

About seven years ago Mrs. Hansen, who is the mother of a daughter, Evelyn, began to make up figs and raisins in fancy packs, putting them on the market under the now popular Sierra Vista brand, and having begun her enterprise on the home ranch and in a modest way, she has continued it ever since, seeing it grow to much greater proportions. Wishing to expand the business which was making such a big increase each year, in 1919 she built a new packing-house, selecting the J. C. Forkner fig garden (which embraces 10,000 acres of figs, the largest fig garden in the world) for the location. Here has been erected a building especially designed and built for the preparation and packing of the Sierra Vista brand, which has become very popular all over the United States and is also shipped to foreign coun- tries. Her exhibit at the Panama Pacific Exposition at San Francisco in 1915 won the highest award for figs. Mrs. Hansen has also made a specialty of packing select muscat raisins, and has come to be known as one of the fore- most business women of California.

H. KAZARIAN .- America has always offered refuge to the weary and oppressed of every nation, and many have come and found here the shelter their own countries denied them. Happy, contented and prosperous, these people, by splendid citizenship and loyal devotion to the land of their adoption, are repaying for the asylum thus provided for them. Of no one is this more true than of H. Kazarian, who is the owner of a ranch two miles northwest of Fowler.

Mr. Kazarian was born on Easter Sunday, in April, 1857, at Marsovan (the seat of Anatolian College), Armenia, in Asiatic Turkey. He stayed at home on his father's place until his thirteenth year. The father, Lazarus Kazarian, was a laborer and owned a small farm. He is now one hundred years old, and his wife is over one hundred. They live with their son.

As a boy, Mr. Kazarian was very precocious, learning readily ; although the schools were not good in Armenia, he learned to read, write and speak in the Armenian, Turkish and Greek languages at the early age of thirteen years. As a result, at this age he went to Constantinople with a commission merchant, and became his corresponding secretary. He remained there until the breaking out of the Turko-Russian War, when he was eighteen years of age. He left Constantinople, sailing to Liverpool and thence to New York, landing in May, 1875. There were only about twenty-five Armenians in Brooklyn and New York City at that time. He became interested in the sale of Oriental rugs, first as salesman, and next as a partner with his father-in- law, H. Iskian. After seven years of unsuccessful effort in building up this business. Mr. Kazarian engaged to work for the Abraham & Strauss Depart- ment Store, in Brooklyn, as head of the Oriental rug department. He re- mained with them until 1903, when he came to California, stopping first at Fresno, where he stayed for nine months. In July, 1904, he came to Fowler, and bought the place that is now his home, a ranch of forty acres, of which he has sold ten acres. In 1881, he went back to Turkey and brought his father

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and one brother here, and five years later sent for his mother, one brother and his sisters, helping them all to come to America.

Mr. Kazarian was twice married, first to Miss Lucy Iskian, of Brooklyn, to whom were born four children, two of whom grew up: Victoria, wife of John Hagopian, fruit contractor at Fresno; and Lily, wife of Simon Hago- pian (no kin), a poultryman at Petaluma. A separation occurred, and he married Mrs. M. Shahbazian, a widow with two children: Charles Shahba- zian, at home; and George, employed in the shipyards at Oakland, Cal. Mr. Kazarian has one child by his second marriage, William Howard Taft Ka- zarian, attending the grammar school in Fowler. Mr. Kazarian is a member of the Gregorian Armenian Church at Fowler, and served as trustee at one time. He is loyal to all the calls of his adopted country, has bought Liberty Bonds, subscribed to the Red Cross, and in everything has shown himself to be in sympathy with all that goes to make for progress. Open-hearted and generous, he is one of the prominent citizens of Fresno County.

MADS MADSEN .- Born in Denmark, August 28, 1878, Mads Madsen is a son of C. and Marie Madsen, natives of that country. Of the nine children born to his parents, five of whom are now living, Mr. Madsen is the only one to immigrate to the United States, which he did in 1904, seeking new oppor- tunities in the newer land. After his arrival here, he first located for a time in Albert Lea, Minn., and there his marriage occurred, in 1907, uniting him with Miss Bine Petersen, a native of Denmark, born on March 23, 1875. The young couple migrated west to California in 1908, and here Mr. Madsen engaged in ranching, first owning a small ranch, which he used as a stepping- stone to the better and larger one he now owns, consisting of twenty acres, in the Parlier district, Fresno County. An experienced tiller of the soil, and thoroughly understanding the culture of the vine, Mr. Madsen has met with deserved success in his development work, and, with a promising and pros- perous future before him, he is a valued citizen of the community. Though a resident of this country for only fifteen years, he is fluent of speech in good, plain English, and is a loyal American by adoption, having cast his first vote for President Wilson.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Madsen, five of whom are living, as follows: Marie : Chris; Ethel; Frances; and Ivar. The family are members of the Danish Church. Mr. Madsen is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company.

JOHN GATTIE .- A Californian of Italian birth, who has made his own way ever since he came to the Golden State as a lad of fifteen, and who now owns a good ranch, is John Gattie, who was born in the province of Naples in 1866, the son of Antonio Gattie, a well-to-do farmer of that locality. He thus learned farming as a lad, meanwhile attending the excellent Italian pub- lic schools.

John Gattie had a brother, Carmino, in California, and in 1881 he crossed the ocean and then came to the coast to join him, settling first in Stockton and immediately going to work on a ranch. He drove the big teams and other- wise made himself useful in work requiring hardihood and daring. Seven years later he came to Fresno County, and found no difficulty in getting em- ployment at good wages in the vineyards. He commenced with the St. George vineyard, and there continued six years. Then he bought twenty acres in the Scandinavian Colony, the land being now the site of the Rossler winery. This he at once set out as a vineyard, but after a few years he sold it and bought a residence in Fresno. He continued viticulture, however, realizing its great possibilities for the years to come.

In 1897, Mr. Gattie bought his present place of twenty acres, which he set out as a vineyard; and having built a fine residence on the property, he has made his home there ever since. Later he bought an adjoining twenty

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acres, so that he now has forty acres there given up to the raising of grapes and alfalfa.

But in 1911 he made still another investment, purchasing eighty acres five miles north of his place. He set out forty acres as a vineyard, improved the land generally, and in three years sold it at a profit. Thereupon he bought twenty acres in the Helm tract, where he is making a great success raising table and raisin grapes. He belongs to the California Associated Raisin Com- pany and has encouraged all the raisin-growing associations started since the original one was proposed.

On November 1, 1888, in Fresno, Mr. Gattie was married to Miss Carmilla Perfetto, also a native of Naples, who came to Fresno in September, 1888. Eleven children have been born to this worthy couple: Antonio, the eldest, who resides in Fresno; Rosina, Mrs. Perrino, of Fresno; Elizabeth, Mrs. Nichol, also of Fresno; and Louis, Theresa, Jennie, Emil, Laura, Elvira, Viola, and Elsie Agnes, all of whom reside with their parents. Like many another Californian of foreign birth, Mr. Gattie is one of the most loyal and patriotic of our citizens. A Republican in matters of national politics, in local affairs he seeks to support the best man and the fairest measure, regardless of party affiliations ; and he is always ready to advance the permanent interest of Fresno and vicinity.

JOE CAZEILS .- A successful blacksmith and first-class mechanic, who by honest efforts and hard work is building up a large patronage at Reedley, is Joe Cazeils, a native of France, where he first saw the light of day in 1877. He is the son of Peter and Nancy Ann Cazeils, natives of France and the parents of four children, two of whom are in the United States-one being in Nevada, and the other being Joe Cazeils of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cazeils are both deceased.

Joe Cazeils was reared and educated in his native land. In his twenty- sixth year, 1903, he immigrated to the United States, coming directly to Fresno County, Cal. Before leaving France he learned the trade of a black- smith, but had to supplement his knowledge, after arriving here, with some of the American ideas. For three years he was employed by the California Wine Association, but in 1913 he removed to Reedley and there established himself in his present spacious and well-equipped quarters, which comprise a shop thirty-four by sixty feet in floor space. He owns two lots whose total frontage is 100 feet and whose depth is 125 feet. The shop is fitted for doing woodwork as well as machine work, and is equipped with all modern ma- chinery for conducting a first-class general blacksmithing and horseshoeing business. By rendering first-class service to his patrons, Mr. Cazeils is not only gaining financial success, but is winning that which is even more to be desired, the respect of his associates and the confidence of the community.

G. GOOGOOIAN .- Another of those men who have found in this coun- try an asylum from oppression and wrong, and who have shown their appre- ciation by making good use of their opportunities, is G. Googooian, who owns a highly improved ranch of eighty acres five miles west of Sanger, on Jensen Avenue, with a beautiful residence which he rebuilt in 1917. He is a pioneer raisin grower, a stockholder and member of the California Raisin Growers' Association, and a man highly regarded for his many good qualities.

Mr. Googooian was born near Harpoot, in Armenia, forty-nine years ago. When he was four years old his parents died, and he was brought up in a cousin's home. He accumulated some property as he grew up, and desiring to get away from the oppression of the Turkish government, he mortgaged this to pay his ransom and secure the money for passage to America. Land- ing in New York in 1885, he went to Boston and Salem, Mass., where he worked in tanneries and shoe factories. He sent back to Armenia for his wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Melcon, and in 1904 came to Califor- nia, purchasing the place that is now his home. He is the second oldest set-

Mr& Mrs. Matias Serrano

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tler in the Lone Star district, Mr. John Gerner being the first. The family consists of himself and wife, with three girls and two boys: Gugus, who mar- ried Rosa Samorgian and resides at Fresno ; Louisa, at home ; Annie ; Martha ; and Thomas, are students in the Highland Colony school.

Mr. Googooian is a man of intelligence and a hard worker, and as a con- sequence is unusually successful. He now possesses seventy-seven and a half acres of land, of which two and a half acres are taken up by the Santa Fe right of way, four acres in alfalfa and building spot, and the balance in trees and vines. He is a generous and hospitable man, and lives a consistent Christian life. In connection with his family it should be mentioned that a sister, who is blind, is also living with them. Her name is Anna Googooian. The family are members of the Armenian Congregational Church at Fresno. In politics Mr. Googooian supports the Republican party.

MATIAS SERRANO .- A successful stock-raiser of the West Side in Fresno County, is Matias Serrano of Huron. He is a native of Spain, born at Aincioa, Ballie Erro, Navarra, February 24, 1883, the son of Miguel and Besanta (Villanueva) Serrano, farmers of that region.

Matias, the third oldest of their family of five children, was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. He had a brother, Florencio, who had come to California, and Matias, hearing the glowing accounts of opportunities in California, resolved to come hither, so on December 11, 1900, he arrived in Fresno. The first winter was spent herding sheep at Mendota. In April, 1901, he made his way to Nevada, where his brother was raising sheep in Esmeralda County. Working for him and others he made a "stake" sufficient to enable him and a cousin, Domingo Serrano, to purchase a flock of sheep and they ranged them in Nevada until October, 1909, when they brought them to Stockton, continuing business together as Serrano and Company ever since; Matias having the management of the business. In 1916, Mr. Serrano purchased eighty acres two and a half miles south of Huron, where he makes his home and headquarters. Having purchased additional land they own 400 acres and are also leasing lands for ranging their sheep, running from 3,000 to 4,000 head.

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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 128

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