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 135
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In Fresno occurred the marriage of Mr. Arostegny and Marie Indart, who was also a native of France; and to them have been born two children, Domingo and Marie. The family are members of St. Alphonso's Catholic Church. Mr. Arostegny was made a citizen of the United States in 1916. He is enterprising and public-spirited, believes in cooperation and is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company.
ARTHUR ARIETA .- Arthur Arieta was born at Calabria, Italy, July 21, 1876, the oldest child of a family of five, born to Saverio and Carmella (Adieko) Arieta, who were farmers in Calabria. The parents migrated with their family to New York City in 1885, where the mother died, and two years later the others came to San Francisco, Cal. The father now resides in Fresno. Of the five children only two are living. Arthur's brother Louis is serving in the United States Army and is now in France, where he was wounded in battle on September 20, 1918.
Arthur Arieta came to San Francisco, Cal., in 1887, and in 1888 to Fresno County, where he immediately went to work on ranches, making his own live- lihood. Having accumulated some money and learned the details of grain- growing, he purchased an outfit, leased the McMuller ranch in Fresno County, and followed grain-raising.
Mr. Arieta was married in Fresno to Mrs. Mary (Altro) Sofia, born in Stockton, Cal. Her father, Joseph Altro, came to California in 1859, having crossed the plains on foot the entire distance from New Orleans to California in six months' time. In time he became a farmer at Los Banos, where he re- sided until his death. Mrs. Arieta's mother was Johanna Pascotza. She also died in Los Banos. Of their five children, Mary was the third.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Arieta resided in their home in Fresno until they purchased the present ranch of twenty acres lying west of Fresno. This place they have improved and brought to a high state of cultivation; and here they are engaged in raising alfalfa and dairying, in which they have been very successful. They have five children born of their marriage, four of whom are living: Flora, Camelle, Rosie, and Mary. Mrs. Arieta was first married to Nicholas Sofia, and by that marriage she had seven children, five of whom are living : John, a resident of Los Banos; Joseph, in the United States Army serving in France ; Camelia, Mrs. J. Costello of this county ; Angelo, also serv- ing in the United States Army in France; and Sarah, who resides at home. Mr. Arieta is a stockholder in the Danish Creamery. He is very enterprising and public-spirited man, and is ably assisted in his work by his wife. Both are well liked and highly esteemed.
Juan Camino
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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
JUAN CAMINO .- Pastoral occupations are imbued with a charm peculiarly their own, and this is particularly true of this occupation when it is in combination with old world life found in the country of Northern Spain.
Juan Camino, one of Fresno County's early settlers and sheep men, was born in the northern part of that picturesque country, coming as a Christmas gift to his parents, December 25, 1857. Brought up and educated on the farm, he herded sheep for his father, a sheep raiser, until 1881, when he came to America and arrived in Fresno with a small amount of money. He continued the occupation of sheep herding in Fresno County until 1885, when he bought a few sheep with money he had saved and engaged in business with his brother Domingo. The flock increased until at one time the brothers owned 7,000 sheep and some cattle. They ranged the sheep all over the county, also drove them into Mono and Inyo Counties for feed. Domingo sold his interest to his brother and returned to his native country, Juan continuing in the sheep raising business until 1904 when he sold out and retired from active business life. A self-made man, Mr. Camino has acquired considerable property interests in Fresno County. He is the owner of 1,500 acres of grazing land near Coalinga, also a five-acre peach orchard north of Fresno, as well as houses and lots in Fresno.
In 1895 he was married to Grace Etchegoin, a native of France, and they have four children : Marie, Raymond, Micaela and Mary Jane. Mr. Camino is a well-known and influential member of the Catholic Church.
GEORGE J. VOENES .- The owner of the "Goodfellow's Grill," at 1034 I Street, one of the most popular cafes in Fresno, was born in the historic island of Samos, a Greek possession, on July 18, 1881. He has become one of the leading members of the Greek colony of Fresno County, and as such is influential while reflecting great credit on the land of his birth.
George J. Voenes was educated in the common and high schools of his home district, and then learned the trade of a mechanic, which he followed for some time in his native country. In 1898 he came to America, and after a short time in New York, moved west to San Francisco, where he became a chef and learned each variety of cooking. He then ran cafes in Woodland, Oroville and Redding, and next returned to San Francisco, where he had a cafe on Seventh Street. This was burned out, however, in the fire of April, 1906, a misfortune that caused him to move to Vallejo, where he remained for six years, running a cafe there. During this time, he took a trip back home and traveled through Europe.
In 1912 he located in Fresno and established the Goodfellow's Grill, a modern, first-class place, especially popular with business men.
Two years after he had thus settled here, Mr. Voenes married Georgia Steele, of Fresno, daughter of a pioneer family, by whom he has had one son, John, a native of Fresno. A self-made man, George J. Voenes is a charter member and vice-president of the Hellenic Progressive Society of Fresno.
MENOTTI ANNIGONI .- An Italian-American chef who is the pro- prietor of the popular cafe in Fresno, the only institution of its kind in all the San Joaquin Valley and one of the best restaurants in the entire state of California, is Menotti Annigoni, who owns and conducts the Fior d'Italia Cafe, at No. 1032 H Street, opposite the Southern Pacific Railway station. He was born in Modena, Italy, on May 19, 1883, was reared in that country, and there, at an early age, took up the science and art of cooking. For a while he ran cafes of his own in both Marseilles and Paris, and for a year he had another cafe in Tulon, also a well-known French town. From 1900 to 1906 he conducted a high-class cafe in Milan, Italy, and the following year he arrived in New York City. There he was chef in leading hotels and cafes, cooking in both the French and Italian styles. He arrived in San Francisco in 1910. and soon became manager of Coppas' famous restaurant, where he had full charge of the dining-room for three and a half years. He was also chef in the Palace and St. Francis hotels, and at Burgess & Franke's famous
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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
old Poodle Dog cafe in Busch Street. In each of these places his fame grew as one of the most renowned cooks that ever came to the shores of the Pacific.
Early in 1916 Mr. Annigoni moved across the state to Fresno and took a lease of his present place, which he named the Fior d'Italia Cafe. Step by step he built up a reputation for the best possible Italian and French cooking, being assisted by both an Italian and a French chef. The former is a native of Italy and has cooked in the finest of cafes; and his French assistant is equally experienced. Notwithstanding this expert help, however, Mr. Annigoni gives personal supervision to the cooking of all foods served, and for many of the Italian dishes uses his own recipes.
As an indication of the preeminence enjoyed by this popular Italian ca- terer, it may be mentioned that he took the first prize for the best decorated table at the Fresno District Fair in October, 1918, winning the same against four other competitors. He has had the walls and ceilings of the Fior d'Italia decorated with Italian landscape views.executed in oil paint by two famous Italian artists. Constantino Faggioni and Peter Valentini, the former of whom did the decorating in the Bank of Italy Building and the New Liberty Theater in Fresno.
Mr. Annigoni is a member of the Geneva Association of Chefs and Waiters, one of the most celebrated culinary orders in the world, and he also belongs to the Union of Waiters and Cooks of New York City, San Francisco and Fresno.
While in the East, Mr. Annigoni was fortunate in his marriage, at Long Island City, to Margaret Fracchia, of Italy; and one son has blessed the union-Armondo by name. Mrs. Annigoni shares in both her husband's am- bitions and popularity, and contributes constantly to his success.
HENRY SCHNEIDER .- An enterprising viticulturist and horticul- turist, Henry Schneider is well posted in that branch of agriculture, as his productive vineyard and orchards give testimony. He was born in Guges, Samara, Russia, August 21, 1888, and his father, George Schneider, was a farmer in that country and brought the family to Fresno in 1901. Here he engaged in ranching at Rolinda, where he bought a forty-acre ranch and cul- tivated the land until his retirement to Fresno in later life, where he now lives. The mother, Annie Felzing before her marriage, died in Fresno about 1913, and six children had been born to this worthy couple.
The youngest child in the family, Henry Schneider was brought up on the home farm and received his education in the public schools of that country. After the family came to Fresno, in 1901, he assisted his father to care for the family and helped get a start by working out in vineyards. He then helped his father improve their own ranch until he reached twenty-one years, when he started out in life for himself, purchasing a twenty-acre ranch at Rolinda and improving it to vineyard, peaches and alfalfa. In the mean- time, with his brother George he purchased forty acres of raw land in the Barstow district, and leveling it, set it out to Thompson grapes. Later they sold this property and Mr. Schneider devoted his entire time to his Rolinda ranch, which he operated until 1914, when he sold out and purchased his present twenty-acre ranch ; this he also improved from the raw land and now has fifteen acres in Thompsons and the balance in apricot orchard.
The marriage of Mr. Schneider, in Fresno, July 2. 1908, united him with Miss Lena Pretzer, born in Perrin Colony, and daughter of Jack Pretzer, a brother of Henry Pretzer, who were early settlers of Fresno County, coming here in the eighties. Her father was a rancher and vineyardist here but now is engaged in ranching at Chowchilla. Mrs. Schneider was educated in the public schools of Fresno County. They have three children: Lydia; John; and Harry. The family attends the Lutheran Church. Mr. Schneider is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, and a man of pro- gressive ideas and good judgment.
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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
PAUL ADOOR .- What America, and particularly California, has done for those who have started with decided handicaps in the overcrowded, worked-out Old World and have had, as their best assets, good health, hope and determination to win, and a willingness and desire to work, is well illus- trated in the life history of Paul Adoor, the prominent viticulturist of the Malaga district. He was born in far-off Assyria on May 18, 1872, and in that industrious land learned the baker's trade. After coming to the United States, however, he learned the shoemaking trade and worked in factories in Mil- ford, Salem, Brockton, Lynn and Athol, Mass. In 1900 he came West to California and Fresno, and with his brother Barsam followed raisin culture. Meeting with no success, after eighteen months he returned to Massachusetts and for another five years made shoes again. The year 1908, however, found him back in beautiful, sunny Fresno, where, with his brother Barsam, he engaged in the bakery business on the west side of the town. When they disposed of their business, the brothers bought a forty-acre vineyard. This was situated in the Malaga district, on North Avenue, and was distinguished from the first for the rich quality of the soil. The various qualities character- istic of the Adoor brothers have helped them to make a real success of this venture ; and now Paul Adoor, with his brothers, Barsam and Charles, is part owner of the Adoor business block on F Street.
While at Chelsea, Mass., on March 3, 1908, Mr. Adoor was made an American citizen, and four years later he was married to Mary Kooyungian, a native of Turkey. One daughter, Elizabeth, has blessed this happy marriage.
Any state or county would have reason to be proud of such citizens as these enterprising and high-principled brothers of whom we here write- Barsam, Paul and Charles; and Fresno County welcomes Mr. Adoor and his associates to the unrivaled land of opportunity.
JOHN CHIODI .- John Chiodi was born at San Benedetto del Tronto, in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, in eastern Italy, January 6, 1876, and began as clerk in a mercantile store at the tender age of nine years. Later, he engaged in the mercantile business for himself, and in 1903, when twenty- . seven years of age, came to the United States in quest of a larger field of activity. For one year he clerked in a store just outside of the city of Chicago, Ill., and in 1905 came to San Francisco, Cal., where he was in the employ of the Italian Swiss Colony Company for a period of one and a half years. He afterward followed the fishing business on the Sacramento River in Solano County, buying fish for the San Francisco market.
In 1909 Mr. Chiodi came to Fresno and opened a billiard hall and cigar store at No. 1513 Fresno Street, where he remained until 1914, when he opened his present wholesale and retail cigar store and billiard hall at No. 1147 G Street. He is a prosperous and successful business man of Fresno, a leader in the local Italian colony of Fresno County, and enjoys a wide and well-deserved personal popularity among his countrymen. He has been of untold assistance to his fellow-countrymen, working for their interests and representing them in many important events taking place in the city.
Mr. Chiodi was one of the organizers of the Italian Division of the Or- der of Owls, No. 1010, of Fresno, and since the inception of the order in Fresno in 1911 has served as its president. He is also a member of the Eagles. He was chairman of the Italian committee at the celebration of Britain Day in Fresno on December 7 and 8 and was an associate member of the legal advisory board on the Draft Board of Fresno County. During the late war he did his share in the purchase of Liberty Bonds.
Mrs. Chiodi was in maidenhood Emma Giordani, also a native of Italy. Mr. and Mrs. Chiodi reside in their own home at 938 Fresno Street. They are the parents of six children-Emil, Matilda, Frances, Enrica, May and Victoria, by name.
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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
CLAUD D. CORRICK .- Agriculture has been the life occupation of Claud D. Corrick, a native son of Fresno County, born on August 8, 1888, on the home ranch owned by his father, the late Lewis C. Corrick. The elder Corrick was born in West Virginia and followed farming all his life. In 1870 he came to California and became identified with the life of Fresno County by taking up a homestead claim and proving up on it. To this he added from time to time until he was owner of 700 acres, which he devoted to farming and stock- raising. He was married in Fresno County to Mary Cobb, a representative of an old pioneer family of California. Lewis C. Corrick died in 1901, leaving a widow and three children.
Claud D. Corrick was educated in the Fort Washington public school until he was fourteen. He was reared on the home ranch and became familiar with the more advanced methods of farming and with the stock business for his father had inaugurated up-to-date machinery and implements on his Fresno County ranch. When his father died, although a mere boy, Claud D. took charge of the work and assisted his mother in managing the affairs left by Mr. Corrick. After he was old enough he leased the place and carried on general farming and the stock business with a goodly share of success, his grain, cattle and hogs always finding a ready market and at good prices. With his savings he pur- chased a tract of forty acres which he improved to alfalfa for a home place and to which he added other purchases until he owns 500 acres which he plans to put in vines, figs and prunes and engage in viticulture and horticulture.
In February, 1914, in Oakland, Mr. Corrick was united in marriage with Miss Arvilla Martin, who is a native daughter of Fresno County. Her father, WVm. F. Martin, was a forty-niner, now making his home near Friant. Mr. Corrick is a member of Clovis Lodge, K. of P. In all movements for the ad- vancement of the county's interests, Mr. Corrick gladly lends his aid and is a booster for the county of his birth.
FRESNO DAIRY .- Fresno is notable for the number of its well-estab- lished and well-managed business enterprises, among which especial men- tion is made of the "Fresno Dairy," brought into existence in February, 1916, by L. Patti and R. Stolberg, and now owned by Mr. Patti and C. Pagani.
Lawrence Patti, the founder of the dairy, was born on a dairy farm in the vicinity of Milan, Italy, on September 26, 1889. He attended the public schools and later worked for his father, thereby getting a thorough knowl- edge of the dairy, and the dairy business, including the making of butter. Such are the proverbial methods with respect to thoroughness of the Italians that when he had finished his apprenticeship, he had mastered every detail of the field.
Attracted by the stories of opportunity in California, Mr. Patti, in 1912, came to America and located at Stockton, in San Joaquin County, where he went to work for the Valley Creamery Company. He was first put into the testing department, and then he was made foreman of the plant. So success- ful was he that in February, 1916, he came to Fresno and opened a branch of the Valley Creamery Company, calling it the Fresno Dairy. He took into partnership with him R. Stolberg; but in September, 1917, he bought the latter out and made C. Pagani his partner.
When Mr. Patti married, he selected Cesina Pagani of Italy as his wife.
Mr. Pagani, the other member of the firm was also born on a farm, but near Piacenza, Italy, on July 6, 1881. He attended the country schools, and as his family were grape growers and wine-makers, he followed that line, and later conducted a wholesale and retail wine store in Milan.
Selling out, however, he came to America in 1913, making straight for San Joaquin County, and there he worked on ranches, and later entered the employ of the Valley Creamery Company. From there he came to Fresno, in September, 1917, to become a partner in the Fresno Dairy, and since that period he has had a very creditable share in maintaining one of the most representative and important concerns in Central California.
JD. Coelho
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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
JOSEPH A. COELHO .- One of the pioneer sheep men of Fresno County, Joseph A. Coelho, has demonstrated the possibilities for advancement in this sec- tion of the state for a man whose sole aids in the struggle were a steady applica- tion and the determination to reach success. Born in Flores Island, Azores Is- lands, April 15, 1862, he was raised on a farm. In 1881, when nineteen years old, he came to the United States, and after his arrival, in Boston, Mass., came direct to San Francisco, having been fourteen days crossing the water, and fourteen days by train from Boston, slow travel compared to the time made in these days.
When Mr. Coelho landed in San Francisco his capital was just four dollars. He came to Fresno and secured work in Helm Colony, herding sheep on plains and mountains. Later he went to Knights Ferry and worked on a ranch and herded sheep at Modesto. From there he went to Stockton and there worked for George F. Smith on his cattle and sheep ranch for five years. He saved enough money to buy a small band of sheep at Madera, later sold them and bought another band at Merced ; these he sold and bought sheep again at Madera. In 1889 he start- ed in the sheep business in Fresno County on the west side, and continued his oper- ations until 1915, having as many as 10,000 sheep at one time, and sold wool as low as four cents per pound.
Mr. Coelho is now a large land owner in Fresno County. He homesteaded 160 acres, ten miles north of Herndon, and bought 160 acres adjoining, using this as pasture land and shecp camp. He is the owner of one section three miles west of Mendota, planted to barley ; eighty acres three miles south of Fresno, planted to alfalfa ; 260 acres near Kerman, in alfalfa; 240 acres west of Kearney Park, pasture land ; besides which agricultural land he owns business property in Fresno, consisting of a brick block on I Street, near Fresno; nine city lots, and his home at 481 Calaveras Avenue.
Mr. Coelho married, in 1903, Angelina Martin, also a native of the Azores Islands. Her father, Antone Martin, was a '49er and mined near Folsom for a short time, after which he returned to his native land, married and raised a family of eight children, and returned to California in 1893, first locating in Hayward, Alameda County, and later in San Benito County, coming from there to Fresno, where his death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Coelho are the parents of one son, Louis Joseph. Fraternally Mr. Coelho is a member of the I. D. E. S. of Fresno. A man of strict integrity of character, and who has risen to a position of affluence by his own unaided efforts, he is an example to the youth of the land as to what one man can accomplish by honest labor and business acumen.
HENRY RUDOLPH, JR .- A scientific vineyardist, who has improved a valuable ranch while forging ahead to substantial success, is Henry Rudolph, Jr., who first settled in Fresno in the early nineties. He was born at Samara, near Saratof, Russia, on November 18, 1873, the son of Henry Rudolph, a grain-farmer who came out to California in 1892. He engaged in viticulture and continued in that field until he retired. Now, at the age of 79, he resides at Fresno with his good wife, who was Catherine Sieler before her marriage. They had eleven children, eight of whom came to Fresno; and seven are now living.
Henry, the second youngest, was educated at the public schools and brought up on a farm until he was seventeen. Then, on his birthday, he left Saratof for the United States, being the first of the brothers to come to Fresno, although a brother August came soon after. A month later he landed in Fresno, and the next morning went to work on Shields Avenue. When he was able, he improved a farm and followed farm work. He bought twenty acres on Walnut and North Avenues, where he had a vineyard and orchard, and next he purchased forty acres on Shields and Chittenden Avenues, in the Arizona Colony. He made a fine peach orchard and Sultana vineyard there, farming it for three years; after which he sold the property and located in Fresno.
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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
With H. P. Steitz he established a grocery on F Street, at the end of the town, and for a couple of years they did business under the name of Steitz & Rudolph ; then he sold his interest to Conrad Kinsel. In 1914 he bought his present place of sixty acres in Vinland, at the corner of Madera and Dakota Avenues, and there were twenty acres of Thompson seedless, and eight acres of peaches; and he improved the rest by setting out Thompson vines. Now he is active in the California Associated Raisin Company, and the California Peach Growers, Inc.
At Fresno, Mr. Rudolph was married to Miss Katie Schwabenland, a native of Russia, and they have five children : Emma, Mrs. Clarence Kutter of Vinland; Henry L., with his father; William, with the California Asso- ciated Raisin Company ; and Carl and Freda, at home. Mr. Rudolph is a Re- publican in national politics, and first and last he is an American.
EDWARD BRENNAN .- A successful business man of Coalinga, who is proprietor of the Premier Creamery, is Edward Brennan, who was born at Ballinamuck P. O., County Longford, Ireland, April 22, 1884, a son of Tim- othy and Margaret (Mellon) Brennan, farmers in his native place. Of the ten children born to this worthy couple eight are living, of whom Edward is the eldest. The others are Margaret, Mrs. McGuire; and Mona, Mrs. Ginty, both of Coalinga; John, who is in the United States Army; Patrick, in the United States Army serving in France; and Bernard, Martin, and Katie, still at home with their parents.
After completing the local schools, Edward Brennan spent three years working in the coal mines in Scotland, and then, after a brief visit home, in May, 1908, he migrated to California, He was in the employ of the Mam- mouth Copper Mines in Shasta County and the copper mine at Bully Hill, also in Shasta County, until February, 1910. He then came to Coalinga and entered the employ of the Inca Oil Company, continuing with them four or five years. Afterwards he was in the employ of different oil companies till he quit to engage in business for himself.
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