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 136

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 136

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In September, 1917, Mr. Brennan started the Premier Creamery, where he is engaged in the wholesale and retail of milk, cream, butter, and ice cream. The creamery is located on Fifth Street and includes a modern soda foun- tain. He makes his deliveries with an automobile, and everything is con- ducted according to the most modern and sanitary methods.

Mr. Brennan was married in Coalinga to Miss Annie McMonigal, who was born in Lanockshire, Scotland, and two children have been born to them : Margaret and Mary. Freternally, Mr. Brennan is a member of the Eagles.

NIELS HANSEN NIELSEN .- A young man who is making a success as a farmer is Niels Hansen Nielsen, who was born in Esjerg, Jylland, Den- mark, on August 25, 1890, the third youngest of a family of eight children born to Christian P. and Adriatte (Marcersen) Nielsen. The father was a car- penter, mason and plasterer, one of the first to help build up the town of Esbjerg, and continued as a contractor and builder there until 1896, when they entered the mercantile business in Esbjerg, in which the father and mother are still actively engaged.

Niels Hansen Nielsen received a good education in the public schools at Esbjerg, and when fourteen years of age was apprenticed as a blacksmith. He worked at the trade there until seventeen years of age. Deciding then to try his lot in California, in May, 1907, he came to Fresno. The first year he worked on a ranch, and then was employed at the blacksmith trade in the lumber mills at Shaver, in the mountains, for two seasons, after which he worked on a ranch again at Clovis for seven months. Next he worked at his trade for Arnsberg and Petersen for a short time, when he quit to enter the employ of Alex Jacobsen as a waiter in his restaurant for a year. Then

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he was employed on a ranch at Burrel awhile, and next in a cigar store in Fresno over winter. In the spring of 1915 he went to San Francisco and there was employed as a waiter for six months during the Fair, after which he again returned to Fresno and found employment on the ranch of C. S. Pierce for about seven months. During this time he was married in Fresno to Miss Metha Jensen Holmsgaard, who was born in Jylland, Denmark, and after completing her education, came to Oakland, Cal., and later to Fresno.

After his marriage, Mr. Nielsen ran the Spencer ranch for about seven months. In 1916 he accepted his present position as manager of the C. P. Hansen ranch of 160 acres west of Fresno, which he has improved from the raw land, leveling and checking it, and sowing it to alfalfa. They have in- stalled a pumping plant and have already a fine stand of about sixty acres of alfalfa. Having had much experience in the leveling and checking of land for growing alfalfa, Mr. Nielsen understands the best methods for accom- plishing results in farming to this crop. He has made it a study and is deeply interested in his work.

Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have two children, May Catherine and Evelyn Anna. Politically, Mr. Nielsen believes in the principles of the Democratic party.

JOHN A. DAWSON .- The splendid development of our Western States is due to the sterling character and energy of the men who came here as emi- grants from other states. A citizen of this type is John A. Dawson, who was born in Iowa County, Wis., May 1, 1846. His father was William Dawson and his mother was Ann (Ainsley) Dawson. They came to Wisconsin from Eng- land in 1845. During the Civil War the father served in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry and died of yellow fever, in August, 1862.

There were six children in the family, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest. He received his education in the public schools, and later carried on the farming on the home place, until 1891. He then came to Fresno County, Cal., and purchased eighty acres of a stubble field. His first step in its development was the planting of alfalfa and an orchard and vineyard of forty-five acres. He has had splendid success in this enterprise and now has a fine productive orchard.

In 1869, Mr. Dawson was married to Mary Ann Porter, who was also a native of Iowa County, Wis., born October 22, 1845. Eight children have been born to them, and six are living: Frederick T., a rancher of Clovis; William L., a rancher near Clovis; Nellie, wife of J. W. Sharer, also resides near Clovis; Leonard P., also of Clovis; Frances, Mrs. L. D. Reyburn, of near Clovis; and Robert C., at home.

Mr. Dawson is the agent for the Scandinavian Mutual Protective Fire In- surance Association, and he is also appraiser in this district for the Company. His faithful wife died October 21, 1913, at sixty-eight years of age. Mr. Dawson is prominent in the First Presbyterian Church, in which he is a ruling elder ; he is superintendent of the Jefferson Sunday School, and served as trustee of the Clovis High School board for one term. Mr. Dawson made his first trip to California in 1882, subsequently spending a second winter in the Golden State before he located here, and since then he has made three trips back to Wis- consin, thus crossing the mountains and plains eleven times.

BARSAM ADOOR .- A prominent raisin-grower who not only is inter- ested in the growth of Fresno County and has great confidence in the future of this part of the Golden State, but has himself contributed toward the devel- opment of some of its most important interests, is Barsam Adoor, who lives in the Malaga district. He was born in Assyria on September 15, 1870, the son of a baker, under whom he learned the baker's trade. There were four sons in the family, and three of them came to the United States and are now in Fresno County.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

It was in 1891 that Barsam came to America and located in Massachu- setts, where he worked for eight years in shoe factories at Milford, Brockton and Boston. In 1899 he came West to Fresno County and rented the Loleta Vineyard, five miles east of Selma, consisting of 160 acres, and there he also had a packing house. For five years he followed raisin-growing, but with little success. In 1904 he opened a pool hall and cigar stand on K Street, and after four years he sold out and started the New England Bakery on the west side of town, taking into partnership with him his brother Paul. In this undertaking he was successful, and he kept at it for six years. Selling out in 1913, he and Paul bought a forty-acre vineyard on North Avenue in the Mal- aga district, where they raised Thompson seedless and muscat grapes; the returns happily being such that the vineyard now yields from three to five thousand dollars' profit a year.

Barsam, Paul and the third brother, Charles, own a business block erected in 1900 on F Street, and Charles owns a twenty-acre vineyard on Ventura Avenue.

On August 4, 1914, Mr. Adoor was married to Anna Donabed, also a na- tive of Assyria ; and now they have one promising son, Sargon.

GUSTAV OLSEN .- Gustav Olsen, more familiarly known as Gus Ol- sen, is a native of Holmestrand, Norway, having been born in that country September 22, 1880. When five years of age he came with his parents to San Francisco, Cal. He was educated in the public schools of San Francisco and Oakland, and started to learn the trade of a tailor, but soon abandoned it to devote his attention to sign painting, which he has followed for the past twenty-two years. He was in the employ of M. S. Moe, and learned his trade with the leading sign painter of San Francisco, M. Stein, for whom he worked eight years. He then engaged in business for himself at Eighth and Market Streets, San Francisco, with a partner by the name of Quane, under the firm name of Quane & Olsen. After ten months the firm was dis- solved and Mr. Olsen went to Chicago, Ill., where he worked for the sign painter Bornhoft, for a short time. Later he traveled through the East.

Mr. Olsen made his first trip to Fresno in 1902, at which time he was in the employ of Stein & Company, and he afterwards made frequent trips to the city. He was in the employ of J. F. Gallmann of Fresno for a while. He was married in this city in 1908 and has made this his home ever since. His present place of business is located at 1831 Fresno Street. He maintains the largest sign-painting plant between San Francisco and Los Angeles, covering a large field of operations in his work, and is prepared to do work in any part of the San Joaquin Valley. He does the major portion of the work for the Standard Oil Company and the Associated Oil Company, as well as the work of the California Associated Raisin Company in the Valley. In the busiest season he employs nine men. He is a member of the Fresno Sign Painters' Union and was one of the organizers of the San Francisco Sign Painters' Union.

The possessor of an unusually fine baritone voice, Mr. Olsen is well known in Fresno as a singer of merit. He studied vocal music under Pro- fessor Rowlands of Oakland and Professor Greven of San Francisco, and also with Don Pardee Riggs of Fresno. He has sung in most of the churches in Fresno, and at present is soloist in the Christian Church of that city, of which he is a member. He is also a member of the Male Chorus, and has done a great deal of solo work in Fresno County in singing for the Red Cross and Belgian Relief work, etc.

Mr. Olsen married Mrs. Alma Curren, a native of Canada. The children born of their union are: Marie, a native of Oakland, Cal .; Elizabeth, who died at the age of three months in 1910; and Virginia and Alma, native daughters of Fresno. By her first marriage, Mrs. Olsen had one child, Don- ald, born at Manchester, N. H., who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Olsen.

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H. A. DALLKE .- The world is looking today for men of efficiency, men who not only know how to accomplish, but who do accomplish the duties assigned them and are not afraid to do even more than their allotment. Such a man is H. A. Dallke, the special agent of the Standard Oil Company, at Reedley, Cal. Since 1915 he has had full charge of the distributing office at Reedley.

H. A. Dallke was born in the state of Kansas, on May 27, 1883, the son of Henry and Augusta Dallke, whose family consisted of four children, the subject of this sketch being the second child. He was reared and educated in the state of Kansas.

When Mr. Dallke reached young manhood he exhibited a preference for the mercantile life, which he followed for a number of years. His first ex- periences in this line were gained in Kansas, afterwards in Oklahoma. In 1912 he migrated to California and secured employment with the Standard Oil Company and for three years drove a tank wagon. His fidelity to the company's best interests and his ability for assuming a more responsible position were soon recognized and he was advanced to the responsible post he now occupies.

Mr. Dallke was united in marriage with Miss Tena Summerfield, in 1904. This union was blessed with two daughters, Elsie and Verna. In 1915, Mrs. Dallke passed away. After her demise an aunt of the children came to reside in the home and assume the responsibility of rearing the girls. The second marriage of Mr. Dallke was solemnized in 1916, when he was united with Miss Anna Summerfield, a sister of his first wife.

That Mr. Dallke's efficiency and trustworthiness, in the transactions of the business of the corporation are meeting with the approval of the officers is best evidenced by his continuance in the position at Reedley. His friends predict for him a prosperous business career.

GUS. CHRISTOPHER .- The acknowledged leader of the Greek Colony at Fresno, Gus. Christopher, is one of the city's enterprising and successful business men. The high esteem in which he is held in the community is best evidenced by the fact of his being chosen as an ex-officio member of the ex- ecutive committee to represent the Greek nation at the great celebration of "Britain Day" held in the City of Fresno, on December 7-8, 1918. Gus. Chris- topher is a native of Greece, born at Eperos, May 22, 1882. After leaving school he was for six years engaged in mining for iron, copper and silver, in Greece and France.

Possessed with a desire to seek his fortune in America, where so many of his countrymen had gained success in various lines of endeavor, Mr. Chris- topher emigrated to the United States in 1902, coming as far West as Spokane, Wash., where he entered the hotel and cafe business, subsequently locating at Bellingham, in the same state, where he was engaged in the bakery bus- iness. In 1905 Mr. Christopher came to San Francisco, Cal., where he con- ducted a cafe and continued in business there until 1910, when he bought the Pleasanton Cafe, in Fresno, and at once remodeled, refitted and improved it to such an extent that it was regarded afterwards as the finest modern cafe in the city. He continued to own and operate the Pleasanton Cafe until Jan- uary, 1915. Gus. Christopher is possessed of keen foresight and splendid business management, and the concensus of opinion among his friends and business associates is, that in all he undertakes he is eminently successful. In 1914 he purchased the Bijou Photo Theatre, 1137 J Street, Fresno, and since he has operated the theatre has remodeled it, made many needed im- provements, installed a new ventilating system, two "Powers" operating machines, electric piano, and a new screen. The Bijou is now considered the best short-show theatre in the state. Mr. Christopher has demonstrated his good business judgment by investing his money in Fresno realty. Among his holdings are two lots at Van Ness and Stanislaus Streets, where he con-

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templates erecting apartment houses; and the Parker Lyons residence on Van Ness and Calaveras Streets, which he recently purchased as an invest- ment. In 1910 he bought a forty-acre ranch in the Perrin Colony. For two years he raised tobacco on this ranch, but in 1913 planted it to figs.

Fraternally, Mr. Christopher was made a Mason in Fresno Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M., at Fresno, in 1912. He has taken all degrees up to and includ- ing the Mystic Shrine. He was the founder and is the president of the local Greek Society, "Hellenic Progressive Society," an organization conducted along educational lines for the promotion of friendship and cooperation be- tween Americans and Greeks. George Voenes is vice-president ; N. D. Nitsos, secretary, and S. M. Lagudis, treasurer. Mr. Christopher is a very progressive and prosperous citizen is highly respected among his large circle of friends.

EUGENE ROUGNY .- The birthplace of Eugene Rougny was Gap. Hautes-Alpes, France, and the date of birth November 8, 1884. His father, Casimir, was a farmer, and Eugene early learned the rudiments of farming as carried on in his native place, receiving a good education in the public schools. When twenty-one years of age he entered the French army, serving in an Alpine Regiment called the "Blue Devils," he being in the Fourteenth Battalion. After eighteen months' service he was honorably discharged, as corporal.

In 1908 Mr. Rougny came to California, arriving in Fresno, December 25th of that year. He was employed in the lumber yards of the Fresno Flume & Land Company, of Clovis, then in Pine Ridge, logging next, after a few months, with the Shaver mill. He then returned to Clovis and leased a vineyard for three years.

Mr. Rougny was married, near Malaga, on April 6, 1918, to Mrs. Anais (Corbeil) Blanc, also born at Gap, she being the daughter of Lucien Corbeil, a farmer who came to California over thirty years ago and who now resides in Fresno. Mrs. Rougny came to Fresno County in 1899, attending the public schools in Fresno. Her first marriage was to Marius Blanc, who came from France to Fresno in 1896 and was employed by the Fresno Flume and Land Company as flume-herder, until in 1914 when he engaged in viticulture on a twenty-three-acre ranch near Malaga, where he died on November 14, 1916, aged thirty-seven, leaving, besides his widow, four children: Henry, Albert, Marius, and Adrian.

Mr. and Mrs. Rougny own and operate their ranch, which is devoted to raising grapes and alfalfa. They have one child, Leon. They are members of the California Associated Raisin Company.

GUSTAVE LEPLAT .- The genealogy of the Leplat family is traced back to the historic city of Lille, France, where Gustave was born of Bel- gian parents, January 13, 1847. His early education was in French and was obtained in a boarding school at Brussels, after which he attended a military, or regimental school, and six years he was a member of the Ninth Infantry Belgium Army. Gustave Leplat was so proficient in the art of fencing that he became an instructor in the army. He also studied engineering, develop- ing his talents along the lines of construction and engineering work to such a high degree that in 1865 he was sent to Antwerp, Belgium, to build forti- fications and helped in the construction of forts in other parts of that country. After finishing his term of service in the Belgium Army, Mr. Leplat accepted a position in the government office at Brussels.

In 1880 he emigrated to America and having learned the trade of a painter and interior decorator while in Belgium, he was engaged in that line of work in Chicago, Ill., and in the year 1883 moved farther westward, lo- cating for a while in Los Angeles, Cal., where he followed his trade. On April 6, 1891, Gustave Leplat arrived in Fresno, Cal., and since that time has continued to reside there and so successfully conducted his business of paint- ing and artistic interior decorating. Mr. Leplat is a natural artist and his superior taste in interior designing has gained for him an enviable reputation

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and has been an important factor in the building-up of his extensive business. The name Leplat stands for the latest and most artistic in interior decora- tions. In addition to some of the finest residences in the city of Fresno, his · work is to be seen in the following public buildings: Winchell Block, Cath- olic Church, Congregational Church, and C Street schoolhouse ; his work also extends throughout the county, among the homes of prosperous ranchers and to Madera and other valley cities.

Mr. Leplat's success in business has made possible his splendid realty holdings in the city of Fresno, consisting of his home at 227 Valeria Street, a two-story house on I Street, and two lots near the Normal School. He is a loyal American, having become a naturalized citizen while living in Los Angeles. Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Fresno Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M .; Fresno Consistory Scottish Rite and is a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco. For thirty-two years he has been an honored member of the Knights of Pythias of which he is a past officer. He is also a charter member of the Painter's Union of Fresno, and past secretary and treasurer of the organization. His first marriage was in Belgium where he was united with Josephine Landeloos, who died there.

In 1891 at Fresno Gustave Leplat was married to Mrs. Mary Lee, a na- tive of Paris, France, but reared in California, having immigrated here with her parents in 1852, coming around Cape Horn to San Francisco. Of his first union two children grew up: Frank, of Los Angeles; and Mrs. Jeamie Roderick, who died February 3, 1919 in San Francisco. Some years ago Mr. Leplat made a trip through Mexico investigating the possibilities of that country but after looking them over he decided to remain in California.

NICHOLAS HOLSTEIN .- An enterprising general merchant of the City of Fresno is Nicholas Holstein, a native of the town of Volsk, Saratof, Russia, where he was born on October 17, 1878. His father was Henry Carl Holstein, who was engaged in the hotel and bakery business until, in 1883, he died there. He had married Fredericka Kerner, who is still living, the mother of twelve children, four of whom have survived.

The second youngest of these four, Nicholas was brought up at Volsk, bereft of his father from his fourth year. He was sent to the Balakova public school, and there learned both German and Russian. When nine years old, he was apprenticed to learn the mercantile business, and for sixteen and a half years he worked for the same firm in two different stores. He was manager the last two years, but he resigned to accept a place with the Singer Sewing Machine Company-for the first four years as agent and bookkeeper, and then for three years as manager.

Mr. Holstein's experience in that capacity was so exceptional that it affords many an interesting tale. During those seven years he was stationed in different cities for 800 miles along the Volga; and with headquarters in the City of Ural, in the Ural Mountains, he traveled 700 miles from the Cas- pian Sea to Busulak, and so became familiar with various lands and peoples.

In 1913, Mr. Holstein resigned to come to California and Fresno, and for six months he was in the employ of a packing-house. During this time he attended night school, and then he was for two years with the Singer Sewing Machine Company as agent for the county. He was full of business enter- prise, and while so engaged started his store in a rented place on this lot, with a small stock of goods, and his wife took charge of the store. The bus- iness grew rapidly and at the end of two years Mr. Holstein resigned to look after his own interests. In time he was able to buy a lot and residence, and then to enlarge his store. Now his establishment is one of the notable business houses in his section, dealing in general merchandise and notions, groceries, etc. It is located at 117 F Street, and is a credit to the neighborhood.

In far-off Ural, Mr. Holstein was married to Miss Alexandrina Bier, a native of Volga, and they have four children: Valdemar, Ludmilia, Egenia. and Victor.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

IENER W. NIELSEN .- Among the representatives of the Fresno bar may be mentioned Iener W. Nielsen, the descendant of immigrants who hailed originally from Northern Europe and brought with them to the new and fast-developing California, many desirable social and industrial customs. He was born at Fresno on May 8, 1886, and his father was C. Nielsen, who was well-known in his native country as an experienced and painstaking farmer ; one of the "old school," determined on making a success of what- ever he undertook, and therefore certain to transmit by inheritance to off- spring the same invaluable spirit of success-pursuit. He married Emily West- ring, and during the middle eighties he crossed the ocean, continued across the continent, and keeping his eye steadily fixed on the Golden State, arrived at length in Fresno County and settled in the Bowles Colony. There engaged in ranching until October 28, 1917, when he died. Mrs. Nielsen and a number of the children are now living on their well-appointed ranch, enjoying the esteem and good-will of all who know them.

Iener Nielsen was educated in the grammar and high schools of Fresno, after which he studied for a year at the Highland Park College in Iowa, from which he was graduated with honors and the coveted degree of Bach- elor of Arts. He next matriculated at the University of Southern California Law School, where he was fortunate in attending lectures delivered by some of the most brilliant of California's jurists and expounders of law; and after completing the prescribed courses he returned to the city of his birth, se- lected a good office, installed one of the most serviceable of modern reference libraries, and began the practice of law. Since that time Mr. Nielsen has made steady professional advancement, and it is a pleasant statement of simple fact that he is today a promising member of the California bar.

Mr. Nielsen belongs to the Woodmen of the World; but his social sym- pathies are still broader, and he is never second in any endeavor looking to the improvement of society or the decided advancement of man as a social factor.

JOSE MICHAEL LUGEA .- A native son of the Golden West who by his own efforts has made a success and risen to a place of influence and afflu- ence, is Jose Michael Lugea who was born at Tres Pinos, San Benito County, December 1, 1880. His father, Jose Lugea, was born at Garajoa, Navarra, Spain, where he made his home until seventeen years of age when he made his way to Buenos Ayres, South America, where with his brothers he be- came a stock raiser, continuing there until the fifties, when he was attracted hither. He was the first of the brothers to come to California but they fol- . lowed him later on.

The elder Jose was married in San Francisco, taking for his wife a lady from his native place, Marie Elizagoyen who had come to San Francisco with her two brothers. Jose Lugea and his brothers became extensive sheep growers making their headquarters at Los Banos, Merced County. Mr. Miguel Arbrura was also a partner with them and between them they owned large flocks as well as a large ranch. Finally they sold and located at Tres Pinos, San Benito County, where they continued together, meeting with success. In 1882 they sold all of their interests and returned to Spain. Miguel Arbrura after a short stay came out to California again, engaging in stock- raising and today is a large land owner and wealthy man, residing in Los Banos. Jose Lugea was satisfied to remain in his native land where he pur- chased and owned a large farm and raised cattle and sheep. He and his wife both spent their last days there. Of their eight children seven are living, of whom Jose M. is the next to the youngest. Four of the boys came to Cali- fornia ; Perfecto died in 1903; Raymond resides in Elko County, Nev .; M. P. is a business man in San Francisco, and our subject. A sister, Mrs. Mary Figols, resides in Red Bluff.

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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 136

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