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 137
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Jose M. was about two years of age when his parents took him back to Spain, where he attended the local school until he was sixteen years of age.
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His parents had passed away during his school days and his oldest sister was in charge of the farm. After his school days were over he assisted on the home farm until nineteen. Having always had a desire to return to the land of his birth. He came to San Francisco in 1899, and soon afterwards we find him employed on the ranch of his uncle at Los Banos, afterwards working for Miller & Lux, where he learned to drive the big teams in the grain fields and became familiar with general farming. In 1905 he became foreman of the sheep department on a large ranch at Elko, Nev., where the ranch carried about 20,000 head of sheep. In 1907 he returned to California and engaged in the hotel business with his brother, as proprietors of Hotel de Spanio, until 1917, when he quit the business to give all of his time to sheep-raising in Fresno County in which he had become interested as early as 1909, having a partner, Frank Bezunegui. Their band increased so that in 1915 they divided their flocks and dissolved partnership, since which time he has continued in business alone. His headquarters ranch is near Coalinga and he resided in that city until 1918, when he moved his family to Fresno from which point he superintends his stock and wool-growing interests. The marriage of Mr. Lugea occurred in San Francisco, 1908, when he was united with Eloteria Bezunegui, a native of Navarra, Spain, and five children have blessed their union: Anna, Jose, Agustin, Elisa, and Graciosa. As a native son Mr. Lugea is greatly inter- ested in growth and development of California and very optimistic for its future greatness. When the Growers National Bank of Fresno was organized he be- came a stockholder, and is a member of its board of directors.
JOSEPH DEMERA .- A leader in the Italian Colony of Fresno, as is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen as a member of the committee on Italian Day, during the celebration held in Fresno in September, 1918; also the only Italian chosen as a member ex-officio, of the Executive Committee on Britain Day, December 7-8, 1918, Joseph Demera, was born March 1, 1872, in the province of Potenza, near Naples, Italy. His early education was received in the public schools of his native country, after which he was en- gaged in farming. In 1898 Joseph Demera emigrated to the United States, where he secured employment in New York City, remaining in the metrop- olis until 1903, when he located in Fresno, Cal. His first employment in the Golden State was on a ranch near the city of Fresno, after which, for one vear, he was in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, and for eight years rendered faithful and efficient service for the Union Oil Company. Mr. De- mera possesses those traits of character so essential to success, industry and economy, and by untiring efforts and thrifty habits, he has eventually won success. His excellent judgment was shown by investing his savings in Fresno real estate, on E Street, where he owns at present three houses and his store building. In the fall of 1917, Mr. Demera opened a grocery store at 1520 E Street, Fresno, in which enterprise he has been very successful. He is a patriotic citizen of the Republic, having become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America at Fresno, in 1904.
In the province of Potenza, Italy, Joseph Demera was united in mar- riage, February 8, 1893, with Louisa Allampresea, a native of that province, and this happy union has been blessed with three children: Pascal, born May 30, 1900, a student, attending the Nevada State University, at Reno, who is an exceptionally fine musician, an artist on both the piano and violin ; Rosie, born September 10, 1901 ; and James, who was born December 23, 1903. Mr. Demera is a very progressive and public-spirited citizen, always ready to do his part in aiding every worthy movement that has as its aim the upbuilding of the best interests of the community. Religiously, he is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics supports the Republican party. To those who have succeeded in life solely by their own efforts, much credit is due, and to such a worthy class of citizens belongs the subject of this review, Joseph Demera.
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JOSEPH GIARDINA .- A resident in Fresno County who came here in the late nineties and who struggled to get ahead and away from conditions most discouraging, and has "made good," and seen that his children should receive the education necessary for them to attain to success, is Joseph Giardina, who was born in Palermo, Sicily, February 11, 1861 and educated in the Italian public schools. When just eighteen he took the great step and sailed for New York, where he arrived as poor as the thousands sweltering and contesting for their daily bread. The first opportunity opened to him was that of the barber's trade. But he was not satisfied to fight hour after hour for existence in the east, and before it was too late, he packed all his belongings and made for the more Golden West.
In 1881 he arrived at San Francisco, where he worked for awhile at his trade and then located in Astoria, Ore. There he opened a general store for the sale of cigars, provisions, imported goods, etc., and this he carried on with success until 1897. In that year he came to Fresno, and since then he has here resided, identifying himself more and more with the city and the county. For a while he engaged in the fish business on Fresno Street, and carried on a large wholesale and retail store. After seventeen years in that line, when he had become very well and very favorably known, he sold out and opened a cigar store on Tulare Street, where he also did a retail and a whole- sale business. In 1916 he removed to his present place at 1141 I Street. Besides his investments in this line of activity, Mr. Giardina owns valuable real estate in Fresno, and has been successful in both buying and selling property. His judgment is good, and often sought by others, and he is wide- awake to perceive a bargain where others, also able to run, but unable to read, pass by the golden opportunity.
Some years ago Mr. Giardina married Annie Leonard, a native of Scot- land, and by her he has had five children. Although all were born in Astoria, none could be inspired with more of the native Californian spirit than they. A daughter is Mrs. Joseph Greco, she lives at Fresno with one child ; a son is Joseph; another son, Purcel L., is married and has one child to bless his home; the fourth in order of birth is now Mrs. Constance Blaird of Stockton, and the mother of a child; while the youngest is Mrs. Camillia Russ, of Fresno, the mother of a child.
LEOPOLDO SCIACQUA .- A resident of California since 1895 and one of the leading upbuilders of Empire district is Leopoldo Sciacqua, a native of Lucca, Tuscano, Italy, where he was born May 27, 1874, and where he was reared and learned viticulture as it is practiced in his native land. Being desirous of trying his fortune in California, he came hither in 1895, locating in Fresno County. He was for a time employed at lumbering on Pine Ridge, and was afterwards employed in the vineyards of Fresno County. He then spent two years in Oakland, after which he returned to Fresno. He leased a vineyard for a time, and became one of the organizers of the Empire Vine- yard and Orchard Company, being associated with L. S. Francini, who was president of the company, while Mr. Sciacqua was superintendent and man- ager. This was in 1907. The company purchased 1,120 acres of land twelve and a half miles west of Fresno. There was an old orchard on a part of the place. This he grubbed out, and set the place to Thompson seedless, muscat and wine grapes. The company ran the whole place until 1916, when they sold 480 acres. Of this, Mr. Sciacqua and a partner, Mrs. Mary Mautino, purchased 320 acres, which Mr. Sciacqua also superintends and which is devoted to viticulture. He is still interested in the old company, but has resigned the position as manager to give his time to his own place.
In Oakland occurred the marriage of Mr. Sciacqua and Miss Dominica Zucca ; and to them have been born four children: Lillian, Guido, Helen, and Frank. Mr. Sciacqua is an experienced and well-posted viticulturist whose advice is often sought by others. He is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, and is highly esteemed.
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CHARLES ROSCELLI .- The success achieved by Charles Roscelli, of the firm of Roscelli and Bacci, commission merchants, at 1426 Fresno Street, Fresno, Cal., has been the result of perseverance and well directed industry, combined with good business judgment. He is a native of Genoa, Italy, born January 1, 1876, a member of a family of nine children, and owing to cir- cumstances was obliged to go to work on his father's farm at the very early age of seven years. Being deprived of the opportunity of attending school during the day, Charles took advantage of the excellent night school of his native city, where he received his early education. In 1893, at the age of seventeen, he emigrated to the United States, locating in California, and at San Francisco obtained work in a vegetable garden, later going to Stockton, where for six years he secured employment at various occupations. In 1907 Mr. Roscelli came to Fresno, where he rented four acres of land on the corner of Cherry and California Streets, which he planted to vegetables, and fol- lowed gardening for two years, when he removed to Portland, Ore., and later to Seattle, Wash., where he followed clerical work for four years.
In 1913 he returned to Fresno, where he again engaged in vegetable growing, renting for the purpose five acres on Cherry Avenue, and continued in this business for two years. Realizing the opportunity for building up a better business, and one in which he could better develop his capacity for managing larger and more important business affairs, Mr. Roscelli engaged in the commission business, opening a warehouse in 1916 at 1426 Fresno Street, where he is conducting a prosperous and growing business in vege- tables and fruits. So successful has the new enterprise proved that it re- quires the service of two auto trucks for delivery, and in 1918 he took into partnership Frank Bacci.
Mr. Roscelli is a progressive and enterprising business man, one who has succeeded in life solely by his own efforts, and his friends predict for him even greater achievements in the business world.
RILEY JURY .- A resident of California since 1880, Riley Jury is a native of New York State, born at Cape Vincent, at the head of Lake Ontario, Jefferson County, February 5, 1872. His father, William Bulcher Jury, was a native of England and came when a young man to New York State, where he was a farmer and dairyman. In 1880 he brought his family to Niles, Ala- meda County, locating on a farm, and there he died in 1912. Mr. Jury's mother, Ruth Boles, was also a native of New York, born December 25, 1837. She was first married to Mr. Vandervoort. She now resides in Cen- terville, Alameda County. She is over eighty-one years of age, and was the champion knitter for the Red Cross in Alameda County. Of her union with W. B. Jury there were four children, three living, of whom Riley is the eldest.
Coming to California from New York when he was eight years old, Mr. Jury went to public school in Alameda County, and then attended Washing- ton Commercial College, at Irvington, where he was graduated in 1889. He then spent four years in the engineering department with the Alameda Sugar Company, resigning in 1897 to engage in stock-raising at Mendota Dam, where he leased the J. C. Mowry ranch of 1,000 acres and raised cattle and hogs. Seeing a great future for intensive farming on the lands in the vicinity of Mendota, he purchased the present place of 160 acres one and one-half miles southwest of Mendota. It was all sage brush, and he cleared it and put the first plow in the soil, making all the improvements. In 1907 he built his residence and moved onto the place. He sunk the well, installed a pumping plant, and planted twenty acres of alfalfa the first year. He found the surface water too salt for irrigating ; so he put down a well 570 feet deep and a second well 641 feet deep, which with his electric pumping plant give him ample water for irrigating his ranch. He is raising alfalfa, grain and stock, and has named the ranch the Alpha Grain and Stock Farm, recording the title with the Secretary of State. He raises pure-bred registered Poland-China hogs. Some of his hogs have taken prizes. He is also raising Shropshire sheep. It
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has been proven by Mr. Jury that by a systematic method of fencing and irrigating the fields a large number of stock can be carried on a small acre- age. He is carrying upwards of 500 head of stock on his ranch the year round. He has paddocks for his full-blooded hogs and rams. Mr. Jury was the first in this section to start irrigation.
Mr. Jury was married at Mission San Jose in 1900 to Miss Emma Arnau- don, a native daughter born in San Francisco, the oldest daughter of A. J. Arnaudon, the pioneer of Mendota. Two children bless this union: Edna and Floyd. Mr. Jury was made a Mason in Alasil Lodge, No. 321, F. & A. M., at Pleasanton. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Mendota, in which he has been Keeper of Records and Seals for many years.
PETER DALENA .- Peter Dalena was born in Bari, Italy, January 15, 1880. He was educated in the local schools and from a lad learned viticulture, working in his father's vineyard. Determining to try his fortune in the United States, he came to New York City in 1902, and six months later to San Francisco, Cal., arriving in 1903. For a time he was employed as a gardener in Sonoma County, and then engaged in raising beans on an island below Sacramento. In 1905 he came to Reedley, Fresno County, as a foreman on the Great Western Vineyard. In 1908 he came to Arizona Colony, pur- chased twenty acres of his present place, and immediately began improving it as a vineyard. Later he bought twenty acres adjoining. This was raw land, which he leveled and set to Thompson seedless vines. He now has twenty acres of Thompsons, ten acres of sultanas, and ten acres of muscats. The ranch is well-improved and is set with a border of figs.
Mr. Dalena's marriage occurred in Indianola, Miss., where he was united with Miss Emelia Romagnoli, a native of Issi, Italy. They have three chil- dren : Kelina, Ropeo, and Merico. Mr. Dalena has shown much enterprise in improving and building up his splendid ranch property. He is a viticul- turist of ability, and is a member and stockholder of the California Associated Raisin Company.
JEAN SAHARGUN .- Jean Sahargun was born in Aldudes, Basses- Pyrénées, October 13, 1876. His father, Martin Sahargun, being a farmer, the lad Jean was reared to farming and stock-raising as practiced in the south of France, where he received a good education in the common schools. The father died when Jean was a youth of thirteen years. He began work- ing out on farms to make his own livelihood, remaining with one employer for seven years. He then entered the Sixth Infantry Regiment of the French army, serving three years, when he was honorably discharged. Having a brother Pierre who had migrated to California in 1887 and was engaged in sheep-raising in Fresno County, Jean determined to cast in his lot on the Pacific Coast and came hither to join his brother.
Pierre Sahargun was in partnership with Peter Arbios, with headquarters in Mendota, and became a very successful stockman, though his career was cut short by his death in 1908 at the age of thirty-nine years. Pierre had mar- ried Miss Josephine Daunet, the ceremony taking place in Mendota on Octo- ber 17. 1903. She was born in Lurbei, Basses-Pyrénées. Her father, Pierre Daunet, was a stockman at Lurbei. In 1900 she came to Fresno where she resided until her marriage. She is the mother of one child, John.
Jean Sahargun arrived in Mendota in December, 1900, where he assisted his brother in the care of his flock. In 1906, having accumulated some means, he bought a bunch of sheep and started in for himself. Meanwhile, his brother's health failing, he also took care of his flock until his death. Mr. Sahargun has increased the number of his band and is now accounted a well- to-do and successful stockman on the West Side in Fresno County, ranging his band on the plains in winter and in the Sugar Pine district of the Sierras during the summer. He is a man of kindly nature and is liberal and enterpris- ing. He is a member of the California Automobile Association.
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HENRY SCHEIDT .- Among the enterprising men who are actively identified with the development of the horticultural and viticultural interests of Fresno County, in the vicinity of Sanger, and one who has demonstrated by his career the true worth of thrift, perseverance and self-confidence, is Henry Scheidt, a native of Russia, where he was born on August 18, 1870. He is a son of Chris and Christina Scheidt, who were the parents of eleven children, and he was reared and educated in his native country where he re- mained until 1896, when he immigrated to the United States and settled the same year in California. Two other members of the family are now located in Fresno County, August Scheidt, and Mrs. Catherine Horg, who reside in the city of Fresno.
Upon his arrival in Fresno County, Henry Scheidt was practically with- out means but possessed a stout heart and strong determination to succeed. After years of arduous labor and economical living he had saved enough money to purchase his first ranch which consisted of forty acres, and after improving the place he sold it and purchased his present home ranch of forty acres, thirty of which were improved and the balance he has set to vines. Later he purchased forty acres more which he is improving with vines, and this gives him eighty acres devoted to horticulture and viticulture. His am- bition in life was to be the sole owner of a ranch, which worthy aim he has lived to see more than consummated, and his example is all the more de- serving of commendation as he began with nothing and has made for himself a recognized place among the ranchers of his section of Fresno County.
On January 12, 1889, Henry Scheidt was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Spate, of Samara, Russia, and this happy union was blessed with fifteen children, nine of whom are living: Chris; Henry; Peter; Sophia ; Alexander ; Fred; Augustus; Edward; and Harry. Peter enlisted in the United States Navy in August, 1918, and was stationed at Mare Island until his discharge on May 16, 1919. Henry was married January- 20, 1918, to Lizzie Rau. Mr. Scheidt is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company and is a stockholder in the California Peach Growers, Inc. The family are members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics are Republican in national affairs, while in local matters they support the best men and measures.
JOSE M. YRACEBURU .- A farmer and stockman of the West Side who has been a resident of Fresno County since 1900 is Jose M. Yraceburu who was born at Villanueva, Navarra, Spain, September 27, 1874, the oldest of eleven children born to Jose Ramon and Firmina (Erro) Yraceburu who were farmers in Spain where his mother died November 2, 1914, while the father now resides with our subject. Jose's parents were in very moderate circumstances so when Jose was eight and one-half years of age had to go to work for a farmer; he continued with him six years. He followed farm work until he was nineteen years of age when he became a soldier in the Spanish army and was sent to Cuba where he served until 1899. During this time he served in the Spanish-American War. Returning to Spain in 1899 he re- mained one year and then came to California locating in Fresno. He im- mediately found employment with a sheepman on the West Side, continuing this work for about ten years and then invested his savings in a band of sheep, a business he has followed ever since. He has improved his ranch with a residence and other suitable buildings. Aside from sheep and wool growing he leases land, sowing from 1,200 to 1,500 acres each year to grain. Mr. Yraceburu was married in Hanford, July 12, 1909, to Miss Trinidad Cerdau born in Navarra, Spain, the daughter of Pascaso and Eulalia (Cavero) Cerdau who spent their entire lives in Spain. Mrs. Yraceburu came to Fresno County in 1904. They have two children, Jose Raymond and Gabino; the latter died September, 1918, when three and one-half years old. Mr. Yraceburu was made a full citizen of the United States in 1912.
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ANNIBALE TRUCCHI .- The popular proprietor of the dependable grocery store located at 1040 H Street, Fresno, Annibale Trucchi, is a native of Torino, Italy, where he first saw the light of day on September 5, 1849. In his youth he attended a military college and at sixteen years of age entered the Italian Army, in which he rapidly rose to the position of a lieutenant. Mr. Trucchi remained in the army eleven years during which time he saw service during the revolution in the city of Palermo, in 1866. Resigning from the army in 1874, he engaged in the dry goods business at Forli, Italy, where he remained eight years. In 1889, having a desire to see more of the world, and particularly the United States, he emigrated to America stopping for a time in Chicago, after which he continued his journey westward until he reached the Golden State, locating for one year at San Francisco. Later, Mr. Trucchi moved to Stockton where he operated a general store for eight years. In 1900 he arrived in Fresno, where he opened a general merchandise store at 1040 H Street, and here he has been engaged in business ever since. Mr. Trucchi possesses a happy faculty of making and retaining many friends, a very valuable business asset; this, coupled with his good business manage- ment and the courteous treatment of his patrons, has been a great factor in building up a very prosperous business. As he succeeded in business he purchased land and at one time bought forty acres of raw land, in the Perrin Colony, which he improved with vines and fruit trees, developed water and erected a home, after which he was offered a good price for his place and sold in 1914. Mr. Trucchi has large real estate holdings in the city of Fresno, consisting of eighteen lots and three houses.
Mr. Trucchi was united in marriage, at Chicago, with Armenia Santori, a native of Italy, and they are the parents of three children: Louisa, who married A. Cantoni; Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. Roy Mazzi; and Joaquin. Mr. and Mrs. Trucchi are especially proud of their three grandchildren. During the eighteen years of his residence in Fresno, Mr. Trucchi has wit- nessed the remarkable growth of this city and its wonderful developments and has always been interested in those movements and measures that make for the upbuilding of the best interests of the city and county. Fraternally, Mr. Trucchi is a member of the Foresters of America, having been affiliated with this organization for twenty-seven years.
ROCCO S. GOBBY .- An industrious dairyman, who gives his wife credit for a large part of his prosperity, is Rocco S. Gobby, the youngest of the three Gobby brothers who came from Petaluma to Riverdale many years ago, and whose progress has been interwoven with the development of the county. These young men have overcome difficulties that would have dis- heartened the less resolute. As a dairyman, as a director in the Riverdale Cooperative Creamery, and as a public-spirited citizen, Rocco S. Gobby must be classed with the best citizenry of Central California. He is also a stock- holder in and helped organize the First National Bank of Riverdale, and he assisted in getting the railroad through this part of the county.
Mr. Gobby was born at Neva, Switzerland, in Canton Ticino, on August 20, 1866, a member of a family in which the brothers and sisters were com- panions-the family history being given with more detail in the sketch. of Louis Gobby, printed elsewhere in this book. Mr. Gobby's brothers and sisters were: Peter, (now deceased) ; Adeline and Josephine, who both died single in Italy ; and Louis. In 1886, when California was beginning to realize her possibilities, Mr. Gobby came to California. He left home on October 5, sailed from Havre, France, and landed in New York, anxious to reach Cali- fornia and see his older brother, Louis, who had preceded him two years before.
Just one month after he left home, Mr. Gobby reached Petaluma, and went to work on a dairy ranch for eighteen dollars a month. He saved his money, and after a while he and Louis rented a dairy farm in Sonoma County
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