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 140

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 140

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When Mr. Scheidt first came to Fresno, he bought the second crop of a ten-acre vineyard and made $300. The next year, he rented the vineyard and lost $600. The third year he bought the second crop in several vineyards and made $1,000; and then he built a residence in Fresno. So he continued leasing and farming on the side until he was able to establish himself in viticulture and horticulture.

JOHN LUNG, JR .- An enterprising and successful rancher of the Bar- stow district, John Lung, Jr., was born in Skadofsky, Straub Colony, Samara, Russia, June 18, 1885, a son of John and Catherine (Kerner) Lung. The father was a farmer in that country, and in 1900 brought his wife and children to Fresno, where he followed ranching; he now lives retired in Fresno, with his good wife. Of their six children, five are now living. John, Jr., is the second oldest in the family. He received his education in the public schools of his native land, and in November, 1900, came with his parents to Fresno. Here he went to work on ranches and vineyards to assist his father, and also found employment in the raisin packing-houses.

In 1911, Mr. Lung, Jr., bought his present ranch of forty acres, twelve and one-half miles west of Fresno and one-half mile north of Shields Avenue. He improved the land himself and thirty acres of the ranch are devoted to Thompson seedless, while the balance is in alfalfa. It is under irrigation from the ditch, but Mr. Lung has also installed a pumping-plant. His thriving vine- yards and alfalfa are evidences of the capable rancher.

The marriage of Mr. Lung, Jr., occurred on April 26, 1904, in Fresno, and united him with Marie Hergenrader, also born in Samara, and who came to California with her parents while still in her teens. Seven children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Lung: William; Henry; Edward; Emma; Harry; Marie, and Elsie. The family attends the Congregational Lutheran Church of Fresno, and Mr. Lung is active in the Sunday School work, and is superintendent of the branch school at Barstow. In political matters he supports the Republican party, and he is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company. 118

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

SALLABERRY BROTHERS .- The firm of Sallaberry Brothers, com- posed of Bernard and Pascal Sallaberry and engaged in farming, stock- raising and dairying at Rolinda, is doing much to improve and develop the land hereabouts to the growing of alfalfa. These enterprising young men were born at Helette, Basses-Pyrénées, France, Bernard on September 18, 1882, and Pascal on April 13, 1884. They are the sons of Pierre and Catherine Sallaberry, farmer folk at Helette. The father is deceased but the mother still resides on the old home place. The brothers had the usual experiences of the youth of the neighborhood, learning farming, going to school, and serv- ing the required time in the French army. They belonged to the Forty-ninth Infantry, Bernard serving ten months, and Pascal for two years.

In 1906 Bernard Sallaberry migrated to Los Angeles, Cal., arriving in July, and immediately found employment on a ranch. His brother Pascal joined him in 1907, and the two with G. Oxarat formed a partnership and leased a ranch at Puente, where they raised vegetables, grain and alfalfa for over two years. Next they moved to Palms, where they leased sixty-one acres. This ranch they improved to alfalfa and stocked it with a dairy herd of thirty-five cows, selling their product in Los Angeles. They also leased other lands and farmed to grain and hay. At the end of five years they moved their dairy to Westminster. One year later Bernard sold his interest to Mr. Oxarat, and his brother sold the next year. After a short time at Salinas, Bernard came to Merced, where he was employed on a ranch until 1917. He and his brother then came to Fresno County and leased the Matias Erro place at Rolinda, where they are engaged in general farming and dairying. The place comprises 240 acres and is irrigated from the ditch as well as from two pumping plants. They are rapidly improving it to an alfalfa and stock farm, having about 100 head of cattle, of which seventy are milk cows. The brothers are very reliable, energetic and progressive young men, and are well liked by all who know them. Politically, they are firm believers in the prin- ciples of the Republican party.

JACK DEIS .- A young man of much promise, who is already making good to a remarkable degree in the county, Jack Deis can take just pride in his accomplishments since he first located in Fresno County. Born in Saradop, on the Volga, Samara, Russia, his father, Peter, was a blacksmith in that country, who went to South America, and then came to Fresno County, and died here; the mother, Katrina Elizabeth (Rudolph) Deis, died in the old home. Jack Deis was the only son who grew to maturity, and was raised in Saradop and attended the public schools. From a boy he learned the black- smith trade under his father, and also that of wheelwright. When eighteen years old he began the blacksmith business for himself. His marriage, on October 21, 1903, united him with Miss Mollie Scharf, born in Skadofski, Russia, a daughter of John and Anna Katherine (Horn) Scharf, the father a carpenter and builder and farmer in the old country; he came to Fresno in 1907 and resides in the Vinland district, engaged in viticulture.

In February, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Deis located in Fresno, and his first employment was at ranching for six months; he then bought ont Martin Hall at Rolinda, and continued his blacksmithing business for one year, then moved his shop to Fresno, on South F Street; his next shop was at Lone Star, which he sold, and started the shop at Barstow, engaged in blacksmith- ing there two years and disposed of his shop to buy his present ranch of twenty acres on Barstow Avenue, where he has built his residence and de- votes his acreage to a seventeen-acre peach orchard, with the balance in alfalfa. He also owned ten acres at Dickenson station, which he improved to Thompson seedless grapes.

Two children, Peter and Jessie Rudolph, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Deis to brighten their household. The family attends the Lutheran Church at Fresno. Mr. Deis is a member of the California Associated Raisin Com- pany, and of the California Peach Growers, Inc.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

ALBERT ROUGNY .- Born in Gap, Hautes-Alpes, France, April 7, 1886, Albert Rougny is the son of Casimir and Eugenia (Rico) Rougny, farmer folk in that country, who passed their entire lives there. Albert is the young- est of their nine children. After completing the public schools he followed working on the farm until 1907, when he entered a regiment of engineers in the French army. In 1908-09 he served in the campaign in Morocco for nine- teen months, when he was returned to France and honorably discharged after two years' service.

Mr. Rougny was desirous to try his fortune on the Pacific Coast as so many of his countrymen were doing, his wishes being fulfilled January 22, 1911, when he found himself in Fresno, Cal. For a time he was employed in vineyards, next he spent twenty-two months in Idaho, and then came back to California. Next we find him in Utah, following the sheep business. In Bingham city, Utah, June 23, 1914, he was married to Miss Adrienne Rico, also a native of Gap, France, the daughter of Delphine (Bonnet) Rico.

In 1915, Mr. Rougny came back to Fresno County, engaging in viticul- ture at Clovis. In 1918 he purchased his present vineyard of ten acres, one and a half miles east of Clovis, which he devotes to the culture of Thompson seedless. He also leases about eighty-five acres of vineyards, on thirty-five acres of which he is raising muscats, and grain hay on the balance. He is industrious and painstaking, giving the vineyards under his charge the best of care, and he has established a record for thoroughness, honesty, and up- rightness in his work and business dealings. He is a member of the Califor- nia Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Rougny have four children: Eugene ; Albert, Jr .; Augusta, and Bertha. In his political views Mr. Rougny is a Republican.

J. HENRY DIENER .- A self-made man, quick to see an opportunity and to act accordingly, J. Henry Diener has, since 1905, been a contractor for securing and furnishing men for labor on different ranches in the county, first for McIndoo, and then for Wylie Giffen, and for the Kearney ranch, and in the meantime has developed a ranch of his own and accepted positions as fore- man for the raisin packing-houses in the seasons, all speaking well for the enter- prise and energy of our subject. Born in Warenburg, Samara, Russia, on March 27, 1887, he is a son of Peter and Margareta (Constance) Diener, who were farmer folk in the old country, and in 1904 brought their family to Fresno, where the parents are now living retired.

J. Henry Diener was the oldest in a family of six children, and received his education in the public schools of Russia. In the fall of 1903 the family emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada, and in January of 1904 they arrived in Fresno. Here the young man worked in town for one year, then entered the employ of Robert McIndoo as foreman on his alfalfa ranch, continuing for about two years, when he went, in 1907, as foreman on the M. Theo. Kearney ranch, and remained with him until his death, in 1911, after which he remained as foreman of the ranch until 1917. As early as 1911 he had bought his forty-acre ranch in Barstow Colony and improved it, built his residence and with his family made that his home, and in May of 1917 he resigned his position as foreman and devoted his entire time to his ranch work, with the exception of the fruit seasons, when, in 1917, he accepted a position offered by the California Associated Raisin Company as foreman of the packers in the 25 House ; and in 1918 again accepted a place with the raisin company as foreman of Plant 4. His ranch is in Thomp- son seedless grapes and orchards and alfalfa-a splendid ranch and well im- proved.

The marriage of Mr. Diener, on July 8, 1905, in Fresno, united him with Maggie Steitz, born in Straub, Russia, and who came here with her parents when a girl. They have four children: Emma; Lillie; Elsie; and Mabel. Mr. Diener is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, and a believer in cooperation for the fruit-growers.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

ANIELLO SASSANO .- A viticulturist and business man of Clovis who has been a resident of California since June 13, 1888, Aniello Sassano was born in Naples, Italy, May 27, 1865, where he received his education in the public schools. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed at the shoemakers' trade, continuing until 1888, when he migrated to Fresno, Cal. He worked at his trade for Radin & Kamp until 1898, when he started in business for himself on I Street. In 1907 he located in Clovis, since which time he has been in the shoe and shoe-repair business.

As early as 1905, Mr. Sassano bought twenty acres three miles north- west of Clovis, which he has since brought to a high state of cultivation and devotes to raising muscats, Thompson's and wine grapes. He has built a residence and other farm buildings, and here he makes his home, with his wife and children.

Mr. Sassano was married in Fresno to Miss Virginia Marino, born in Torino, Piemonte, Italy, and who came to California in 1897. They have three children: Marion, who is assisting on the farm; Lawrence, attending Clovis High School; and Paul. Fraternally, Mr. Sassano is a member of the American Order of Foresters and the Druids. As a viticulturist he is a mem- ber of the California Associated Raisin Company, and politically he is a Re- publican.

HIPPOLYT PELLISSIER .- A resident of California since 1904, Hippo- lyt Pellissier was born at Lafara, Hautes-Alpes, France, July 24, 1879, the son of Deserie and Mariana Pellissier, farmer folk in Hautes-Alpes, where they spent their entire lives. Hippolyt was the second youngest of the thirteen children born to this worthy couple.

From a youth Hippolyt Pellissier grew up on the farm, receiving a good education in the local schools. In 1902 he migrated to New York City, where he was employed for two years. In 1904 he crossed the continent to Fresno, Cal., and for some years was employed at ranching. He then purchased twenty acres of land near Clovis, which he improved to a vineyard, also set- ting out an avenue of peaches. Disposing of the ranch in 1914, he leased a vineyard on California Avenue west of Fresno. In October of 1915 he pur- chased his present thirty-acre ranch in Vinland Colony, which he devotes to raising Thompson seedless vines, apricots and alfalfa, and to dairying. He deserves much credit for his enterprise and the energy displayed in im- proving his ranch. He is a member of the California Associated Raisin Com- pany.

HENRY P. NILMEIER .- Although born and reared in a foreign land, H. P. Nilmeier has been a resident of Fresno County for the past twenty- seven years, and has met with deserved success, becoming a worthy citizen of this great commonwealth and a worker for the upbuilding of his section. He was born in Stepnoia, Samara, Russia, in 1863, a son of George and Margareta (Horg) Nilmeier, farmer folk of their native land and both now deceased. They were the parents of eleven children, two girls and nine boys, and with his brothers and sisters, H. P. was reared on the home farm. For three years he served in the Russian Army in the regular artillery, and be- came gunner's mate. Later with his brother, August, he engaged in grain- raising, until a dry year discouraged them. Another brother, Phillip, had come to Fresno about 1886, and having met with success, his example in- duced H. P. to try his fortunes in the new country and in 1892 he arrived in Fresno. He secured work on the section gang for the Southern Pacific Rail- way; the work was hard, but he determined he would not quit until he had become foreman, and in the third year he gained that promotion, and ran a section out of Fresno, and also Lindsay. He continued his work as foreman until 1900, when he resigned and started in the mercantile business, building a store on E Street and Ventura Avenue, and engaging in the grocery business.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

Mr. Nilmeier continued in business for a period of six years, when he sold out and purchased an eighty-acre ranch on Valentine and Marks Avenues. He put in extensive improvements ; rebuilt ditches, improved the land and set out the entire acreage to vines, and built his residence on the ranch. He later sold forty acres, retaining the other forty on which he raises Muscats, Malagas and Emperors, and has a two-and-one-half-acre olive orchard. He recently built a fine residence and lives as a modern rancher.

The marriage of Mr. Nilmeier occurred in Russia, January 11, 1883, and united him with Miss Marie Laman, a native of that country and a daughter of Harry P. and Anna E. (Schiebelhut) Laman, the father formerly a black- smith but now retired and in his eighty-seventh year; the mother is also of even age with him and they are the parents of ten children, all girls, Marie being the fifth oldest.

Mr. and Mrs. Nilmeier have had nine children: Conrad O., a rancher in Fresno County; Margaret, Mrs. Weisbrod of Barstow Colony; Christene, Mrs. Schiebelhut of Madison district; Mary, Mrs. Bagley of Fresno; Annie, Mrs. Patten of Fresno; August, ranching in Madison district; Emma, Lydia, and Dora, also at home and attending the Fresno schools. The three oldest children were born in Russia; the others in Fresno. The family attends the Lutheran Church in Fresno, and is respected and esteemed in the community. Mr. Nilmeier is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, and a man of fine character, well liked in the community; his wife is a most estimable woman and has proven a worthy helpmate.

MARTIN IRIGARAY .- A stockman located on Whites Bridge road thirteen miles west of Fresno, is Martin Irigaray, a native of France, born at Lecunberry, Basses Pyrenees, October 7, 1881, the fourth oldest of ten chil- dren born to Jean and Marie (Eiharabide) Irigaray, farmer folk in that country ; the children are all living six of them being in California. Martin, like the other youth of his country, learned farming from a boy and attended the local school. From reports of better opportunities on the Pacific Coast he came to Fresno in September, 1900, and immediately found employment with Peter Arostigny, a sheep man at Reedley. He cominued with him steadily for thirty-two months, during which time he saved his earnings with a view of engaging in sheep raising on his own account. He then found he had the means to purchase 600 head of sheep which he ranged on the plains and in the mountains and two years later leased a ranch at Huron which was his headquarters for about ten years. In Fresno June 29, 1910, he was married, being united with Miss Marie Yraceburu, a native of Navarra, Spain, the daughter of Raymond and Fermina (Erro) Yraceburu, farmers in Spain, where the mother died, while her father now lives in Fresno County. Mrs. Irigaray is the seventh in order of birth of their ten children all of whom are living, nine being in the United States; she came to California the year of her marriage to Mr. Irigaray. In 1914 he left his business in charge of his brother and with his wife and little girl made a visit back to his old home. He had been there only a month when the World War broke out and he was ordered into the ranks, to which he responded, serving in the Forty-ninth Regiment of Infantry, Bayonne troops, doing active service near Rheims, until he was stricken with typhoid pneumonia and after three months in the hospital he recovered sufficiently to be mustered out. When he had reached a state of health permitting him, he returned to Fresno in the fall of 1915 with his wife and two little girls, a baby having been born while he was serving in the army. He resumed his former business of raising sheep, at Huron, until he purchased and moved onto his present place of eighty acres on Whites Bridge road in 1918, which he has developed into an alfalfa farm and from which place he carries on the stock business. He is one of the stockholders in the Growers National Bank of Fresno. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Irigaray are Jennie, Laura, and Genevieve.

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

ANTONIO BERTI .- Among the worthy families of Firebaugh and the only one in the vicinity of Firebaugh entitled to wear a gold star on account of being bereaved of a son in the late war is Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Berti who are bearing their grief nobly and philosophically.

Antonio Berti was born in Lucca, Italy, March 22, 1850, was reared to farm work on his father, Angelo Berti's farm to which he gave all of his attention after his school days were over until he was called into the Italian army at the age of twenty. He served the required time in an Infantry Reg- iment and was honorably discharged.

He was married in Lucca in 1874, to Miss Maria Pellegrini, after which he engaged in farming until 1892. Wishing to try his fortune in California, where so many of his countrymen were doing well, he left his family as comfortable as possible and came to Firebaugh, Fresno County. He immediately obtained employment with Miller and Lux, under Poso Schultz, as a gardener where he continued steadily for ten years. Going to McCloud he was a fireman with the McCloud Lumber Company. In 1903 he returned to his home visiting his family, who joined him in McCloud in 1904, and where he remained until 1911. He then returned to Firebaugh, where he has since engaged in business and made his home.

Six children were born to this worthy couple: Ida, Mrs. Zavelli; and Emma, Mrs. Giuntini, reside in Italy; Adolfo also resides in Italy with his family, he having served three years at the front in the World War with- out receiving a scratch; Amelia, Mrs. Christofani of McCloud; Julia is the wife of Bruno Molanca of Firebaugh: Angelo was in charge of his father's affairs when he was called to the colors in the 319th Engineer Corps, United States Army,-went overseas, was taken with influenza on the transport and died three days after he reached Liverpool, where he is buried. He was a splendid example of young manhood, and his death was a severe loss to his family and friends. He was popular as a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Druids.

CHRISTIAN ARNST .- A successful rancher and his devoted wife, whose intelligent industry has contributed in the great work of building up the county, are Christian and Marie Arnst, active supporters of the cooper- ative work of the California Associated Raisin Company. He was born at Osinofke, Samara, Russia, on February 16, 1855, the son of Peter Arnst, a farmer, and the oldest of four children and the only one in America.

He was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools of his home district; and in 1877 he joined an infantry regiment in the Russian Army and served in the campaign against Turkey until the close of the war. He was married at his home to Miss Marie Enrich, a native of that section and the daughter of Casper and Anna Eurich, farmers who had five children, among whom she is the oldest.

After his marriage, Mr. Arnst engaged in farming and became foreman of a large ranch. He was fairly prosperous; but hearing splendid reports from California picturing the unrivalled agricultural opportunities here, he con- cluded to emigrate to the Pacific Coast, and on August 7, 1891, arrived in Fresno.

In 1893 he bought lots on Cherry and Church streets, and built a resi- dence, and then he purchased twenty acres at Malaga, and raised alfalfa. Later he bought twenty acres more, which he leveled and checked and also planted to alfalfa, and after a while he added forty acres, and improved that. He had eighty acres in alfalfa and Thompson seedless and Muscat grapes, and then bought fifty acres across the road, all of which he still owns. He rents out the vineyards and operates the balance himself.

Two children have blessed the union of this worthy couple. John is a rancher at Monmouth, Fresno County; and David resides at Fresno. The family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

2583

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

AUGUST J. YOUNG .- The genial and enterprising proprietor of the general merchandise store at Vinland, Fresno County, August J. Young, is a native of Westergotland, Sweden, where he was born on September 1, 1859. He was reared on a farm in his native land and followed that occupation un- til 1888, when he became imbued with a desire to see more of the world, especially the United States of America, and to which country he immigrated, landing in New York City, but locating at Peale, Pa., where he found em- ployment at coal mining. Being very industrious and economical, in three years he had saved enough money to enter Augustana College, located in Rock Island, Ill., where he remained for five years, when he returned to Peale, Pa., and engaged in the general merchandise business and eventually bought a store building.

Mr. Young became very successful in his undertaking, remaining in business at Peale until 1911, when on account of his wife's health he sold his store and took a trip through Canada, Washington, Oregon and on to California. He had thought to make Fresno his place of residence, but his wife preferred living in the country, and in 1912 they located in Vinland. Here he purchased a small store, bought a lot and moved his business across the street and enlarged his stock of general merchandise. Mr. Young is a successful merchant of many years' experience, and through his efficient management is building up a growing and successful business in Vinland and vicinity. In 1916 he built a large residence and installed a pumping- plant.

On April 15, 1905, at Grass Flat, Pa., Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Ida Blomquist, a native of Sweden. They have a son, Fritz Einar. Mr. Young is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is regarded as one of Vinland's most enterprising citizens.

OCTAVE VALERE DARGELES .- A self-made native of France, of exceptional originality and resourcefulness and a good student of human affairs, who has made his living round about Fresno and is a good booster for Central California, is Octave Valere Dargeles, who was born at Montegut- Arros, Department du Gers, in the Province of Gascony, France, on July 24, 1867, the son of Raymond Dargeles, a farmer who put in eleven years in the United States. After living in New Orleans and other districts of Louisiana, he returned to France where, at the age of thirty, he married, in 1861, Francine Dazet with whom he lived in the same place. These parents, who died in France, had four children, the youngest being the subject of our sketch. Helene became the wife of Martial Gauthier, a farmer in Algeria, Africa ; Joseph is a farmer in Gascony, France, and is well-to-do; Jean Marie came to California with Octave, and they worked together as partners in the bakery business. Jean married Nancy Bonnabel of Fresno, who was born in France, and he died at San Jose in 1897 leaving a widow and one child, Caesar Raymond, who is now adopted as a member of Octave's family.

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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 140

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