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 41
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After years of close application in improving his ranch, Mr. Madsen rented the place to his sons in the fall of 1918 and retired to his home in Fresno, located on the corner of Van Ness and Divisidero Streets. Mr.
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Madsen was married, at Fresno, to Mrs. Johanna (Christensen) Petersen, a native of Viborg, Denmark, where she married Mads Petersen and where they were well-to-do farmers until they decided to locate in California, when they sold out, in 1891, and came to Fresno, where Mr. Petersen died two months after their arrival, leaving four children who have been reared and educated from the Madsen ranch. They are Christian and Peter, who are operating the Madsen ranch; Annie, now Mrs. Hemmingsen of Rolinda ; and Mary, who became Mrs. Harrington and lives in Los Angeles. By Mr. Madsen she has had one daughter, Thora. Mr. Madsen belongs to the Danish Brotherhood, and is a leader in Danish-American affairs. But Mr. Madsen is first, last and all the time an American, and tries to promote good citizenship according to the principles laid down by the old, historic Demo- cratic party. Under its banners he has done years of yeoman work, re- fusing more than one complimentary offer to assume public office. He has made a splendid success of his life, and he, his wife and children are highly respected.
BEN JOHNSON .- A fine type of man and citizen-straightforward, up- right, kind-hearted and generous-Ben Johnson has made a noteworthy record as a stockman in the foothills and as a teamster and freighter; and in developing one of the show places in the county he contributed his "bit" to the improvement of land values in this section. He was born near Stavanger, Norway, on April 4, 1854, the son of Johann Johnson. His mother was Sigrid Johnson, and she died when the lad was six years of age. Johann, however, lived to attain his eighty-fourth year, the honored father of nine children, of whom Ben was the youngest. Two other sons came to California-Kjeron and Jacob; and both died at Fresno.
Ben attended the public school until he was fourteen, and then continued to assist his father until he was twenty-one years of age. He worked for a while on farms, but more and more gave himself up to lumbering. He did as well as the average young man, but seeing that he could not get ahead, he decided to leave his native land and come to the United States. In 1884, he came to what is now North Dakota; and at Buxton and vicinity he worked for some years on a farm.
In 1889, Mr. Johnson moved west to California, drawn to this region because a brother of his had already settled here. After working four years for his brother in a vineyard, he preempted eighty acres in the foothills, in Auberry Valley, where he began the raising of stock, establishing the brand B. J., which he soon made stand for the highest grades; and when he was able, he bought adjoining land, until finally he had 740 acres in a body. He tried grain farming together with stock and cattle raising, and he also teamed in the mountains, hauling lumber from Pine Ridge to Fresno, Sanger and Selma, and taking freight back. He started with four horses, and finally had a large eight-mule team, operating for nine years. All in all, he was en- gaged for fifteen years in the stock business and teaming. Then he bought sixty acres in the Helm Colony, in lots two, three and seven, two miles south- west of Clovis, which he at once improved, setting out Malaga and Thompson grapes, and making a fine vineyard. He built a comfortable and handsome residence, arranged avenues of trees, and created one of the most attractive places in all the neighborhood. In May, 1917, he sold the estate at a good profit. Since then he has lived on National Avenue, on the old Milholm place, which he leases, and there he is giving his time and attention to viti- culture. As a member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc., he always exerts his influence to advance the best interests of the California husbandman.
At Fresno, December 12, 1890, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Kath- erine Hansen, a native of Stavanger, Norway, who came to Fresno in July, 1890, and of this union there are six children. Sadie has become Mrs. Ernest
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Crump of Fresno; Olga is Mrs. H. M. Broody ; while Jennie is Mrs. Leroy D. Church. Messrs. Broody and Church are in the United States service, Mr. Broody in the Aviation Section of the United States Navy and Mr. Church in the United States Naval Reserve Forces in which he is an ensign. George Theodore Ben is in the Aviation Section of the United States Army, serving overseas in France. Sigurd and Ruby are at school. The family attend the Lutheran Church.
W. F. BETZOLD, V. S .- It is fitting that the lower order of animal life, among whom man finds loyal and devoted friends, should receive proper medical care and skilful surgical treatment; and in Dr. W. F. Betzold, the expert and successful veterinary surgeon of Sanger, is found a man who has chosen for his life's work the relief from suffering of all domestic animals. W. F. Betzold was born in Newark, N. J., in 1879, a son of Jacob and Catherine C. Betzold. He was one of six children, and the only member of the family to migrate to California. He received his schooling at the Newark public schools, and in his younger days worked at various pursuits until 1896, when he migrated to California and worked at the grocery and butcher business. During the Spanish-American War young Betzold proved his patriotism by enlisting for service in defense of his country and saw service in the Philippines. His bravery and his services were duly recog- nized, and he was raised from a private to a non-commissioned officer. At the close of the war he received his honorable discharge and eventually came back to California.
Subsequently Mr. Betzold made a trip to China, where he spent one year. Upon his return to the United States he entered the Chicago Veterinary Col- lege, and was graduated with his degree of V. S. in 1904. That same year he returned to California and at Fresno began the practice of his profession, finding here a good field for his talents, which were soon recognized by his being made city veterinarian. He resigned from this position to enter upon an independent career at Selma, where he remained until 1912, when he located in Sanger. His field of operations has been widened by this move, and he has rapidly built up a large and successful practice in the country round about. The doctor is a public-spirited citizen and is always found ready to lend his assistance to all worthy projects that have for their aim . the building up of the county and the state.
JOHN PETER FUCHS .- A viticulturist whose present prominence and prosperity are the result to a great degree of his far-seeing vision and his industrious, untiring application to daily routine duty, is John Peter Fuchs, who resides eleven miles east of Fresno on National Avenue. He was born in Samara, Russia, on September 1, 1865, the son of Valentine Fuchs, who was a farmer and stock-raiser there. Valentine Fuchs married Marie Frisch, who became the mother of four children. Both parents are now deceased.
Brought up on a farm, Peter attended the public schools of the neigh- borhood, after which he remained at home to assist his father. In 1884, in the vicinity of his birthplace, he was married to Anna Frisch, a native of that section and the daughter of John Peter and Katherine M. (Schutz) Frisch, farmer folk; and thereafter for a while he followed farming. In 1887 he joined the 160th regiment of Russian infantry and served in the Russian army for four years. As soon as he was honorably discharged, he came to Fresno, in July, 1893. He soon got into the building trade, and for some time was employed by different contractors in the erection of many of the largest buildings in Fresno. He built his own residence on Elm Avenue in the Florence Addition, and the structure may be regarded as a good specimen of Mr. Fuchs' handicraft. Having accumulated some means, and having a desire to engage in ranching, he bought forty acres fifteen miles east of Fresno, in the Fair View district. It was raw land, but he set it out in a
1 2 a. J. Johnson
Christina Johnson
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vineyard and an orchard, and soon had thirty acres in muscat and Thompson seedless grapes, and alfalfa, and ten acres in peaches. He built a residence and otherwise improved the property.
About 1910 Mr. Fuchs quit working in town in order to devote all his time to farming, and five years later he bought the August Kruse place of fifty acres and moved onto it. In 1915 he sold the original forty acres, and gave all his time and attention to his home place. He set out twenty acres to new vines, and now has sixteen acres of muscats, seven acres of Thompson seedless, two acres of Malagas, two acres of Emperors, and twelve acres of Zinfandels, while the rest is devoted to alfalfa. He is a very active member in the California Peach Growers, Inc., and the California Associated Raisin Company, and leaves no stone unturned to advance agricultural interests in California.
· Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fuchs. Anna is Mrs. Bush of Fresno; Gotleib is a rancher near home; and Peter and Alexan- der H. are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Fuchs and family attend the German Lutheran Church at Fresno, in which Mr. Fuchs has served as trustee. This estimable couple are loyal and public-spirited citizens, and contribute to . help along war relief and other worthy endeavors.
MRS. CHRISTINA JOHNSON .- A most excellent woman, with two equally estimable daughters, and one who is the center of special interest as the worthy representative of the late Anton John Johnson, her husband, and who suffered many privations in Fresno's early pioneer days, is Mrs. Christina Johnson, herself the well-known rancher of the Riverside Colony, five miles east of Reedley. When Mr. Johnson came to the Riverside Colony, four miles south of Parlier, thirty years ago, he was the owner of fifty acres there ; for he had been here before, and had come to know the value and the prospects of the growing country. He was born in Oeland, Sweden, on February 17, 1852, the son of Johan Jacobson, also a native of Oeland, who was both a fisherman and farmer; and there Anton grew up, went to school, and attended the Swedish Lutheran Church. At fifteen he took to the sea, and for several years he cruised as a sailor before the mast. Reaching San Francisco on such a sailing voyage, he stopped off and, for a couple of years worked on the oyster beds ; and little by little he acquired both English and a knowledge of the interior of the country.
He had a brother named William, who was a farmer at Fresno, and to him Anton repaired and began to work at farming also. He had previously, however, returned to Sweden for a visit and there renewed acquaintance with the lady who was to become his life helpmate, namely, Christina Sabelstrom, who was also born at Oeland, and so had the same background of experience. They had really been schoolmates together, and during this visit became engaged. Mr. Johnson returned to his fårm at Traver in the fall of 1877, and ten years later Miss Sabelstrom, in company with her brother, Otto, sailed from Stockholm for America. She traveled via Calmar and Hamburg to New York, and on June 24, 1888, she arrived at Fresno, and in the fall of that year was married.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson at once took up their residence on the farm at Traver, and there they stayed two years. The land proved to be alkali, however, and Mr. Johnson was glad to sell the entire place of twenty acres for fifty dollars. This would have discouraged many men, but Anton Johnson began all over again, and on Christmas Day, 1889, he came here and bought twenty acres of grain land; and having improved the same, he planted it. Later, he bought ten acres more, and still later, another twenty acres of bare land, which he planted and improved in various ways. All in all, this property made a fine estate ; and when he died, January 17, 1914, aged sixty- two years eleven months, the father of two children, he bequeathed the property to his widow. The children are: Anna, who is the wife of Clarence
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McCreary, who trained at Camp Lewis in the infantry service, spent seven months in France, went "over the top" several times, returned to the United States and was discharged in May, 1919; and Freda, a graduate from the Ross Grammar School and also from Heald's Business College at Fresno. Since Mr. Johnson's lamented death, Mrs. Johnson has sold off twenty acres, and is renting out the other thirty. She is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, and the Peach Growers, Inc.
Mrs. Johnson and family are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church at Kingsburg, and are deeply interested in religious and social welfare work, and in anything likely to advance their neighborhood. They are also in- terested in Red Cross and other war work. The United States is their home, Americans are their fellow citizens, and they know of but one kind of loyalty, that to the President and the Constitution.
W. T. STONE .- W. T. Stone, the experienced superintendent of. the Harper ranch of eighty acres, owned by S. D. Harper of Fresno and situated one mile west of Del Rey, was born at Wellsville, Montgomery County, Mo., on October 30, 1876. He is the son of Z. J. Stone, a well-to-do farmer, . and Mary (McCollough) Stone, who died when our subject was only two years old, leaving besides him two other children, an older and a younger sister; but he is the only one now living. His father married again, and there are six half-brothers and half-sisters.
IV. T. Stone was brought up on his father's farm in Missouri, and attended the district schools. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Miss Josie Menz, also a native of Missouri. He had decided on coming to California, but after his marriage he remained in Missouri long enough to raise two good crops on his father-in-law's farm before he said adieu to his native state and journeyed westward. Arriving in Sanger, Fresno County, on March 1, 1901, with his young wife and baby girl, he went to work in the Sanger Lumber Company's planing mill, and for nine years he con- tinued in the employ of that company. In 1910 he left the mill and entered the service of M. D. Harper, with whom he continued for three years. For the past five years, he has had charge of the S. D. Harper place, and has been responsible for the direction of from one to thirty men in their work. The eighty acres are devoted to muscat and Thompson Seedless grapes, as well as to about twelve acres of peaches. The land is in a high state of cultivation and under the liberal policy and enterprise of its owner, who resides in Fresno, and the expert management of Mr. Stone, the Harper ranch has become a source of pride and civic satisfaction to the community, whose prosperity it in part represents.
Three children have blessed the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Stone, and added to the charm of their home-circle: Mary Nellie, who is a graduate of the high school at Sanger and now attends the Fresno Normal: and William Joseph and Dora May, who are still at home. Mr. Stone belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Stone is a member of the Royal Neigh- bors, and of the Methodist Church at Del Rey.
HANS WILLIAM SORENSEN .- Prominent among medical men of Central California is Hans William Sorensen, D.D.S., whose offices are located in the Rowell Building, Fresno. Dr. Sorensen was born on December 19, 1892, on a ranch in the Washington Colony, eight miles west of Fowler. For nine years he attended the Washington Colony grammar school, and then for four years was a student in the Washington Union High School, thus laying well the foundation of a liberal education and equipping himself in the best possible fashion for later professional success. For some time he was in the employ of Stephens & Bean, of Fresno, and then he went to Nashville, Tenn., and matriculated at the Vanderbilt University, Dental Department. His studies there were followed by a year in the splendidly
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equipped dental department of the University of Southern California, from which he was graduated with honors in 1915.
Having both by undergraduate and postgraduate work left no stone un- turned to thoroughly master the science and technique of his chosen pro- fession, Dr. Sorensen began the practice of dentistry in July, 1915, in the Rowell Building, Fresno, where he has since attained to such success, and since then his expert services have been in great demand. After the entry of the United States into the World War, Dr. Sorensen enlisted on June 3, 1917, was commissioned first lieutenant of the Dental Reserve of the United States Army, and was called into active service at Camp Fremont, where he was stationed until he received his honorable discharge, on Decem- ber 10, 1918. He then did postgraduate work at the Carr School of Pre- ventative Medicine and Dentistry, from which he was graduated on Feb- ruary 14, 1919, when he returned to Fresno and fitted up a new office in the Rowell Building. Dr. Sorensen is the secretary of the San Joaquin Valley Dental Association, which numbers on its rolls the most distinguished repre- sentatives of the dental profession in this part of the country. He is a mem- ber of the University Club and of Fresno Lodge No. 439, B. P. O. Elks. He was made a Mason in Center Lodge, No. 465, F. & A. M., and is a member of San Jose Consistory, No. 9, Scottish Rite Mason, and of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco.
ARTHUR G. WAHLBERG .- Music, in our homes, schools, churches, and civic centers, is a stimulus to our national life, and choral singing pro- duces both physical and moral development. With this high ideal, Prof. .Arthur G. Wahlberg, the distinguished and capable director of music in the Fresno State Normal School, has done much to advance musical appreciation and to cultivate a taste for the best in music. He was born in Boston, Mass., June 6, 1874, and received his education in the excellent public schools of that city. As a young man, he entered the employment of the Perry Mason Company, publishers of the Youth's Companion.
Mr. Wahlberg came from a musical family, and his musical temperament was greatly aided by a favorable environment, with instruction under some of the best teachers in the East. An early and rapid physical development gave him a fine bass voice at thirteen years of age. At fifteen, he was bass soloist in a church choir of which he became the director when but seventeen years of age. Later, he became soloist and choirmaster of St. James Epis- copal Church in Boston for eight years; after which he became soloist at St. Stephens Episcopal Church of Boston. In addition to his musical inter- ests as singer, teacher and director, he took an active interest in the political and fraternal affairs of his native city.
In 1903, Mr. Wahlberg came to California for a year of rest, which re- sulted in this becoming the state of his adoption, by his connection with the First National Bank of Fresno. Later he became associated with the Bank of Central California of the same city.
Upon coming to Fresno, Professor Wahlberg's musical talent was recog- nized and eagerly sought. He organized and trained a male quartet for the Unitarian Church, which was financed by the late Dr. Chester Rowell and Louis Einstein. In 1904, he became the musical director of the First Presby- terian Church of Fresno, which position he still retains. In 1906, he was elected Supervisor of Music of the Fresno City Schools, whereupon he prepared a course of study for the grades, introduced assembly singing in the high school ; organized Girls' and Boys' Glee Clubs, introduced courses in sight reading, harmony, and history of music, and succeeded in having music placed on a credit basis in the high school.
In 1911, Professor Wahlberg became the Director of Music in the Fresno State Normal School and has recently organized a special four years' course to train music supervisors. In 1912, he organized the Fresno Male Chorus
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of fifty voices, and has been its conductor ever since. He has been identified with Raisin Day celebrations as chairman of the music committee, furnish- ing choruses numbering fifteen hundred or more. He has had charge also of the musical activities of several of the Masonic bodies of Fresno city, and for years he was active in promoting the musical interests of the Young Men's Christian Association. In addition to his musical work at the Normal School, he is chairman of the finance committee of the Faculty and Student Body : and being an expert swimmer, is also the instructor of swimming.
Mr. Wahlberg was united in marriage in New York City, in 1897, with Gertrude Blanche Graham, a native of Boston, Mass., a lyric choir soprano. Four children have been born of the union: Laura, the well known soprano singer of Fresno; Harold, who served in the United States Aviation Corps in France; Ruth, a student in the Fresno High School, and Arthur G., Jr.
A man of practical ideas, active mentality and sympathetic, artistic tem- perment, and endowed with much native ability and a winning personality, Professor Wahlberg realizes that it is his mission and privilege to use his talents for the inspiration of others.
ROBERT B. DONNELL .- Among the pioneers of Fresno County who, through hard work and self-denial, have become, in the course of years men and women of substantial affairs, may be mentioned Robert B. Donnell, who has resided for fourteen years on his present ranch of eighty acres near the promising and favored town of Reedley. He was born in Tennessee in 1865, the son of Samuel C. Donnell, who married Sarah F. McAdoo, and with her reared a family of four children. Robert was the youngest, and while living at home, he enjoyed the educational advantages of his neighborhood. Grow- ing up, he turned his attention to agriculture, and while things were not done in those days in the improved manner of today, he served his appren- ticeship under those who did as well as the times demanded.
In 1904, Mr. Donnell came to Kings County, Cal., where he remained four months. Then, having been persuaded that Fresno County offered superior inducements, he moved here and took up residence on his present ranch. He obtained eighty acres and made many improvements, changing the farm from a stubble field to its present state. He has twenty acres of figs, over fifty of grapes and seven of alfalfa. His grapes, mostly muscatels, yield him about two tons per acre. Mr. Donnell uses modern methods and implements, and secures the best results.
Mrs. Donnell was Miss Elizabeth Osborne before her marriage, in Octo- ber, 1893, and she was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bush) Os- borne, also natives of Tennessee. They had ten children, and three are in Fresno County. This marriage has been blessed by three children, two living, Mary Pepper and Sarah Frances, and the Donnell household is known for its old-fashioned California hospitality and cheer. Mr. Donnell is a member of the fig, peach and raisin associations, and a stockholder in the peach and raisin associations.
PUGH BROS .- The firm of Pugh Bros. consists of Edward M. and James V. Pugh, sons of John M. Pugh who is elsewhere represented in this work. Edward was born near North Butte, Sutter County, in 1872 and James, at Stonyford, Colusa County in 1881. Edward was educated in the public school at Stonyford and then in the Central district Fresno County, while James received his schooling at the latter place and at the Selma high school, from which he was graduated.
Since attaining manhood they have always worked together, renting and operating vineyards, while making their headquarters on their father'e ranch. For a while they operated in the Kutner Colony section, and after their father's death they ran the home farm, as well as other ranch-prop- erties.
J. D.Bills
Margret & Biele.
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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
In 1915, the two brothers bought 320 acres between Ventura and Bel- mont Avenues, and 160 acres of this they subdivided, giving the name of Gladiola Colony to the division, and retaining the other 160 acres. Gladiola Ranch lies twelve miles east of Fresno.
Two years later, in 1917, they sold the old home place, and now they are devoting their attention to improving the Gladiola vineyards. They have erected there a residence and other necessary buildings, and have planted muscat, Thompson, sultana and Malaga grapes.
Pugh Bros. also lease, buy and sell vineyards. Since 1912 James V. Pugh has been in charge of the Clotho Warehouse for the Pioneer Fruit Company, as well as that company's establishment at Blasingame, while E. M. Pugh has been looking after the Gladiola Vineyard. Both are mem- bers of the California Associated Raisin Company, and have been from its organization, and they are also members of the California Peach Growers' Inc. Their ranch is under the Hansen ditch, and in addition to this de- pendable supply of water, they have a pumping plant of their own.
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