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 78
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On February 1, 1919, he established a rug works at 1922 Mission Street, San Francisco, where he employs forty to forty-five persons.
While devoting his time and energies to the building up of his business, Mr. Kerr has found time to enter into the fraternal and social life of the city, and to aid in the progress and upbuilding of his community. He is a member of Fresno Lodge No. 138, K. of P., and has attained to the highest degree in that order, that of D. O. K. K.
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PALMER A. FALLGREN, D.D.S .- A thoroughly trained and most conscientious operator in that field of surgical science-dentistry-in which America has long taken the lead, is Dr. P. A. Fallgren, the son of P. A. and Sophie Fallgren, natives of Sweden, who was born at Graceville, Big- stone County, Minn., on July 16, 1896, and there began his boyhood under conditions having the most beneficial effect on his later development along the Pacific. When eight years old, he came to California and Kingsburg, and here attended both the grammar and the high school, graduating from the latter with the Class of '15.
Taking a fancy to tennis, he made himself so proficient that he was the champion high school player ; and playing singles, he won the championship of Southern California. He also went in for baseball, and was the first base- man of the Kingsburg Speed Boys, which captured the championship of the Raisin Belt League, linking Kingsburg, Selma, Del Rey, Sanger, Parlier and Reedley.
When he was ready for a professional career, Mr. Fallgren attended the College of Dentistry of the University of Southern California, and there he successfully pursued the regular four years' course. He was president of the Senior Class of '18, and belonged to the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Chi Psi Phi. Few men, perhaps, of his time were more popular among their college and university mates, all of which is readily understood in the case of Dr. Fallgren when one once is acquainted with his large-hearted, winsome per- sonality, his liking for his fellow-men, and the possession of other charac- teristics sure to make every man like him. He joined the Dental Alumni fraternity of Southern California. He is a member of the San Joaquin Dental Society and the National Dental Association, and for a young man is already a leader in the ranks of his profession, exerting his influence in favor of the most scientific and rational dentistry, and therefore the most beneficent dental surgery.
When the war called for the intervention of America, the athletic young devotee of science volunteered his services and enlisting in August, 1918, became a first lieutenant at Camp Kearney. He joined the medical depart- ment and was a dental surgeon at the Camp Kearney Base Hospital.
Dr. Fallgren is a member of the Traver Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M., and the Eastern Star, and no one is more welcome in those attractive circles.
JOHN E. TUTTLE .- The pioneer hardware merchant at Tranquillity, John E. Tuttle, is a native of the Wolverine State, born at Cheboygan, Mich., May 15, 1887, a son of J. E. and Sarah (Fitzpatrick) Tuttle. The father is a native of Canada, who emigrated to the United States, settling for a time in the state of Illinois, but later removed to Cheboygan, Mich., where he mar- ried Sarah Fitzpatrick, a native of Canada.
J. E. Tuttle was a saddle and harness-maker, but afterwards engaged in farming in addition to operating a harness shop. Both Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Tuttle, Sr., are still living at the old home town in Michigan. They were the parents of two children: John E. Tuttle, the subject of this review, and Mrs. A. A. Lang, who resides at Taft, Cal.
John E. Tuttle was reared in Cheboygan and attended the grammar and high school there, graduating from the latter school in 1906, after which he attended the Detroit Business University and when he completed his course in that excellent institution, Mr. Tuttle accepted a position with C. A. Klady, a Detroit public accountant with whom he remained one year. His next position was with a lumber company where he installed a set of books and had charge of the office for one year, until the company went out of business. His next position was with Tyndall and Jackson Company, but soon after going with them he became obsessed with a desire to seek his fortunes in the Great West, and in the fall of 1911, came to Los Banos, Cal., where he remained until March, 1912. In Los Banos Mr. Tuttle formed a partnership with his uncle, John A. Bell, under the firm name of Bell and
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Tuttle, hardware merchants. In March, 1912, the firm opened a store at Tranquillity, Fresno County, and John E. Tuttle had charge. Subsequently, the firm dissolved partnership, Mr. Tuttle taking the store at Tranquillity, while his uncle, Mr. Bell, kept the business at Los Banos. The Tuttle Hard- ware Store at Tranquillity is the first exclusive hardware and stove store in the town. They carry a good assortment of general hardware and implements besides sheetmetal work, and have a line of auto accessories and a Goodyear service station.
In June, 1911, at Detroit, Mich., John E. Tuttle was united in marriage with Miss Isabelle Markham, a native of that state, and this happy union has been blessed with three children: Sarah, John and Arthur. Religiously, the Tuttle family are Episcopalians. Mr. Tuttle is a promising young business man who is making a splendid success of his enterprise at Tranquillity, and is highly esteemed in business and social circles for his sterling qualities.
In 1919 a bank was organized, known as The First National Bank of Tran- quillity, of which Mr. Tuttle is vice-president and a director. The bank will occupy quarters in a new brick structure and will be modern in every way. Mr. Tuttle is erecting a modern brick building adjoining that of the bank where he will move his stock of goods when the building is completed.
WILBUR WILLIS GRIMES .- One of the most picturesque ranches in that section of Fresno County, near Sanger, and situated northeast of Center- ville, is the forty-acre place of Wilbur Willis Grimes, with its cosy rustic bungalow nestled in a bower of roses and hedged in by stately palms, with a background of orange trees laden with golden fruit. To live among such pleasant surroundings is a fitting reward for the years of effort spent in bring- ing the property to its present state of productiveness, thus aiding in the general upbuilding of Fresno County as a whole.
Wilbur Willis Grimes was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, August 13, 1869. His father, Charles K. Grimes, was a native of Indiana, and married there, to Miss Harriet Ballard, a native of Ohio, later going to Iowa, in 1854, and settling in Ringgold County in 1856, where he broke the virgin prairie with oxen. At that time the country was inhabited by Indians, mostly friendly ones, and the frontier cabin of the pioneers, though small, was the haven of refuge for all newcomers, who were welcome to stay until they had habitations of their own. After thirty-one years spent there, Mr. Grimes' health failed, and he took his family and a team of horses and traveled in a wagon over the country in search of a favorable climate. During the Civil War he was post- master at Eugene, Ringgold County, and after his day's work was done, would shoulder the mailsack and walk twelve miles to the railroad. He was a mem- ber of the Home Militia, and served on the border of Missouri and Iowa ten days out of thirty, until he was mustered out of service at the close of the war. To this pioneer couple nine children were born, three of whom are living : Mrs. James T. Holt, of Van Nuys, Los Angeles County : Mrs. Iola Tapp, of Kings- burg ; and Wilbur Willis, of this review. Mrs. A. R. Brown of Fowler died in 1913. The father passed away in 1904, aged seventy-six; the mother is still living.
With his father, Wilbur Willis Grimes made several trips to California before the family located here, looking for a permanent home, and it was not until 1891 that they decided to remain in Fresno County. During that year Wilbur Willis Grimes purchased his ranch of forty acres, which is a part of the original Hyde and Jackson tract; at the time of his purchase there was nothing to be seen growing on the land but weeds. Mr. Grimes began develop- ment work, and while waiting for his ranch to produce, engaged in various enterprises. He lived at Kingsburg for a time, and there was chosen as city marshal, and also served as deputy sheriff under Walter McSwain. He inter- ested himself in business enterprises also, and during the 90's operated a butcher shop and bakery in connection, in Selma. In the meantime his agri-
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cultural improvements began to bear fruit, and the raw land was brought up to a high state of cultivation, being devoted to lemons, oranges, figs, and Em- peror grapes; these thorough improvements bear evidence of the energy and perseverance with which the owner is endowed, and are the best gage of a man's character. Mr. Grimes was a member of the first Raisin Growers' As- sociation of the county, and he now belongs to the Fig Growers' Association.
In 1897, Mr. Grimes was united in marriage with Miss Josephine O. Curtis, born November 1, 1871, a daughter of William Curtis, who was one of the first settlers at Monterey, locating in 1847. He had the distinction of being the first Easterner appointed to the position of postmaster in Monterey, then the cap- ital of California, and was a man of considerable business acumen and wealth. When news of the discovery of gold reached Monterey. Mr. Curtis knew it would bring an influx of people to California and that their one thought would be to dig for gold ; he bought up all the shovels to be had on the market and when the miners arrived he sold at fancy prices, thereby making a clean-up with his corner on shovels. The marriage of Mr. Curtis, in 1854, united him with Lydia Jane Rucker, and she died twenty-three years later, the mother of four children : Emmet, of Berkeley, was connected with the Fresno Repub- lican when the paper first started, and later was with San Francisco papers; Lydia B., Mrs. James A. Cosgrave of Angelos, Calaveras County ; Eugene A., a rancher of Kingsburg ; and Josephine O. Mrs. Grimes' parents having passed away, William Rucker, a bachelor uncle, was appointed guardian over the three younger children and took them to his home in Fresno City, a very small place at that time. He finally settled in Kingsburg, residing there until his death. The grandparents, Ambrose and Margaret (Atkinson) Rucker, came from Ohio to Iowa, and from there crossed the plains in 1853 with ox teams and settled in the Salinas Valley. The grandfather was a Methodist Episcopal preacher. Grandmother Rucker died in 1895, aged eighty-five. William Rucker died in Kingsburg, in 1913.
Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are the parents of five children, four of whom are living: Ted Lauren ; Beatrice Evelyn ; Harriet Blanche ; and Lila Belle. Fra- ternally, both and Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have been prominent in Odd Fellow circles for many years. Mr. Grimes has been a member of the order since 1892, has passed all the chairs and belongs to the Ancient Odd Fellows. He drew out of Sanger Lodge, No. 375, to help organize Orangedale Lodge, No. 211, in 1888, of which he is now secretary. Mrs. Grimes is a Rebekah, having joined in 1888, and has passed all the chairs of the order twice. The family are members of the Christian Church, Mr. Grimes being one of three living charter members of the Sanger church. He was secretary of the Good Government League of Centerville and community, formed for the purpose of cleaning up Centerville from the saloon evil, there being two in the town. The clean-up process went through in quick time, making it quite different from Centerville when it was on the stage lines from Millerton to Visalia, the three oldest towns in the Valley.
C. E. HARMAN .- A native of the Hawkeye State, although he has been a resident of California for over forty years, C. E. Harman, the subject of this sketch, was born in Iowa on October 28, 1867, a son of C. and Sarah Harman who were both natives of Ohio, as will appear from a sketch of Caleb Harman elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Harman were born four children, three of whom are living: Lizzie became the wife of O. W. Rudolph, died in 1903 and left four children; Mrs. J. E. Shafer ; Daisy ; and C. E. The Harman family migrated to California in 1874 and in 1875 locating in Fresno County, near Parlier, where Mr. Harman found the climate, soil and other conditions to his liking and in 1876 he purchased a tract of land consisting of 120 acres, which at this early date was still in its virgin con- dition, and which was augmented by subsequent purchases to 480 acres. Possessing a keen foresight Mr. C. Harman predicted a great development for this section and set to work to improve his land. Through his persever-
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ance and untiring efforts much was accomplished toward the development of this part of the county in the digging of water ways, for irrigation, the planting of vines for future vineyards and other useful industries, in all of which Mr. Harman was foremost in their promotion. After a useful life in the advancement of the agricultural interests of Fresno County, Mr. C. Harman passed away on June 2, 1915. His wife having preceded him to the Great Unknown, having passed away in February, 1907.
Mr. C. E. Harman, the subject of this sketch, after coming from Iowa with his parents in 1874, attended the grammar school of the Mendocino district, in Fresno County and afterwards supplemented his early education by attending the San Francisco Business College. He took a course in chem- istry in Oakland, in a private chemical laboratory and afterwards spent sev- eral years in Oakland where he practiced his profession, and for years he was engaged in the mercantile business in Santa Barbara County. After the death of his father the estate, consisting of 480 acres of land near Parlier, was subdivided between the heirs and C. E. Harman now owns forty acres of the original place which has been in the family since 1876. His ranch is situated northeast of Parlier, and is devoted to raisin and table grapes.
On August 12, 1896, C. E. Harman was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Schuyler, a daughter of W. H. and Anna Schuyler. She is a native daughter, having been born in Santa Clara County. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Harman are the parents of two children: Violet and Irene. Mr. Harman is public-spirited and always interested in those movements that have as their aim the upbuilding of the best interests of the community and has proved his efficiency as a public officer by serving a number of years as a trustee of the school board of Lompoc High School district, Santa Barbara County.
Mr. C. E. Harman removed to Fresno in 1919 where he has built a very substantial bungalow which affords himself and family a very com- fortable home at 2045 North Van Ness Avenue, where the well known Harman hospitality continues to be liberally dispensed and where good will and happiness so characteristic of the Harman fireside still prevail.
G. W. PFOST .- A hardworking, successful and highly-respected rancher who owns a well-improved, valuable ranch devoted to general or mixed farm- ing, and who has been blessed with an equally industrious and highly- esteemed wife and family, all endeavoring, like himself, to lead a consistent Christian life, is G. W. Pfost, who made his first trip to California in the middle seventies, and now recalls, in his comfortable residence four miles southeast of Riverdale, stirring scenes of pioneer times such as the present generation finds it hard to believe could ever take place.
He was born in Caldwell County, Mo., on July 3, 1853, the son of Aaron Pfost who had married Margaret Harpold; and he grew up in Missouri, re- maining there until he was twenty-one. His father was from Pennsylvania- Dutch stock, while his mother came from Virginia.
At twenty-two, Mr. Pfost made his first trip to California, ten years after his father had died. The worthy parents had had ten children, six boys and four girls; but three of the boys died in infancy; and perhaps because the mother had undertaken to keep the family together, he felt that he must return to Missouri earlier than he would otherwise have wished. While here, he worked around in Merced and Ventura counties, and this gave him a good opportunity to get his bearings.
His marriage occurred during his twenty-sixth year and while he was in Missouri, and having inherited some of the lands of the estate, he farmed his property, and one hundred acres which he hired. He married Miss Eva Utt, who was born in Missouri and reared in Kansas, the daughter of Richard and Nancy Utt. Her family were farmers, and appreciating the greater op- portunities in California, they came further West, arriving on Christmas night, in 1883. They stopped in Ventura County, raised a crop of beans, on
Antonio Haristière
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rented land, and then came on to San Luis Obispo. They took up some home- stead land, preempted and proved up, and were well-known as pioneers.
On Christmas Day, 1883, Mr. Pfost arrived in Los Angeles, on his second visit to the Golden State, and on October 2, 1903, he came to Riverdale, in Fresno County. He rented the Mrs. Applegarth place for eight years, and farmed the land where the Riverdale Cooperative Creamery now stands,-in which well-known concern he is a stockholder. Now he owns a ranch of fifty acres, with a commodious house and the usual barns, all surrounded with fine fences and a good yard. Recently he rebuilt his home, and it is more than ever up-to-date and amply large. The Pfosts have lived ten years on this ranch, and they have been happy years.
Mr. and Mrs. Pfost have had six children, five of whom are still living. Monroe, the eldest, died unmarried, two years ago, when he was thirty-six years old. Charles Wesley, also single, lives at home. Stella keeps house for James L. and Aaron R. Pfost, in Kings County ; Aaron R. has forty acres, and James L. has forty-five, in Kings County, in the Summit Lake country. Viola is at home.
The parents are prominent members of the United Brethren Church at Riverdale, and helped build that church, as well as the edifice at North Fork. Mr. Pfost served as Sunday School Superintendent for five years, and Mrs. Pfost has been prominent in the Ladies' Aid of the United Brethren Church, as well as in the work of the Red Cross. Both husband and wife, who are Progressive Republicans, have done their full duty in promoting the sale of Liberty Bonds.
ANTONIO FORISTIERE .- The similarity of California's climate to that of "sunny Italy" may account for the attraction which California has for so many of Italy's sons who have been induced to try their fortunes in America on the shores of the Pacific slope.
Antonio Foristiere, proprietor of the San Joaquin Paste Company, whose factory is located at the corner of Belmont and First Street, Fresno, is a native of Messina, Italy, born June 18, 1874. He was educated in the country schools of his native land and as a lad engaged in packing lemons for ship- ment. He also learned to graft and prune trees of every kind. He saw four years' service in the Italian navy, followed the trade of a barber in the old country, and in 1900, when twenty-six years of age came to Boston, Mass., where he continued the occupation of barber for eight years before coming to Fresno, Cal., in 1908. He followed the trade of barber in Fresno until 1911, then bought a lot at the corner of Belmont and First Street, built a three- story factory, forty by sixty feet in dimension, and engaged in the manu- facture of all lines of Italian paste-macaroni, vermicelli, etc .- making alto- gether over fifty varieties. His factory contains all modern machinery and the question of sanitation has received a great amount of attention, the equip- ment being thoroughly sanitary in every sense of the word. Flour and water are mixed in patent machines, run through molds of different sizes and laid on trays with covers, to dry. Eight days are required for the drying process before the goods are ready for sale. The goods will keep from six to twelve months and have attained a reputation for their superiority, purity, cleanli- ness and the attractive manner in which they are put on the market. Goods for retail are put up in sanitary paste-board boxes with directions for cook- ing on the outside. The brand, "San Joaquin Brand of Paste, Absolutely Pure,"-is well known both at home and abroad. Mr. Foristiere was one of the first men to erect a building in Arlington Heights. His business ven- tures have been successful, and in the spring of 1918 he purchased four lots fronting on Belmont and five lots fronting on Madison Avenue, and on the latter has built two modern bungalows.
On December 3, 1911. he married Mrs. Josephine Basotti, a native of Italy, and they have two children, Rosario and Annie, both born in Fresno. 94
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Mr. Foristiere is a member of the Owl Lodge of Fresno, of which he was treasurer four years. A self-made man, his ability to see and grasp an oppor- tunity have been salient aids to success, and he is among Fresno's worthy and respected citizens.
VIRGIL S. MILES .- With his interesting family consisting of his accomplished wife and three bright children, Virgil S. Miles lives comfort- ably domiciled at what is commonly known as the Riverdale Parsonage, a residence property which he acquired in the spring of 1919. This property contains two acres of land which he has improved, with two dwellings, giv- ing an acre to each. When he sold his twenty-acre ranch, he reserved his living house-a cute little bungalow, which he himself had built-and this he moved onto the west half of his recent purchase at Riverdale, thus afford- ing comfortable homes for two families. In addition to this he owns twenty acres of excellent land one and a half miles west of Lanare. He was born in Missouri in 1877, being a son of J. C. and Almira (Dome) Miles, the former having been born in Connecticut and the latter in Indiana. The father was a California forty-niner and a pioneer lawyer of Sacramento, but later returned east to Leavenworth, Kans., where he practiced his profession and specu- lated in lands. He was one of the first persons to take up land at the gov- ernment land-opening at Guthrie, Okla., in 1889, but died in that state soon afterwards, at the age of fifty-nine years. His widow married again and now resides in New Jersey with her younger sons, who are engaged in operating a factory at Newark, N. J.
Virgil S. was reared in Leavenworth County, Kans., and when eleven years of age accompanied his father to Guthrie, Okla .. to attend the opening sale of land, remaining there from June to October, 1889, when he returned to Leavenworth. After his father's death, and following his mother's second marriage, he left for the great northwest, working at various occupations and at different places, and finally reaching British Columbia. From this country he returned to the United States, stopping awhile in Wyoming, where with a brother he engaged in the cattle business. The severe winters of Wyoming led Mr. Miles to consider the advisability of seeking a milder climate, and it is not strange that California appealed to him and claimed his attentions.
After his arrival in Fresno County, Mr. Miles worked for H. E. Vogel, the creamery man, where he remained twenty-two months, and during this time he learned the dairy business. Afterwards he was engaged for two years to work for J. B. Lewis. Mr. Miles was much pleased with California, especially with Fresno County, and decided to make it his permanent home. For a while he worked in the vicinity of Riverdale, and in 1910 purchased twenty acres of land two miles east of Riverdale, which he improved and paid for and where he. resided until 1919, when he sold it and bought the aforesaid residence property at Riverdale. In 1917, Mr. Miles purchased an- other twenty-acre tract of land, located one and a half miles west of Lanare, on Mt. Whitney Avenue, and he is now leveling, checking and ditching this place preparatory to planting alfalfa. In 1907 he made his first venture. in the bee business, purchasing for the purpose 500 stands of bees, but through inexperience and the "black-brood" he lost a very large portion of his bees and investment. Undaunted by the failure of his initial venture, through intelligent perseverance and pluck, he continued to operate an apiary and has so well succeeded in gaining a thorough knowledge of the business that today he is regarded as one of Fresno County's successful apiarists. During the season of 1918, Mr. Miles sold sixty-four cases of honey for $1,706.62, and has 200 stands of bees.
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