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 92

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 92

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In May, 1888, they started for the United States, making their way first to West Virginia, where Mr. Fearon had a sister; and after visiting her, they came on to California and Fresno, to the home of another sister, Mrs. Wil- liam Newby. They arrived on October 21, 1888, and that same month Mr. Fearon began working in the coal mines at Coalinga. He continued in that field about four years, and in the meantime located a preemption claim. This was for 160 acres in Sec. 8-20-15, and on this he proved up ; and then he bought out the claim of 160 acres of Billie Montrose, and homesteaded it. This was adjoining his preemption, and he located on it, built a residence and improved the place. After five years of residence, he obtained the coveted Government deed ; and while they were working for this, they engaged in stock-raising and farming.

Later, Mr. and Mrs. Fearon, finding that they might purchase 160 acres more, on Sec. 18-20-15, about one and a half miles from their homestead, made haste to secure it, and now they reside on this ranch where Mr. Fearon has drilled two wells for water, and is engaged in raising grain and stock. The 160 acres on Sec. 18 is leased for oil to the Lakeport Oil Company, which has there three producing wells; and the other block of 320 acres is leased to the Union Oil Company, which is developing the land as oil property.

Mr. and Mrs. Fearon have been blessed with eight children: John Henry resides in Fresno; William Edward is with the Union Oil Company in the Coalinga field, as is also his brother Joseph ; Sarah Jane lives at home ; Charles Thomas is in the service of the Nevada Petroleum Oil Company; Addison works for the Oil Well Supply Company in Coalinga; Agnes Hannah has

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become Mrs. Prior of Taft; and Mark Atkinson is in the United States Army, serving in France.

Taking more than ordinary interest in civic affairs, Mr. Fearon is a loyal Republican; while in matters religious they follow the Anglican traditions and attend the Episcopal Church.

HENRY C. MILLER .- A veteran of the Civil War, Henry C. Miller was born at Upton, Worcester County, Mass., September 10, 1841, removing with his parents to Monroe, Greene County, Wis., in 1855. He received a good education in the public schools of Massachusetts and Wisconsin, and in September, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifth Wisconsin Light Artillery, McKnights Battery, serving under General Pope, then under General Rosen- cranz until he was honorably discharged August 11, 1862, when he returned home. He then became associated with his father, Levi B. Miller, in the mercantile business in Monroe. They had a tannery, manufactured leather which in turn they manufactured into boots and shoes and had a retail shoe store. Afterward Henry Miller attended Oberlin College and there learned the book-binding business, becoming the foreman of the book-binding de- partment of the Adventist Publishing House in Battle Creek, Mich., a posi- tion he filled for a period of eleven years resigning to engage in business for himself, having his own book-binding establishment in Battle Creek until 1890 when he sold out and located in Burrough Valley, Fresno County, and where he owns fifty acres devoted to farming and raising fruits.

In Battle Creek, Mr. Miller was married to Martha A. Baker, who was born in Plattsburg, N. Y., and they had five children: William H., died in 1911; George resides in Glendale; Edith is Mrs. Law, a missionary to Nan- king. China ; Jesse O. is operating the home place ; and Letha, is Mrs. Mitch- ell of Marysville, Cal .: Jesse Orlo, who is in charge of the home farm, was born in Battle Creek, Mich., July 12. 1879, coming to California in 1890. He finished his education at Healdsburg College. In 1898 he enlisted in the United States Navy for service in the Spanish-American War for four years, serving on the U. S. S. Solace, then U. S. S. Don Juan de Austria, and was afterward transferred to the U. S. S. Helena, and then to the U. S. S. Oregon and again back to the Helena, and from that to the U. S. S. New Orleans on which he returned to San Francisco and was honorably discharged in 1902. During his service he was in the Hospital Corps of the United States Navy. For a time he was employed with the Hume-Bennett Lumber Company as a nurse in their hospital, but finally gave it up to engage in farming. He has a homestead of 320 acres in Burrough Valley and is also operating his father's farm, is intensely interested in stock-raising and is gradually build- ing up a high grade herd of Herfords. Henry C. Miller is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In politics, he is an Independent.

FALLE P. HOLM .- An excellent young representative of Danish- American stock, who is studious, bright and well-informed, and has a ranch in a high state of culture, is Falle P. Holm, usually called Fred Holm, living a mile and a half west of Parlier on the Reedley road. He was born at Kold- ing, Denmark, on January 21, 1886, and is the son of Peter P. Holm. He mar- ried Ellen Kathrine Fallesen, who is also living, the mother of three children. among whom Falle P. is the oldest and the only one of the entire family in America. Peter Holm made trips to Australia and South Africa, as well as to New Zealand, mining for gold and diamonds; and through that hazardous occupation, he became well-to-do.

Fred received his schooling in Denmark, and he was brought up in the Lutheran Church. At Kolding he began to clerk in a store. He preferred the great outdoors, however, and before long he was attracted to California. He sailed from Hamburg on the Bluecher of the Hamburg-American line, and landed in New York City on September 6, 1904. His place of destination was Hanford, in Kings County, where he had a friend ; and when he arrived there,

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he worked out by the month on a grain and alfalfa ranch. He continued in Fresno County four years, working and renting land.

In 1908 Mr. Holm went back to Denmark, visited his parents and the old home for ten months, and for half of that time attended the Vallekille High School. Then once more he sailed for America, embarking at Copenhagen on the steamship United States, of the Scandinavian-American line and land- ing in New York in May, 1909. He came back to Fresno County, and in 1911 he went over to Solvang, in Santa Barbara County, and at the Atterdag College pursued a general commercial course for five months. Now he speaks and writes English and Danish.

On his return to Kerman, in Fresno County, in 1912, he farmed out for a while and then rented land until 1914; in the spring of that year he came to Parlier and bought his present place. He owns twenty acres which he keeps in a high state of cultivation. With the assistance of his wife, he does all the work, hiring about twenty pickers during the picking season, which is usually in the month of September; and this year he expects to realize quite $3,500 from his crops.

Mr. Holm was married on April 2, 1914, to Miss Frederickke Thomsen, a daughter of Mathias Thomsen, a leading rancher near Parlier. Three chil- dren have been given this happy couple. Carl P. is the eldest, and there are Walter M. and Arthur L. Holm. The family are members of the Danish Church, and Mr. Holm is the church's secretary. He is a naturalized Amer- ican and an enthusiastic supporter of President Wilson.

Z. D. NEDERHOUSE .- An experienced and enterprising oil man who has made good and is now superintendent of the Commercial Oil Company and also the W. M. & M. Oil Company, each operating over sixty acres at Coalinga, is Z. D. Nederhouse who came to California in 1909, having been born in Rising Sun, Ohio, in 1881.

He is the son of Daniel Nederhouse, a native of Ohio and a farmer, who is still living at Kansas in that state. He married Emma Goodman, also a native of Ohio, and she died in 1883. The only child in the family, Z. D. was brought up on a farm and educated at the public schools. His mother died when he was a babe, and he was reared by his grandmother, Mrs. Han- nah (Bonewitz) Goodman Earl at Rising Sun, a lady of Holland Dutch descent.

When fourteen, the lad went to work in the oil fields at Rising Sun. He dressed tools until he was twenty-two, and then he engaged in the butcher business. He ran a butcher shop at Rising Sun for nearly three years; and on selling out, he removed to Casey, Ill. He was a tool-dresser in the Casey field, and then, for a short while, he went back to Ohio. In 1909 he came out to the Coalinga field and entered the employ of the W. M & M. Company, and then on the Commercial Oil Company lease under Whaley and Stewart. Like a sensible man really desirous of mastering the field, he began at the bottom on this lease, and in 1916 he was made superintendent of the W. M. & M. Oil Company. In 1917 Mr. Nederhouse also became superintendent of the Com- mercial Oil Company, so that with the two leases to look after, he is respon- sible for the development of no less than 120 acres of oil lands.

LOUIS RUSCONI .- Into whatever portion of the world the Swiss people have gone, they have exemplified in their lives the traits of honor, integrity and thrift that give their homeland a prestige surpassed by none. Louis Rus- coni is a typical example of his countrymen and was born in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland, March 4, 1875. His parents were Frank and Liberta Rusconi and he is the fourth son in a family of nine children. In 1889 he immigrated to the United States, after having finished his education in his native land, and for a time lived and worked in Napa County, after which he went to Solano County and there was engaged in the dairy business for a number of years.

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It was in 1893 that he came to Fresno County and here took up viticul- ture, also engaging in the dairy business. In 1907 he took 280 acres of land to set out to vines on shares, and after three years he got his deed to 130 acres according to agreement. As he prospered he saved his money and added to his land holdings until he now owns 1,160 acres, 800 of which are in vineyard and orchard, a great deal of it having been improved by himself; ninety acres are in prunes, twenty of which are bearing; twenty acres have been sown to alfalfa; and the balance of the land is pasture. The ranch is well improved with buildings; a new and commodious residence has been built to replace the one destroyed by fire, in June, 1919, and it is one of the most pretentious homes in the community ; a bunk house 36x80 feet in dimensions has been built for the convenience and comfort of his men; and he has barns and other outbuildings, including a large storage shed for boxes and trays. He owns his own packing house on the Santa Fe and over 300 cars of fruit are shipped each season. He employs forty men and looks well after their comfort, especially during the hot season. He is one of the largest independ- ent producers in the county.

In 1901 Louis Rusconi was married to Miss Virginia Albertelli, born in canton Ticino, and who came to California to marry her boyhood friend and sweetheart. They have had sixteen children, six of whom are living: Frank ; Guido ; Blanche; Louis, Jr .; Joseph and a baby. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Rusconi is a stockholder in the Reedley National Bank and is a supporter of all movements for the building-up of Fresno County. In politics he is a Republican in national affairs.

When it is taken into consideration that when Mr. Rusconi came to Fresno County he was without funds, and now is reckoned as one of the most progressive and prominent citizens of the county, it shows what a person can accomplish when they set out with an object in view. He has worked hard, has been straightforward and square in all his dealings, has extended a help- ing hand to those less fortunate than himself and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

W. P. CRAWFORD .- A Californian who has made his way in the world ever since he was a lad, and who, after many years spent in the stock business, has risen to an influential position whereby he is able to serve his fellow- men, is W. P. Crawford, inspector and quarantine master, widely known for his devotion to duty. He is fortunate in his domestic life and in the com- panionship of a gifted wife who presides over his home, and with him en- joys the esteem of a wide circle of friends.

Born at Chinese Camp in Sonora, now Tuolumne County, June 21, 1872, W. P. Crawford was the son of W. D. Crawford, a gold-miner and a 49er, who mined gold at Don Pedro's Bar and at Golden City, and later, as a cattle- man and butcher, went into the business of supplying mining camps with meat. There were two children in the family-John W., now a vineyardist at Grangeville, in Kings County, and W. P., the subject of this review.

In 1880, W. D. Crawford moved to Grangeville, now in Kings County, and there, shortly after he had bought land, he died, in his fifty-eighth year. WV. P. was then only eight years of age, and for some years he remained at home; but while still quite young he secured his first employment on the Sutherland Estate. He was strong and lusty and easily did a man's daily labor ; and at the same time, he went to the local public school. As an em- ployee of the Sutherland Estate he became familiar with the Laguna de Tache Grant and its former owners, Poley Heilborn and Company ; and he knew their successor, Mrs. Clark, as well as Messrs. Nares and Saunders, who about 1898, bought the Grant. He ranged cattle on the vast stretches now of such appreciated value.

Mr. Crawford, although but a young lad, learned his first lessons in the stock business from his father, who was a butcher and a cattleman, and one of the best-informed men for many miles around. Later still W. P. became

Adolph Formengine.

Mary C. Domingues

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interested in the raising of hogs; and he enjoyed an enviable reputation for his out-put of swine from the Fitzwilliams' ranch, which he rented. Having become widely known for exceptional experience Mr. Crawford, in 1907, became State Stock Inspector and also County Quarantine Master; and being repeatedly re-appointed, he has conducted with credit these two offices ever since. He is also the State Sheep Inspector for this district.

During these busy, but very profitable years, Mr. Crawford enlarged his acquaintanceship, and among those whom he came to know well, is John A. Wilson, the banker at Hanford. The two have formed a partnership known as Wilson & Crawford, and they are now engaged in raising, buying, fatten- ing, and selling cattle. At the present time they have 900 head which are kept on rented land north of Laton in Fresno County and west of Guernsey in Kings County.

In 1913 Mr. Crawford was married to Miss Frances Hall, a native of Texas who came to Los Angeles with her parents, and two children have blessed their union-Percy and Viola L. Mrs. Crawford's father was a native of Ohio who came out to California in 1849, mined for gold, returned to the East, married in Ohio and then brought his bride west. Mr. Crawford's mother, who was Miss Margaret Jones before her marriage, is still living on her ranch at Grangeville.

ADOLPH DOMENGINE .- A native son of the Golden West who has achieved success and prominence is Adolph Domengine, who was born on the corner of Pacific and Stockton Streets in the city of San Francisco, on February 6, 1856. His father, John Domengine, was a native of France, born at St. Abbiet, Basses Pyrenees. On learning of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia he came on the sailing vessel Tempcred around Cape Horn to San Francisco in 1849. He made his way to the mines where he fortunately met with good success.

After a few years of mining he returned to France where he was mar- ried to Marie Claverie, and then brought his bride to California; at the same time he also brought his brother, Mathew, and his sister, Catherine. For a time he was engaged in the laundry business in San Francisco and then re- moved to near Santa Clara where he became the owner of 400 acres of land and engaged in raising cattle till 1865 when he sold the place for $4,000. In the dry year of 1864 he lost heavily of his herd and what he had left he sold for $900, but before he could collect it was attached and he lost it also. They had moved onto the ranch at Santa Clara on account of the mother's health, but the change did not benefit her as they had expected, and she died in 1859, leaving three children,-two girls and a boy. Their Uncle Mathew then took the three children back to France while the father. John Domengine, remained in California and entered the employ of Miller & Lux at the 12-Mile Ranch near Baden, San Mateo County, where he was foreman until 1867 when he engaged in the sheep business. He bought sheep in Los Angeles and vicinity and drove them to the San Francisco market. After three years he began sheep-raising on the San Luis Ranch at Pacheco Pass, until 1873. when he sold out and returned to his native France, where he made his home until he died in 1885. The three children were: Maria, who died at nine years of age, in France; Leona, who is Mrs. Brinil and resides in St. Abbiet, France ; and Adolph, our subject, who was the second oldest.

When three years of age Adolph was taken back to France, residing at St. Abbiet where he attended school until 1868. He then came back to Califor- nia, coming via the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco. In 1869-70 he made a trip to Los Angeles with his father for a band of sheep and helped drive them to San Francisco, after which he attended school in that city for twenty-two months. In May, 1872, he began herding sheep for his father on the San Luis Ranch, continuing with him until he sold out in 1873, and then he continued with Simon Camy who had purchased his father's property. In 1874 they moved the sheep to near Fresno, on the San Joaquin River,

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until Mr. Camy sold to Peter Lorquier, who ran them on the plains between Fresno and the San Joaquin River.

Mr. Domengine at this time saw the brick burned for the first court- house in Fresno. In 1875 he engaged with Peter Casson in ranging the sheep on the West Side, over land that our subject now owns. He found that all he could expect to receive from the small sheepman was $35 a month so he changed and went to work for Miller & Lux. After herding a year for them, he drove on the road for them three years and then became foreman of sheep for them until September, 1883. At this time he returned to the West Side and purchased from Peter Etchegoin the possessory right of his present place, purchasing his 3,200 head of sheep and outfit at the same time, and continuing the business. He preempted 160 acres and homesteaded 160 acres, and as he prospered he bought railroad land as well as other lands, until he now owns about 10,000 acres in two different ranches. He also leases about 5,000 acres, his range being scattered over a distance of twelve miles.

In 1912, Mr. Domengine sold his sheep and turned his attention to rais- ing cattle of the Durham strain, having some fine full-blooded Durhams at the head of his herd. His brand is a D with a quarter circle above, and A. The Domengine Ranch extends from the plains back into the foothills of the Coast Range, a little way below the Joaquin Rock, abounding in streams and springs, making a splendid cattle ranch, where he ranges about a thousand head of cattle. Some of the lands on the plains he leases for grain-raising. He is a member of the California Cattle Growers Association, and also of the American National Live Stock Association.

The marriage of Mr. Domengine to Miss Mary A. Pfitzer occurred in Fresno, April 15, 1887. She was born in Shingle Springs, Iowa, and came with her parents across the plains in an emigrant train when a babe in arms. Her father, Anthony Pfitzer, was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, and came to Illinois when a young man and there he married Theressa Myers, also a Wurtemberger. In 1863, Anthony Pfitzer crossed the plains to California and engaged in stock-raising near Los Banos, Merced County, becoming a prominent man and large land-owner, and there he died in 1891, while his wife died in Berkeley, in May, 1919, eighty-six years of age. Mrs. Domen- gine is the third oldest of their nine children, all of whom are living. She was educated in the public schools at Los Banos, Notre Dame Academy in Santa Clara, and at San Jose State Normal. Mr. and Mrs. Domengine have three children: Adolph M., who finished his schooling at Chestnutwoods Business College, at Santa Cruz ; Edna M., educated at Holy Cross Academy, Santa Cruz; and Walter, at the Oakland Polytechnic, and all are now asso- ciated with their parents in the cattle business.

A brief history of the Domengine Ranch is very interesting. It was first settled by George L. Hoffman as early as 1862, and lumber was hauled from Stockton to build the first cabin, the walls of which are still standing on the place, being preserved by a new roof. Hoffman sold to Bertram Yribarren who occupied the place from 1868 to 1872, when he sold to Peter Etchegoin who held it till September 1, 1883, when Mr. Domengine purchased his pos- sessory right, this claim being on railroad lands, Sec. 29-18-15; which he later purchased from the railroad company. In 1883 he also bought Mr. Etchegoin's claim on an upper ranch, in Sec. 25-18-14, which had been origi- nally located in 1864 by Jose Aricocha, who later acquired title to it. It is also a splendid ranch location at an elevation of over 2,500 feet, with ex- cellent springs of water.

Mr. and Mrs. Domengine are among the oldest settlers of the West Side. They are people of culture and are interested in education and advancement, and wield a wide influence for good. By their perseverance and industry they have attained success and prominence, and their example is well worthy of emulation. Being firm believers in protection, they are stanch Republi- cans.

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MICHAEL STIEGLITZ .- A native of foreign shores who, although coming to Fresno County rather late in her development, has been able in a few short years, by wise foresight and exemplary industry, to reach that degree of prosperity that he has recently retired, is Michael Stieglitz, who was born in Samara, Russia, on November 4, 1862, the son of Peter Stieglitz, a farmer, who with his good wife is now deceased.

Michael was brought up on his father's farm and educated at the public schools, and in 1884 he began his military service in the Russian Army. He was assigned to an artillery regiment, and after serving five years, mostly in Southern Russia, was honorably discharged as a non-commissioned officer. He followed farming in his native place until June 25, 1898, when he came · to Fresno, and for four and a half years was employed by Joe House. Then he worked for Frank Rehorn, the builder, for over nine years, and for four years he was in the employ of the Rosenberg Packing Company.

In 1912, with two partners he started a dry goods store on the site where he is now located, under the firm name of C. Grasmick & Co., and a year later they built an addition to the store, and added a stock of groceries. In 1914 Mr. Stieglitz bought his partners out and continued the business alone. Later he disposed of the dry-goods department and continued the sale of groceries and meats.

In the spring of 1918 he sold the stock and buildings to his son Fred, who continues the business so well established by Mr. Steiglitz. In Novem- ber, 1898, he bought the corner Ventura and D Streets and built the resi- dence where he has lived all these years, and he has also built up other resi- dence property in Fresno. A Republican is national politics, he is at all times intensely American.

Eight children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Stieglitz, of whom four grew up and are still living. Mollie is Mrs. Helmuth of Biola; Ferdinand has succeeded his father as a merchant; Anna is Mrs. Bitters of Fresno; Katherine was born in Fresno, and is now the wife of George Reitz. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.

ARTHUR BERRY .- A business man who has proven his capacity in the field of ranch management, having profited greatly through his associa- tion with his more experienced brother, and a likable fellow who has made a host of friends, so that two things seem certain ; he will some day be heard from on a larger and more responsible scale, and when he is, there will be no one to envy him, but many to felicitate on his success, is Arthur Berry, the bookkeeper in charge of the Barton Vineyard. He was born at Ossett, in Yorkshire, England, the son of Walter Berry, the manufacturer of cloths and representative of an old English family. He was for a time at Bourne- mouth, then afterward at Exeter; and in Devonshire he retired and died, in 1909. He had married Emily Matthews, also a native of English soil; and after a long and faithful companionship, she died, in August, 1916. Eight children had blessed their union ; and all eight are living today.

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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 92

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