California Biographies

Source: 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 (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


MARTIN ARDOHAIN. � That perseverance and close application to a 
chosen line of business will succeed is well illustrated in the life history of 
Martin Ardohain, a native of France, born near St. Jean, Basses-Pyrenees, 
March 9, 1876, the seventh oldest of a family of twelve children born to Pierre 
and Marie Ardohain who were farmers and stockraisers in the Pyrenees region. 
Of their family of twelve children four are honored residents of California. 
Martin Ardohain received a good education in the local schools of his native 
place and from a lad assisted his parents on the farm. When twenty years of 
age, as was the custom of that country, he entered the French Army, serving 
in the Sixth Company of Sixth Regiment of Infantry and after the required 
time was honorably discharged. Becoming interested in the land of the Pacific 
Coast from the stories told by his countrymen who returned telling of the oppor- 
tunities awaiting young men willing to work, he concluded to cast in his lot in 
California, so came hither, arriving in Fresno. October, 1900. Unfortunately he 
was taken ill and it was more than two months before he recovered sufficiently 
to go to work. The expense of this illness, as well as his indebtedness for his 
expenses from his home to California, left him $700 in debt. Nothing daunted 
he went to work and applied himself steadily to earn the money to pay his debt 
and then to acquire capital with which to start in business for himself as was his 
ambition. He worked the first year for $25 a month and board. So well did he 
do his duties and work, his employer then gave him $30 a month and he con- 
tinued steadily for four years. Having paid off his debt and acquired some 
means, in 1905 he and two brothers bought 3,000 head of yearlings, ranging them 
for seven months and sold out at a profit ; then Martin, with his brother, John, 
bought a flock together and engaged in sheep raising, increasing their flock and 
doing well. After thirteen years of harmonious business association they dis- 
solved partnership. 

Mr. Ardohain now has several thousand head of sheep which he ranges 
on the plains and in the mountains. He owns a ranch of 160 acres southeast of 
Huron that he has for his headquarters of his sheep camp in the winter, while 
summers he leases the Shaver Lake property as well as of the National Forest 
Reserve on the Upper Kings River. He has also engaged in grain raising at 
Huron. In 1917 he moved his family from Huron to Fresno, where he resides at 
1357 Glenn Street. Mr. Ardohain was married in Fresno, August 15, 1910, to 
Miss Marie Yrigaray who was also born in his native place and they have two 
children, Carmen and Louis. He is one of the original stockholders in the 
Growers National Bank of Fresno.