California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 ALFRED JOSEPH ARNAUDON. Distinguished as a leading citizen of Mendota, Alfred Joseph Arnaudon is also known far and wide as one of the most able and prosperous business men of Fresno county. A brief resume of his life affords a forcible illustration of the self- made man, who began life at the foot of the ladder, and by his own strenuous efforts has stead- ily climbed the pathway of success, gaining an eminent position, socially and financially, among his fellow-men. He is actively identified with the mercantile, agricultural, and industrial pros- perity of this part of the state, and is not only carrying on an extensive business as a dealer in general merchandise, hay and grain, but is proprietor of Arnaudon's hotel, in connection with which he has a large livery stable, and is an extensive land owner and stock raiser, as well. A native of France, he was born, October 14, 1853, in the department of Hautes-Alpes, where his parents, Joseph and Marie Arnaudon, spent their entire lives. He is the youngest child in a fam- ily consisting of three sons and six daughters born to his parents and of the three children now living, is the only one in America. Born and reared on a farm, Alfred Joseph Arnaudon received a practical common school education in his native land, living at home until eighteen years old. Ambitious and energetic, he made up his mind to try life for himself in the new world. Accordingly, in 1872, he sailed from Havre on the steamer City of Paris, and fifteen days later landed in New York. Boarding a train, he started from there by rail for California, but being caught in a snowstorm while crossing the mountains was twenty-nine days en route. Arriving in San Francisco with just $20 in United States money in his pocket. Mr. Arnaudon, not a whit discouraged, began looking for employ- ment, and the following six years worked in Remillard's brickyard, in San Rafael. Industrious, prudent and thrifty, he accumulated considerable money, and in 1878 located in Sunol, Alameda county, where, in partnership with his nephews, the Chaix boys, he embarked in sheep raising, having a large range in the Sunol foothills. Succeeding well in the venture, these part- ners subsequently bought a ranch in the valley, and continued their profitable business awhile longer. Later Mr. Arnaudon sold out his share of the ranch, and taking his part of the sheep to another ranch in the same county carried on stockraising alone for three years. Removing to Fres- no county, on the west side, in 1886, he established a sheep ranch, and at the same time em- barked in mercantile pursuits, stocking a store at "White Bridge with general merchandise, and running it successfully for eight years, serving meanwhile as assistant postmaster. In 1894 Mr. Arnaudon built the block which he now owns and occupies in Mendota. It is eighty feet front, and contains two stores, and a large hotel, Arnaudon's, which he manages suc- cessfully, having a lucrative patronage. As a general merchant he has built up a large trade among the best people of the community, being an especially large dealer in hay and grain, as well as general goods, and from the livery which he manages in connection with his hotel he derives a good profit. From June 3, 1895, until the spring of 1900. Mr. Arnaudon was also the post- master at Mendota. He is still interested in the sheep business, owning a ranch of forty-five hun- dred acres, lying three miles south of Mendota, where he keeps about five thousand sheep. He likewise owns a farm of one hundred and forty, acres near Pleasanton, and on this he has a win- erv and a vineyard of twenty-five acres, while, about six miles east of Mendota, on the banks of the San Joaquin river, he has a small poultry, hay and vegetable ranch. Mr. Arnaudon has oth- er property of value, owning a residence in the city of Fresno. In all of his undertakings Mr. Arnaudon has exercised good judgment and sound sense, and by wise forethought and pru- dent management has accumulated wealth. In Mission San Jose, Mr. Arnaudon married Marie Arbios, who was born in France, in the department of Basses-Pyrenees, a daughter of John Arbios, who came with his family to Cali- fornia in 1876, settling first as a dairyman in San Rafael, but being now a resident of Pleasanton. Mr. and Mrs. Arnaudon have six children, namely : Emma (wife of R. Jury, of Palo Alto) ; Lucy, Cora, Adelta, Marie and Alfred J. Politically Mr. Arnaudon supports the principles of the Democratic party, and for many years served as school director. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias.