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


CHRISTIAN ARNST.� A successful rancher and his devoted wife, 
whose intelligent industry has contributed in the great work of building up 
the county, are Christian and Marie Arnst, active supporters of the cooper- 
ative work of the California Associated Raisin Company. He was born at 
Osinofke, Samara, Russia, on February 16. 1855, the son of Peter Arnst, a 
farmer, and the oldest of four children and the only one in America. 

He was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools of 
his home district; and in 1877 he joined an infantry regiment in the Russian 
Army and served in the campaign against Turkey until the close of the war. 
He was married at his home to Miss Marie Enrich, a native of that section 
and the daughter of Casper and Anna Eurich, farmers who had five children, 
among whom she is the oldest. 

After his marriage, Mr. Arnst engaged in farming and became foreman of 
a large ranch. He was fairly prosperous; but hearing splendid reports from 
California picturing the unrivalled agricultural opportunities here, he con- 
cluded to emigrate to the Pacific Coast, and on August 7, 1891, arrived in 
Fresno. 

In 1893 he bought lots on Cherry and Church streets, and built a resi- 
dence, and then he purchased twenty acres at Malaga, and raised alfalfa. 
Later he bought twenty acres more, which he leveled and checked and also 
planted to alfalfa, and after a while he added fortY acres, and improved that. 
He had eighty acres in alfalfa and Thompson seedless and Muscat grapes, 
and then bought fifty acres across the road, all of which he still owns. He 
rents out the vineyards and operates the balance himself. 

Two children have blessed the union of this worthy couple. John is a 
rancher at Monmouth, Fresno County; and David resides at Fresno. The 
family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.