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



JOHN BAHRENFUS. � Prominent among the aggressive members of 
the California Associated Raisin Company, is John Bahrenfus, who was born 
near Davenport, in Scott County, Iowa, in 1854, the son of Lawrence Bah- 
renfus, of Holstein, then Denmark and later Germany. He married Lucy 
Bachsen and was a carpenter and builder. About 1851 he located in Hickory 
Grove Township, Scott County, as a farmer, and later removed to Grinnell, 
Poweshiek County, where he bought a farm on which he died. Mrs. Bah- 
renfus died there also, the mother of six children, three of whom are still 
living. John was the third youngest, and is the only one in California. 

When he was ten years old the family moved to Grinnell, and there he 
attended the public schools. He remained home to assist his father on the 
farm ; and when, in his nineteenth year, his father died, he ran the farm for 
his mother as long as he remained single. 

On October 2. 1884. he was married at Grinnell to Miss Ella Schultz, 
who was born near that town, the daughter of Fred and Mary (Harmon) 
Schultz, who were born, respectively, in Illinois and Ireland. They were 
farmers in Poweshiek County, and have a farm of 640 acres, with plenty of 
fine stock. The mother died when Mrs. Bahrenfus was three years old," and 
the father in his seventy-second year. Of the two children, she was the elder, 
and attended the public schools, afterward going to Grinnell College. 

For two years Mr. Bahrenfus leased land, and then he bought 160 acres 
in Hamilton County, and went in for grain and stockraising. Later he sold 
this and moved to Iowa Falls, where he purchased a farm ; but on account of 
ill-health he removed to Missouri, settling near Parnell in Nodaway County. 
The climate proved too cold for him, however, and he concluded to come to 
California. 

In the fall of 1905. he located in Fresno County near Kerman, and in 
January, 1906, he bought his place of twenty acres, now so attractive on 
account of its fine vineyard of Thompson seedless grapes. At first he had an 
orchard of apricots and peaches ; but it was not a success, and he dug the trees 
up. He built a residence and put up other buildings and installed machinery. 
He became a stockholder in the California Associated Raisin Company. 

Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bahrenfus : Fred L. is 
a rancher at Biola ; Lena, who has become Mrs. Oliver, lives in Nodaway 
County, Mo. ; Ella is Mrs. Frank Jenkins, and resides at Vinland ; and John 
J. was a soldier in the National Army at Camp Lewis, now honorably dis- 
charged. The family grew up in the Lutheran faith. 

In 1919 Mr. Bahrenfus purchased a fine up-to-date bungalow at 390 
Temple Avenue, Long Beach, where he and his family are now residing. 
The latch string continues to hang out to welcome their numerous friends.