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



GEORGE BAZTERRA.� If anyone hereabouts has a right to be proud 
of his many friends it is George Bazterra, proprietor of Hotel Bascongado, 
and a resident of California for over twenty-five years. He was born near 
Abaurrea, Acto, Spain, on November 28, 1875, the son of Jean Bazterra, a 
farmer, and his good wife Josephine, and was one of a family of nine children. 
In January, 1891, he came with his father to the Pacific Coast ; but the latter 
remained only four or five years, and then returned to Spain. Both parents 
are now dead; and the only other member of the family in California is 
George's sister, Eugenia, now Mrs. Frank Espitallier of Fresno. 

Reared in Spain, where he attended the public school until he was four- 
teen years of age, George Bazterra came to the Coast as stated, crossing the 
ocean in 1890, sailing from Bordeaux to New Orleans and then coming to Los 
Angeles, where the Bazterra family arrived on January 6, 1891. He went 
to work on the San Joaquin ranch at fifteen dollars a month, and continued 
there for a couple of years. Then he entered the service of ranchers at Chino 
and Spadra ; but after working four years for a man in the latter place, his 
employer failed and he lost the wages long due him. He was young, healthy 
and cheerful, however, and so, with as much heartening philosophy as he could 
summon, he started anew. 

In 1898 Mr. Bazterra came to Fresno County and accepted a position 
with Miller & Lux, at Firebaugh, driving big teams in the grain fields for 
them for a couple of years. He was also at Kearney Rock, and then for an- 
other year in Firebaugh, after which he worked for M. Theo. Kearney at 
Kearney Park for over one year. 

When he returned to Fresno, Mr. Bazterra became the proprietor of Ho- 
tel Bascongado, but soon after he bought a band of sheep at Los Banos, and 
ran them on leased land. After he sold out and left the sheep business, in 
which he had good success, he devoted himself solely to his hotel interests. 

Mr. Bazterra was married to Mary Helena Ansolabehere, a French woman 
born in Hautes-Pyrenees, and together they have enjoyed the social life of 
the community, and particularly of the circles of the Druids and the Eagles. 
Their home is the center of a warm hospitality, which is rewarded by the 
genuine goodwill of all who have the good fortune to know them.