Kern County Biographies

J. B. Berges

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, June, 2007

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

	J. B. Berges is one of the progressive members of the 
somewhat numerous French colony of Kern County. He, like many others, came to 
California without money or a settled purpose except to seize the first 
opportunity that presented itself for gaining a livelihood. Born in the south of 
France, August 25, 1865, he came to America about fifteen years ago, reaching 
California in July, 1880. He engaged first in sheep-herding in Kern County, and 
later he, with two brothers, J. and A. Berges, engaged in sheep-raising for 
themselves in the mountains near Santa Maria, on the Quiotal Ranch. In this 
venture they prospered and continued the same until the summer of 1889, when the 
business was sold out. In the fall of 1889, Mr. Berges opened his present 
business, that of wholesaling and retailing wines and liquors in Bakersfield. He 
now owns and conducts one of the best establishments of the kind in Central 
California. In 1890 Mr. Berges married Miss Mary Inda, a native of France. They 
were married in Bakersfield, November 20. Mr. Berges is a man of genial demeanor 
and has the bearing of a man who thoroughly understands the minutest detail of 
his chosen calling. 

Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the County of Fresno, Tulare 
and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, p. 474.