Fresno County Biographies

FULTON G. BERRY

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, June, 2007

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

	At the age of fifty, when most men begin to wear a 
discouraged look, especially if the battle of life is against them, the subject 
of this sketch arrived in Fresno. That was five years ago, in 1885. A glance 
backward at his career will show something of his training and also serve to 
illustrate what a poor man with plenty of pluck, nerve and persistence can 
accomplish in the rich country described in this volume. Mr. Berry was born in 
Maine in the year 1834. In 1851 he came to California, - a six-foot stripling of 
seventeen. A good job of steady work, that of driving a sand-cart, being offered 
him in San Francisco, he became a drayman, and worked for six months at days' 
wages. At the end of that time he bought a horse and dray, and set up in 
business for himself, continuing thus employed for six years. The next four 
years he spent in the grocery trade, and then, for two years he was engaged with 
Mr. Alexander Badlam in the real-estate business, after which he became a 
charter member of the Pacific Stock Exchange. From that he went into the old 
board, paying $30,000 for his seat, and, of course, failing, as the majority of 
good brokers did in those days. After serving for three years as commissary of 
State's prison, he bought a seat in the Produce Exchange for $1,000, but, no 
having the means to carry on the business, he sold it and came to Fresno to take 
charge of the Grand Central Hotel. The wonderful success that Mr. Berry has 
achieved in this city is worthy of record. Soon after settling in Fresno he took 
a pair of burros, and with his wife drove about the town and vicinity, saying on 
his return, "This country is good enough for me, and I think we can trust our 
fortune here." Although in debt and with less than $50 of borrowed money, with 
opportunities lying all about him for quick turns in real estate, he decided on 
a bold venture; bonded a ranch for a large amount, went to San Francisco, told 
his story, and found a partner to put up the money. For his half of the amount 
ten per cent interest was charged. He returned to Fresno, and in ninety days 
sold the property at a profit of $20,000, clearing his first $10,000. In the 
meantime, in thirty days after his advent in Fresno he had bought a 
half-interest in the furniture of the Grand Central Hotel, - on time, of course, 
- and six month's later he purchased his partner's interest. After selling the 
ranch he paid $7,500 for city lots, selling part of them in less than a year at 
a profit of $84,000. He then bought the hotel for $55,000. Mr. Berry has 
acquired much property in the city, which has rapidly advanced in price, and it 
may be truthfully said that to-day he is one of the principal property-holders 
of Fresno. He also owns valuable vineyard lands which is fast improving. In the 
electric light and gas companies he has large interests. In fact, Mr. Berry is 
associated in some way or another with every important business enterprise in 
the city. He was married in 1857 to Mary E. Torrey, a native of Maine, and has 
two daughters. Such in brief, is an account of the life of one of Fresno's 
prosperous citizens - a man of tireless energy, and unconquerable grit and 
determination, who conquers apparently insurmountable obstacles by the sheer 
force of his strong personality.

Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare 
and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, pp. 609-610.