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 JESSE R. CHURCH. � The expansion of Fresno, which has occasioned an unprecedented number of building operations of all kinds, including brick blocks, palatial residences, and more modest structures of all classes in the various business and residential sections, affords unlimited opportunities for all people engaged in industries and enterprises having to do with building operations. Among the leading contractors of Fresno who have contributed much to its growth and prosperity, Jesse R. Church of 221 U Street is well known as a first class, reliable and conscientious workman. He is a native of Fresno, born December 25, 1879, and is the son of John M. and Belle (Springton) Church. His mother is also a native of California, born in Lake County. His grandfather, Moses J. Church, crossed the plains to California in pioneer days and located in Napa County where he was a land owner and rancher. Later, in the early seventies he located in Fresno when it was little more than a hamlet, and was known as the "father of the irrigation ditch." He built the first irrigation ditch, which ran through Fresno Street in early days. He also built the first flour mill in Fresno, which he owned and ran, and which was located on Fresno Street where the present Sperry mill stands. He rented many acres of the old Easterby ranch east of Fresno, upon which he raised grain and also engaged in sheep and cattle raising. He was a prom- inent member of and officer in the Seventh Day Adventist Church and built the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Fresno. He was largely instrumental in the advancement and development of the city. The late M. J. Church donated forty acres of land, which was the nu- cleus of the Mountain View Cemetery at Fresno. That now affords the last resting place for his remains. He had many admirers and personal friends; one of them, namely, Fulton G. Berry, Fresno County pioneer, and a former owner of the Grand Central Hotel, erected a fine monument to Mr. Church : this monument among other inscriptions reveals the fact that it was erected out of personal admiration. "From one who knew his worth." His son, John M., a child two years of age when his parents crossed the plains, was brought up and educated in Napa County, Cal. He came to Fresno with his father and was the pioneer furniture man of Fresno. He opened a furniture store on Fresno Street near I Street, and for twenty years was engaged in the furniture business. He owned and developed a vineyard on North First Street, and in the early days carried the mail from Fresno to White's Bridge. He was also in partnership with his father in the sheep and cattle business in the early days. He was a prominent member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He died February. 1912. His wife is still living. Jesse R. attended the public schools of Fresno and later a business college at Healdsburg. Cal., where he took a stenographic and business course. He worked with his father in the furniture store at Fresno and later took up the trade of carpenter and worked for James M. Smith, the contractor, still later entering the contracting and building business for himself. He has erected over one hundred buildings in Fresno, among which are many of the best residences in the city, a dormitory at the Normal School and four tlat build- ings in North Fresno in the Normal school district, besides many others (notable among which are the S. E. Black, J. O. Keig, George Haines and E. C. Van Buren residences). He built twelve homes of his own and dis- posed of them. At present he has retired from active building operations. When active he had three or four houses under construction all the time. He has been a life long member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Fresno, of which he is trustee and elder. He was united in marriage with Maude May Shaw, a native of Nebraska who came to California when a little girl with her mother, and resided in Healdsburg and Oakland, coming to Fresno in 1901. She is a deaconess in the Seventh Day Adventist Church and an officer in the Ladies' Auxiliary.