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


PETER DALENA.� Peter Dalena was born in Bari, Italy, January 15, 
1880. He was educated in the local schools and from a lad learned viticulture, 
working in his father's vineyard. Determining to try his fortune in the 
United States, he came to New York City in 1902, and six months later to 
San Francisco, Cal., arriving in 1903. For a time he was employed as a 
gardener in Sonoma County, and then engaged in raising beans on an island 
below Sacramento. In 1905 he came to Reedley, Fresno County, as a foreman 
on the Great Western Vineyard. In 1908 he came to Arizona Colony, pur- 
chased twenty acres of his present place, and immediately began improving 
it as a vineyard. Later he bought twenty acres adjoining. This was raw 
land, which he leveled and set to Thompson seedless vines. He now has 
twenty acres of Thompsons, ten acres of sultanas, and ten acres of muscats. 
The ranch is well-improved and is set with a border of figs. 

Mr. Dalena's marriage occurred in Indianola, Miss., where he was united 
with Miss Emelia Romagnoli, a native of Issi, Italy. They have three chil- 
dren : Kelina, Ropeo, and Merico. Mr. Dalena has shown much enterprise 
in improving and building up his splendid ranch property. He is a viticul- 
turist of ability, and is a member and stockholder of the California Associated 
Raisin Company.