Fresno County, 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


BERTRAND W. GEARHART.� A native son of California, born in 
Fresno, May 31, 1890, Bertrand W. Gearhart is a son of J. W. and Mamie 
(Johnson) Gearhart, of whom mention is made on another page of this his- 
tory. B. W. Gearhart was educated in the grammar and high schools of his 
native city, after which he attended the University of Southern California 
Law School, from which institution he was graduated in June, 1914, receiv- 
ing the degree of LL.B. He had matriculated at the University in September, 
1910, and pursued the regularly prescribed law course, but contrary to the 
usual ways of the university law students, he won his admission to the 
bar of the state one year before his graduation. He took and successfully 
passed the regular bar examination and was admitted to practice July 21, 
1913. After his graduation from the university he became associated with 
Short and Sutherland, of Fresno, in the practice of his profession and con- 
tinued with that firm until he received the appointment as a deputy in the 
office of the district attorney of Fresno County. 

When the call came for volunteers in the great World War, just ended, 
Mr. Gearhart gave up his duties and entered the Second Officer's Training 
Camp at the Presidio, in San Francisco and on November 27, 1917. he re- 
ceived his commission as a lieutenant. He served through his enlistment 
with distinction and honor and for six months saw active service in France 
as the commanding officer of the Six Hundred Ninth Aero Squadron. He 
was in the army eighteen months in all. He sailed from Bordeaux, France, 
January 28, 1919, and was honorably discharged at Garden City, N. Y., on 
March 4, of that year, and arrived home on the ninth of that month. He 
found his position awaiting his arrival and he immediately doffed his uniform 
and went back to his desk and his books. 

Mr. Gearhart is a Republican in politics. Fraternally he is a member of 
the Elks, Native Sons, and Woodmen of the World ; he also belongs to the 
University Club and Sunnyside Country Club. He is deeply interested in the 
development and progress of Fresno County and his ability and forceful 
virility will no doubt be telling factors in its growth.