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


S. GEORGE. � The growing of raisins has made Fresno County famous 
and afforded opportunities for success to very many, but there seems to be 
an affinity between this business and the foreigner, for they are few who 
do not make a success at it. Prominent among the successful ones is S. 
George, who owns four good raisin ranches near Fresno and resides in 
Fresno with his family, at 327 F Street, in a bungalow that he built twenty- 
six years ago. One ranch of forty acres lies six miles west of Fresno on 
Whites Bridge road, another forty lies eight miles east of Fresno on Cali- 
fornia Avenue, another of twenty-nine acres is near Malaga, and a fourth of 
thirty-seven and a half acres is in the Lone Star district.. 

Mr. George was born near Harpoot, Turkey, at a little town called 
Arapger, in 1864. His father was George Geehanshian, a tailor at Arzroom, 
Turkey. He died in Fresno about twenty-five years ago at the age of eighty- 
five years. The mother was Annie Fereshedian, and is now living with a 
son, Chet George, at 462 I Street, Fresno. She is now ninety-five years old. 
They had four sons and three daughters. The sons all came to Fresno 
and two died here. Two of the sisters also live in Fresno, but one lives 
in Turkey. 

Mr. George had but little schooling. He learned the tailor's trade 
with his father in Turkey. He made up his mind to get away to a land of 
freedom, where he would have the opportunity of earning money to bring 
his relatives to this country, to save them from the ravages of the Turk. He 
left home for the land of opportunity in 1886, sailing from Smyrna via Liver- 
pool to New York, reaching that city in December of that year. He went 
to Philadelphia and worked at his trade for Wanamaker & Brown for two 
years, then in 1888, he came to Fresno. Here he engaged in the tailoring 
business, and helped to establish the firm of George Bros., Clothiers and 
Merchant Tailors, Fresno, then on J Street, now on Mariposa Street. He 
sold out his interest in this business about twenty years ago, and has since 
devoted his energies to the raisin industry. He assisted in getting all of 
his family to America. 

Mr. George was married in Fresno in 1897, to Miss Aznive Paul, a native 
of Arzroom, who died April 1, 1910. There were born to this union six 
children : Henry, who assists his father in the operation of the ranches ; Rose ; 
Violet; Lily; John, and Marguerite. He was married a second time on 
September 24, 1911, to Miss Christina Manoogian, and they have one child, 
Lawrence. 

Mr. George is a progressive man and with his family enjoys the esteem 
and confidence of the community. He is a Republican in politics, and is an 
enthusiastic supporter of the government in all its aims.