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


JOHN HOLM.� One of the early settlers of Vinland is John Holm who 
was born near Karleby, Varsalan, Finland, May 1, 1858. He was raised in Fin- 
land, but enjoyed no school advantages; but an elderly lady taught him the al- 
phabet. With this foundation he continued until he was able to read and write 
in four different languages. After completing his trade as a ship joiner he worked 
in different shipyards in Finland and Russia. He had a longing for the sea and in 
1881, while on the ship Alex. Gibson, he touched at San Francisco while on the 
way to China via Liverpool and New York. In 1886 he came to San Francisco 
on a sailing vessel, the Oregon, on which he was engaged as ship's carpenter. 
He came around Cape Horn from New York, which he had rounded five times 
before this. He followed the sea for seven years and has been in all the impor- 
tant ports of the world. 

In 1886 he quit the sea at San Francisco, and was employed by John Vance, 
Eureka, in the lumber woods. He remained with this firm for a time and then 
engaged with Mr. Bendixsen, with whom he stayed for eight years, and then 
came to Vinland, Cal.. in 1904. He was one of the first to come to Vinland, as 
he had been here in 1903 and bought forty acres of land, moving upon it and 
buying twenty acres more in 1904. In the improvement of his ranch he has 
experimented in planting until he satisfied himself that Thompson seedless is 
the best grape for him and the most profitable, for that vicinity. He has planted 
thirty-seven acres in Thompson seedless, three acres in apricots, an orchard of 
peaches and other fruits, and the whole sixty is under splendid cultivation. 

Mr. Holm was married in Finland to Miss Sophia Johansen, who, like her 
husband, is a native of Finland, coming to this country in 1889. They are the 
parents of five children, four of whom are living: John Amil joined the colors 
November 3, 1917, served in Company F, Fifty-ninth Infantry, Fourth Division, 
trained at Camp Lewis four months, then Camp Green, N. C., then went over- 
seas and saw service through all the big battles ; was gassed at Argonne Forest, 
was discharged May 18, 1919, after eleven months in France and then came 
'home to take up his work on the ranch ;' Eddie, a farmer in the Biola district; 
Andrew, assisting his father on the ranch; Sena, at home. 

Mr. Holm is a member of the Lutheran Church, and also of the California 
Peach Growers, Inc., and the California Associated Raisin Company. In the 
early days his ranch was the show place of the vicinity, and was used in demon- 
strating what could be done in production from the soil.