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


NICHOLAS HOLSTEIN. � An enterprising general merchant of the 
City of Fresno is Nicholas Holstein, a native of the town of Volsk, Saratof. 
Russia, where he was born on October 17, 1878. His father was Henry Carl 
Holstein. who was engaged in the hotel and bakery business until, in 1883, 
he died there. He had married Fredericka Kerner, who is still living, the 
mother of twelve children, four of whom have survived. 

The second youngest of these four, Nicholas was brought up at Volsk, 
bereft of his father from his fourth year. He was sent to the Balakova public 
school, and there learned both German and Russian. When nine years old, he 
was apprenticed to learn the mercantile business, and for sixteen and a half 
years he worked for the same firm in two different stores. He was manager 
the last two years, but he resigned to accept a place with the Singer Sewing 
Machine Company � for the first four years as agent and bookkeeper, and 
then for three years as manager. 

Mr. Holstein's experience in that capacity was so exceptional that it 
affords many an interesting tale. During those seven years he was stationed 
in different cities for 800 miles along the Volga ; and with headquarters in 
the City of Ural, in the Ural Mountains, he traveled 700 miles from the Cas- 
pian Sea to Busulak, and so became familiar with various lands and peoples. 

In 1913, Mr. Holstein resigned to come to California and Fresno, and for 
six months he was in the employ of a packing-house. During this time he 
attended night school, and then he was for two years with the Singer Sewing 
Machine Company as agent for the county. He was full of business enter- 
prise, and while so engaged started his store in a rented place on this lot, 
with a small stock of goods, and his wife took charge of the store. The bus- 
iness grew rapidly and at the end of two years Mr. Holstein resigned to look 
after his own interests. In time he was able to buy a lot and residence, and 
then to enlarge his store. Now his establishment is one of the notable business 
houses in his section, dealing in general merchandise and notions, groceries, 
etc. It is located at 117 F Street, and is a credit to the neighborhood. 

In far-off Ural, Mr. Holstein was married to Miss Alexandrina Bier, a 
native of Volga, and they have four children : Valdemar, Ludmilia, Egenia, 
and Victor.