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


HENRY KELLAS.� The late Henry Kellas was a splendid example of 
a kind-hearted and public-spirited citizen, and was born near Forest, forty 
miles from Quebec, Canada. His parents were of Scotch ancestry, and owned 
a farm on the Canada and United States line. When Henry was a lad of 
thirteen, the family moved to Illinois, and he was raised and educated in that 
state. When he was old enough he began farming for himself, and working 
in the pineries. He later farmed in Iowa, and in 1872. settled in Kansas, and 
bought 280 acres of railroad land, near Newton, Harvey County, upon which 
he raised grain and some stock until 1905, when, on account of ill health, he 
sold out and removed to Seattle, Wash. Having recovered from his asthma, 
four months later, he came to California, and on June 26th, of that year, pur- 
chased a ranch of sixty acres, seven miles east of Fresno. There were some 
young vines planted on the acreage, and seventeen acres were in young fig 
trees. Mr. Kellas set the balance of the ranch to vines, Thompson seedless, 
Muscats. Malagas, and all were grown under ditch irrigation ; some wells 
and a pumping plant furnishing further water for the property. Mr. Kellas 
was actively engaged in the development of his ranch, when he was called by 
death, on September 26, 1909. He was interested in the cause of education- 
and in his home district in Kansas, was clerk and trustee, and helped build 
first school in his district which was named for him, Kellas School. He also 
built the second or present school house, was elected a trustee and served 
for nearly thirty-three years. In Locan district, he helped organize a new- 
district and was one of first trustees and helped built first school house. He 
was always a Republican. 

In Newton, Kans.. January 12, 1887. Mr. Kellas had been united in mar- 
riage with Miss Emma Gast, who was born in Plymouth. Marshal] County, 
Ind., a daughter of Andrew Gast, a native of Germany. Mr. Gast was brought 
to the United States by his parents when he was two years of age, and for a 
time the family stopped in New York, but later located in Marshall County, 
Ind. Mr. Gast, after reaching young manhood, enlisted for service in the 
Civil War, in Company F. Twelfth Indiana Cavalry. After the war. lie re- 
turned to farming in Indiana. lie married Angeline Lolmaugh, a native of 
the Hoosier state, and soon afterwards they moved to Newton, Kans., where 
Mrs. Gast's father, Jacob Lolmaugh, had settled in an early day. The chil- 
dren now living that were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gast are: Mrs. Emma 
Kellas; Mrs. Dora Pippig; Mrs. Mary Bell; Jacob A.; Mrs. Lizzie Pippig; 
Lawrence, of Newton, Kans. ; Edward, of Long Beach ; John B., of Colorado 
Springs; Peter, of Long Beach; Mrs. Laura Mickelberry, of Bakersfield; 
and Mrs. Margaret Skoegard, of Lemoore. Mr. Gast removed from Newton, 
Kans., to Larned, then back to Newton, and in 1906, came to California. He 
and his wife are now living retired in Fresno. 

Since the death of Mr. Kellas, his widow, with the aid of her son, Floyd 
H., has operated the home place and has displayed much business acumen 
in the discharge of the duties falling upon her. Her sons are : Floyd Harrison, 
an expert horticulturist in charge of the Kellas ranch, and a member and 
clerk of the Locan school district; and Edward Leslie, a graduate of the law 
department of the University of California, and was admitted to practice ; he 
was in the United States Army, served overseas as First Lieutenant in the 
Three Hundred Sixty-first Regiment. Mrs. Kellas is a Republican in political 
matters.