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


A. R. KERSTETTER.� As manager of the Grant Rock and Gravel 
Company, with plants located at Friant, Fresno County, and Visalia, Tulare 
County, A. R. Kerstetter, who was born at Elkhart, Ind., in 1882, has made 
a name and place for himself in the world of business in California. His in- 
terests are those of the company he is representing. 

Mr. Kerstetter came to California in 1912, as a representative of the 
Stone-Webster Company, of Boston, at Fresno, and after he had looked over 
the country for a time, he saw the possibilities of building up a wonderful 
business in his line. The Grant Rock and Gravel Company was incorporated 
September 20, 1915; although it had been doing business in Fresno since 
April of that year. Mr. Kerstetter was made secretary and manager of the 
new corporation. 

Their plant was started at Friant in April, 1915, and when completed 
represented an expenditure of $150,000, and the output of the company found 
ready market; in fact, such a demand for it grew that the company bought 
and rebuilt another plant at Visalia, at a cost of $75,000. Over 300.000 tons 
of rock was crushed by the company and disposed of in Kings, Tulare, Kern, 
and Merced Counties in the construction of the State Highway. They fur- 
nish rock and gravel for all kinds of building, among some of the structures 
for which they furnished material are the Fresno State Normal School : the 
Cory, Mason, Olender, and Federal buildings. On May 1, 1919, Mr. Kers- 
tetter resigned his position and organized the Piedra Rock and Sand Com- 
pany, manufacturers and dealers in crushed rock and sand, their business 
extending -throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Kerstetter is president 
and manager of the company, and has offices in the Mason Building. 

Mr. Kerstetter was married in Montana to Miss Katherine Walters. He 
is a member of Fresno Lodge, No. 439, B. P. O. Elks ; the Chamber of Com- 
merce ; the Rotary and Commercial Clubs of Fresno.