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 EUGENE F. MAIN. � A native of Iowa, where he was born at Des Moines on October 16, 1866. Eugene F. Main is the son of Theodore Main, a native of Albion, N. Y.. who removed to Michigan, where he embarked in lumbering ; then went to Wisconsin for the same purpose ; and later settled at Des Moines, where he followed his trade, which was that of a brick mason and a builder. After some years he removed to Richmond. Mo., where he was a contractor and made bricks. In 1902 he took up his residence in Cal- ifornia, and at present resides in East Bakersfield. Mrs. Main, who was Sarah Rice before her marriage, and was also a New Yorker, is still living. In 1908 the esteemed and happy couple celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, and in 1918 celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Eleven children blessed this union, and five are still living. Eugene; William Main is a contractor in Fresno; and the three daughters � Mrs. Patterson of Fresno, and Mrs. Nielsen and Mrs. Renshaw of Bakersfield. The third oldest in the family, Eugene was brought up on a farm in Missouri for the first year, when he was taken to Richmond, where he at- tended the grammar and high schools. When about fifteen he began to learn the trades of brick-layer and plasterer under the direction of his father: but before he was twenty-one his father withdrew, and from that time on he was in business for himself. In 1887 he came to California for the first time and for a while worked at his trade at Fresno. The next year he came back again and was foreman for Joseph Spinney. For eight winters he came back each year and continued in the capacity of foreman, helping to build the City Hall, the Temple Bar Block, and the Fulton Hotel, each time going back for the summer to Rich- mond, Mo. In that town, on November 17, 1891, Mr. Main was married to Viola Adams, who was born in Macon. Mo., the daughter of John and Lucy (Har- vard) Adams, substantial farmer folks of that state. Mr. Adams lived for a while at Richmond, and in 1903 came to Fresno, where he died. Mrs. Adams is still living, the mother of six boys and two girls, among whom Mrs. Main is the third oldest. She was educated in Missouri. Having made an enviable record as a contractor in Missouri, Mr. Main in April, 1901, located permanently in Fresno, and first bought ten acres on Roeding Avenue, to which he added, until he now owns twenty acres, having in the meantime bought and sold several tracts. He built a ten-room residence of brick, designing it himself; and laid out a fine orchard. There he has Muir, Lovell and Elberta peaches. Mr. Main is active in contracting and building, and also was a brick manufacturer. As a stockholder and foreman, he started the Fresno Brick and Tile Works: he built up the plant and in ten months sold out and went back to contracting. He did the brick work on both the Republican Building and the Brewer residence, and also the old Fresno Bank and the Y. M. C. A. Building. He constructed the Reborn residence, and put up the almshouse, also built many buildings in Visalia, Coalinga, Selma and other towns, in- cluding the Kutner Warehouse, the White T.rick fruit store and many country packing houses and warehouses. He belongs to the California Peach Grow- ers, Inc., being a member and a stockholder; and is also a charter member of Fresno No. 1 International Union of Bricklayers. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Main : Alma is a graduate of the Fresno high school, and so is Fred ; the latter is also a graduate of Heald's Business College, and was deputy county clerk. He later served in a Machine Gun corps until mustered out, is now in the Supervisors' office in Fresno ; Eva, who graduated from the Fresno high school, is Mrs. Sears and resides at Fresno. Eula is a graduate of the Fresno State Normal and is teaching school. Jeanette, a graduate of the Fresno high now with Rodin and Kamp, and Charles, and Nellie are in attendance at the high school, and William, the youngest, is just starting school. For many years Mr. Main has been a member of the Odd Fellows; and he also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. In national politics he is a Democrat.