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


CAESAR MILLA. � The head of the distilling department of the great 
Mattevista Winery, situated seven miles southeast of Fresno, Caesar Milla, 
the subject of this sketch, was born November 1, 1875, in Canton Ticino, 
Switzerland, a son of Joseph and Filomina (Mattei) Milla, the parents of 
seven children, Caesar being the eldest. The mother passed away in 1913, 
in Switzerland ; the father still resides there and has reached the age of 
seventy-eight years. 

Caesar Milla was reared in his native land until he was fifteen years of 
age, when he emigrated to the United States, coming directly to the Matte- 
vista Winery, which is owned and has been developed by his uncle, Andrew 
Mattei, the millionaire viticulturist and wine-manufacturer. Caesar Milla 
was employed by his uncle in the winery where, by hard work and intelli- 
gent efforts, he soon gained a knowledge of the business and was promoted 
from one department to another, and in course of time mastered the business, 
from the planting of the vines to the bottling, shipping, and selling of the 
wines. So well did he grasp the entire business that he became the superin- 
tendent of the winery and held this responsible post until 1917, when his 
cousin, Andrew Mattei, Jr., was made superintendent, and Caesar Milla be- 
came the head of the distilling department. The parents of Caesar Milla be- 
ing in modest circumstances, and having a large family to support, Caesar 
continued to aid them financially and for twenty years sent his earnings back 
to his mother to help support the family. 

In 1908, Mr. Milla purchased a ranch of forty acres, twenty of which 
are devoted to wine grapes and the rest to raisins ; and the place is further 
improved by a beautiful bungalow, which he built in 1917. In 1910, Caesar 
Milla was united in marriage with Mrs. P. Milla, the widow of his brother, 
her maiden name having been Ida Poletti, a native of Switzerland. Mr. and 
Mrs. Milla are the happy parents of two children: Florence, and Caesar, Jr. 
Mrs. Milla had one child by her first husband, P. Milla, a daughter named 
Lena. 

Mr. and Mrs. Milla are members of the Catholic Church at Fresno, and 
in politics he supports the Republican ticket. Mr. Milla is a man of great 
executive ability and sound business judgment, and is making a success of 
his forty-acre vineyard, which he operates in addition to his responsible posi- 
tion at the winery. Mr. and Mrs. Milla are highly respected in their com- 
munity where they enjoy a large circle of friends.