Merced County Biographies

GUST T. PAPPAS

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


        As far as lies in the power of any one individual Gust T. Pappas 
illustrates in his life the dominant characteristic of the ancient and honorable 
race from which he sprung. "He who does the best his circumstances allow, does 
well, acts nobly; angels could no more." It is no small achievement for a 
foreigner, unacquainted with our language, to come here with limited means and 
in a few years establish the leading business in his line in a thriving city 
like Merced and win general respect and honor for his public spirit and interest 
in every movement that promises to make for the progress and welfare of the 
community.
        Gust T. Pappas, proprietor of the French Grocery Company, in Merced, is 
a native of Greece, born in May, 1888. His parents, Theodore and Asfacia Pappas, 
are still living in their native land. The father was in the grocery business 
but is at present retired. That the son should follow the business of his father 
might be expected, but it was not until after he had encountered varied 
experience in various places. His early education was acquired in the public 
schools, after which he was employed in a drug store in Constantinople. As a 
foreigner, under the Turkish law, he was not permitted to extend his business 
outside of chemicals. After five years he returned to Greece to go into the 
grocery business. The lure of the great West was drawing him as it has so many 
of his countrymen, and 1907 found him in the State of Washington, where he found 
occupation in various places until 1910, when he went to San Francisco and 
engaged in a grocery business under the name of The French Grocery Company, 
until 1919, when he came to Merced and established a branch of the San Francisco 
store in company with P. Krekos, whom he eventually bought out; he is now the 
sole owner. It is one of the finest stores of the kind in California.
        Mr. Pappas married Miss Anna Etchegaray. He is a member of the Chamber 
of Commerce and of the Lions Club. As a loyal American he is a Republican. He is 
devoted to his business and to the interests of Merced City and County.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 849-850