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


NATALIO SEMPER. � An enterprising merchant and rancher, Natalio 
Semper was born at Yance, Navarra, Spain, on March 12, 1876, and when 
only seventeen years old landed at New York City, from which metropolis 
he came west to California in 1893. When he arrived here he was certainly 
face to face with stern reality ; for he had only a few dollars in his pocket. 
He summoned his courage, came to Mendota, Fresno County, and started 
in to work for Miller & Lux, taking charge of a band of sheep. He received 
twenty dollars per month when working on the plains, and twenty-five when 
employed in the mountains. After one year he went to work for Celayeta 
& Yrigoyen, continuing with them and at the end of five years they paid 
him with a bunch of sheep and he then began in the sheep business for 
himself. 

For fourteen years Mr. Semper ranged sheep all over Central and 
Northern California, walking thousands of miles and suffering many hard- 
ships and privations ; and at times he owned as many as 7,000 sheep. Condi- 
tions were sometimes against him, however, and he sold wool as low as 
five cents a pound, and lambs as low as $2.00 per head. But later he made 
good money in sheep, one deal alone netting him $2,000 profit in five months. 
In 1903 he sold all his sheep and immediately made a trip to Eastern Oregon 
where he purchased a band of horses and drove them overland to Stockton, 
Cal. Looking about he found a purchaser in Marysville for the lot. He then 
bought a band of sheep and resumed the sheep business and wool-growing. 

In 1909 Mr. Semper sold all his sheep and came to Huron. Fresno 
County, where he bought a half interest in a general merchandise store. His 
first partner was J. O. Wachter, but he bought him out later and in 1911 
M. Claverie joined him in partnership. The name of the firm was then 
Semper & Claverie; but on June 15, 1917, Mr. Semper became sole owner 
of the business. In 1919 Mr. Semper again began raising sheep and is now 
ranging two bands of sheep of 2,000 head each, making his headquarters at 
his Fresno residence. 

He is now interested in grain farming near Huron, and with I. R. Hain 
farms 1,000 acres to grain. He himself owns eighty acres of land, and eleven 
town lots at Huron. He also owns two houses in Fresno, and one in Stock- 
ton, and his wife and children reside in one of the Fresno houses, which 
home, at 2926 Inyo Street, he built in 1915. Besides, he is half owner in a 
grain warehouse at Huron. He is a stockholder in the Chinn-Gribel Com- 
pan; of Calexico, and this large corporation controls 100,000 acres of land 
fifty miles south of Mexicala in Lower California. Much of this richly- 
productive land is now being farmed to grain, with all modern machinery, 
including caterpillar engines and other notable contrivances and inventions. 
This venture in itself promises to make the stockholder a rich man. At any 
rate, it commands Mr. Semper's confidence and admiration, and he is one of 
the most enthusiastic boosters of the project. 

While at Stockton, on December 20, 1906, Mr. Semper was married to 
Miss Telesfara Barcenilla, a native daughter of far-off Spain, who came to 
San Francisco in 1903, and by her he has had seven children, of which the 
parents are justly proud. Juanita; Guadalupe; Alfonzo ; Martin; Felisa ; 
Miguel; and Ethel. Each of these children are receiving every educational 
advantage. Mr. Semper believes in protection for Americans, and is a 
Republican. He is one of the original stockholders of the Growers National 
Bank of Fresno. In 1900 he made a trip back to his old home where he visited 
relatives and friends, but after a five-months' visit he returned to his California 
home, more pleased than ever that he had cast in his lot in the Golden State.