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 HARRY S. SERIAN. � No people of modern times have been so perse- cuted in their native country as the Armenians, and many of that nationality have sought refuge from their Turkish oppressors in the United States, which continues to be a haven of refuge as in the earlier days of its colonial history when the Pilgrim Fathers sought a home beyond the sea where they might worship their God as their consciences dictated. Fresno County has quite a contingent of Armenians in various sections, among who, in the vicinity of Selma, Harry S. Serian, the Armenian rancher, is well known. His highly improved 160-acre ranch lies four miles east of Selma. Mr. Serian's four brothers spell their name Serimian. the difference in the orthography of the names probably arising from a change in the asses- sor's books and in deeds, which was allowed to remain. Harry S. Serian was born near Harpoot. Armenia, forty-eight years ago, and came to America in 1891, when nineteen years of age, without financial means and in debt for the money which paid his passage to the United States. He repaid the money borrowed for his passage out of his first earnings, and later sent back one thousand dollars to help his father in Armenia, besides assisting his four brothers and mother to come to California. His father, Sar- kis Serimian. a drayman in the old country, died in Armenia after his son Harry came to America. His mother, who in her girlhood was Lillie Kujo- lian and who is now approaching seventy years of age, lives with her youngest son, Jacob Serimian, on their near-by ranch. Two of his sisters are living in Armenia. His brother, A. S. Serimian, has a wife and four children, and lives on his ninety-acre ranch near our subject. Another brother, C. S. Serimian, is married and has three children, and is the owner of an eighty-acre ranch. G. S. Serimian, called Charlie, has a wife and two children, and lives on the S. McCall road, three miles south of Selma, on his forty-acre ranch. Jacob, with whom the mother lives, also owns a forty-acre ranch. When a young man in Armenia, H. S. Serian married Rosa Scandarian, a native of that country, and they are the parents of four children, all living at home. They are : Roxy, Moses, Serak, and Aram. Mr. Serian came to America alone, his wife joining him eight years later. After coming to the United States Mr. Serian worked two years in a factory in New York City, from thence going to Chicago where he worked four years in a shoe factory. In 1897 he came to California, settling at Parlier where he rented land from Louis Say for four years, afterwards renting the Harry Say place north of Selma for three years, and during this time, in 1901, he purchased his first eighty acres, the nucleus of his present place, working both places and plant- ing his eighty acres with his own hands. In 1912 he added another thirty acres to the eighty, and in 1918 bought ten acres more, and in 1919 bought another forty, making 160 acres altogether. Nine years ago Mr. Serian was taken with a serious affection of the optic nerve, and despite the best medical aid his eyesight began to fail, resulting two years ago in total blindness. He is dependent upon his little son Serak to lead him about. He has been phenomenally successful since coming to California. In 1917 he built on his ranch a beautiful $12,000 country residence, thirty-two by sixty-two feet in dimensions, the finest home between Selma and Parlier. Beginning at the foot of the ladder in a foreign country, without means or influence, incumbered with debt, he has prospered and steadily advanced to the position he now occupies, a man of influence in the community in which he lives.