Fresno County, 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


SIG WINBLAD. � A native son, who has done well through becoming 
thoroughly posted in viticulture, and is now independent and highly re- 
spected, is Sig Winblad, the son of John Winblad. a native of Halmstad, Swe- 
den. As a boy his father was a messenger for the telegraph company ; but 
when he became fourteen he shipped as a sailor and went off to sea. He 
continued to follow a mariner's life until the time of the Civil War in 
America, when he enlisted in the United States navy and served until the 
close of the great struggle. After that he resumed the ventures and adven- 
tures of a sailor and went round the Horn to China and the Orient, quitting 
the sea for good only when he decided to locate in San Francisco. There he 
married Mathilda Built, a native of Sweden ; and after marriage continued 
for a time to work in a planing mill. Wishing to obtain land, however, he 
came to Fresno in 1881. bringing with him his family, and located in the 
Scandinavian Colony, where he bought and improved twenty acres. Later 
he purchased the present tract of twenty acres, where he made his home. 
He built a residence and, with the help of his son, Sig. put in a vineyard. 
After a while he purchased sixteen acres, and still later another twenty acres. 
Mrs. Winblad passed away in 1885, and Mr. Winblad in 1909. aged sixty- 
nine. He was widely honored as a member of the G. A. R. and as a school 
trustee who was conscientious in the discharge of his duty to the community. 
Roth Mr. and Mrs. Winblad were Lutherans. Two children were born of 
their union: Sig V., the subject of this sketch, and Athena (now Mrs. I. E. 
Wilson), who resides in Glenn County. 

Born at San Francisco on September 1, 1879. Sig Winblad was brought 
up on a farm six miles east of Fresno, where he attended the public school. 
After completing his education he entered the Van der Nailen School of 
Engineering in San Francisco and there prosecuted special studies for a year. 
Then he accepted a post as draughtsman at the Stockton Iron Works in 
Stockton, and remained in that position of responsibility for five years, finally 
having charge of the draughting room. About this time John Winblad. the 
father, wished to retire and talked of selling what he owned, and so Sig 
decided to return home and take care of the place. Accordingly, in 1908 he 
came back on the ranch. He now owns the original home of thirty-six acres 
and twenty acres more, half a mile away, which he bought, having in all a 
vineyard of fifty-six acres. This is set out to Malaga, muscat, Sultana and 
Zinfandel grapes, the whole forming one of the attractive "show-spots" of 
Fresno County, and located five and a half miles east of the city. For years 
Mr. Winblad has been active in support of the California Associated Raisin 
Company and kindred raisin association movements. 

In Merced Mr. Winblad was married to Miss Allein Bitzenberger, a 
native daughter of Missouri, who had come west to California with her par- 
ents ; and now three promising children brighten their home � John, Harry 
and Virginia. As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Winblad has served as a Re- 
publican trustee in the Scandinavian school district for the second term � 
the same school he attended when a boy � and he is also the clerk of the 
school board. Formerly he was a member of the Odd Fellows of Fresno.