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


FRED WISTROM.� Many men who have come within the hospitable 
confines of Fresno County but poorly blessed with this world's goods have 
within a short time made a place for themselves in the community and have 
amassed a comfortable fortune, a fact which can be pointed to with pride, 
both by themselves and by the other progressive citizens of this prosperous 
community. Among these men may be mentioned Fred Wistrom, a resident 
here since 1900. He is a native of Sweden, born and raised on a farm, and 
followed that occupation until he came to the United States, in 1882. On ar- 
rival in the new country, he first located in St. Paul. Minn., and secured em- 
ployment there. He later engaged in lumber work in the sawmill at Pinery, 
Wis. Mr. Wistrom returned to St. Paul in 1884, and there his marriage 
occurred, to Anna Charlotte Carlson, also of Swedish birth. He was em- 
ployed in St. Paul in a sash and door manufactory, and later engaged in the 
teaming business for himself, and finally became elevator operator in a bus- 
iness block in that city and followed that occupation until he came to 
California. 

With the desire to seek new opportunities in the western state, Mr. 
Wistrom located in Fresno, in 1900, and soon after his arrival went to work 
for Thomas Patterson, owner of the Patterson Block, and when Patterson 
and Forsyth erected the new Forsyth Building, in 1904, Mr. Wistrom be- 
came head janitor of the building, which position he has held since that date. 

Mr. Wistrom has speculated more or less in real estate in Fresno, and 
has met with splendid success in his business ventures. Among other prop- 
erties, he bought, in 1908, ten acres of the Barton vineyards, on Belmont 
Avenue, paying a purchase price of $2,000 for the acreage, and later selling 
it for $3,000. He is the owner of a fine $5,000 home at 403 Calaveras Avenue 
and altogether, through his own good judgment and steady application, has 
accumulated a competency, and while having but a small amount of money 
on his arrival here, now is in comfortable circumstances financially, and has 
won the respect and liking of his fellow citizens. During his residence here 
Mr. Wistrom has been an active worker in the Swedish Mission Church, was 
for five years treasurer of the church body, and is now a deacon. He has 
taken one trip back to his old home in Sweden since locating in Fresno, and 
two trips back to St. Paul. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Wistrom : Milton, book-keeper in Madary's Planing Mill ; Ellen, wife of Paul 
Thiely, of Fresno ; and Clinton, now a high school student.