California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 CHRISTIAN BACHTOLD has been particularly interested in the culture of cereals in Fresno county for the past eighteen years, especially in the region of Selma, his home, having purchased in 1886 the Valley View flouring" mills, which he improved, changed into a roller mill, and has operated ever since, giving it the name of the Selma flouring mill, this mill manufactures several choice brands of flour, and the output — seventy barrels per day of twenty-four hours — is shipped principally to the nearby markets. An expert miller of broad experience, Mr. Bachtold has made a life work of this business, which he learned in his native country, Switzerland, and after immigrating to America, he followed his trade in New York, San Francisco, Portland, and in other cities. Although he first came to California in 1874, it was not until twelve years later that he took up his residence in Fresno county, where he now ranks among her most prosperous and well-to-do business men. Born January 20, 1853, in the canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Mr. Bachtold is the second in a family of twelve children born to Casper and Verena (Myer) Bachtold, both of whom were also natives of the above named canton. Of their children, ten were sons and two daughters, and of these five sons and one daughter left their native land for a home in the United States. The father was a manufacturer of tools for the greater part of his life, but his declining years were spent in farm pursuits. Both he and his wife are now deceased, the latter having passed away in 1880, aged about fifty-six years, and the death of Mr. Bachtold occurring in August, 1903. He was a very successful man, financially and otherwise. Educated in the common schools of Switzerland, Christian Bachtold, at the age of sixteen, became apprenticed at flour milling on the border line between Germany and Switzerland, at a place called Stulingen, in Baden. At eighteen he went to Geneva, and spent one year as miller in a large mill there, subsequently going to Germany and working in the same capacity until 1873 at Speirr, Bavaria. In April, 1873, Mr. Bachtold started on his way to America, and the first year of his residence in this country was spent at his trade in Syracuse, N. Y., the trip to California being made in December of the following year. After spending one week in San Francisco he proceeded to Portland, Ore., and for three months followed milling in that city, but in May, 1875, returned to San Francisco. The following two ^ears were spent as a miller in the employ of George P. McNear in his mills at Petaluma, but on New Year's day. 1878. Mr. Bachtold tendered his resignation in order to accept a more lucrative situation in Winnemucca, Nev., and there he followed milling until 1886. In addition to his milling interests, Mr. Bachtold is largely interested in various other enterprises in this section, being an advocate of expansion. He is vice-president of the First National Bank of Selma, and vice-president and director of the Selma water works. He served as town trustee for eight years, being chosen to fill that office March 15, 1893, and for four years he officiated as chairman of the board. He is also interested in the oil development of the San Joaquin valley, being president of the Hico Oil Company, which has a number of paying wells at Coalinga. In fraternal circles Mr. Bachtold affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias of Selma. His political preferences are given to the Republican party, and he is among the most active politicians of his locality, having served upon various occasions as delegate to the county and state conventions. By his marriage in Selma, in 1888, he was united with Mrs. Libbie Hartman, a native of Indiana, and they have one child, John C, who is a student in the public school.