California Biographies

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


ABNER FRASER. In promoting the agricultural and horticultural prosperity of Tulare 
county within the past few years the ranchmen, individually and collectively, have labored with 
diligence and perseverance, taking advantage of every feasible method offered by men of science 
and thought, and putting into their work as much brain power as physical exertion. The re- 
sult is everywhere visible in the large orchards, productive vineyards and extensive fields of al- 
falfa that are in evidence on every hand, adding richness and beauty to the sunny landscape. 
Prominent among the enterprising and progressive men who have generously assisted in bring- 
ing about this grand evolution is Abner Fraser, a successful vineyardist and orchardist, living 
two miles southeast of Dinuba. A son of the late Robert John Fraser, he was born September 
15, 1863, in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. His grandfather, John Fraser, whose father emi- 
grated from Scotland to Nova Scotia, was a lumberman by occupation, owning and operating 
a sawmill on East river, New Glasgow, where he was accidentally killed by a splinter which 
penetrated his abdomen. 

Born and brought up in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Robert John Fraser learned the trades 
of a stone mason and plasterer, and also became an expert cooper. Moving to Massachusetts 
shortly after his marriage, he lived for a short time in Mansfield, where his oldest son was born. 
Returning from there to his native town, he lived in New Glasgow several years, following 
his trade. In 1868 he took his family to Omaha, Neb., where he worked as a stone mason for 
two years. Coming to California in 1870, he took up land in Visalia, On the Tule river, and 
for a year carried on farming in connection with his trade. The following five years he was em- 
ployed as a grain raiser on the west half of section 11. Homesteading one hundred and sixty 
acres of wild land, two miles east of Dinuba, in 1878. he changed it from a sheep range to one 
of the finest-improved ranches of this part of the county, setting out orchards and vineyards, 
and bringing the land to a high state of cultivation. On the ranch that he so improved he lived 
and labored successfully until his death, in 1898, at the age of sixty-nine years. He married Anna 
Forbes, who was born in Nova Scotia, which was also the birthplace of her father, William 
Forbes, a manufacturing cooper and prosperous business man, inheriting the industry and thrift 
characteristic of his Scotch ancestors. She survived her husband, and now resides near Dinuba, 
an active and esteemed woman of seventy-five years. Three children blessed their union, each 
of whom is represented in this volume: John W., Larkens K. and Abner, all of whom reside 
near Dinuba, and are actively identified with the agricultural and horticultural interests of the 
place. 

But five years old when his parents removed to Omaha, Neb., Abner Fraser there began his 
study of books. Coming to Visalia with the family in 1870, he completed his early education in 
the district schools, and as soon as old enough learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed 
for several years, in the meantime becoming interested to some extent in fruit culture. In 1884 
Mr. Fraser purchased his present home ranch near Dinuba, and has since devoted his time and 
attention to its improvement, sparing neither labor nor expense in his efforts to transform 'the 
wild range into a valuable and productive farming estate. When the ditch was completed in 
this locality, he set out his first vineyard, and has since bought adjoining land, having now one 
hundred and forty acres of rich and fertile land in his ranch. Here he has a peach orchard of 
fifteen acres and a vineyard of fifty acres, eighteen acres being planted to Muscat raisins, twen- 
ty to the Thompson Seedless, and twelve to Sultanas, the remainder of his land being sowed to 
alfalfa, which yields him rich and bountiful harvests. 

Mr. Fraser married, in this part of Tulare county, Luana Hildreth, who was born in Sandy- 
ville, Iowa, and came to California with her father, James Hildreth, a well known photog- 
rapher. Seven children have been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fraser, namely: Clar- 
ence (attending the Dinuba Union high school, a member of the class of 1906), Violet (a pupil 
in the same school, belonging to the class of 1908) , Rowena, Lucille, lone, Robert and Aileeh. 

Mr. Fraser is a trustee of both the Dinuba public school and the Dinuba Union high school, and 
for one term was a director in the Alta irrigation district. Politically he is a zealous supporter of 
the principles of the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men of America, and a member and past officer of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.