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


TOBIA LESNINI. Conspicuous among the thriving, progressive and successful agriculturists 
of the San Joaquin valley is Tobia Lesnini, who owns a fine dairy farm and orchard, and in addi- 
tion to managing it most profitably also carries on the large ranch belonging to L. J. Crow. 
Energetic, enterprising and especially capable, he has met with satisfactory results in his agri- 
cultural labors, and as a man and a citizen has won to a marked degree the esteem and confi- 
dence of his large circle of friends and acquaintances. A native of Switzerland, he was 
born February 22, 1862, in Locarno, canton of Ticino. His father, the late Pasquel Lesnini, 
was there engaged in farming during his life, and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary 
Gorjetta, still resides in that locality. He is the third child in order of birth of a family of four 
children, of whom two are residents of California, a brother, Marx Lesnini, being in Stockton. 

Brought up and educated in his native land, Tobia Lesnini began working when young, and 
there learned the art of dairying, becoming familiar with all of its branches, from the rais- 
ing of stock to the manufacture of butter and cheese. Immigrating to this country in 1880, 
Mr. Lesnini came to Stockton, this state, where he embarked in business as a gardener, working 
first for wages, but subsequently being in business on his own account for four years. Pur- 
chasing land at Warnersville, Stanislaus county, in 1890, he carried on general farming most 
successfully for seven years. Disposing of that property in 1897, Mr. Lesnini returned to Swit- 
zerland, and in his native town engaged in mercantile pursuits, at the same time turning his 
attention to horticulture, becoming owner of an orchard and a grapery. Preferring California, 
however, either as a place of residence or business, he came back to the Pacific coast in 1903, 
locating in San Joaquin county, and buying his present ranch of 'fifty acres. His land is situated 
on the Stanislaus river, about seven miles from Oakdale, and is admirably adapted for dairy 
purposes. He raises hay and grain for his cattle, and in his well-kept orchard of four acres he 
has choice varieties of prunes and other fruits. 

In Stockton, Mr. Lesnini married Louise Verzarcen, a native of Switzerland, and they are the parents 
of five children, namely : Adeline, Mary, Peter, Nellie and Herminia. Mr. Lesnini is a loyal citizen of 
his adopted country and a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party.