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


FRANZ MISCH. Prominent among the younger generation of agriculturists who are meeting 
with commendable success in their undertakings is Franz Misch, who, as superintendent of 
the Colony farm for Miller & Lux, is carrying on an extensive and lucrative business. He is a 
man of good executive ability, well versed in the science of agriculture, and holds an assured 
position among the leading men of the community. A native of Germany, he was born, 
November 19, 1870, in Breslau, where he attended the public schools and the gymnasium. 
Working with his father, he subsequently learned the miller's trade, after which, at the 
age of eighteen years, he became bookkeeper for a large milling establishment in Breslau. 

Leaving the Fatherland in 1892, Mr. Misch immigrated to the United States, locating first 
in Chicago, Ill. A month later he came to the Pacific coast, and in San Francisco completed 
his education, attending the Lincoln evening school, and studying under private tutors. Going 
to Firebaugh in 1893, he accepted a position as foreman over a gang that were leveling and 
ditching for alfalfa. The following year he was made foreman on the Colony farm, and in 1895 
was promoted to the position of manager, which he has since filled with signal ability. The ranch 
was almost in its original condition when he assumed its management, but he has labored un- 
remittingly in its improvement. He has broken much of the land, fenced and ditched it, and has 
leveled and checked three thousand acres, placing it in alfalfa. In the orchards that he has 
set out he raises a variety of choice fruits, including peaches, apricots, apples, pears and plums. 
He likewise pays much attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of Short-horns. Mr. 
Misch also owns a valuable ranch of thirty-five acres in the Dos Palos Colony, on Eucalyptus 
and Elgin avenues, where he has an apple orchard of twelve acres, the remainder of his farm 
being devoted to alfalfa. 

In Dos Palos in 1901 Mr. Misch married Annie May Christian, who was born near Stock- 
ton, Cal., a daughter of Martin Christian, proprietor of the Dos Palos hotel, and into their 
household three children have been born, namely: Madeline M., Alvina E. and Annie F. 
Politically Mr. Misch is a steadfast Republican, and takes great interest in party affairs. He is 
a member of the board of directors of the West Side Pinion high school at Los Banos. Frater- 
nally he is a member of Mountain Brow Lodge No. 82. I. O. O. F., of Los Banos.