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 A. W. PETREA. This well known and highly respected citizen of Fresno county is a son of Augustus Petrea, a native of Mecklenburg county, X. C. A. W. Petrea was born near Charlotte, N. C, in the same county, January 29, 1849. His grandfather, Henry Petrea, served in the war of 1812 and died in Rowan county. N. C, where his father had settled after he arrived in America from Germany. Augustus Petrea settled in Rowan county in 1852. During the Civil war he served in a North Carolina Regiment, was captured and died in prison at Camp Chase, Ohio. His wife, Jane Hunter, was a native of South Carolina, and died in Rowan county. She was married twice, by her union with John Bingham becoming the mother of four children, two of whom are now living. John C. and Henry Joseph were soldiers during the Civil war. By her marriage to Mr. Petrea four children also were born, and two survive, of these Robert W. was also a soldier in the Civil war. A. W. Petrea was the third child born to his parents. He was reared on their farm and attended the common school and five months at Mount Pleasant Academy, and after the death of his father carried on the home farm for his mother until his twenty-third year. He then went to Dallas county, Ala., where he farmed for two years. He then spent three years in Mississippi on the Yazoo river raising cotton, when, on account of the climate, he started for California. Arriving a t Greene county, Ind., he stopped to visit a sister, Mrs. Linn, and becoming interested in farming he continued for six years in that place. May 8, 1885, he came to Fresno county and located near the Toll House in Big Sandy valley, where he pre-empted land. Two years later he secured the contract for carrying" the mails from Fresno to Toll House, a distance of forty miles, and put on a stage, making trips twice a week at first and later established daily trips, using twenty horses. He continued this until 1897, when he sold the stage line and embarked in the hotel and general merchandise business at Toll House, also conducted a blacksmith shop and lumber yard. In 1901 he sold these and purchased a sawmill and machinery and moved it to a tract of timber land he owned on Pine Ridge. Here he built a mill with a capacity of twenty five thousand feet per day, operated by steam power, and at present is conducting an extensive business, hauling to Fresno by teams, a distance of fifty-two miles, using twelve-horse teams, taking eight days for a round trip, and hauling about ten thousand feet to the load. In 1902 he established a retail lumber business at the corner of Fresno and Illinois avenue, also erected a store and conducts a merchandise business. He is also interested in mining on Laurel creek, Fresno county. Mr. Petrea was married in North Carolina to Laura Petrea, a native of that state, whose father was a cabinet-maker. They are the parents of five children now living: Jane E., wife of George Hawkins, living near Malaga ; Allen Anthony ; Ancil Lee ; Perry L. ; and Louis, who remain with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Petrea are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Fresno. He is a member of the Fraternal Aid, and in politics is a Democrat. Since Mr. Petrea has been a resident of the San Joaquin valley he has had the interests of the people at heart, has contributed liberally for worthy enterprises, and as a business man is respected for his integrity and straightforward methods. As a friend and neighbor he has been most valued and has made a host of friends. His business ability secured him a competency, and his fine qualities of head and heart have won for him a host of friends who rejoice in his continued success and who wish him many more years of happiness and prosperity.