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


SAMUEL J. SAMELSON. As manager of the J. K. Armsby Company, packers and ship- 
pers of dried fruits, nuts, honey, etc., Samuel J. Samelson is discharging the duties incumbent 
upon him in a manner calculated to win the commendation of all with whom he comes in business 
contact. A man of energy and ability, possessed of quick and unerring judgment, he has made 
his influence felt in the business circles of Visalia and has risen rapidly to his present position of 
prominence, while a bright and promising future is assured him through his past work. Born in 
Austin, Nev., November 30, 1865, he is a son of Samuel Samelson, a native of New York state. 

Samuel Samelson was an instrumental musician and was a leader of an orchestra for many 
years. The greater part of his life was spent in New York state, but in 1890 he came to California 
and locating in Fresno county, bought a vineyard ten miles southwest of the city of Fresno, 
where he still makes his home. His wife, formerly Alice Prior, a native of New Zealand, is also liv- 
ing. They became the parents of two sons and one daughter, the latter of whom is now deceased. 
The oldest of this family, Samuel J. Samelson received his education in the public schools and high 
school of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade of print cutter for 
wall-paper designing, etc. He came to California in 1890 with his parents, and four years later 
engaged in the fruit-packing business with the Griffin-Skelley Company. He continued in this 
employment for one year, when he was made superintendent of the Producers' Packing Company, 
of Fresno. Following this he accepted, in 1896, the position of buyer with the Fresno Home Pack- 
ing Company and manager of the Selma branch through season, remaining so engaged for eight 
years. In June, 1902, he became identified with the J. K. Armsby Company as local manager of 
the Visalia branch packing house, which handles peaches, prunes and all dried fruits. Since 
his assumption of these duties Mr. Samelson has remodeled the packing house, which now has a 
capacity of two thousand cases per day, during a season of from three to five months, and em- 
ploys sixty-five people. 

In fraternal associations Mr. Samelson is identified with the Woodmen of the World and Her- 
alds of Liberty. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the principles advocated in the plat- 
form of the Republican party.