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


 J. V. TOSCANO. From a quaint town in the province Di Potenza, Italy, to the energetic and 
promising Los Banos district, is a distance spanned with gratifying profit by J. V. Toscano, one of 
the most prosperous of the Los Banos merchants, and one of the most genial and successful of 
the town's citizens. Mr. Toscano was born December I, 1868, and spent the first thirteen years 
of his life in the little village near his father's farm. The family immigration to America took place 
in 1881, the elder Toscano purchasing a farm of forty acres at Badger Flat, near Los Banos, 
where he has since continued gardening to his entire satisfaction, and where an outdoor life 
keeps him in excellent health and spirits. To himself and wife, Maria (Rose) Toscano have been 
born six children younger than J. V., all of whom have had fair advantages in the public schools. 

In the new country to which his father's ambition had led him, J. V. Toscano began at the 
bottom round of the ladder, and as the oldest son assisted with the family maintenance by 
driving a vegetable wagon to town. For nine years his goods were as fresh, as varied, and as 
luxuriant as the soil of the state can produce, and in the meantime the village of Los Banos took 
on importance, and justified him in establishing a vegetable headquarters within its borders. He 
gradually added, as custom came his way, laying in a stock of groceries, and branching out as 
became a thrifty and farsighted citizen. His little store outgrew its usefulness, and in 1890 he 
erected the frame store now used for his furniture store, and which is 36x80 feet in 
dimensions. Still further increase in business necessitated greater capacity, till in 1899 he built 
his present store, 40x70 feet, two stories in height, as well as a large warehouse. Various lines 
of goods have increased his usefulness as a merchant, including cigars and tobacco, fancy 
groceries and provisions, crockery and hardware, clothing and gentlemen's furnishings, hats 
and caps, boots and shoes, notions, paints and oils and agricultural implements. 

Mr. Toscano's success and public spirit are indicated in his town and country investments, 
owning, besides his own residence, seven others which he rents, and four of which he built 
himself. He also is the owner of several valuable city lots and three farms, one of eighty-two 
acres at Badger Flat, and two five-acre ranches near Los Banos. All of the ranches are under 
alfalfa and are used for dairying purposes. Mr. Toscano is interested in insurance, representing 
such well known firms as the Home Fire Insurance Company, the National Union and the 
Scottish, and he has a bureau of general travelers information and sells steamship tickets. 
Several years ago he established a home of his own in Los Banos, marrying, in Merced, Mary 
Sarbo, who was born in Italy, and who is the mother of six children: Joseph, Rosa, William, 
Maggie, Julia and Antoine. The political sympathies of Mr. Toscano are with the Republican 
party, and he is fraternally connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he 
is past grand ; the Foresters, of which he is past chief ranger; the Druids, of which he is district 
deputy ; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. 
Toscano's success is well merited, he possesses the best traits of the Latin race, .with the 
additional advantage of true western grit and determination. He is high-minded and obliging, 
honorable and fair in his business transactions, and popular with all classes who patronize his 
establishment.