Kings County
Biographies
EDWARD ERLANGER
There representative real-estate man of Lemoore, is a native of Germany, born at Marburg in 1852. His father and ancestors were all engaged in the banking business. His cousin, Emil de Erlanger, made the confederate loan, and married the daughter of Slidel, of confederate fame. The Southern railroad system is owned by a syndicate of Erlangers. Edward Erlanger was educated at Marburg University, a very prominent college of instruction, and at the age of sixteen years, he entered the Vereins bank at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and remained until 1870, when he came to the United States. Then traveling by easy stages through the south, visiting Old and New Mexico, he arrived in San Francisco in February, 1871. Through letters of credit he then visited the leading banking houses, with a view of studying the American banking system, to apply in his own country on his return. In February, 1872, he went to the Sandwich Islands, on his return trip around the world, but was taken sick at Honolulu, and then came back to San Francisco, where he lay in the German Hospital for many months, and when convalescing sought the warm climate of the San Joaquin valley, and at Visalia met Mr. Einstein, of Einstein & Jacobs, and was employed by them as book-keeper at their store at Kingston, then a prominent trading point in the valley. At a certain age all the young men of Germany are obliged to enter the army, an upon recovery of health Mr. Erlanger discovered that it was too late for him to return, as he would be considered a deserter. He then took action toward becoming an American citizen, to secure the protection of the American flag, and also to be enabled to return home at will. In December, 1873, Kingston was raided by that noted bandit and robber, Vasquez, and thirty-two men were tied down, subject among the number, while they committed their depredations. Mr. Erlanger remained in Kingston until 1877, when the town of Lemoore was organized. He attended the auction sale in the spring and purchased property and in the fall came to reside, as book-keeper for J. J. Mack & Co., general merchandise. Mr. Erlanger built the Park Hotel and in 1878, he opened a general merchandise store in his own behalf, and the same year built the Masonic hall, all of which were destroyed in the fire of 1882, except his stock which had been moved to another locality. He lost, however, a valuable scientific library with a collection of curiosities which he had gathered in his travels. He retired from mercantile life in 1885 with the intention of returning to Germany, but land interests had so increased, with his stock interests of thoroughbred and standard bred horses, that he postponed the trip and entered the real-estate business with Dr. Brandt, a prominent landholder of the locality. In 1889, Mr. Erlanger again engaged in the mercantile business which he still continues. He is a genial, affable gentleman and deeply interested in the advanced improvement of the town of Lemoore.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 778
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
O. C. BROWN
the pioneer fruit-grower of Lemoore, is a native of Illinois, born in Hillsboro, Montgomery County, in 1829. His father, John Brown, is a native of Kentucky, and was an Illinois pioneer of 1828. O. C. Brown was educated at the public schools of Hillsboro, and resided with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he purchased eighty acres of land adjoining his father’s farm, and was married in St. Louis County, Missouri, to Miss Elizabeth J. Kelso. He then lived upon his farm, to which he added to the amount of 400 acres, and followed general farming and the stock business. In 1872 Mr. Brown sold his farm and moved to Geneva, the county seat of Filmore County, Nebraska. He there took up a timber claim of 160 acres, farmed in grain, and engaged extensively in the raising of Poland-China hogs, keeping a very large band. Continuing until 1879, Mr. Brown then came to the Mussel Slough district, of which he had heard through his son, then living in the district. Mr. Brown purchased 160 acres one and one-half miles east of Lemoore, which he farmed until 1882, and then began the planting of fruit as a business. He first set ten acres to fruit and vines experimentally, and continued the raising of grain, and hogs, with a band of about 500. In the early days of fruit growing the market was soon overstocked, but with greater facilities for shipment Mr. Brown increased his planting, and now has 100 acres in vines, with the balance of his ranch devoted to a variety of fruits, and has given up all other agricultural work. He dries all of his own fruit, and then sells to the packers. The raisin crop of 1890 paid him $350 per acre, and his fruits paid from $400 to $500 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have six children: John W., James F., William H., Edward E., Charles C. and Cora May. In the fruit industry Mr. Brown has been successful, watching carefully the cultivation of his vines and trees, and superintending the gathering of fruits; he is now enjoying the reward, which has been acquired through years of application and vigilance.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 779-780
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler