Kings County
Biographies
J. GRABOW
In the promotion of irrigation in central California the sinking of wells is an important factor and among the enterprising men giving attention to this industry is J. Grabow, of Hanford, Kings county, a native of Denmark, born in. 1841, who came to the United States in 1881. He had learned the trade of well borer in his native country; his first employment here was as a farm hand, but it was not long before he was called upon to help bore for water, and the possibilities of well-drilling at once became apparent to him. Locating at Paso Robles, he gave his attention to this work and was one of the first, if not the first, in the state to develop water by the hydraulic process for domestic use. He operated in that vicinity until 1903, then came to Hanford, where he has devoted himself to well-boring on a larger scale than before, having put down more than a thousand wells, among which were those of the Ogdens, the Armona Winery, Dr. Miller (on his dairy ranch), Mecfusself Hardwick, Richards (of Grangeville), fourteen on the Floribel ranch and others, all of which have been so successful in operation that they have attracted wide attention to his enterprise. Mr. Grabow finds that in this vicinity good water for domestic uses is reached sixty to one hundred feet below the surface of the ground.
In 1876 Mr. Grabow married Miss Nanny Heger, a native of Sweden, who has borne him seven children : Fannie is a school teacher at Coalinga; Hans is his father's assistant in the latter's well-drilling operations; Ellen married Fred Donohoo; Esther is a student at the Conservatory of Music at San Jose; two died in infancy; and Anna died at the age of twenty-one years.
The progressive spirit which has marked Mr. Grabow's persistent development of his enterprise commends him to the general public as one of the leading business men in the country round about Hanford. He has established a shop in which, during the past two years, he has made all the casing he has used in his wells. The metal which he most favors for use for this purpose is galvanized iron. In municipal affairs he favors and supports those measures for the betterment of local interests, and has come to be known as a most helpful and up-to-date citizen, who has the welfare of the community at heart.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 639-640
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
FRED M. BARNEY
In Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Mr. Barney was born September 10, 1884, a son of B. L. Barney. He came to Kings county, Cal., in 1891, when a boy of seven years, and attended the public and high school until he was twenty, graduating from Hanford high school in 1905. He then took up a government homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has long since obtained title, and he farms one hundred and sixty acres of land owned by his father, located three miles east of the city. While devoting himself somewhat to general farming, he raises fruits and grapes and specializes on hog raising, the breeding of mules and dairying. The farm is outfitted with a good residence, ample barns, stables and other outbuildings and up-to-date appointments such as are required. Mr. Barney studies his business very carefully, gives close attention to every detail and is very successful in his business operations.
Mr. Barney takes an intelligent interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the township and county, and is well informed and has decided opinions concerning all matters of public policy, state or national. He has in many ways demonstrated a helpful public spirit. On November 16, 1911, he married Margaret Kautenberg. He is a Master Mason, belongs to the Eastern Star and is devoted to Masonic principles and mindful of all precepts of the order.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 648-649
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler