Kings County
Biographies
H. NATHAN
The mercantile firm of Schwartz & Nathan, situated at Grangeville, represents one of the oldest business houses in that section of the valley. The firm consists of Mr. B. Schwartz, who resides at San Francisco, and attends to the buying for the firm, and the selling of grain, of which the firm handle large quantities; and Mr. H. Nathan, who resides in Grangeville, as business manager. Mr. Nathan was born in Milaslaw, Germany, in 1857, his father being a merchant of that locality. Subject remained at home until fourteen years of age, and then entered a wholesale dry goods house at Breslau, Germany, where for three years he was thoroughly drilled and educated in mercantile life. Having friends in California, he then came to this State, with his father, about 1874, and after passing six months in school at San Francisco, learning the English language, he began mercantile life as clerk for D. Brownstone, at Watsonville, remaining until 1875, when he came to Grangeville in the employ of B. Schwartz. After three years of faithful service he became a member of the firm, which has continued with a steadily increasing business. Mr. Schwartz began business with the early settlement of Grangeville, in a little building 25 x 50 feet. With the increase of business he increased his facilities, and his store then covered 50 x 100 feet, which was destroyed by fire in 1887, and over its ashes was raised the present building 62 x 100 feet, with sheds for agricultural implements, a house 16 x 60 feet as a residence for their employees, and all conveniences for the management of their extensive business, carrying a complete stock of supplies for the family and household, with all the requirements of the ranch in agricultural implements and machinery. In 1884 they built an extensive warehouse at Armona, 64 x 200 feet, for the storage of grain, which they have handled in very large quantities. In 1888 they incorporated the “Verona Vineyard and Orchard Company,” and planted 160 acres to vines and trees. In 1891 they planted 240 acres to vines, prunes, peaches and olives, which they incorporated as the “Felicia Vineyard and Orchard Company,” – the firm controlling and managing both corporations. They own 800 acres in the “76” country, in Fresno County, and other land interests. Mr. Nathan is one of the incorporators and directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which was organized in Hanford in 1891, and opened its doors for business on July first of same year.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 760-761
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
F. A. BLAKELEY
is one of the representative real-estate men of Hanford. He was born in East Aurora, Erie County, New York, in 1850. Up to manhood his life was passed upon the home farm with his parents, and his education was acquired at the Aurora Academy. He was the youngest of two children, his brother, J. O. Blakeley, now residing in Los Angeles.
In 1873 the father of our subject, Mr. Isaac Blakeley, with his wife and two sons, emigrated to California and settled near Visalia, and engaged in the fruit business. F. A. Blakeley passed the winters of 1873 and 1874 in teaching school at Visalia, and in 1875, in partnership with E. A. Luce, they started a hardware and tin business at Visalia, which they continued until 1878, when Mr. Blakeley sold his interest and came to Hanford soon after the settlement of the town. Purchasing property on Front street, he erected a building 25 x 64 feet, and therein established the pioneer hardware and tin store of Hanford, and for several years he conducted a large and profitable business, almost ruining his health from close and constant application. Finding a change of life necessary, he sold out his business in 1887 to Mr. E. Lord, and he passed six months in idleness and travel about the southern portion of the State. Then returning to Hanford, he engaged in the real-estate business in a general way, and securing sixteen prominent fire insurance companies, mainly foreign, he has worked up an extensive business in that direction. In 1890, in partnership with J. H. Dopkins, they bought fifty-six acres of land north of town, which they subdivided, and as Dopkins addition placed it upon the market.
Mr. Blakeley has also built several residences in town which he has sold on the market. He was married in San Francisco in 1874 to Mrs. V. B. Haslett, a native of Indiana, daughter of E. Bingham, a California pioneer of 1858. To this union have been added three children: Ada I., Franc Ethel and Mabel A.
Mr. Blakeley is a member of Hanford Lodge, F.&A.M., Visalia Chapter, No. 44, R.A.M., and Visalia Commandery, No. 26, K.T.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 766-767
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler