San Joaquin County
Biographies
FRANK GALLEGO.
Another strong advocate of irrigation whose success in ranching has given force to his arguments as to one of the most vital of all needs in parts of California, is Frank Gallego, the popular and wide-awake merchant of Banta. A native son, he was born at Pleasanton, in Alameda County, on September 24, 1862, the youngest son of Anselmo Gallego, a native of the City of Mexico, who came to California in the great Argonaut year of 1849. He settled in Pleasanton Valley and became prominent as a stockman, trying his luck in the mines of that period. His paternal ancestors were subjects of the Crown of Spain, and he inherited much that anyone might envy. The father married Juanita Carrasco, a native also of the City of Mexico, and a charming and accomplished lady. These worthy parents made a splendid record. Both are now deceased, having passed away at Banta in 1887.
And there Frank Gallego grew to maturity, and became a rider on the range of his father; and when his parents died, he continued near Banta until 1897, farming to grain and stock. Mr. Gallego was married to Miss Bernal, a daughter of Antonio Bernal, and a descendant of Don Bruno Bernal of San Jose de Guadalupe, and owner of the Rancho Santa Teresa; and two children were born to them: Juanita has become the wife of Paul de Ranga, and they have one daughter, and reside at Stockton; and there also Antonio resides. Mrs. Gallego died at San Jose in 1893, and Mr. Gallego's second marriage united him with Miss Refugia Ortega, a sister of Mrs. John A. Fellom, Sr., of Gilroy. She was born at San Ysidro, received a good education at St. Mary's Convent, Gilroy, and was married in 1895. Now she is the mother of one son, Anselmo R., who is employed by the Southern Pacific Railway at Tracy, and resides at Banta. Mr. Gallego is a Republican. He is a member of the I. D. E. S. at Stockton.
In 1897 Mr. Gallego removed to Banta, and there he now conducts a soft-drink parlor, and also owns and manages much good realty, including his residence. He has 120 acres adjoining Banta on the south, and there he has installed a complete irrigation plant, greatly improving the property, which he operates himself as a grain and alfalfa farm.
Mr. Gallego's first business in Banta in the early '90s was to operate a sheep-shearing and sheep-dipping camp. He was a professional sheep shearer, working in California, Nevada and Oregon. His record was shearing 143 sheep per day, then dancing all night, and shearing as many sheep the next day. He made this record at Firebaugh, Fresno County, when he worked for Miller & Lux. His excellent wife kept a boarding house in Banta for eighteen years and was in every way a true and loyal helpmate to her husband.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1410
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JOHN B. ARRABIT.
A very successful stock man who was a man of affairs in the San Joaquin Valley is John B. Arrabit, a prominent sheep grower and enterprising man. He was born in Bayonne, Basses-Pyrenees, France, November 5, 1880, a son of Jean and Marie (Garra) Arrabit, also natives of that place, who are successful stockraisers and both are still living. The father made a trip to California in 1905 for a visit to his children, after which he returned to his home in France. They had six children: Anna, Mrs. Sallaberry, resides at the old home with her parents; John B., the subject of this review; Jacques, a sheep grower in this Valley; Etiennette is the wife of D. Changala of Stockton; Martin is a sheep raiser at Los Banos; and Ben a sheep raiser in Stockton.
John B. spent his boyhood in the lower Pyrenees region where he received a good education in the public schools. From a lad he assisted his father on the farm and in the care of their cattle and sheep. In 1901 he responded to the military law of his country and entered the French army, serving in the 24th Light Artillery, being stationed at Tarbes, Haute-Pyrenees. Having served the required time of one year he was honorably discharged and could go wherever he liked.
Mr. Arrabit had read and heard of the wonderful opportunities here awaiting men of brawn who were not afraid to work so he decided to cast in his lot in the land of gold and sunshine. Leaving his home in 1902 he came to New York, then crossed the great American continent to Stockton, Cal. He immediately went to work, having found employment with Julian Masterrena, a sheepman at Los Banos, continuing with him for a period of four years. During this time his keen observation and perception gave him an insight into the successful raising and handling of sheep as done in the West, and he determined to embark in the business on his own account. He had saved some money and also established a good credit, and this enabled him to purchase a band of sheep which he ranged in the vicinity of Mendota. He began with 1,000 head, which he increased from time to time, and he soon had a band of 5,000, which is about the number he now keeps; in summer he has a range in the Forest Reserve Park in Mono County, while the balance of the year he ranges them on the west side from Mendota to Coalinga and on to Bakersfield. The last few years he has made his headquarters and residence in Stockton.
The marriage of Mr. Arrabit occurred in Bakersfield in 1916, when Miss Marie Saldubahere became his bride. She was born in Aldudes, Basses-Pyrenees, France, and came to Bakersfield when a young lady, making her home with an uncle who was an old resident of Kern County. Mr. Arrabit is a very energetic man and is never idle, looking after and seeing to every detail of his business. Thus he has been able to see his affairs grow from a small beginning to a large paying business which yields him a competency while he is yet in the prime of life, a result of his starting out with the idea that industry and frugality will win success when rightly applied and practiced. He is enterprising and public-spirited and always ready to help movements and enterprises that have for their aim the development and building up of this great valley in which he has such unbounded faith. He is a believer in protection as a fundamental principle for Americans, and is therefore a strong Republican.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1410
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.