Tulare County
Biographies
CHARLES BIRNIE
Without any intention to moralize or preach a sermon, it is safe to say that the young man who selects a trade, learns it thoroughly and then follows it through life, can be numbered among the most independent and best contented of human beings. As example of this is seen in the career of Charles Birnie, one of the proprietors of the Visalia Granite & Marble Works. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, May 18, 1875, and after acquiring a good common school education started in at the age of eighteen years to learn the trade of stone-cutter. He followed this occupation in his native city until 1900, when he came to the United States.
Arriving in this country, a stranger in a strange land, Charles Birnie sought and found employment at his trade in Milford, Massachusetts. During the next eight years he worked in Portland, Maine, and in the granite quarries of New Hampshire and Vermont. In the latter state he was employed for some time in the famous quarries at Barre, the granite from which is considered the finest in the United States. While engaged in these quarries he added materially to his knowledge of methods in carving and polishing granite, and also to his skill as a stone-cutter, assisting in the construction of some of the finest monuments in the New England states.
In 1908 he came to California and located in Raymond, Madera county, the largest granite quarrying center in the state. Here he remained until February, 1919, when he came to Visalia and purchased Robert Johnston’s interest in the Visalia Granite & Marble Company, thus becoming the partner of James W. Emrick, which association still exists. This company is the largest retail dealer in granite and marble in Tulare county. Since Mr. Birnie became interested in it the business has experienced a healthy growth and the company has erected a number of the finest monuments in the San Joaquin valley. Among these may be mentioned the Dillon, DeMasten and Zumwalt monuments in the Visalia cemetery; the Keeler monument in Lindsay; the Brundage monument in Exeter; the Reed monument, in Reedley; and several in the cemeteries in Dinuba and Tulare.
Mr. Birnie married Miss Isabel Salter, a native of bonnie Scotland, like himself, and they have two daughters- Alexandria and Louise. Mr. Birnie has long been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined the lodge in Portland, Maine.
History of Tulare County and Kings County, California – Kathleen Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. I, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926, Page 145
Transcribed by Jeannie Miyama
TREN BISWELL
Among the younger representatives of the business interests of Dinuba is Tren Biswell, president of the Ford Agency & Service Garage, one of the enterprising and successful firms of this thriving community. He was born in Grinnell, Iowa, on the 2d day of November, 1894, the son of John Biswell, whose death occurred when his son Tren, was but a small boy. When twelve years of age, in 1906, Tren Biswell was brought by his mother to Dinuba. After remaining here a short time, he returned to his former home in Iowa, but in 1911 again came here, this time to make this his permanent home. He was a graduate of the Dinuba high school and became a traveling salesman for Chanslor & Lyon, a San Francisco automobile accessory house, and he traveled out of that city for seven years, his territory covering the San Joaquin valley from Turlock to Bakersfield. In March, 1923, Mr. Biswell quit the road and bought an interest in the business in which he is now engaged. He is president of the company, the other officers being Dow Biswell, a brother of Tren, vice president; and E. J. McDonald, secretary and treasurer. They are the authorized Ford agents for this locality and are doing a large business throughout this section of the valley. Courtesy, promptness and reliability have been the keynotes to their success and they are counted among the representative business men of this community. Mr. Biswell owns a ten-acre vineyard in Fresno county.
During the World war Mr. Biswell enlisted first with a machine gun corps at Fresno, from which he received an honorable discharge, and he then reenlisted at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and was assigned to Troop A, United States Cavalry, being eighteen months in the service. During this period he was stationed at Douglas, Arizona, and at the close of the war was discharged at Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Biswell was married to Miss Kathryn McAfee of Fresno, and they have a son, Tren, Jr. Mr. Biswell is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the American Legion, the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the board of directors of the Merchants Association. Mr. Biswell is a man of sterling qualities of character, who has so impressed his individuality upon the community as to occupy an enviable position in the esteem of those who know him.
History of Tulare County and Kings County, California – Kathleen Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. I, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926, Page 183
Transcribed by Jeannie Miyama