Tulare County
Biographies
HENRY JOSEPH BORGMAN
A leader in the transfer business at Exeter, Tulare county, Cal., Henry Joseph Borgman is the owner of considerable property in that city and its vicinity. One of the successful men of the town he has made his way in the world by his own unaided efforts and is recognized as one of the prominent self-made men of the county, He was born in Kewaunee county, Wis., in 1871, was educated in the public schools there and lived there until 1902, about the time he attained his majority. His father, Max Borgman, a native of Germany, landed in New York city April 14, 1865, the day of the assassination of President Lincoln. He died in 1894, and his widow, also a native of the fatherland, survived until 1907.
When Mr. Borgman came to California he found employment as a laborer and by industry and frugality as well as by good business ability, he has made himself the owner of the most extensive transfer business in his part of the county. He keeps five teams and five men constantly busy. In connection with the enterprise he maintains a large storage warehouse which has been installed at considerable expense during the last year. He has bought property from time to time until he owns several valuable pieces in Exeter and in the country round about. Politically he is a Republican, and as a citizen he has in many ways demonstrated his public spirit, showing a willingness at all times to do anything in his power for the community with which he has cast his lot. Fraternally he affiliates with the Modern Woodmen and the Woodmen of the World.
In 1895 Mr. Borgman married Miss Frances Wahl, a native of Wisconsin, whose father has passed away, but whose mother is a member of Mr. Borgman's household. Mr. and Mrs. Borgman have eight children: Lena, Eddie, Katie, Mary, Joseph, Clara, Antone and Adolph. The first four mentioned were born in Wisconsin, the others are native sons and daughters of California. Lena, Eddie, Katie, Mary and Joseph are students in the public school at Exeter
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 596-597
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
HERBERT ASKIN
In 1869 Herbert Askin was born in Crawford county, Mo., and in 1888 he came to California, having in the meantime acquired such education as was necessary to fit him for the career of usefulness upon which he was about to enter as well as a practical knowledge of the plumbing and tinning trades. For three years after he arrived in California he made his father's instruction available by work as a plumber in which he was so successful as to win the approbation not only of his employers, but of the general public of Fresno. From Fresno he went to Hanford, where he remained until January, 1894, when he came to Visalia and established himself in business as a plumber and tinsmith.
In 1896 Mr. Askin married Miss Louisa Dinely, a daughter of a Tulare county pioneer. He was successful almost from the outset of his career in Visalia, and in July, 1911, occupied his new building on East Main street, which he erected according to his own plans and which in actual use has proven to be one of the most modern and best equipped structures of its class in this part of the state. While doing a general line of tinner's work he makes a specialty of water tanks and galvanized iron work. The following brief mention of buildings in which he has done the plumbing since he came to Visalia will afford an idea of the scope of his enterprise: City Hall, addition to the Court House, First National Bank building, new high school, Washington grammar school, American hotel, Boone hotel, new Mt. Whitney Power company building, the Visalia club building, the Goldstein block, the Kaweah club building and very many of the fine homes erected or remodeled in the city in recent years.
In 1907 Mr. Askin was elected a city trustee of Visalia, in which office he served four years. He was especially honored in 1907 by being chosen to serve as acting president of the board on the occasion of the opening of the new city hall. The work of the board of trustees during his term of service resulted in many important improvements and the administration of the municipal affairs at that time has passed into history as one conspicuous for its high business character. It relieved the city of a debt of $7,000, and in 1911 turned it over to the new board of trustees with $8,000 in the treasury. It put through a $45,000 bond issue to raise funds for the building of the new city hall and the erection of concrete bridges over irrigation ditches running through Visalia. It resurfaced all the paved streets of the town and laid twenty-nine blocks of new pavement. Not the least of its achievements was the putting of the Mill creek conduit into Visalia. Of all these measures Mr. Askin was a promoter and with the working out of some of the more important of them he was personally concerned. During a part of the period of the activities of the Visalia Building & Loan association he was one of its directors.
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913
pp. 598-599
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler