Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 4 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 13

When Harry W. Hagerty first opened his eyes to the light of the world, in Sierra County, in 1887, his parents, James and Hilca (Backer) Hagerty, planned a successful future for him, and his early training and education were along the lines of usefulness. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and came to California when a young man, hoping thereby to better his condition. He began farming in Nevada County, and while there married a native daughter of the state, Hilca Backer. Her father, Henry Backer, was a pioneer who lived for a time in Eureka, Sierra County, and then settled in Fresno County and bought two hundred acres of land. He was one of the very first settlers of Temperance Colony, where he raised potatoes, grain and stock. His land was all sub-irrigated. He did not live long to enjoy his new surroundings, for he died soon after he settled here. His widow was married again, to August Heringlake, and they continued farming, setting out vineyards and in other ways keeping abreast of the times. Mrs. Heringlake died about 1903. She was the mother of six children, of whom Mrs. Hagerty is third in order of birth. After his marriage, Mr. Hagerty opened a general merchandise store in Sierra City and conducted it very successfully for several years. He then came to Fresno County, bought a tract in Temperance Colony, and followed ranching until he began railroading, in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railway. For a time was stationed at Sacramento, until he returned to private life, and he is now living at Penryn. His wife died in Fresno, leaving two children, Harry W., of this review; and Ernest, of Los Angeles.

From the age of five, Harry W. Hagerty was raised in Fresno County, where he attended the public schools of Temperance Colony, and the Fresno High School, from which he graduated in 1905. Reared in a county where viticulture is one of the principal sources of revenue, from an early age he was familiar with that branch of agriculture. After his graduation, he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railway as a clerk in the office. In time, however, he decided that in order to get ahead and accomplish something worthwhile he would buy some land and take up the culture of vines: so he purchased forty acres at Mt. Campbell, set out a vineyard, and sold it in 1912 at a good profit, he then accepted a position with the Wallace Trust Company, which owns 870 acres in Fresno County, 540 acres in one body being devoted to vineyard, orchard and alfalfa; forty acres in oranges is situated at Centerville, and 160 acres of farming land is located on the San Joaquin. He is superintendent of the entire tract, and supervises the conduct of the various branches of ranching carried on, which include, besides those above mentioned, the raising of wine grapes, cattle and horses. He gives his personal attention to his work and is making a name and place for himself in Fresno County.

Mr. Hagerty was married, in Fresno, to Maybelle Bitzer, a native of San Francisco, and they have two children: Jane Helen and William Jerome. Mr. Hagerty is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company and is a stockholder, director and vice-president of the Backer Vineyard Company. The Backer estate consists of 760 acres of land in the county, of which 205 acres are in vineyards of table and raisin grapes, the remaining acres being devoted to grain' farming. He also owns a twenty-acre vineyard in Eggers Colony, which is well improved, with a large modern residence. He is a popular and progressive young man, and a bright future is predicted for him by those who know him best.