Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 27

An energetic native son, a patriotic citizen, and a good manager is Henry R. Halemeier, the son of August Halemeier, a native of Steinbeck, Westphalia, Germany, where he was reared on a farm. In 1886 he came to the United States and for eight months settled in Nebraska; after which, stirred by the reports of greater prospects in the Golden State, he came to California. On January 10, 1887, he arrived in Fresno County and joined the Eggers Colony; and there he worked as wine maker in the Eggers winery. He was later wine maker in the Fresno, the Margherita and Barton wineries, and rounded out a record of seventeen years in that responsible position. In the meantime he bought twenty acres of land in the Eggers Colony, and set out a vineyard with Muscat vines, and built a residence.

In 1897 Mr. Halemeier purchased his present place of eighty acres of raw land, which he improved and set out with Muscat and wine grapes, adding Thompson seedless; afterward he reset the vineyard and changed it to its present form. With characteristic enterprise, he also secured valuable land in Merced County, to which from time to time he gave his personal attention.

In 1900 Mr. Halemeier quit making wine and devoted all his energies to his property in this section. He sold twenty acres and located on the balance of eighty acres, and there, in 1905, built a substantial residence. In 1916 he rented the place and now resides, with his wife, in Los Angeles. Mrs. Halemeier was born in Germany, where she was christened Marie Seckmann. Three children were born to this worthy couple: August H., the viticulturist on Locan Avenue; Henny, now Mrs. Haeuser, of Whittier; and Henry Rudolph, the subject of our sketch.

Born on December 28, 1891, at Eggers Colony, nine miles east of Fresno, Henry R. attended the Temperance public school, and when thirteen came to this place, where he continued his schooling. He also went to Heald's Business College in Fresno, from which he graduated with honors in 1911. Then he returned home and assisted his father in the vineyard, having learned that business from the time he was a lad.

In 1916, Mr. Halemeier leased his father's ranch of eighty acres and engaged in viticulture and general ranching. With his brother he became interested in the management of a twenty-acre tract on Locan Avenue; and as both growers are rated among the enterprising vineyard proprietors in the county they are making a success of this undertaking. H. R. Halemeier is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company.

At Oakland, in 1916, Mr. Halemeier was married to Miss Bertha Steinbeck, a native of that city, her father being the well-known business man, H. C. W. Steinbeck. One child, Marion Elizabeth, has blessed the union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Halemeier take a live interest in anything making for the betterment of local society, being especially active in the German Lutheran Church, as were Mr. and Mrs. Halemeier, Sr. In politics Hr. Halemeier is a Republican.