Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 41

A farmer and stockman who, with his partners, raised large quantities of grain and became prosperous and even well-to-do and who, because of his natural patriotism, thought there was no country equal to the land of the Stars and the Stripes, was Joe Yraceburu, a native of Uris, in Navarra, Spain, where he was born on February 21, 1880. His father, Joseph Yraceburu, was a farmer and grape and wine merchant who bought his grapes and wine in Spain and hauled them over the Pyrenees to Basses-Pyrenees, France, and there sold what he had. He had six boys and two girls; and just half of these came out to California.

Joe, the oldest, attended the public schools until he was fourteen, and then he drove a team for his father, and helped generally throughout his teens For years he had heard reports from California, and when twenty he concluded to see for himself.

On October 16, 1900, he left home and eventually sailed from Havre for New York; and arriving on the Pacific Coast, he made his way to Coalinga, which he reached on November 6th. He worked for Matias Erro for two years, then a year for Antonio Urrutia, who made him foreman of stock, and having by that time saved some money, he determined to engage in business for himself. He bought a flock of yearlings, at four dollars a head and, with a partner, leased land from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, somewhat north of Coalinga, and then for several years they operated in San Benito County with success. Having dissolved the partnership, he continued sheep-raising for himself.

Mr. Yraceburu next leased a ranch at Cantua, which he used for his sheep, his flocks including Merinos and Shropshires. He raised barley at Mendota, and with two partners had over one thousand acres of flourishing grain. In partnership with M. Urrutia and his brother Santos, he engaged in raising grain in Madera County, and there he had 1,850 acres planted to wheat, barley and rye.

At Fresno, in 1906, Mr. Yraceburu was married to Miss Frances Erro, a fair daughter of Spain, who came to America, and to Fresno, in 1902, and she became the mother of their six children, four girls and two boys: Alary, Manuelita, Helena, Manuel, Elisa, and Joe.

Mr. Yraceburu was a Republican in national politics, always working for the best measures for the nation, the state and the community; and in fraternal life he was a member of the Eagles. Mr. Yraceburu passed away on November 10, 1918, mourned by his family and friends. Since then his wife has bravely taken up his work and continues to carry on her husband's business according to his plans, in which she is aided by her husband's two brothers, Santos and Jose. So she is ably rearing their six children to whom she is giving the best educational advantages within her means.