Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 15

After many years of faithful public service in Fresno County, Chris Jorgensen has been reelected time and again to the responsible office of supervisor, while his associates have honored him for the past ten years by selecting him as chairman of the board. So long has been his identification with this county and so intimate his associations with local development that, viewing the remarkable transformation wrought within his memory, he may well exclaim, "All of which I saw, and part of which I was." Great, however, as has been his activity in general, it is as supervisor that the people of his home county most appreciate Chris Jorgensen, who has served them in that office for more than fourteen years, being chosen by a large majority at each election. His mind and heart have been engrossed in the well-being of the county, and such has been his success in the solution of many difficult problems, that his fellow citizens more and more have reposed their confidence in him.

Born at Middelfard, Fyen, Denmark, on May 18, 1859. Chris was the son of Jorgen and Nora Jorgensen, who passed their entire life in Denmark. His father was a cabinetmaker engaged in the manufacturing of furniture. There were five children in the family, and besides himself, three sisters now reside in Fresno County, while a brother still lives at the old home. Mr. Jorgensen received a thorough education in the excellent Danish common and high schools, supplemented by a course in the Agricultural College. An aunt having come to Fresno County about 1876, and hearing through her of the resources and unrivalled opportunities in California, he determined to live under the Stars and Stripes. In 1880, therefore, he crossed the ocean and moved westward as far as Atlantic, Iowa, where he was employed at farming until 1881, and then he came on to Fresno County. For a while he worked in the Central Colony, and thereafter located in West Park, where he purchased a ranch. While improving it, he was also engaged in grain-farming, and for nine years he ran a large outfit, with the usual vicissitudes of the grain-producer in those days. During these years he also used his teams in preparing lands and setting out vineyards, thus gaining valuable experience and becoming an authority on viticulture.

When the American Vineyard Company was organized. Mr. Jorgensen became their superintendent and attended to the preparation of their lands; they began in a small way, and he set out their first vineyard. The company branched out and from time to time increased their holdings, until it owned and operated over 600 acres. He became a stockholder and director, and finally was selected associate manager. He built their first packing-house on the West Park ranch, and in it installed one of the first raisin-stemmers, which was run by hand power. Afterwards they built packing-houses on their other ranches, which were equipped with modern machinery. At the end of twenty-one years of invaluable service as superintendent and associate manager, Mr. Jorgensen resigned from the direction of the American Vineyard Company, in March, 1914.

During his years of planning with the other members of the board, Mr. Jorgensen has seen much permanent improvements and building accomplished. These include the County Almshouse, the rebuilding of the County Orphanage, the erection of an annex to the County Hospital, and the remodeling of the old hospital. The Fair Grounds have also been greatly improved and beautified. Large cement bridges have been built over the San Joaquin and Kings Rivers and the Fish Slough, and there has been much building of new roads and improving of old ones. In 1919 the supervisors united on a bond issue of $4,800,000, which was voted, and with this additional money they improved the 315 miles of roads in the county.

Mr. Jorgensen was one of the original stockholders of the Union National Bank of Fresno, and he is still a member of its board of directors. He is a director in the Fresno Savings Bank, and has been for many years president of the Scandinavian Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was also interested in the organization of the Danish Creamery Association; he is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, has been a supporter of all the raisin associations from the first, and has been a director of the California Peach Growers, Inc., from the time of its organization in May, 1915.

At Fresno, Mr. Jorgensen was married to Miss Hannah Larsen, also a native of Fyen, Denmark, who came to Fresno in 1883, and they have had three children: Chris P., a rancher and viticulturist in this district; Boletta, a graduate of the San Jose State Normal and a teacher here until her death in April, 1918; and Fannie, at home with her parents.

Mr. Jorgensen was made a Mason in Las Palmas Lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M., and he is a member of the Fresno Consistory, No. 8, Scottish Rite bodies. He belongs to Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.. San Francisco, and he is a member of the Danish Brotherhood. Still in the prime of life, with apparently many years of usefulness before him, Mr. Jorgensen already enjoys a prestige and confidence accorded to but few.