Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 20

A model self-made man who has contributed much to the development of Central California, both commercially and in artistic matters, is Louis Petersen, the pioneer painting contractor of Fresno, who was born at Seeland, Denmark, February 27, 1856. In his native land he learned the trade of painter and followed it until coming to America in 1881. For a couple of years he worked at his trade in Chicago, and then he located in South Dakota, where he took up a quarter section of government land, proved up on the same, and remained there for four and a half years. This was just long enough for him to lose all that he had put into the place, and he came to California in the great "boom" year, broken in pocketbook, if not in spirit.

He was bound to succeed, however, and so started again to work at his trade; at first in San Diego, and then in Ventura County. Two years later, in 1889, he arrived in Fresno, and in 1890 he bought ten acres of raw land near Selma, which he improved with vines and sold at a good profit about twelve years later.

In 1903 Mr. Petersen started in business for himself as a contract painter; and in that field, where he maintains his leadership, he is still active. He has painted the Brix Block and residence, the Einstein residence, the Lynch Block, the Teilman residence, the Milo Rowell block, and the Kern-Kay Hotel, as well as many others. He is a member of the Painters Union of Fresno, and at one time was treasurer of the Danish Brotherhood.

Fortune has smiled upon Louis Petersen, to the great satisfaction of his many friends, and he has been able luckily to subdivide part of an acre he bought at 137 Seventh Street, his home place, and to dispose of the same in choice building lots. He also owns other real estate, including a flat building on O Street, and takes great pride in maintaining the same in such "apple-pie order" as adds to the local wealth and artistic standards of the neighborhood.