San
Joaquin County
Biographies
PETER ARBIOS
Among the representative and leading
stockmen of the San Joaquin Valley the name of Peter Arbios is a familiar one,
for he was an early settler at Mendota, Fresno County, where he had extensive
land interests as well as owning several thousand head of sheep. He was born at Aysus,
Basses-Pyrenees, France, July 18, 1863 and migrated to California when
seventeen years of age, joining his parents, John and Genevieve Arbios, who
were located near Pleasanton, California, where they had a vineyard and fruit
orchard; when he was ready to go into business for himself, Peter Arbios
located in Fresno County and engaged in sheep raising with his headquarters at
Mendota. For many years he was in
partnership with his brother-in-law, A. J. Arbaudon,
in the sheep business, and after they dissolved partnership he was in
partnership with Peter Sahargun for a number of
years, and then conducted business on his own account, becoming the owner of
large landed interests, besides leasing range land. For fourteen years he was general
superintendent of the sheep department of Miller & Lux, travelling from one
to another of their many ranches in California, Utah and Nevada. After resigning his position with Miller
& Lux he devoted all of his time to the growing and care of his extensive
flocks, residing with his family at Mendota, where he built a comfortable and
commodious residence, in the full enjoyment and companionship of his wife and
children. He ran about 10,000 head of
sheep, purchased land for range and also improved one ranch adjoining Mendota to
intensive farming, installing a pumping plant for irrigation and growing
alfalfa. He was actively engaged in the
stock business until his death September 21, 1915 aged fifty-two years.
After he had been in California for
about four years he made a trip back to his old home in France and soon after
his arrival in that country he was called on for military duty and although he
was an American citizen since his father had taken out citizenship papers
before Peter was twenty-one years of age he responded to the call and joined
the French colors, doing his duty for three years when he was honorably
discharged, and soon after this he returned to California. While in France he met an attractive young
lady named Marie Daunet, who when she was seventeen years
of age made her way to Los Angeles and soon after her arrival the acquaintance
was renewed and resulted in their marriage, a union that proved a very happy
one. She was born in Lurbe,
Basses-Pyrenees, France, the daughter of Peter and Baldine
(Bordenave) Daunet, who
were well-to-do farmers and stockraisers in the Pyrenees, and there the father
passed away, an honored man, while his widow survives him, making her home on
the old farm, aged seventy-eight years, the mother of four children: Joseph Daunet is
farming the old home in France; Mrs. Marie Arbios; Annie is Mrs. Maunet of Alhambra; and Mrs. Josephine Sahargun,
who died in California in March, 1922.
The daughter of Marie received a
good education in the local schools of France. Having a desire to see the great Pacific Coast
region she set out for Los Angeles when she was seventeen years of age, and as
stated after renewing her acquaintance with Mr. Arbios they were married. She gave of her best efforts to aid her
husband in the improving of the great San Joaquin Valley and win for them a
fortune and competency. Thus it was a
hard blow to her and the children when he was taken away from them, a man still
in the prime of life, loved and esteemed by all who knew him and deeply mourned
by his family. Their union was blessed
with nine children, eight of whom are living.
Amy died at the age of twenty-two; Albert is a stockman and resides at
Stockton; Peter L. is manager of the Arbios ranches and their flocks, and makes
his home at Mendota; he married Augustine Vallon and
they have two children, Jane and Yvonne; Edna is the wife of J. L. Reid of
Stockton; Sodie is assisting his brother in the care
of the ranches and stock; he married Helen Burubeltz
of Bakersfield and resides in Stockton; Lucy is the wife of L. F. Hickinbottom of Stockton; Josephine and Zeta assist their
mother to preside over the home; Joseph is also a sheep grower. Albert and Sodie
served in the World War were sent overseas where they spent twenty months and
on their return to the United States they were duly discharged.
During the years following Mr.
Arbios’ death his widow removed with the children to Stockton where she built a
comfortable residence at 1130 North Edison Street and here surrounded by her
children she makes her home, looking after the large interests left by her
husband, and in this her children aid her.
They accord her every consideration and honor and with their ability and
energy aid her in every way. The family
still owns the ranches left by the father and have three bands of sheep
approximating 10,000 head which they range in Fresno, Madera and Mariposa
counties. In1921 Mrs. Arbios,
accompanied by her son Joseph, made a trip back to her old home spending six
months visiting her old friends and kindred.
Her mother, seventy-seven years of age, was still living and it was a
very enjoyable reunion to them, but she was delighted to get back to her
California home and friends. Mr. Arbios
was greatly interested in the cause of education and gave material aid in
keeping the public school in his district to a high standard.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1368-1373. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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