Anderson, Arthur J.

Arthur J. Anderson, born in Eureka, Humboldt County, on July 1, 1892, was a young man of enterprise who spent nearly all his life in Fresno County. He moved to the region at the age of twelve in 1904 when his father, a Swedish immigrant named John Anderson, became one of the first settlers of the Vinland Colony. Arthur grew up helping his father develop a sixty-acre fruit and grape ranch, learning the value of hard labor firsthand. After completing grammar school, he attended Healds Business College at Fresno to prepare for his future career.

Following his education and ranching experience, Arthur purchased a twenty-acre plot from his father paternal property to establish his own vineyard. Located on Madera and Riverside Avenues, he built a modern bungalow, added several structures, and turned the property into one of the finest vineyards in the district. He became a strong booster for the California Associated Raisin Company and a dedicated member of his community. On November 4, 1916, he married Lillian Nordstrom, the daughter of a pioneer Vinland minister, and together they raised a son named Gerald while attending the Swedish Lutheran Church.