Baber, E. I.

E. I. Baber, born in London, England, in 1854, was an educated professional who eventually became a well-known viticulturist and manager in Fresno County, California. After assisting his father in trade and working as a diamond merchant in South Africa, he immigrated to the United States in 1875. He soon journeyed west to California and secured employment in San Francisco with pioneer Francis Eisen, who recognized his potential and asked him to manage his vast agricultural holdings. In October 1880, Baber relocated to Fresno to take charge of the historic Eisen Vineyard, beginning a long and successful career overseeing one of the region’s most important local industries.

Under Baber’s management, the Eisen Vineyard thrived as a groundbreaking center for California’s wine and raisin industries. The property featured a massive winery with a storage capacity of nearly one million gallons and propagated over thirty different grape varieties. Following Francis Eisen’s death around 1893, Baber continued to run the operations smoothly under the newly incorporated Eisen Vineyard Company. Beyond his professional achievements, Baber was highly respected as a trusted administrator and maintained active community involvement through his memberships in the Elks and B’nai B’rith circles.