Berry, Fulton G.

Fulton G. Berry, born in Belfast, Maine, on February 10, 1832, was a highly prominent pioneer entrepreneur and influential public booster who shaped the historical development of Fresno County, California. After arriving in San Francisco in 1851 via the Isthmus of Panama, he worked as a miner, drayman, and grocer, and he even served as an active member of the historical Vigilance Committee of 1856. He achieved immense wealth as a member of the San Francisco Stock Exchange before experiencing financial ruin and relocating to Fresno in 1884. In his new home, he quickly retrieved his fortune by purchasing the Grand Central Hotel, expanding his real estate holdings to include the 140-acre Grand Central Farm, and investing heavily in the region’s first modern public utilities, street railways, and agricultural fairs.

Known throughout the state for his extraordinary vital energy, ebullient spirit, and contagious good nature, he was celebrated as a man who famously loved his jest to the last. He was a deeply dedicated friend to charitable organizations like the Salvation Army and served his community locally as a city councilman and prominent member of the Elks. Following his death from paralysis of the heart on April 9, 1910, his funeral on Tuesday, April 12, 1910, presented a unique spectacle that completely eschewed solemnity in accordance with his explicit testamentary wishes. His casket was surrounded by a massive profusion of flowers and accompanied by lively popular music, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the most loyal champions and exceptional personalities in the history of Fresno.