Boranian, B.

Mr. Boranian, born in Armenia near Harpoot, emerged as one of the most aggressively progressive and successful ranchers in the vicinity of Fowler, California. After running a mercantile business in Constantinople for five years, he was forced to flee to America at the age of twenty-four to escape a violent massacre during which his store was burned. Tragically, his first wife, Sarah Tatian, was left behind and passed away due to illness brought on by these hardships, leaving behind their son, Dick. He spent eight years building a business in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he married his second wife, Mrs. Mary Goolbanian, a widow with a daughter named Naomi. Together, they expanded their family with three more children: Edwin, Joseph, and Rosa.

Arriving in Fresno County in 1902 with two thousand dollars saved through intense thrift, Mr. Boranian initially purchased a modest forty-acre plot. Through industrious, progressive, and scientific farming methods, he expanded his holdings into two thriving ranches totaling 240 acres, which included the highly productive B. Boranian Vineyard. His lands became famous for a diverse and highly successful yield of Muscat, Thompson Seedless, and Emperor grapes, alongside alfalfa, peaches, and apricots. Beyond his exceptional agricultural achievements, he became a deeply influential member and a foundational donor of the Congregational Church in Fowler. His remarkable journey stands as a profound testament to resilience, transforming personal tragedy into lasting historical and economic significance within his new California community.