Eisner, Henry

Henry Meisner was born in Russia in 1872 and served nearly four years in the Russian military artillery division before farming in his native land. Seeking greater economic opportunities, he immigrated to the United States in 1903 and settled in Fresno, California, where he spent his first five years working in a local plumbing shop. His early discipline and practical labor experiences provided the foundation for him to transition into independent agricultural production.

In 1911, Meisner acquired a forty-acre ranch on Barstow Avenue, where he initially established a successful dairy business. He later expanded his operations into viticulture, developing a productive vineyard dedicated to Thompson seedless grapes through persistent industry and thrift. Fully integrated into the regional agricultural economy, Meisner supported localized marketing and trade efforts through his active membership in the California Associated Raisin Company.