Kazarian, H.

Born in Marsovan, Armenia, in 1857, H. Kazarian demonstrated an early aptitude for languages, becoming fluent in Armenian, Turkish, and Greek by age thirteen. He worked as a corresponding secretary for a commission merchant in Constantinople before emigrating to the United States in 1875 during the Turko-Russian War. Settling initially in New York, Kazarian worked in the rug trade and spent many years as head of the Oriental rug department at the Abraham & Strauss department store in Brooklyn, using his income to help his extended family emigrate to America.

In 1903, Kazarian relocated to California, settling near Fowler in Fresno County in 1904 to establish a 40-acre ranch. Active in regional community affairs, he served as a trustee of the Gregorian Armenian Church at Fowler and strongly supported civic causes and war relief efforts. Father to Victoria, Lily, and William Howard Taft Kazarian, as well as stepfather to Charles and George Shahbazian, he became widely respected as a generous and progressive citizen of Fresno County.