Serrano, Matias

Matias Serrano, born in Spain on February 24, 1883, was the son of Miguel and Besanta Serrano, who worked as farmers in Navarra. Reared on his family farm and educated in local public schools, he decided to move to California after hearing glowing accounts of its opportunities from his brother, Florencio. He arrived in Fresno on December 11, 1900, and spent his first winter herding sheep in Mendota. In April 1901, he traveled to Nevada to work for his brother and others in Esmeralda County until he saved enough money to start his own venture. Alongside his cousin, Domingo Serrano, he purchased a flock of sheep, which they ranged together under the business name Serrano and Company with Matias managing the operations.

In October 1909, Matias moved his livestock operations to Stockton before eventually establishing his home and headquarters on an eighty acre property south of Huron in 1916. Over time, he expanded his landholdings to 400 acres while leasing additional lands to range between 3,000 and 4,000 head of sheep. Beyond his agricultural interests, he became one of the original stockholders in the Growers National Bank of Fresno. In his personal life, he married Besanta Cartago in Reno, Nevada, on March 9, 1909, and together they had five children named Florencio, Braulia, Manuella, Filippa, and Julia. His successful transition from an immigrant laborer to a prominent stock-raiser highlights his enterprising contributions to the growth of Fresno County.