San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1410-1413
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 9/29/2009
JOHN B. ARRABIT
A very successful stock man who was a man of affairs in the San Joaquin Valley is John B. Arrabit, a prominent sheep grower and enterprising man. He was born in Bayonne, Basses-Pyrenees, France, November 5, 1880, a son of Jean and Marie (Garra) Arrabit, also natives of that place, who are successful stockraisers and both are still living. The father made a trip to California in 1905 for a visit to his children, after which he returned to his home in France. They had six children: Anna, Mrs. Sallaberry, resides at the old home with her parents; John B., the subject of this review; Jacques, a sheep grower in this Valley; Etiennette is the wife of D. Changala of Stockton; Martin is a sheep raiser at Los Banos; and Ben a sheep raiser in Stockton.
John B. spent his boyhood in the lower Pyrenees region where he received a good education in the public schools. From a lad he assisted his father on the farm and in the care of their cattle and sheep. In 1901 he responded to the military law of his country and entered the French army, serving in the 24th Light Artillery, being stationed at Tarbes, Haute-Pyrenees. Having served the required time of one year he was honorably discharged and could go wherever he liked.
Mr. Arrabit had read and heard of the wonderful opportunities here awaiting men of brawn who were not afraid to work so he decided to cast in his lot in the land of gold and sunshine. Leaving his home in 1902 he came to New York, then crossed the great American continent to Stockton, Cal. He immediately went to work, having found employment with Julian Masterrena, a sheepman at Los Banos, continuing with him for a period of four years. During this time his keen observation and perception gave him an insight into the successful raising and handling of sheep as done in the West, and he determined to embark in the business on his own account. He had saved some money and also established a good credit, and this enabled him to purchase a band of sheep which he ranged in the vicinity of Mendota. He began with 1,000 head, which he increased from time to time, and he soon had a band of 5,000, which is about the number he now keeps; in summer he has a range in the Forest Reserve Park in Mono County, while the balance of the year he ranges them on the west side from Mendota to Coalinga and on to Bakersfield. The last few years he has made his headquarters and residence in Stockton.
The marriage of Mr. Arrabit occurred in Bakersfield in 1916, when Miss Marie Saldubahere became his bride. She was born in Aldudes, Basses-Pyrenees, France, and came to Bakersfield when a young lady, making her home with an uncle who was an old resident of Kern County. Mr. Arrabit is a very energetic man and is never idle, looking after and seeing to every detail of his business. Thus he has been able to see his affairs grow from a small beginning to a large paying business which yields him a competency while he is yet in the prime of life, a result of his starting out with the idea that industry and frugality will win success when rightly applied and practiced. He is enterprising and public-spirited and always ready to help movements and enterprises that have for their aim the development and building up of this great valley in which he has such unbounded faith. He is a believer in protection as a fundamental principle for Americans, and is therefore a strong Republican.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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