Fair Oaks Historical Society

Virtual Walking Tour

On both sides of the tree are John Holst and his wife Rose.

John Holst can truly be considered the patriarch of Fair Oaks. He came here from Minnesota in 1895, bought property, and built a house before the rush of excursionists in late 1895. His first house was just north of the Fair Oaks School. John was an orchardist and merchant. He ran general merchandise stores downtown in the Murphy Building. He was a stockholder in the Fair Oaks Fruit Company and the first Fair Oaks Bank. He was on the Board of Directors for the Fair Oaks Fruit Company, the Methodist Church, the Fair Oaks School, and was the first Registrar of Voters, as well as the first voter. John left behind one of the best historical accounts of early Fair Oaks. He is buried here with his wife, Rose.

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