USA > California > San Joaquin County > An illustrated history of San Joaquin County, California. Containing a history of San Joaquin County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its future prospects; > Part 42
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Fred Yost, the subject of this sketch, was reared at his native place to the age of sixteen years, then went to Philadelphia, and after re- maining there two years went on board the whaleship Copia, a New Bedford vessel; went on a long crnise to the following places: the Western Faukland Islands, Juan Fernandez Islands, Valparaiso, and thence to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. During their voyage they captured two large whales. When the ship ar- rived at the Sandwich Islands, to take in fresh water and provisions, Mr. Yost, not liking the way he was treated, made his escape off to the mountains, remaining there nine days, until he had found the ship had left port, and being cared for by an old darkey who kept a boarding- honse. Here he obtained employment as a car- penter, putting up frame houses with canvas tops, for nine months. In March, 1849, in company with two others, he left Honolulu on a little boat, and arrived safely at San Fran- cisco on April 20. Being three weeks in this city, Mr. Yost went on a schooner to Sacramento, and thence footed it along with an ox team to Horse-Shoe Bar, on the American river, where he was engaged in mining from May to October,
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being quite successful. He then returned to Sacramento, and after being there one week, he and his partner bought two ox teams and pro- ceeded via Stockton and San Jose to the Red- woods. They got out lumber there, and started a yard for its sale in San Jose. They carried on the business during that winter, but were one day astonished to learn that one of the part- ners had sold out the entire concern and skipped with the money, leaving Mr. Yost and his partner to pay the hired men. They had no money to pay the men, but the ox teams, and they all agreed that they would sell the ox teams and divide the proceeds among themselves. They came with the ox teams to Stockton in May, 1850, where they sold tlie teams at auction. Mr. Yost then sought employment from Mr. Day, an old gentleman, who kept a brick-yard on the Mormon slough. After about a year of this employment, he had accumulated enougli money to buy an ox team. He engaged in freighting from Stockton to the southern mines, -Sonora, Columbia, Jamestown, Mokelumne IIill and other mining towns, and did very well at the business. He followed this employment for about two years, and then sold his ox team to the proprietor of a saw-mill at Sonora. With this money he bought a number of mules, and went into the business of hauling freight to the varions towns, leaving lris office on the levee for thirteen years, until the year 1870, when the railroads were constructed and had killed the freighting business. He then sold his mule teams and made a trip back to Pennsylvania to visit his family and friends. On returning back to Stockton, California, he bought a farm fonr iniles from here and operated it five years, but not finding it profitable, sold out. In 1881 he bought into the San Joaquin Brewery Company, on the corner of Weber avenue and American streets and continued his connection with it until May, 1889. wlien he sold out to Charles Wirth, who had been liis partner.
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Mr. Yost was married in Calaveras County, California, in 1860, to Miss Margaret Wolf, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. They have six
children living, viz .: Frederick J., Addie C., Charles H., Walter E., Serena L. and Henry L. Mr. Yost is a member of the San Joaquin So- ciety of California Pioneers, and of Stockton Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F. In the days of the volunteer fire department, Mr. Yost took an active interest in its affairs. He was for nine years foreman of San Joaquin Engine Com- pany, No. 3, and treasurer for thirteen years, and in 1888, when it was merged into the paid department. He has been an exempt fireman since 1867, but ran with the machine until the volunteer department gave way to the paid department. Mr. Yost, a Republican po- litically, takes an active interest in city affairs, having served as one of the councilmen in the years 1859, 1868 and 1873.
P. KALLENBACH, one of the pioneers of California, residing in Stockton, is a native of Weehawken, New Jersey, born October 31, 1823, his parents being Baltazar I. and Fredericka ( Loss) Kallenbach.
The father of our subject was born in Rhine- felden, Switzerland, and partly reared there. He went to the University of Basle to study medicine, and wlien Napoleon came back from Elba, he was one of those students to leave col- lege and join the forces of the great Frencli commander. He followed the fortunes of the emperor until his star had fallen at Waterloo, and after the battle he left Europe and emi- grated to America. He commenced the practice of medicine in New York city, but eventually located at Weehawken. He built up a large practice, and while, during a vacation, he was on a fishing party with several acquaintances, their vessel being on the gulf between New Orleans and Texas, there the boat capsized and all were drowned. That was in 1831. His wife was born in New York, corner of Hudson and Charles streets, July 12, 1800, and died at Weehawken, November 10, 1842. Her father was city surveyor of New York in Revolution-
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ary times, and was a well-known figure in New York at that time. A romance in which he ( Mr. Loss) figures, explains one of the secrets of a celebrated historical event of that period. After Buir had shot Hamilton, the public idol, in their duel, he came to Mr. Loss, who had been his friend and asked the latter to protect him. Mr. Loss made a place of concealment for Burr in his house, and the latter remained there six weeks. Mr. Loss then had him rowed across the river to his country home at Wee- hawken. While he was in this retreat, a French frigate was engaged to take Burr to France, and on the second trip this was accomplished with- out attracting suspicion. Many theories have been advanced as to the method of Burr's escape, but the above is the true version.
Oscar P. F. Kallenbach, with whose name this sketch commences, was reared mainly at Weehawken, and received his education there and in New York city. In 1843 he com- menced the upholstering trade at 14 Charlton street, New York, with Henry Portington, and was so engaged for a year and a half. The next summer he had the position of barman at the Elysian Fields. He next became employed in a painting establishment with a former school- mate, and was thus engaged nntil 1849. The stories of the golden treasures to be found in California had their effect upon him, and he joined the California Mutual Association, withi headquarters at 11 Spruce street, under the leadership of Captain Bodfish, an organization being effected in December, 1848. Early in 1849, they left New York on the ship Panama, and on the 8th of August, 1849, after a voyage of 185 days, the vessel cast anchor in the har- bor of San Francisco. After landing and look- ing around, he thonghit fishing offered about as good an opportunity as anything, and decided to engage in it. He had just three dollars in money and he spent it all for rope, and he knit a seine four feet deep and 150 feet long. The seine completed, lie and another man tried it one afternoon and caught about 200 pounds of fish. These they exposed for sale on Wash-
ington street between Montgomery and Kearny, and soon sold out their stock for $200. On one day they made over $800. He followed this occupation mainly till the fall of the year, but in the meantime worked three weeks painting the " Thistle," the first steamer that went to Sacramento, and received $25 a day for the work. In the fall of 1849 he went to Petalumna hunting. He spent the summer of 1850 in San Francisco, but in the fall went up to Petaluma again, hunting. From there he went to Tuolumne County, and engaged in mining on the Stanislans river, putting in the water wheel on the river for the purpose of running a pmp. He was making $20 a day there, but quit mining and went to farming in Calaveras County, locating and naming Salt Spring val- ley. In 1852 he went back East, and hired a shop, which he fitted np with all the appliances of a first-class machine shop, operating it about a year. In November, 1853, he returned to California, and went up to Petaluma. The next year he went to Salt Spring valley, but did nothing that summer. One evening while out hunting with a Scotchman, he killed a hawk, which, in falling, alighted in a tall pine tree. Mr. Kallenbach said, " We will let it remain in the tree till morning, then go and get it." In the morning he went to get the hawk, but on the way was attracted by the appearance of a piece of stone lying at his feet. He picked it up and found gold in it, then hunted np the Scotchman and called his attention to the dis- covery. They decided to wait till the rains came, but in the mean time gave it a little trial. Washing till twelve o'clock, they cleaned np $5. Another day they washed out $10 worth of the precious metal. They quit prospecting, got their slnices ready, and when rain came they had good mining for ten weeks for themselves and a friend. Mr. Kallenbach then had 117 ounces and 29 cents for his share. The water having given out, he went over to Jamestown in response to the per- suasion of a friend there. While he was gone, the Greasers came in and worked his old claim out. After working at Jamestown a while, Mr.
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Kallenbach took up land on Calaveras river about a mile and a half from Salt Spring valley, and went to ranching again. He also put out fruit trees, and operated the ranch steadily from 1856 to 1861. He then came to Stockton, and obtained a position in the Independent office as pressinan, which he held for upward of eighteen years. While employed there he bought property on Market street, from No. 104 to 110 inclusive, and resided there until he quit the Independent office, and then built two houses on the lots for the purpose of renting them out. On the day that President Garfield was inaugurated, he bought the square of land where he now resides, and has gathered here any number of conveniences for making a com- fortable liomne. He has a large two- story house, very spacious, a handsome conservatory, a good orchard, vineyard, etc., and a place in general attractive, ornamented with many trees and flowering plants. Here Mr. Kallenbach lives quite retired from the cares of the world in general, but not from his friends, many of whom find one of their chief pleasures in the visits which they regularly make to him.
Mr. Kallenbach was married in Stockton, in 1872, to Miss Mary Magdalen Ritt, and they have one child-Cecilia.
Mr. Kallenbach is a genial, pleasant gentle- man, with a large fund of anecdote and remin- iscences, his career having been a varied one and his travels extensive. He has been a mein- ber of the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers almost since the organization.
ILMAN CHASE, merchant of Bellota, was born in New Hampshire, October 9, 1835, a son of John Taylor Gilman and Lucinda (McQuesten) Chase. The father was a farmer in Litchifield, New Hampshire, of which State he was a native, and died there in 1840, aged forty years The mother, also a native of that State, came to California in 1860, and lived here nineteen years. She was born in 1805
and died in 1879, in the house of her son Daniel, in Murphy's. This family of Chases traces its descent from Aguila, who with his brothers John and James, were of the English emigration of 1630. The subject of this sketch came to California in 1856, and followed min -. ing for twelve years on the San Antonio river, in Calaveras County, about three miles from Mur- phy's. An older brother, John S., had come out in 1849. He is now an attendant in the Stockton Insane Asylnm. Another brother, Daniel, who came out in 1854, is still mining at Douglas Flat, where he owns a hydraulic claim, and resides in Murphy's. When Gilman Chase came out he joined his brothers in what was known as the Chase Brothers' Mining Claim, which was worked by one or more of them from 1850 to 1866. Another claim they worked for six or eight years, was the one known as the Indian Creek. They got out a lot of gold, but the claims were expensive to work, and the net result was not very large. For instance, they ran a tunnel for two years at a total loss. John S. Chase built a honse at a cost of $2,000, for which he was unable to get $150 when the claim was worked out. Another brother, William Walker Chase, went to sea on a whaler at the age of sixteen, and in 1860 went into the navy. He was in the navy three years; receiving his discharge at Portsmouth in 1864, he came to California, but did not like mining, and after one year's trial went to New York city, where lie obtained a position on one of the railroads. He died there about 1871, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth Frances, who came to reside with Mr. Chase at Bellota in 1886. Sarah E., a sister of Gilman Chase, came to California in 1860, and was married in 1863 to J. K. Doak, then of Calaveras County, and now in the livery stable business in Stock- ton. After quitting the mining business Mr. Chase worked five years as foreman for his brother-in-law, Mr. Doak, and in 1874 came to Bellota, where he served six years as clerk in the general store in which he is now the owner. He bought a half-interest in 1881, and the sec-
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ond half in 1883. The partner had been post- master for three years, and Mr. Chase las filled the same office over six years, his appointment dating March 26, 1883.
Mr. Chase was married September 27, 1884, to Miss Clara A. Willets, a native of Illinois, born in 1854, a daughter of A -- and (Doak) Willetts, who came across the plains to California in that year, she and her twin sister being about six months old. They settled in Calaveras County, two miles this side of Valley Springs, on the Mokelumne Hill road. Mr. Willetts carried on the Lunch Hill Tavern, and became the owner of 1,300 acres. The mother died at that place in 1880, and the father died while on a visit to Illinois in 1882. Mrs. Chase owns 360 acres of the estate left by her father, which is used by Mr. Chase as a cattle range. Mr. and Mrs. Chase are the parents of one child, Eva Frances, born November 10, 1885.
HARLES ELISHA NEEDHAM, rancher of Douglass Township, was born in Ad- dison County, Vermont, December 1, 1829, a son of Charles and Minerva (Porter) Need- hanı. The parents, with their children, moved in 1854 to De Kalb, Illinois, where the elder Mr. Needham, in partnership with J. M. Adsit, now of Chicago, bought 320 acres, and laid out Gillson's addition to De Kalb. C. E. Needham, with his wife, had preceded them in 1852, and became owner of 160 acres and of one-third in- terest in the enterprise. The father, born Oc- tober 6, 1800, died September 3, 1883; the mother, born in 1801, died in 1870. She was a daughter of Noah W. and Polly (Pangborn) Porter, of Ferrisburg, Vermont, of whom the former lived to be eighty-five, and the latter but little less. Grandfather Jeremiah Needham, a native of Brimfield, Massachusetts, taught school in Vermont, and at the age of twenty-five was there married to Miss Ruth Cooley, aged fourteen, a daughter of Colonel Cooley, of Revolutionary fame, who was an officer with
Ethan Allen on the historic occasion of the de- mand to surrender in the name of the Great Jeliovah and the continental Congress. He afterward moved to New York State, where he declined a nomination to the State Senate. He lived to the age of eighty, and his wife survived him a dozen years. The original Needliam immigrant came in the Mayflower, and Need- ham, Massachusetts, owes its name to the family.
The subject of this sketchi received the best education locally accessible, finishing with a course in the academy. Brought up on his father's farm he learned to make himself useful in the lionorable vocation of agriculture, which is the corner-stone of all business. He was married in New York September 8, 1852, to Miss Olive Lavina Drake, born in Crown Point, New York, September 8, 1828, a daughter of David and Sally (Bigelow) Drake. The father, born in Massachusetts, September 24, 1787, died February 13, 1837; the mother, born in Vermont in 1791, died in April, 1867. Grand- parents Peter and Patty (Vail) Drake lived to a good old age. Grandfather Nathan Bigelow died of an amputation at the age of seventy-five years, and Grandmother Betsy (Oakes) Bigelow was also about that age when she died.
For about ten years after his arrival in De Kalb. Illinois, Mr. Needham continued an agri- culturist, paying also some attention to the breeding of fine horses, chiefly Blackhawks and Morgans. In 1862 he drove twenty-three of his own raising across the plains to California, and did very well by the venture, selling none at less than $500, while for two specially fine ani- mnals he received $5,500. He went back in 1863 and brought his family out in 1864, across the plains, and settled in Santa Clara Connty, living three years in Mayfield. He moved into San Joaquin County in November, 1867, settling near Bantas, where he owned 560 acres. He was appointed United States Inspector and gauger for the First District of California, in 1874, and retained that position until 1884. The family lived in San Jose from 1878 to 1886, be-
Egra Fiske
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canse of its educational advantages. Selling his farm in Tulare Township in October, 1887, he bought 197 acres of bottom land on the Calaveras river, in Douglass Township, three miles east of Bellota. Here he lias revived his interest in raising blooded horses. Mr. Need- liam was a Justice of the Peace for three years at Mayfield, in Santa Clara County. He re- ceived the Republican nomination for the As- sembly for 1871-'72, but the party being weakened by dissensions he was not elected.
Mr. and Mrs. Needhamn are the parents of six children, viz .: Harry Burr, born November 13, 1855, married in 1881 to Miss Esther Ann Woodall, a native of this county, is a teacher and farmer in Trinity County; Cyrus Hal, born Jnne 9, 1859, was married March 20, 1889, to Miss Dora Ellen Drace, a native of this county; Myrtie Lou, born August 6, 1861, was married June 27, 1882, to William Giles McKean, a na- tive of New Hampshire, and a druggist of Santa Barbara; James Carson, born September 17, 1864, in Carson City, during the journey across the plains, graduated from the University of the Pacific, and lias taken a course in the law de- partment of the University of Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which he was graduated Jnne 27, 1889; Lillian Vail, their first born in Cali- fornia, July 21, 1866, and Lnella Gertrude, February 25, 1869, are graduates of the high school of San Jose.
ZRA FISKE .- It is a fact that there is not mentioned within the pages of this work, replete as it is with creditable deeds, a name more widely or more universally respected than that which heads this sketch. Mr. Fiske is a native of Massachusetts, born in the little town of Weston, twelve miles west of Boston, August 21, 1825. His parents, Ezra, Sr., and Lydia (Sanderson) Fiske, were both born in Massachusetts, and both came of families which were resident in the old colony in ante-Revo- lutionary times. The father, a farmer, died 19
when our subject was abont five years old, and when he was nineteen years his mother's death occurred. Ezra Fiske, with whose name this article commences, was reared at his native place, there received his schooling, and there learned the machinist's trade with the firm of Coolidge & Sibley. After he had completed his apprenticeship, he went to New Jersey and worked for a time below Camden, afterward go- ing to Philadelphia, where he was also employed at his trade. His next work-place was at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and following this he worked a year in the railroad shops at Springfield, Massachusetts. He finally returned to the old shops at Weston, where he had learned his trade, and while working there got the California fever, whichi grew upon him till he decided to try his fortune in the land across the continent. He lett Boston in the latter part of October, 1849, a passenger on the ship Richmond, bound on the long journey aronnd Cape Horn to California. Their first stop was made at St. Catharines, Brazil, where the vessel was held in quarantine a week, making their stay in all two weeks, which included the holi- days. Washington's birthday was spent at Valparaiso, in the harbor of which port they re- mained ten days. The vessel arrived in San Francisco harbor April 6, 1850, the voyage hav- ing occupied 157 days, including the time spent in port. The voyage, on the whole, was a pleasant one, and free from especially note- worthy incidents. The ship went up to Benicia and cast anchor. Mr. Fiske and Joseplı Adams (now of Stockton) waited only long enough to secure what belonged to them aboard the vessel, and then took passage on the steamer McKim, which took them to Stockton. They remained here a few days in order to supplement the mining equipment they had brought along with other necessary articles, and then proceeded to Mokelumne IIill. Mr. Adams was not especi- ally pleased with the outlook there, and soon returned to Stockton, but Mr. Fiske remained and commenced mining. He went from there to Rich Gulcli, and mined till October, but as
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his efforts were not very successful he came down to Stockton and engaged with Adams, who was running a blacksmith shop. The next spring he went up to Jamestown to resume min- ing, but after a month there concluded to aball- don the pick and the rocker. Returning to Stockton he engaged, during the summer of 1851, in haying, and in the fall took up some land. He did considerable work preparing it for cultivation, but on getting up one morning about Christmas time was surprised and shocked to observe the whole country ronnd about under water, with nothing showing above except the house he was in. He bowed gracefully to the inevitable, took his pair of horses out where the wild feed was good, turned them loose and then footed it to Stockton, where he stayed during the remainder of the winter. He was among the first to undertake the raising of grain, as people only began to sow wheat and barley that winter. In the summer of 1852 he went with McK. Carson to operate what was probably the first threshing-machine ever seen in San Joaquin County. While traveling abont he got into the section of country where lie is now lo- cated, and finding an opportunity to get some land there, he took advantage of it. It was a fortunate investment. Of his 390 acres, situ- ated three miles south and a little west of Lodi, he acquired 160 acres by pre-emption, the re- mainder by purchase. He devotes his principal attention to grain, but has about fifteen acres in vineyard, about one-third of which was planted in 1862, the remainder between that year and 1867. Mr. Fiske farms as he does everything else, in an intelligent manner, and has consequently been successful. He has a well-improved ranch, and one that will bear looking at. He belongs to the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers, of which he has been trustee. He has given much time and at- tention to the furtherance of the cause of the Patrons of Husbandry, having always been among the foremost workers. He was one of the original incorporator; of the Grangers' Union, and was the first President of the Board
of Horticultural Commissioners of San Joaquin County. He is a member of the Woodbridge Grange, P. of H., organized in 1873; has held nearly all its offices, and is now its treasurer. He is also treasurer of Pomona Grange of San Joaquin County, and was its first master. The first school in San Joaquin County, outside of Stockton, was held in a structure which is now part of a house belonging to him. Mr. Fiske is a man of broad and liberal ideas, up to the times on all great questions affecting the public welfare. Always strictly conscientious in busi- ness dealings and thoughtful of the feelings of others, a dignified yet pleasant gentleman, he is honored and respected by all-a man of whom any county might be proud.
OSEPH H. JEFFERSON, an honored pio- neer of this State, was born within a short distance of Richmond, Virginia, February 6, 1838. When he was about two years old his parents moved to Columbus, Ohio. When he was eight or ten years of age the family moved again to Des Moines County, Iowa. He went to Minnesota, when seventeen years old, and re- mined until November or December, 1852, when he returned to his home in Iowa. The following March he started for California, with a train of five, with one wagon and five yoke of oxen. They arrived in American valley, this State, about the latter part of September, where they broke up camp, each one starting ont for himself. Joseph engaged in digging a ditch for a company near American valley. After he had obtained a little money he went to Marys- ville and commenced wood-chopping, remained there nearly a month, then went to digging po- tatoes up near Vallejo, where he stayed for a couple of weeks. From there he came to Stock- ton and was employed at driving a team for San Andreas in Calaveras County. He made from four to five trips: part of the time worked on a ranch. In the following spring he hired out to a survey party under Captain A. W. Von
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