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 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
NDREW J. NELSON, of Elkhorn Town- ship, was born December 24, 1837, in Washtenaw County, Michigan, his parents being Robert and Lydia (Gale) Nelson, botlı natives of Pennsylvania. They went to Michi- gan when it was yet a territory, took up land there and made their home there for the re- mainder of their lives. The father died in 1861, at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother in 1860, at the age of sixty-four years. In the family there were seven children, three
daughters and four sons. Two of the brothers came to California, Robert in 1869, and Albert in 1884; the latter has since died. Andrew remained at home until twenty-one years of age, then in 1859 crossed the plains to Califor- nia. He had started with the intention of going to Pike's Peak, but had been discouraged by parties whom he met on the road. He landed in Stockton, and went at once to farın- ing. For eight years Andrew worked on a farm, first as a hand, then as foreman. In 1867 he located and purchased his present property, containing 320 acres of fine farming land, situated ten miles from Stockton and four miles from Lodi. It is devoted to the produc- tion of hay, grain and stock. The appearance of the ranch shows the owner to be a practical, successful farmer.
Mr. Nelson was married in 1868 to Mrs. Mary J. Walters, widow of George W. Walters, and a native of Ohio. They have two girls, Myrtie and Coral, both at home.
ICTOR V. HECK, grocer of Stockton, is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, born September 11, 1841, his parents being Jacob and Amelia (Wills) Heck, both of whom were born in Europe; when he was a child of but six months, his parents removed to New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and there he was reared until he had reached the age of sixteen years. He received his education there and at Bryant, Lusk and Strattan's Busi- ness College, Cleveland, Ohio. In 1857 the family removed to Missouri, settling three miles east of Neosho, on Joy's Prairie, Newton County, where they had a farmn.
Victor V. Heck, subject of this sketch, not being adapted to farming, concluded to find some occupation more congenial, and left home late in the same year that the family removed to Missouri. He got a situation carrying mail on one of the routes out of Neosho, for A. J. Bnrden, and drove stage teams three monthis.
323
HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
Afterward for about a month, he carried mail from Sacoxie to Turkey Creek mines, and next went to work for Wiley & Johnson, carrying mail from Neosho to Fort Scott, Kansas. He gave up that situation, and went to work in the lead mines at Granby for a short time. He was offered an opportunity to go to Oregon over- land, by ox team, and decided to go. On the 3d of May, 1860, a company of ten wagons (with whom was Mr. Heck), went to Fort Scott, where they joined with the McVey train, and started on the long trip across the plains, Mr. Heck driving an ox-team. They had no difficulty until arriving at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas, on the middle ronte to Oregon. The road had not been traveled for five years before that, and was nearly as wild as ever. They had a skir- mish with the Indians, and drove them off, but lost ten head of stock. They kept a sharp lookout, and for some time were saved consider- able inconvenience on account of the red-skins, though they had no more trouble with them after crossing the mountains. The first town they struck was Ashland, after traveling down Bear river. Thence they proceeded via Jackson- ville and Rogue river valley, across the Coast Range, to Crescent City, and thence up the coast, niaking their own road over the monn- tains. They brought up at Pistol River, ten miles south of Ellensburg, and mined there that winter. They then started back for California, traveling through the State in different direction, by way of Yreka, Shasta, Butte, and Soda creek, thence down the Sacramento river. When they halted they were at Petaluma. There Mr. Heck stopped, and he obtained work, being engaged about there at different occupations, the man he crossed the plains with having gone back to Iowa. Mr. Heck remained in the vicinity of Petaluma until 1863, then went up to Star City, Humboldt County, Nevada, where the famous Sheba mine was then attracting such attention, shares in the noted swindling concern having been run up from three-bits to $600 each. When he returned from there, he went to San Fran- cisco, and entered into the service of the Union,
in Company I, Sixth California Volunteer In- fantry. He had been with the company bnt a short time when he was promoted Corporal, and a week or ten days later was brevetted Sergeant and detached on steamer duty between San Francisco and Panama. He served in that capac ity till the close of the war, and was discharged at Benicia thirteen days after his regiment was mustered out. He was engaged at various avocations from that time until the Western Union Company decided to build a telegraphi line from San Francisco to St. Petersburg, via Alaska. Mr. Heck went to headquarters and offered his services for the expedition. Captain Wright, who was employing the men, gave the preference to soldiers, and Mr. Heck. being one of the fortunate ones, signed the roll April 1, 1866. On June 6, 1866, the barque " Pal- metto," with the expedition on board, sailed for Petropaulovski. Their first stopping place was Honolulu, where they arrived July 2, 1866. On the 5th of July, they resumed the voyage, which proved to be an eventful one. After encounter- ing severe storms, running over a reef, and meet- ing with many dangerous experiences, they reached Petropaulovski in the latter middle of August. Colonel Bulkley, who had gone before, had left orders there for the expedition to go to Ghigiginski, and they reached that point about the last of September, having been six weeks making 400 miles, the weather being intensely cold. They were met by Major Abasa, by whom they were given instructions as to their future movements, and some necessary advice. They then concluded to start, notwithstanding the weather, which had reached a frightful degree of cold. Later, they met George Kennan, who was their division superintendent, under Major Abasa. They traversed the country from Gigiga to Pengneni with dog teams, a troublous incident of the journey being some difficulty with the foreman, Sanford, in regard to salaries. Mr. Heck refused to work longer for the wages he was receiving, and all the others but one fol- lowed him in that movement. That was in May, 1867. They started back by dog teams to
324
HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
Gigiga, where they arrived June 6. There they made arrangements with Mr. Kennan for provisions and other necessaries to live comfort- ably until a ship could arrive to take them back to San Francisco. A party of four-A. L. Bowser, Henry Preble, William O'Brien and Mr. Heck - went to Myack light-house and pitched their tents there to await the arrival of the ship. Mr. Kennan requested them to keep a look-out for any vessel that might come into the gulf, and to send him a runner should one appear. None making their appearance in time. Mr. Kennan paid them a visit. They manned a whale-boat, and started across the gulf to see if they could sight a vessel. They were fortu- nate enough to meet the barque " Sea Breeze " (Captain Hamilton), sixty days from Honolulu. They boarded the vessel, and were splendidly treated. While on the vessel they witnessed the process of cutting up a whale. They re- mained on board till evening, and before taking their departure were given a large number of newspapers of April dates. When they landed, they built a fire, and sat down to read the news. One of the readers noticed an item which stated that the Western Union Company had suspended operation in Northeastern Siberia, owing to the fact that Field's cable had proved a success. That was news indeed, and Kennan conld hardly realize it. He cut out the article containing the news, and took it back with him to surprise the others. In September, 1867, the barque " On- ward " (Captain Sands) arrived from San Fran- cisco to take them home. The party, including Kennan, boarded her, and she thien proceeded to Yamski, where she took on three more, thence went to Okhotsk, where the last installinent of three was taken aboard. The vessel then headed for San Francisco, where the party arrived with- out tronble save from the terrible storm encoun- tered between the Farallones and the Heads. The storm struck them in the day-time, and before night they were running out to sea nnder a goose-wing main-top sail and a jib. They rode ont the most violent portion of the storm in safety, and on the 8th of November anchored off
Black Point, where the water blew over the decks all night. After landing, Mr. Heck drew his pay and went to Solano County, where he worked on a farm for Hall & Martin. He worked until after haying, in the spring, and then started home to see his parents. Going to San Francisco, he concluded he would like to see Stockton before going East, and coming here, he has remained ever since. He was for sev- eral years engaged in various avocations, among them clerking in a hotel, selling sewing machines, sheep ranching in Nevada, and finally engaged with the firm of Buck & Hedges, with whont he remained for eleven and a half years. In November, 1885, he embarked in the grocery business for himself on the corner of California and Church streets, where he has built up an extensive trade.
Mr. Heck was married in Stockton April 27, 1872. His wife's maiden name was Miss Mary McCann. They have five children, viz .: John, Nellie, Victor, Amelia and Irene.
Mr. Heck is financial secretary of Charter Oak Lodge, No. 20, K. of P., and a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 23, A. O. U. W., and of Jefferson No. 98, I. O. O. F., at Woodbridge.
Mr. Heck has had a varied experience, suclı as falls to the lot of but few men, and has thus come into possession of much valuable knowledge gleaned from personal experience, making him a very entertaining conversationalist.
ERRY YAPLE, merchant at Ripon, was born in Tompkins County, New York, March 9, 1825, a son of Henry and Sally ( Dykeman) Yaple. The father, a native of New York State, was the first white male child born in Ithaca, New York, his birth having been preceded by a female cousin six months before; he died in Danby, New York, aged seventy-six. The mother, a native of Butternut, New York- died April 12, 1836, aged forty-two. Grand, father Jacob Yaple, the first settler in Ithaca, was a native of Virginia. Great-grandfather
325
HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
Yaple was an emigrant from Prussia, who set- tled on the James river, in Virginia. Jacob Yaple moved to New York and settled there, where Ithaca now stands. He built the first grist-mill and was also a farmer, owning a con- siderable quantity of land. The tradition of the family is that he was swindled out of a great portion of his first purchase by the failure of his messenger to deliver the purchase money at the appointed time.
Perry, the subject of this sketch, received the limited education of the period in country parts. He learned the trade of blacksmith, beginning his apprenticeship in 1842, in Ithaca, New York, where he afterward worked as a journey- inan one year. The old shop was still standing when he visited the place in 1886. He then worked in Danby six years, in a shop of his own. In 1852 Mr. Yaple came to California, leaving Danby September 16, and New York September 20, via the Panama route, and arrived in San Francisco October 20, 1852, when he proceeded without delay to Stockton. Here he worked at his trade a year for the stage company, but while so engaged, in the spring of 1853, he started his own shop, employing a journeyman to attend to such work as was brought there. Free from his engagement with the stage company, he formed a partnership with Wells Beardsley, a wagoninaker who had accompanied him from Danby. In 1854 they inade the first gang-plow made in this State. They made three plows, each of three gangs, that season; and ordered a threshing machine from the East. That winter Mr. Yaple tried his luck at mining at Shaw's Flats, Tuolnmne County, where he remained until May, 1855, gathering a few hundred dollars. He ran the threshing-machine that summer, doing fairly well, and at the close of the season resnmed blacksmithing, in partnership with P. L. Will- iamson. After one year Mr. Yaple made a trip to Oregon, bnt found nothing especially inviting, so returned to Stockton, January 1, 1857. He then started a barley-crusher with D. G. Humphrey as partner and received for that work
$5 a ton, a fair day's work being sixteen tons, and the invesment about $4,000. In 1859 he returned to his home in the East and brought out sixty hives of bees, costing $15 each, for which he was offered $50 each, but he preferred to keep them. He went and returned by the Panama route.
In 1862, he took up, chiefly for his bees, 160 acres, a quarter in the section on which Ripon stands. In 1868 he exchanged with his partner Humphrey, he taking the bees and Humphrey the barley crusher. He had abont 100 hives, which the bee epidemic of that year reduced to five, then he turned his attention to general farmning. In 1864 he bought another quarter section, and again, in 1866, another. In 1874 he bought a half section. He exchanged the half section for a more desirable quarter section with an old warehouse on it. In 1878 he purchased the general store of the village, which was car- ried on by his son D. F. until his death in 1884. He engaged in farming until 1883, when he sold all his land, except sixty-five acres near the village. He then wound up his shop and began to build, his first enterprise being the brick warehouse in Ripon. In 1886 he built the two- story brick building now used as a general store, with Odd Fellows' Hall overhead. He has been Justice of the Peace since 1886. He runs the general store in the village, in the two-story brick, forty-five by seventy feet, already referred to, in partnership with his son-in-law, E. C. Dickinson, under the style of Yaple & Dickin- son.
Mr. Yaple was married in Danby, New York, May 10, 1849, to Miss Ann Eliza Knapp, a native of that State. She died in May, 1851, leaving one boy, D. F., who came to California in 1868. He ran the general store in Ripon from 1878 to 1884, when he died, leaving one child, Estelle Perry, and his widow, Lulu (Woods) Yaple, both living in Suisnn in 1889. Mr. Perry Yaple was married a second time, at Pachec ), California, September 25, 1862, to Mrs. Martha M. (Burley) Clark, the widow of Lorenzo Clark, of Lowell, Massachusetts, where he died
326
HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
in 1855. She was born in New York State, a danghter of Thomas and Martha ( Doten) Burley, both natives of New Hampshire, the father being born at Dorchester and the mother at Canaan, in that State. The father was acci- dentally killed by a fall from his horse at the age of fifty, and the grandfather, Jacob Burley, also met an accidental deatlı at the age of sixty. The latter was known as Captain Burley, having been a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His widow, Elizabeth ( Dow) Burley received a pension for some years. She was a second cousin of the celebrated revivalist and temper- ance lecturer, Lorenzo Dow, and a native of Massachusetts. Captain and Mrs. Burley had ten children, of whom nine grew to maturity. Grandfather Doten lived to be seventy five; his wife's name was Mary.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry Yaple are the parents of two children, daughters, namely: Nellie L., now Mrs. Evert C. Dickinson, of Ripon, wlio has two children,-Clarence Leroy and Perry Yaple. The second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Yaple is Edith Dow, now Mrs. James S. Monl- ton, of Linden, of whom a sketch is given else- where in this volume.
HE RIVER EXPRESS .- Of all the firms and business institutions of which Stock- ton can lay claim, perhaps none has shown such remarkable progress from the very hnmn- blest of beginnings as the River Express. But a few years ago the business, which has now assmined handsome proportions, was unknown, and probably unthought of.
In 1878 a youth named Simington com- menced carrying packages between San Fran- cisco and Stockton, on the boats of the Califor- nia Steam Navigation Company, on which he ran as an errand boy, making the trip up one day and down the next; but as lie had no wagon at either end for delivery, the business of course was a small one, and did not offer innch promise. He sold out to Thomas Sedg-
wick, and the latter shortly afterward put on a wagon at the San Francisco end of the line. A couple years later C. H. Pease and Robert L. Tubbs succeeded to the business by purchase, and they put on a wagon for delivery in Stock- ton. They carried on the business abont two years, and then sold out to J. C. and J. B. Cow- den, brothers. The first named of these sold his interest November 20, 1885, to E. S. Van Pelt, and the latter and J. B. Cowden were the proprietors until Jnne 1, 1886. Then Mr. Van Pelt bought ont the interest of J. B. Cowden, but at once sold it to his cousin, A. H. Kelton. The firm remained Van Pelt & Kelton until March 16, 1889, when P. D. Campbell, a ines- senger on the boat, became a member of tlie firm, and these three constitute the River Ex- press Company. Mr. Van Pelt is in charge of the Stockton office, Mr. Kelton in San Fran- cisco, and Mr. Campbell has charge of the transportation on the boats of the Steamn Navi- gation Company. The business is carried on' nnder the present management with clock-work precision, and regnlar trips are made each way daily, while the patronage has so increased on account of the excellent business methods. adopted, that six wagons and one dray are now kept busy at the termini of the line, and eight head of horses are utilized in drawing them, and two messengers are employed on the boats. Snclı is the record made by this firm of young men, who have had to commence at the bottom and feel their way to their present safe position. Certainly the business men of Stockton should take an interest in this institution, of snclı benefit to them, and which has grown up in their midst; and that they do is evidenced from the large and constantly growing trade which is entrusted to the care of the River Express by . them, as well as by the business men of San Francisco. Success in business is always ap- preciated, and especially so when it opens up new channels long anappreciated and tending to the credit and advancement of the city.
As their enterprise is one of which Stockton is especially interested, sketches of the men
327
HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
who have made it what it is are given in this volume.
E. S. Van Pelt is a native Californian, born at Mokelumne Hill, July 2, 1858, his parents being John and Saralı Jane (Kelton) Van Pelt. His father was born on Long Island, New York, and came out to California in the early gold- mining days.
OHN HALL, a rancher of Dent Township, was born in Illinois, April 20, 1840, son of William and Nancy (Embank) Hall. They crossed the plains in 1857, and settled in this county, near Farmington. The father was born in Franklin County, Georgia, March 4, 1804, and died in Calaveras County in 1885, aged eighty-one. The mother was born in Jackson County, Georgia, November 16, 1806, and died in this county in 1887, aged eighty-one. Both are buried in Burwood Cemetery, in this town- ship. The grandparents Embank, long settled in Alabama, and perhaps born there, died in Illinois at an advanced age.
Jolın Hall, the subject of this sketch, worked for his father until about the time of his mar- riage, which occurred July 26, 1866, when he was united to Miss Estella Jane Huntley, born in Pike County, Illinois, September 8, 1848, daughter of Lyman Lysander and Matilda (Brown) Huntley, of this township. Mr. Hall took up eighty acres for a lomestead, and pre- empted eighty, both situated nearly five miles northeast of Farmington, in this county. These he held five years, and then rented 320 acres in Stanislaus County for three years. In Septem. ber, 1876, he rented 330 acres, which he still occupies on the Stanislaus, about seven miles east of Ripon, purchasing it in October, 1877. About 200 acres are wheat-growing upland, and the remainder adapted to the raising of corn, alfalfa, potatoes or fruit. He has about 300 vines and as many fruit trees of various kinds.
Mr. and Mrs. Hall are the parents of eight living children, viz .: William Solon, born June
8, 1867; Harlow Huntley, July 10, 1869; Ida May, October 31, 1871; Harry Edwin, July 5, 1874; Bessie, May 21, 1881; Franklin Fay, June 7, 1883; Reuben Roy, December 1, 1885; Erma, March 10, 1888.
LONZO RHODES, one of the pioneers of California, has been a resident of Stockton since the city's early days. He is a native of North Carolina, born at Lumberton, Robin- son County, April 25, 1825. His grandfather, Jacob, was a Virginian of English ancestry. His father, Thomas Rhodes, was an enthusias- tic Democrat, and energetic in business. His mother's maiden name was Aun Maria Brockett.
About 1831 the family removed to Hinds County, Mississippi, and the following year to Vicksburg, and later up the Yazoo river to the neighborhood of the little town of Tuscaloosa. When Carroll County, Mississippi, was created Mr. Rhodes, Sr., was elected its first Clerk and held that office eight years, or until his death, November 5, 1839. During the following year his widow died leaving a family of seven children.
At the age of fifteen years, an orphan, Alonzo Rhodes started out in the world for himself. Going to Memphis, Tennessee, lie soon secured employment as an apprentice in the drug store of Hugh Horah & Co., at a salary of two hun- dred dollars for three years. Hard work and close study told upon his health and he was al- lowed a vacation to visit home scenes in Missis- sippi. Returning, he resumed his duties, and at the end of three years, having finished his apprenticeship, he found himself sixty dollars in debt to his employers. Upon informing the head of the firm of this fact, he was told to bal- ance the account by charging the amount to profit and loss. He was then master of his pro- fession and was promoted to the management of the prescription department at a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars a year. In the fall of 1846, however, his health again began to fail,
328
HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
and after consultation with his employers he decided to settle up with them and go to New Orleans. After a brief sojourn in the Crescent City, he aga inreturned to his former home in Mississippi, where he had the good for- tune to meet with a former friend of his father doing business at Greenwood. He was offered half of the profits to take charge of the business, with an ample supply of money, and decided la- ter to accept the proposition, becoming manager of the forwarding and commission business of C. F. Hemmingway & Co. Trade flourished nn- der his care, but failing health compelled him to abandon the position the following year. After a trip to Northern Mississipipi and Tennessee, he returned to his post in better health.
In February, 1849, he decided to remove to California. Winding uphis business relations, he bade his friends adieu on the tenth of that month, went to New Orleans, joined a party organized for making the journey via Texas and the south- ern overland route, and embarked on the steam- ship Palmetto for Galveston. They lauded there and procceded on to Corpus Christi, where they or- ganized under military discipline. They arrived at San Antonio during the prevalence of cholera, which carried off Gen. Worth while they were there. Dissensions arose in the company over the peculiar enforcement of military discipline, and Mr. Rhodes, becoming disgusted, drew out, thus forfeiting his sharc, one hundred and fifty dollars, which he had paid into the general fund, and traveling thereafter with a saddle horse and pack animal. At Fredericksburg he purchased a wagon in which he pursued his journey as far as Fort Leaton on the Rio Grande. Here lie disposed of the wagon, and in company with W. L. Gray, Samson Gray, Benjamin F. Williams and two men named Baldwin, and Whitman (all now de- ceased) continued the journey through Chihua- hua, Durango and Sinaloa to the Pacific, reaching Mazatlan about the middle of July, 1849, and a few days later embarked for San Francisco on the Danish brigantine Johanna and Uluffa.
Soon after leaving port the captain violated his contract by attempting to furnish stale bread
and inferior provisions. The passengers met and passed resolutions that unless the captain changed liis tactics they would tie him to the end of a rope, pitch him overboard and tow him through the water until he was ready to come to time. When the captain found they were deter- mined he ordered better fare, but both he and the mate continned sullen and domineering. Even the cook tried to follow their example, and a few days later shoved a sea-sick passenger over. In turn he was himself floored with a bil- let of wood by another passenger. The latter was then attacked by the mate, hatchet in hand . He heard a noise behind him, however, and looked around in time to see a big Louisianian making for him with a bowie-knife. This caused him to go elsewhere, and thereafter there was no more trouble. The captain gave it out that lie intended to put the paasengers through for mu- tiny on reaching San Francisco; but when ill- formed that an attempt of that kind would be inet with instant death without regard to law, lie changed his mind.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.