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 50
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their legitimate position among the most favored regions on this coast. These are not of the spread-eagle, vain-glorious, turgid style of litera- ture, but are thoughtful, laborious, and exact descriptions of facts, conditions and resources, inspired by a love of truth and an earnest desire to do justice to the natural advantages of the section with which he has been so long identi- fied.
YLMER DRULLARD was born in Upper Canada, February 28, 1832. When he was ten years of age his parents moved to Du Page County, Illinois, where he grew up to inanhood. April 13, 1849, he left his home for California, made the journey across the plains with a company of twenty-one persons, all told, commanded by Captain Wilson, arriving at Hangtown September 18. He, with another young man, left the remainder of the party at the Twenty-Mile Desert in Carson valley, and traveled on foot the rest of the way. He worked for a while with a man herding cattle, then went to San Francisco, from there came to Stockton and went to work on a farm, where he remained six years, until he had saved up money enough to buy a claim of 400 acres situated in O'Neil Township, and is now residing on the Waterloo and Stockton road. He moved upon it the next fall, 1859. His landed possessions amounted to 290 acres, which is as fine grain land as can be found in this county, improved with good build- ings and in fact everything that goes to make up a fine ranch. During all this time there has been but one failure in crops, which was in 1864; there was almost a failure in 1871. He has been most successful in the farming industry, which is mostly due to his own good business management.
Politically lie is a Republican, although he has never taken an active part in politics.
He was married in 1862, in the month of February, to Miss Elvira M. Dodge, a daughter of Elisha Dodge of Illinois. She is a native of St.
0
ALeitch
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Lawrence County, New York; when a mere child her parents moved to McHenry County, Illinois, where she was raised. They have a family of six children, three sons and three danghters. They have lost two sons, the oldest of whom died at the age of seventeen years.
RCHIBALD LEITCH. - Among the pio- reers of California who rank to day among the most prominent and representative citizens of San Joaquin County, is the gentle- man with whose name this sketch commences. He is a native of Robinson County, North Caro- lina, born September 24, 1822, his parents being John and Isabella (McCorgle) Leitch, both born in the Highlands of Scotland, and there married. The father was a farmer in North Carolina. Archibald Leitch spent his boyhood at his native place, and learned the blacksmith's trade there and at Adamsville, South Carolina, working in the latter place nearly three years. He then went back home, starting a shop there, which he ran about three years. In 1847 he went to Mississippi, and in that State lived a portion of the time in Holmes County, and the remainder in Carroll County. He left the village of Shong- elo, Mississippi, in company with seven others, on the 22d of February, 1849, bound for Cali- fornia. They went first to Vicksburg and thence to Fort Smith, where they outfitted with two wagons and mule teams. They passed through the territories of the Choctaw and Creek nations, and having found the way too difficult for wagons they abandoned these, nsing pack-mules thence forward to the end of the journey. Proceeding through the Seminole territory to Santa Fe. and thence down the Rio Grande to Socorro, they there took a cut-off, giving some natives $45 to show them the way. They journeyed via the Gila river, following it to its mouth, and crossed the Colorado at what is now the site of Fort Yuma. From there they crossed the desert to Warner's ranch, and thence to Los Angeles, next to Santa Barbara, and from there by way 22
of San Luis Obispo, Soledad mission, San Juan and Pacheco Pass to the San Joaquin river. They then proceeded to Wood's crossing, in Tuoluinne County, where they closed their weary journey on tlie 28th of September, 1849. Mr. Leitch commenced mining in partnership with two of his traveling companions, Monroe Gordon and John T. Carter. In the spring following, he came down to Stockton, and went to work at his trade in a shop on Hunter street square. Two months later, he went back to the mines and tried his Inck at Pine Log Crossing. As things did not go to suit him, however, he returned to Stockton, and took charge of the shop where he had previously worked, remaining until the fall of 1851, when he built a shop on the uorthwest corner of California and Main streets, aud con- ducted it in partnership with James M. Crozier, under the style of Leitch & Crozier. He re- mained in Stockton uutil the 1st of November, 1852, when he went East, via Panama, arriving in New York on the 1st day of December, and proceeding thence to his old home in North Carolina. After visiting the scenes of his boy- hood, he started, on the 15th of February, 1853, for Missouri. In the southeastern part of that State he bought cattle and horses, and started with them across the plains to California. This journey proved a memorable one, and as it dis- plays the quality of nerve sometimes required of the men who paved the way for the successful settlements of this day, a brief account of it will prove of interest. All went well nntil they had reached a point on the north side ef the Platte river about 140 miles distaut from Fort Laramie, where while in camp on the night of June 16 a terrible storm came up accompanied by thin- der and lightning. Under cover of the tempest and the darkness the horses were stampeded by Indians, one only being left, it having been staked out nearer the camp. The storm increased in its appalling fury and great hailstones fell thick and fast. The cattle were badly frightened and it was with difficulty that they were kept within reach. The ensuing day was spent in searching for the trail of the missing horses, and having
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discovered the direction taken Mr. Leitch, leav- ing his train in charge of his foreman, set out in pursuit mounted on his thoroughbred mare, blankets and saddle-bags in place and armed with two six-shooters, determined to exhaust all available means for the recovery of his property. All day he traveled without finding trace of the lost aninials, and that night he stopped at the camp of some hospitable emigrants.
On the second day he resumed his journey, and learned that two men had been seen in the hills with several horses in their possession. Proceeding onward, he finally came to a little trading post, kept by a Frenchman, who said he had seen two Indians having with them a nnm- ber of horses and a mnle with a crooked leg. The Frenchman said the Indians would cross the Platte to the south at the mouth of Horse creek, where there was an Indian camp. To reach this and at the same time secure an in- terpreter he had to go to Fort Laramie forty miles distant up the river. Arriving at an emi- grant camp tired and hungry, he was surprised and disgusted that he could get nothing to eat. Moving forward on his weary way he soon con- cluded to stake out his mare and lie down on his blankets to get a little rest. He was soon asleep, and when he awoke the first thing his eyes rested upon was a white wolf tugging at his blankets, which, however, quickly fled, fright- ened off by his shouts. Proceeding on his next day's journey he reached the point where he expected to cross the North Platte. There he found a trader and again tethered ont his mare for rest. That evening about 100 Indians came around in full war paint, having been roused to fury by the wanton murder of one of their tribe by some drunken soldiers from Fort Laramie. They made niglit hideous by their weird and terrible death-song. It was ten o'clock the next day when Mr. Leitch was taken across by the friendly trader and proceeded to Fort Laramie to get an interpreter to assist in questioning the Indians in regard to his horses. Failing to get the interpreter on account of the disturbed relations between the troops and the Indians, he
set out for Horse creek on the sonth side of the river. On the way he met a man with two mules, one of which he bought for $100, and mounted at once, to relieve the faithful animal he had ridden so long. The next day he stopped at a camp where there was a man familiar with the Indian dialect, but who was then drank. Mr. Leitch waited till morning for him to sober up, and then, securing his services, started with him for the mouth of Horse creek. Arriving there, the Indians were questioned, but they said the lost horses were not among them. They, however, suggested another place where they might be found. On an island, about two miles from there, Mr. Leitch recognized one of his lost horses and captured him, leading him by his canteen strap until he got a piece of rope from an Indian boy. Soon an Indian came np and tried to cut the rope, claiming he had bought the animal. Unwilling to give up his property Mr. Leitch pulled his revolver and the Indian drew his horse-pistol. For a moment deadly conflict was imminent, when Mr. Leitch made signs for his adversary to follow, intending to use the services of his interpreter, who had, however, moved off three miles. Arriving at tlie trading-wagon where he had left the inter- preter, the animal was left in charge of the trader for a time and Mr. Leitch started on a hot trail for the others. He found them at a point about eight miles distant, but they were claimed by a couple of Indians. The shoes had been taken off all the animals except one mare. Mr. Leitch found the chief and gave him some money, and got him to go down and assist him in getting away with his horses. He finally started on the journey back to his company with the recovered stock, but soon noticed that he was followed by the same two Indians, which inade liim wary, and he did not attempt to take any rest. He finally gave the Indians two dol- lars and a half, but they still followed him, thinking that they would get some of the horses at the crossing of the river. He finally got to the French station, where only a raw-hide boat was nsed for crossing the river, and he
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
could not make the crossing. He continued on and finally one of the Indians gave up the pursuit. He gave the other two dollars and a half more, when he also went back. Mr. Leitch attempted to ford the river in one place, but finding a quicksand bottom gave up the idea. Reaching a ferry on Laramie river he found about a thousand emigrants waiting to cross, and as lie would have to await his turn, he went down the river and crossed by swimn- ming. That night he stopped with good hos- pitable people, but could learn nothing of liis party. The next day, when near the place where Je liad first crossed the North Platte, he met one of his men who was out looking for him, and soon reached his train, where he had been given up for lost. He had traveled about 350 miles and had been absent thirteen days, all but tlie first being spent among the Sioux. The trip afforded him plenty of exciting adventure, suffi. ciently spiced with danger to suit the most exact- ing, but hazardous as it was he had been success- ful, and happy at having recovered his stock he resnnied his way across the plains to California, the remainder of the journey being accom- plished without further noteworthy incident. He drove his stock to the San Joaquin valley and disposed of it during the summer of 1854, trading a part of it for a half interest in Slocum's Ferry, on the San Joaquin river. He was inter- ested in the ferry until the fall of 1856, when he sold out.
On the 4th of January, 1857, he was married, and with his wife located on a ranch on the Stanis- laus river. There he continued farming and cattle-raising on 643 acres, but the place now contains, by later purchases, of the old Thompson grant, 3,340 acres. When he bought his land, it was in San Joaquin County, but an act of the Legislature in 1859 gave it to Stanislaus County. In 1860 he engaged in the sheep industry, with which he has been connected to the present time. About 1876 he formed a partnership in that busi- ness with Henry Quinn, under the style of Leitch & Quinn, which still continnes, the firm own- ing about 10,000 sheep in Tulare and Kern
counties. Mr. Leitch also owns land in Fresno and Merced counties, near Minton. His wife was formerly Miss Charles Anna Lansing, a native of Texas, born in St. Augustine, but educated at Victoria, in the same State, where her father left her for that purpose when he came to California, in 1849. He died in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Leitch have two children, viz .: Ada Isabella, now the wife of J. A. Patter- son, druggist of this city, and Arthur L., now engaged in superintending his father's ranch.
Mr. Leitch has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and since 1883 has been a mem- ber of the Board of Supervisors, having been first elected in 1882. He has been President of the board ever since he took his seat in 1883, and has always lent his influence toward progressive movements, while keeping in view the true interests of the county. Among the permanent improvements which have been made during his presidency may be mentioned the splendid new court-house of San Joaquin County, which was commenced and will be finished during his term of office. He lias been an active member of tlie San Joaquin Society of California Pio- neers for many years, and is now its president, having been elected in August, 1889. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge, No. 68, F. & A. M .; of Stockton Chapter, No. 28, Royal Arch Masons, and of Stockton Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar.
In the years during which Mr. Leitch has served as President of the Board of Supervisors of San Joaquin County, more improvements of a permanent nature have been made than during the entire previous period since the county's organization, and his course has at all times commanded the respect of those having the true interests of the connty at heart. The finances of the county, it may be added, are in an exceptionally good condition. Mr. Leitelı has a number of interests besides tlose pre- viously noticed, among which may be mentioned tlie Stockton Street Railway Company, of which lie is president, and the Stockton Loan and Building Association, of which he is a director.
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
He is a good type of the hardy and intelligent California pioneer, and though a public-spirited and liberal man, has been very successful in his business career. Since 1869 he has been a resi- dent of Stockton, and in city and county he stands as one of the foremost and most re- spected citizens.
CHRISTOPHER C. CASTLE is a native of Delaware County, New York, where he was born March 27, 1828. He remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when he started for California. His brothers deter- inined to come also; accordingly they supplied themselves with horse teams; they fitted out for the journey in Grant County, Wisconsin, and crossed the Missouri river May 7, 1852. They crossed at the spot where Omaha now stands, when there was but a chimney there, the last remaining remnant of an old Morinon set- tlement. They had a pleasant and uneventful journey across the plains, arriving at Placerville on the 1st of August, 1852. Christopher and his brother James went to Ford's Bar, where they inined all winter, making from $5 to $30 a day. The next spring six of them clubbed together and flumed the river, which they com- pleted in about six weeks; they took ont $9,000 in gold. In the fall they went to a place called Johnstown, between Coloma and Georgetown, and went into the hotel business. In a few months they sold out, returned to Ford's Bar, and again flumed the river, but did not make much. -
In the fall of 1854 Mr. Castle came down to this valley and settled near French Camp. He engaged in farming, raising grain. The first wheat he raised sold for fonr cents a pound bar- ley the same. At the end of nineteen months his brother James joined him and they went into partnership. In the winter of 1859 Christo- pher went back East and was there married to Miss Almeda Harelson, returning in the spring of 1860 with his bride. In the fall of 1861 he
and his brother sold out the place and discon- tinued their partnership. Mr. Christopher Cas- tle bought the place on which he now resides. The ranch contains about 1,193 acres, part tule land, sitnated on the lower Sacramento road, five miles north of .Stockton, on the Mokelumne grant. The place is devoted to general farming and stock-raising; on this land as high as sev- enty-five bushels to the acre have been raised, which speaks very well for its productive qualities.
In 1863 he lost his wife, who died leaving him two danghters, both now married, one re- siding in Stockton, the other in Tulare. That same year Mr. Castle went into Mexico, super- intending some mines there, making fonr trips, occupying in all three years-during the time of the Maximilian war. While going from the mines to Mazatlan he was halted five times while passing through the lines and compelled to show his passes, one from each of the Mexican and the French armies. On one occasion the Mexicans pointed two guns at his head and took him prisoner, holding him four days in a small mountain village. He was set at liberty from the prison, but not from the village for a time, when he had to board himself, having to pay such extortionate prices as $4 a ponnd for coffee. At Mazatlan afterward he was closely questioned by the French commander-in-chief there in regard to the Mexican army, and as he refused to give much information, the com- mander became indignant; but on being in- formed by Mr. Castle that he was an American citizen attending to his own business and not desiring to act as spy for either government, he released him. At another time, when Mr. Cas- tle was riding from Mazatlan to the mine in company with three men-Captain Comming, James Burtis and a Chilian who had lived in Mexico several years-they were stopped by a band of bushwhackers, who demanded money. The Chilian immediately passed over his money; but, notwithstanding Mr. Castle had $1,000 upon his person, the party informed the brigands that they had barely money enough to pay their
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expenses to their destination, borrowed the Chil- ian's money, divided it among the four and gave it to the robbers, and thus got rid of them.
Politically, Mr. Castle has always been a strong Democrat, and has been on several occa- sions a member of the State and county con- ventions. In connection with his farming lie has also been more or less interested in mining. He is president of the Royal Mining Coin Cal- averas Company, and of the Stockton Gravel Mining Company, in Siskiyou County. He has taken two trips to the East, one in 1876 to the Centennial Exposition, and the other in the fall of 1886, when he attended the Knight Templars' Conclave held in St. Lonis, he being a member of that body. On this last trip he paid a visit to liis aged mother, who is now living in Wisconsin at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. The Castle family is a long- lived race of people, particularly on the mater- nal side. Mr. Castle has eight brothers and sisters, all of whom are living at the present time. In educational matters Mr. Castle has always taken an active part and in more ways than one his judgment and assistance has been seen and felt to the benefit of the district in which he lives. He has filled the position of school trustee and clerk for over twenty years, consecutively, until he resigned. He was again united in marriage, September, 1867, to Sophie Bnsh, a native of Canada, who came to Califor- nia in 1860. They have a family of six children, fonr daughters and two sons.
ILLIAM EDWARD GARRETT was born in Sumner County, Tennessee, September 17, 1832, a son of James and Sarah (Garrett) Garrett, related, but not closely. The father was a silversmith, but settled on a farm in Tennessee. Both were natives of North Carolina. The parents of both moved to Ten- nessee and settled on farms; the fatlier was about seventy when he died, abont 1838; the inother died February 7, 1872, aged about
seventy-four, on both sides were long-lived people. His sister, Parlee Melissa, now the widow of Jaines Sanford, living in Tennessee, was born in 1819. Our subject was brought up on a farm and received a limited education. He started in to learn the trade of blacksmith, but left for California September 27, 1849, by New Orleans and Panama; was detained on the Isth- ins until January 8, 1350, when they left for San Francisco, arriving about March 1. They went to mining at San Antonio, in Calaveras County, March 17, 1850, and has followed it to this day; had twelve men at work as late as 1888, and five in 1889; the mines are now in charge of his two sons at Bald Mountain, near Sonora.
In 1862 Mr. Garrett bought 160 acres of land in Stanislaus County, four miles from Mo- desto, on the Southern Pacific Road. He bought in 1884 two acres in Ripon for a home- stead, which he has elegantly improved, the residence and grounds costing over $15,000. In 1888 he bought sixty-two acres across the road from his home place.
Mr. Garrett is a Mason, a Knight Templar and 32d-Degree Mason, but nnaffiliated at present; is a member of Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 588, I. O. O. F., of Ripon, in which he has passed the chairs. He has been representative in the Grand Lodge two or three times. He was a Patron of Husbandry five years, 1873 to 1878. Mr. Garrett came to San Joaquin County in 1876. In the fall of 1878 he moved again into Stanislaus County. In the fall of 1880 he re- moved back to Ripon, and for some time his home has been in San Joaquin County. He was married January 8, 1862, to Miss Martha Fedora Beaumont, who was born in Indiana in 1845, a daughter of George and Frances (Ellis) Beaumont. Her father was a farmer, uow de- ceased; her mother is living in Ripen. She was born in March, 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Gar- rett have nine children: George Edward, born at Brown's Flat, Tuolumne County, December 20, 1863, engaged in mining; James was born in the same place, July 21, 1865, was married to Miss Belle Yancey, a danghter of T. M. Yan-
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cey, who has been sheriff three times. Clara Beaumont, born in the same place, March 31, 1869; Grace Adelaide, born September 19, 1871; William Bryant, born March 20, 1874, at Crow's Landing, Stanislaus County; Albert Powell Hill, born at Ripon, April 1, 1877; Birdie, born in Ripon, April 6, 1879; Robert B., born near Salida, Stanislaus County, August 8, 1880; Jesse, born in Ripon, April 26, 1886. After many years of ups and downs Mr. Garrett's perseverance and intelligent industry were re- warded with success in his mining venture. There is probably not in San Joaquin County another man so representative of the real inining interests as Mr. Garrett, who has experienced every phase of a miner's life, its joys, misfor- tunes and hardships. He is an active man, and richily deserves the success which has crowned his years of labor.
ON. JOSEPH H. BUDD, Judge of the Superior Court of San Joaquin County, was born in Duchess County, New York, January 13, 1822, son of James and Ellen Budd, natives also of the Empire State, who passed the remainder of their lives there. After gradu- ating at Williams (Massachusetts) College in 1843, he studied law at Poughkeepsie, New York, was admitted to the bar, and in 1847 re- moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he was en- gaged in the practice of his profession, having for his partners, in succession, Lorenzo Sawyer, now Judge of the United States Circuit Court, and John R. Bennett, who is now Judge of the District Court in Wisconsin. In 1857 he came to California, and the next year settled in Stockton, where he has eversince been a resident. Mr. Budd has now practiced law in this city and State thirty-two years, having been connected with so many prominent cases that we have not space here for their enumeration. His connection with the Moquelemos grant litigation is given at length elsewhere in this work. For two terms he was City Attorney here, and in the fall
of 1887 he was elected to his present position. Politically he has always been a Democrat.
HIe married Miss L. M. Aslı, in Wisconsin, in 1849, and they have two sons: James H., one of the most prominent citizens of the county, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, and John E., at present Receiver of the United States Land Office.
B. P. BAIRD, fariner of Elliott Township, was born in New York State, in 1826, where he remained until 1844, when he went to Illinois. Eight years later he came to California via the Isthinus. Took the steamer Georgia from New York to the Isthmus, and from the Isthmus to San Francisco the steamer Tennessee; after a voyage of thirty days he landed in Mon- terey, where he remained a few days. He went to San Jose, which place he made his home for three years. In 1855 he came to Stockton, and in 1860 bought 160 acres of Government land, situated about twelve miles from Stockton on the upper Sacramento road. The ranch is principally devoted to the raising of wheat and stock; ten acres are planted in fruit trees and vines.
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