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 51
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He was married in Stockton in 1860 to Miss Julia H. Guernsey, who was born in Michigan in 1840. They have eight children living: three died. The names are as follows: Edward E., Frederick G., Ella F., who died in 1883; Hattie R., Julia J., who died in 1879; Benjamin A., Clara E., Herbert H., Edith C., Judson G., who died in 1890; and Josephene D.
OHN CHRISMAN, farmer, Tulare Town- slip, San Joaquin County, was born in Penn- sylvania, September 30, 1831. In 1851 he emigrated to Carroll County, Illinois, where he remained four years, then returned to Chester County, Pennsylvania, and from there crossed the plains with ox teains to California. On ar-
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riving in Stockton, he went directly to the mines, remaining but a short time. He worked one winter in Stanislaus for a man named McHenry. Then rented a farm of Barney, and planted a crop of corn; after gathering his crop, he went to Santa Clara County, and rented land for seven years. He then bought a ranch, on which he now resides, situated one mile from Tracy and two miles from Bantas. It contains 200 acres of fine improved land. He was married in San - ta Clara to Miss Ruth A. Hobson, by whom he had two children, viz .: Ruth A. and Elizabeth L. She died in 1869 and in 1873 he was again married, this time to Mrs. Savilla L. Hatfield. They have one child, a boy, John Chester.
ETER LERTORA, deccased, one of the old-time Californians who spent his last days in Stockton, was a native of Italy, born near Genoa, September 26. 1831. His parents were Jolin and Madaline Lertora, the father a farmer.
When he was a mere lad of eleven years he left his native country and went to England. He subsequently emigrated to America, and for a time resided in Boston. From there he came to California in 1852, via Panama, and soon afterward went to the mines. His first location was in Tuolumne County, afterward in Butte County, and finally he went to Calaveras County, and engaged in mercantile business at Angel's Camp. In 1863 he came to Stockton, and started on business on the corner of Wash- ington and El Dorado streets, in partnership with P. Besagnio. He moved from there to El Dorado street, between Main and Levee, where the "181" store now is, where he had no partner. He next moved on to Levee street, where he carried on business about a year, tlien removed to the corner of Aurora and Washing- ton streets, in 1873, and carried on business there until his death, which occurred October 8, 1885. He was one of the early members of Compagnia Italiana de Bersaglieri, No. 1. He
was married at Columbia, Tuolumne County, June 18, 1863, to Miss Madaline Rosasco, a native of Italy, born near Genoa, and daughter of Augustine and Mary (Basso) Rosasco, the father of a farmer. She came to this country with her parents when an infant. They were located at Baltimore for a time, and fromn tliere her father came to California in 1855, locating in Amador County, where he followed mining, and afterward removing to Tuolumne County where lie mined several years, then began farming. He and his wife are both living on their ranche in Tuolumne County.
Mr. and Mrs. Lertora were the parents of six children, of whom one is deceased, viz .: Romeo A. Those living are Emil, Attilio, Ida, Ed- mund and Peter. The eldest son, Emil, is an artist of pronounced merit, whose work has al- ready called for high encomiums from critics. He was educated in this city, and at an early age displayed such a fondness for painting and so much artistic genius that it was decided to allow his natural abilities to shape his future career. He commenced his art studies with Chav. Prof. D. Tojetti, one of the most eminent painters that the present century has produced, and has remained under his instruction for over three years. Already young Lertora has dis- played some creditable pictures in the Mechan- ics' Institute fair, San Francisco.
Mrs. Lertora now carries on a prosperous business at the store, corner of Aurora and Washington streets, which has a reputation for fair and honest dealing second to none in the city.
JOHN SENECA LADD, a rancher of ()'Neil Township, and resident of Stock- ton, was born in Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont, April 28, 1832, a son of Seneca and Pamelia (Estabrooks) Ladd, both natives of Verinont. The mother, born in 1808, died August 26, 1846; the father survived lier twenty years, and died aged sixty-eight years.
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Grandfather Samuel Estabrooks, of Scotch parentage, and by occupation a farmer, reached the age of ninety-nine, and his wife, Susan E. (Colby) Estabrooks, was eighty-five years at her death. Great-grandfather Colby was a soldier of the Revolution, and reached the age of ninety-eight. Grandfather Warren Ladd, also a farmer, and his wife, lived to an advanced age. Seneca Ladd, a blacksmithı by trade, left his shop in Danville in 1850, and set out for Cali- fornia by the Panama route. Arriving on this coast he mined about two years on the Tool- umne river, and returned to Vermont in 1852, by the Nicaragua route.
The subject of this sketch received the usual district-school education, supplemented by an academic course in Phillips' academy, in his native county. He then entered the service of Fairbanks' Scale Company, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and remained with that concern until he set out for this coast. He came by the Nic- aragua, being among the first who took that route, arriving in San Francisco August 16, 1851. He first went to work in that city, and on February 15, 1852, went to the mines in Tuolumnne County, where he remained two winters.
In 1854 he went into the freighting business with his brother, George S., under the style of Ladd & Brother, and followed that line for fifteen years. In 1866 the brothers bought 800 acres on the Mariposa road, near Collegeville, eight miles east of Stockton, and went to rais- ing wheat and stock. They divided this land abont 1870, and John S. afterward sold his por- tion. He owns 354 acres three iniles south of Stockton, to the cultivation of which he has given his personal attention for many years.
Mr. Ladd was married in San Francisco, March 12, 1863, to Miss Mary C. Swan, born in Methuen, Massachusetts, February 5, 1841, a daughter of Caleb and Judith (Pettengill) Swan, both natives of that town, and of New England descent for several generations. The mother was seven years younger than the father, and survived hini seven years, both dy-
ing at the age of seventy-three years. The father was a farmer and wheelwright. Grand- father John Pettengill died in 1827, aged seventy, and grandmother Hannah (Burbank) Pettengill died in 1853, aged seventy-five. Great-grandmother Judith Pettengill reached the remarkable age of 103 years, dying in 1835. Grandmother Swan (by birth Ingalls) was of New England descent for several generations, and the Swans were among the first settlers in Methuen, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd have three living children, born in this county : Mary Alice, born January 21, 1864, was grad- uated from the High School, and received a diploma from the Normal School. She was married in this city, July 30, 1887, to Milton Henderson Kingsbury, who was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1860. They have twin children, born August 30, 1888, and named Mary Alice and Amanda Gage Kingsbury. P'amelia Estabrooks Ladd, born October 22, 1863. John Seneca, Jr., born December 27, 1873.
NSEL SMITH .- Among the lawyers at the Stockton bar whose abilities have gained them reputation, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch stands prominent. He is a native of Maine, which State was the family home for several generations. His father, Mat- thias Smith, was a native of Maine, as was also his grandfather, Carpenter Smith, who in his early days was a prominent resident of Redfield.
Ansel Smith was born in Kennebec County, June 8, 1850. After attending the common schools of his native connty, he took a classical course at Maine Wesleyan Seminary. He com- menced reading law with E. O. Bean, and afterward continued his legal studies without instruction. He came to this county in 1873. In 1878 he commenced attendance at Albany, New York, Law School, where he was graduated in 1879, and then admitted to the Supreme Court of New York at Albany. Later in the same year he was admitted to the Supreme Court of
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California, and commenced practice in Stockton. Since that time lie has been admitted to practice in the United States courts. For four years, commencing in 1885, he was District Attorney of this county, having been twice elected. He has also held the office of Police Judge in Stockton. He has made a reputation as a successful law- yer, due not only to his natural abilities but also to the zeal with which he has thrown liis efforts into the cause of liis clients. The case of Pol- lock vs. Watkins, generally known as the Mokel- umne Hill road case, offers an illustration in point. Mr. Smith carried the case to a successful issue. This case is referred to at some lengthi in the proper place in this volume, as is also the triangular litigation in regard to the title of the Court-House square, in which he also took a prominent part while District Attorney for the county.
Mr. Smith is an ardent Republican. He is a inember of Stockton Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., of Centennial Lodge, K. of P., and of the Masonic fraternity.
ESLEY MINTA, an attorney of Stock- ton, was born in Whiteside County, Illinois, a son of William and Eliza- beth (Dixon) Minta, both natives of England, and there married. They came to America in 1838 and settled on a farm in Whiteside County, where both died in 1862, leaving eight children. Botlı grandfathers died while the father and mother of the subject of this sketch were young, but the grandmothers lived to an advanced age, Mrs. Dixon being seventy-four and Mrs. Minta ninety-six at death. Upon the death of his parents Wesley Minta lived with an older brother, also a farmer, until the age of fourteen. At the age of fifteen he entered the high school in Morrison, Illinois, and at seventeen the Nor- mal school in Winona, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1871. After a brief visit to Illinois he came, in April of that year, direct to this county, whither he had been preceded
by a brother and sister. He taught school in this county from 1871 to 1876, and, having read law with James A. Louttit, he was admitted to the bar in 1877. Mr. Minta was Deputy Dis- trict Attorney in 1879, Justice of the Peace from 1880 to 1883, and again Deputy District Attorney from January, 1885, to January, 1889. In the intervals he has practiced his profession alone, but since January, 1889, he has been a partner witlı Ansel Smith under the style of Smith & Minta. Mr. Minta is secretary of Stockton Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., and was Grand Rep- resentative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1887 and 1888, and to the Grand Lodge of California from 1879 to 1889. His sister, Julia, at one time librarian of the Free Public Library of this city, is now the wife of Thomas O. Minta, a merchant in Carbon, Wyoming Territory.
EORGE F. HILDRETH was born at Central Falls, Rhode Island, December 17, 1846, son of Elias Hildreth, one of the pioneers of this State. He was raised in his native State up to the age of fifteen years, wlien in 1861, he came to California with his mother, his father being already here. Mr. Hildreth continned to make his home with liis parents till 1874. He was married December 30, 1874, to Alice E. Millington, a native of San Francisco and danghter of James Millington, also a '49er and now a prominent citizen of Alameda. They have a family of three children, two daughters and one son, viz .: Mary E., Susan F. and Elias M.
In the year 1874 he moved upon his ranch, which was purchased in 1873, consisting of sixty-three acres, and in 1878, he purchased another tract, making in all 224} acres, situ- ated on the west side of Cherokee Lane, five miles northeast of Stockton, which is devoted to general farming and the raising of stock.
Mr. Hildreth has been a member of the Masonic order since April, 1871, belonging to Morning Star Lodge, No. 68, of Stockton, also
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the Chapter, No. 28, and the Stockton Com- mandery, No. 8. He is a member of Council No. 11, all of Stockton. During his residence in this State lie has been very successful and is one of our most prominent farmers.
EORGE SAMUEL LADD, a merchant of Stockton and farmer of San Joaquin Connty, was born in Danville, Vermont, May 28. 1833, a son of Seneca and Pamelia Ladd (see sketch of J. S. Ladd). The subject of this sketch was sent to the seminary of the New Hampshire Conference at Sanborton Bridge to be fitted for college, but becoming infected with the gold-fever at the age of eighteen he left school and set ont for California, coming by way of Cape Horn. Arriving in San Francisco in due time he proceeded at once to the mines. After the arrival of his father in 1850 he joined him in mining, in Tuolumne County, at which they were fairly successful, and returned with him, arriving in Danville, Vermont, in July, 1852. A few months later, accompanied by his youngest brother, Ira W., he again set out for California, by the Panama route, arriving in Stockton, January 14, 1853. He followed min- ing for a time and in 1854 went into the freight- ing and commission business with his brother, John S. After closing the freighting and com- Inission business George S. became a partner of George West and S. Newell, in the sale of mann- factured products of West's vineyard, continuing in that relation to the present time. He also bought and sold farms in different localities, and in 1890 owns several in this and other counties of the State and Oregon. He was connected with the schools of the city of Stockton as di- rector or Superintendent from 1867 to 1888, and was a member of the city council three years.
Mr. Ladd was married in Stockton, May 28, 1856, to Miss Abigail Bourland, born in Arkan- sas, January 30, 1840, a daughter of Alne and Rebecca (Cook) Bourland, both natives of Ala- bama, where also they were married. They
moved to Arkansas, settling at Fort Smith, where they resided several years. In 1854 they set out for California and the mother died of heart disease on the journey in Surprise Valley, Nevada, the survivors arriving in Stockton, September 22, 1854. Grandmother Abigail Bourland reached the age of ninety-six and other members of the family also lived to an advanced age. Mrs. Ladd is a member of the First Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Ladd also has been a constant attendant for many years, being a member of the choir for twenty years.
Mr. and Mrs. Ladd are the parents of four living children (sons): (1) George Edwin, born May 11, 1857, married in Stockton November 26, 1884, to Miss Mary Evaline Van Vlear, born in the city of Stockton, in 1860, has two children, Jannette, born August 21, 1886, and Edwin Hubbard, born December 6, 1887. (2) Walter Eugene, born May 27, 1859, married February 5, 1885, to Miss Lucy Estella Ayres, born in San Joaquin County, December 9, 1862, has two children, George Allen, the survivor of twin brothers, born March 25, 1887, and Walter E., Jr., born April 2, 1889; (3) Joseph Mar- shall, born December 31, 1864; (4) Ira Bourland, born May 28, 1868.
Mr. George S. Ladd is a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., and has been a miem - ber of the order since 1856. Was State Com- inissioner of Yosemite valley under Governor Perkins' administration. George Allen has been a member of Charity Lodge, I. O. O. F., for eight years, and Walter E., a member of Truth Lodge, I. O. O. F., for five years.
ENRY M. PECK, EsQ., was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, May 7, 1829, the son of Rev. J. M. Peck, a native of Con- necticut, who emigrated to Illinois, in 1817. Paul Peck, an ancestor, emigrated from Eng- land in 1634, and was one of the founders of Hartford, Connecticut. Our subject went to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1848, and from there
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came to California, in 1849, crossing the plains with ox teams via Council Bluffs, Fort Laramie, South Pass, Sublette's cut-off, Humboldt and Carson rivers, over the mountains to Hangtown, arriving October 15, 1849. There wintered and mined at Mud Springs and went to mining on Cosumnes river in 1850. In 1851 he mined on the middle and north forks of the American river, and in 1851 went to San Francisco, where he got employment at his trade, carpentering and build- ing. In 1852 he made a visit to the East, re- mained a short time and then returned to Cali- fornia, locating in Santa Clara County, where he resided for five years. Then, in 1866, he canie to San Joaquin County, and took up land in Tulare Township. In 1868 he was elected to the office of Justice, which position he is now occupying in 1890.
He was married to Miss Eunice Melvin, a native of St. Clair County, Illinois. They have had four children, namely: Nevada E., James M., Alameda, and William S.
W. BENNETT .- Among the most prom- inent representatives of the legal profes- sion now practicing at the Stockton bar is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, born June 12, 1836. His childhood days were spent at his native place, and he was quite young when he went to the British North American provinces, where he resided most of the time until leaving the East. In the fall of 1858 he sailed from Boston to California, landing at San Francisco, and for several years after coming to the State resided in Sonoma and Marin coun- ties. About the commencement of 1864 he went to Owen's River valley, Tulare County. When Inyo County was organized that territory was included in the new county, and he went to live at Independence. He had been reading law as opportunity presented from the time he was a mere youth, and when, under the new county organization, he was made nnder sheriff
of Inyo, he took occasion to brush up his legal knowledge. In 1868, before the expiration of his term in that position, he was appointed District Attorney of Inyo County. He served two terms in that office, and upon the expiration of his second term continued to practice law at Independence until 1878, when he went to Bodie, Mono County. There he remained six years, part of the time in partnership with P. Reddy (now of San Francisco), and in November, 1884, he removed to Stockton. In 1885 he formed a partnership with J. C. Campbell, which continued unchanged until the late Judge David S. Terry became a member of the firmn. In 1886 this strong firm was dissolved by the removal of Judge Terry to Fresno. Since that date Mr. Bennett was for a time associated with George M. Gill, and later with F. D. Nicol. He now, however, has no business partner.
Mr. Bennett is a member of Morning Star Lodge, No. 68, F. & A. M .; of Stockton Chap- ter, No. 8, R. A. M., and of Stockton Com- inandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. He is also a member of Charter Oak Lodge, No. 20, K. of P.
Mr. Bennett is a stanch Republican in his political proclivities, and has been prominent in the councils of the party and active in its ranks. As a lawyer he is capable of holding up the reputation of the bar of San Joaquin in any court.
HOWELL, farmer of Castoria Towbship, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, within seven miles of Dayton, Ohio. In 1854 he went to Indiana, where he remained six years, then crossed the plains to California, land- ing within five miles of Stockton, where he was employed by Frank Ross, by the month. At the end of nine months, he went to work for George Lusinger, and stayed with him two months; in fact lie has worked all over this sec- tion of the country. Eight years later he bought
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a ranch of 320 acres, ten miles south of Stockton, and there lie now resides.
He was married to Miss Mary J. Salmon, a native of Wisconsin, born in 1852, who crossed the plains with her parents. They have had seven children, one of whom is deceased. The name of the living are as follows: Christian, Mary A., Emma, Effie, Charley and Eva. Mr. Howell is a member of the I. O. O. F.
ARIUS ALBERT GUERNSEY, of Guern- sey & Davis, proprietors of the Stockton Stock-yards, was born in New Hampshire in 1846, a son of Aaron and Sally (Blakesley) Guernsey, both natives of that State. They spent the winter of 1886-'87 in this city, on a visit, and returned to their home in New Hampshire, where the father died in March, 1888, aged seventy-five. The mother, born in 1814, is still living in 1890. Grandparents Guernsey, both of the Society of Friends, lived to an advanced age, somewhat over seventy, and grandfather John Blakesley lived to be almost ninety. All the grandparents were born, lived and died in New Hampshire, where the Guern- seys have been long settled, as have been the Blakesleys elsewhere in New England.
D. A. Guernsey received a rather limited education in his youth, but has since labored diligently and with marked success to remedy that deficiency. He worked on his father's farm to the age of seventeen, and then clerked for three years in a general store in Lancaster, New Hampshire. Born apparently with a love of trading, D. A. Guernsey was scarcely of age when he engaged in buying and selling lands in Iowa for a year or two. In April, 1870, he came to this city, finding employment first in a dry-goods store for eight years, and afterward in a book and stationery store for five years, the firm being Guernsey & Allen. Abont 1882 Mr. Guernsey went into the business of buying live stock, chiefly horses and mules, his second purchase in that line amounting to 800 head.
In May, 1887, he formed the present firm, tak- ing Mr. Franklin Davis as partner. Their yards cover an entire square on California street, south of Mormon slough, with stables, corrals and other conveniences for the transaction of their business. Their sales have probably averaged $50,000 annually since the formation of the firin. Mr. Guernsey has been a director of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank since its organ- ization.
Mr. Guernsey was married in Stockton, Jan- uary 1, 1878, to Miss Nellie Hutch, born in Maine in 1859, a daughter of Franklin L. and Jane (McMahon) Hutch, both natives of that State, and settled permanently in this city since 1874. Her mother died here in September, 1887, aged forty-nine; her father, born about 1834, is still living in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Guernsey have two children: Franklin Aaron, born October 17, 1879, and Florence, born September 12, 1885.
AMES M. LEARNED, one of the leading stock-raisers of San Joaquin valley, is a na- tive of Hamden County, Massachusetts, where he was born March 5, 1817. He was raised and educated in his native county, gradu- ating from the high school of Springfield, and afterward attending the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass. The winter before he was seventeen years of age lie taught school at En- field, Massachusetts, and later at Ludlow, Hamn- den County. He then becaine a carpenter and an architect, following that business until lie came to this country. He purchased his ticket in November, 1849, but could not get passage on account of the crowds that were making their way westward, until January, at which timne lie was promised a passage, but was obliged to lay over until February. The voyage was made by way of Panama. On the Pacific side of the Isthmus they chartered an English ship nanred Sarah Sands, but were detained six weeks on the Istlimus before the ship came to take them,
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arrived in San Francisco last of May, came direct to Stockton, paying $5 for his passage up the river. Here he hired a pack-train and packed 7,000 pounds of provisions up to the middle fork of the Calaveras river, but not being satis- fied witlı the diggings there came back to Stockton and followed the old trail to Sacra- mento, passing between the house and barn where he now lives, to Long Bar, where he was quite successful at mining until the rains drove him away. It commenced raining just at dark September 25, 1850, and at 2:30 A. M. the water was up to his armpits. He then fislied his tools out of the water with his toes and the next day every one wondered who it was that had pulled them out of the water. He then went to All- burn, thence to a place three miles below Auburn, where it had been rumored that a party had the previous year taken out $75,000. He took a look at the place, saw the large hole they had made and noticed a clump of willows that grew on the edge of it. He first dug a liole, 3 x 8, but did not obtain much. Then he dug up the bunch of willows and found directly un- der them $1,500 in pieces, the smallestof which was as large as a dollar piece.
January 1, 1851, le came to Sacramento, fitted out with horse, provisions, etc., and started for Rich Bar, Feather river, but on the way met men who told of a rich place at Marysville, and he changed his course. On the way to Scott Bar he met Lane, afterward the Governor of Oregon, so they joined forces and both pushed on to the bar. When there they found that in order to commence mining operations they would require heavy machinery, which neither of them had, so gave up the project.
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