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 63
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well as on others in the city. Early the next morning, which was Sunday, Captain Weber noticed what had been done, and hurrying to the spot found his favorite dog dead by his post of duty. The Captain's indignation knew no bounds. Tearing down the rebel flag, he rammed it into the mouth of a cannon which he had at the base of the flag-staff, and as the old Union flag ascended, the gun was fired, blowing the secession rag from its mouth! Thirteen more guns were fired for the Union, and by noon the enthusiasm of the supporters of the Government having been aroused by the inci- dent, there was only one flag flying in Stockton, and that the common flag of the country.
Captain Weber was married November 29, 1850, to Miss Helen Murphy, a member of one of the noblest bands of emigrants that ever set- tled a new country, the celebrated Murphy party of 1844. They and their descendants all became prominent, and they form to-day the strongest family, in many respects, in the Santa Clara valley.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weber, viz .: Hon. C. M. Weber, who has repre- sented Santa Clara County (in which he makes his home) in the Legislature of California; he is an extensive rancher, and manages the inter- ests of the estate in Santa Clara valley. Miss Julia HI. Weber is the second child and only daughter; she is respected by all who know her. The second son and youngest child is T. J. We- ber, a bright young man of business ability, who manages that portion of the estate not un- der his brother's charge.
Mrs. Weber's father was Martin Murphy, Sr., and her mother's maiden name was Mary Foley. She is a cousin of Bishop Foley, diocese of De- troit, and bore the same relation to the late Bishop Foley of Chicago.
Captain C. M. Weber died May 4, 1881, of pneumonia. The funeral was conducted with the impressive ceremonies of the Catholic church, by Archbishop Alemany, of San Francisco.
In this sketch only an outline of the Cap-
tain's career has been attempted, as much of the history in other portions of this volume relates to him so closely. Otherwise, this sketch would occupy many more pages of this volume. His estate at the time of his death was worth about $400,000, bnt it might have been millions had he been as careful of his own interests as many men.
ACOB SIMON, proprietor of the Columbia House, Stockton, is a native of Germany, born at Bosenbach, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, on the 12th day of December, 1852, his parents being Jacob and Kathrina (Rothenbusch) Simon. He received his schooling in his native country, but was left an orphan by the death of both his parents when he was fourteen years of age. In 1868 he came to America, landing at New York, and from there proceeded to California via Panama. On the Atlantic side he took the steamer Arizona, and landed at San Francisco July 25, 1868, from the steamer Golden Gate. After a week or so in the city, he came to Stockton and entered the employ of the Pacific Tannery, where he served an apprenticeship and worked in all five years. The work there did not agree with him, however, and his health failing he changed his place of employment to the El Dorado Brewery, where he was engaged between four and five years. He then went into the saloon business at Turn-Verein Hall, with J. A. Grasberger. Afterward they sold out, and Mr. Simon engaged in the grocery business on the corner of Main and Grant streets, as a member of the firm of Schmidt & Simon. Mr. Sinon was engaged in that busi- ness about four years, and then became proprie- tor of the Columbia House. This is one of the old-time hotels, having been started by J. A. Grasberger in 1859. He was succeeded ten or eleven years later by a man named Lutz, and he by J. A. Grasberger, and after a year by the present proprietor. Under the management of Mr. Simon the Columbia House enjoys a repu-
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tation for home-like treatment that keeps it always filled with a desirable class of boarders. There are thirty-nine rooms in the house, and they are well arranged for the purpose of a hotel.
Mr. Simon was married November 23, 1876, to Miss Emma Grasberger. They have five children, viz .: Emma, Elsie, Ruby, Verona and Hilda.
Mr. Simon is a member of the Stockton Turn- Verein, and has been cashier of the organization for the past nine years. He has passed the chairs of San Joaquin Grove, No. 9, U. A. O. D., and is now a Trustee and District Deputy. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Simon is a genial, courteous gentleman, and well suited by nature for the ardnous duties of landlord.
ILLIAM MONTGOMERY BAGGS, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born on the eastern shore of Mary- land, May 30, 1824, a son of William P. and Mary (Nicols) Baggs. Both parents died com- paratively young, the father November 18, 1834, and the mother July 22, 1842, in the forty-third year of her age. They had nine sons and one daughter, of whom the only survivor is Nicholas Baggs, born June 6, 1835, now a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The subject of this sketch was possessed of a good general and business education, largely sup- plied by his personal industry in that line, as he became engaged while yet a mere youth in dutifully aiding his widowed mother in the care of her large family. He worked on the farm for several years and afterward learned the trade of cabinet-maker.
Win. M. Baggs was married in Philadelphia, December 7, 1848, to Miss Anna Nairn Mal- seed, a native of that city, born in 1829, a daughter of John and Mary (McDonald) Mal- seed. The father, born in Ireland, became a shoe and leather merchant in Philadelphia and
lived to the age of seventy-five. The mother, a native of the State of New York, of Scotch par- entage, died in 1868, aged also seventy-five. Grandfather John McDonald reached middle age, and liis wife, by birth Anna Nairn, was over seventy at her death.
After his marriage Mr. Baggs went to work at his trade, being employed by a manufacturer of Philadelphia in making piano frames. In the spring of 1849 lie opened a shop on account but set out for California the following year, leaving New York in April, by the steamer Republic, and arriving in San Francisco August 28, 1850, having come around the Horn or rather through the Straits of Magellan. He came to Stockton and engaged in the business of contractor and builder. In 1852 he went into the lumber business on the levee. In that year he was rejoiced by the arrival in Stockton of Mrs. Baggs and their oldest child, John, born in Philadelphia, March 19, 1850, who died in Stockton in January, 1866. Mr. Baggs con- tinned in the lumber trade several years and was afterward in the saddlery business about three years. He then went to Oregon and was there engaged in merchandising two years, when he returned to Stockton and re-entered the lum- ber trade. In 1873 he built a warehouse and embarked in the grain and storage business. This he carried on until 1884, when he was com- pelled through ill health to retire from active business. An operation of lithotomy in 1887 gave him a relief that was only temporary, and he died somne two years later, on October 17, 1889, universally respected in the community, sincerely regretted by those who knew him best and deeply mourned by his wife and surviving children. He has been a member of the First Presbyterian church of Stockton for twenty years and an Elder of the same for about ten years.
Mr. and Mrs. Baggs have had six sons and two daughters, of whom all but the oldest, already referred to, were born in this city. Of these, five grew to maturity: (1) Montgomery, born Jannary 22, 1854, married to Miss Hattie
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Electa, a daughter of Dr. Asa Clark of this city (see sketch of Dr. Clark). They are resi- dents of San Francisco and have one child, Ger- aldine, born October 13, 1882. (2) James King, born January 18, 1857, passed through the public schools of Stockton, including the high school. He afterward studied law for two years in the office of Judge Patterson, then of this city, and then entered the Albany Law School, at which he was graduated with honor and admitted to the bar. He had been an ambitious student, and overtaxing his physical powers in his zeal for learning he died November 28, 1882. (3) Walter Thompson, born March 4, 1858, was graduated at the Stockton high school, studied law for two years in the office of W. L. Dudley, entered the law department of Yale College in 1881, was graduated at that in- stitution in 1883, and admitted to the bar of this State, and in 1884 was elected City Justice for two years, commencing January 1, 1885, and re-elected for a second term ending Decem- ber 31, 1888. He died, like his brother, from over-work, in May, 1889. (4) Harry Nicols, born January 20, 1860, was educated in the public schools and became a book-keeper for a firm in this city before he was nineteen. He afterward worked for his father in the grain and storage business until its close in 1884. He was married in August, 1885, to Miss Josephine Castle, a native of this State, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Castle, a rancher of this county. He then went to El Paso, Texas, to fill the position of foreman on the ranch of his uncle George W. Baggs. He returned to this State in 1887, to become manager of several grain warehouses in Tulare, where he is still employed. (5) Mary, born March 5, 1863, was married July 22, 1888, to William Duncan Buckley, born in San Jose April 14, 1859, a son of John and Mary (Williams) Buckley. (6) Maggie Bell, born May 4, 1865, died Feb- ruary 10, 1869. The father died in San Jose, in 1885, aged about sixty-seven years. The mother, born about 1822, is living. Mr. W. D. Buck- ley came to Stockton in 1882, and in 1884
bought an interest in the business of L. M. Woods & Co. In 1885 be bought out his partner and continued the business alone until 1888, when he took a partner, under the style of Buckley & Walker.
ESSE F. McDOWELL, a farmer of Elliott Township, was born in Adair County, Ken- tucky, June 6, 1819, his parents being Jacob and Agnes McDowell, both natives of Virginia. In 1840 he emigrated to Montgom- ery County, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming and at his trade (carpenter) for twelve years. In 1852 he came to California and soon afterward bought a ranch containing 1,178 acres, situated on the Mokelumne river, about one mile north of the city of Clements. He pursues farming systematically and success- fully. One thousand acres of his ranch he divided among his children, leaving 178 for his own use. . He has a large stone residence on his land and improvements to correspond.
He was married to Elizabeth J. (Hodge) Mc- Dowell, a native of Kentucky, by whom he had four children, all of whom are married. They are as follows: Mary J., wife of A. J. Burt; Tina A., wife of George Stacy; Martha E., wife of W. Hansel, and Carrie, wife of M. Steely. Mr. McDowell's first wife died in September, 1852, and in 1864 he married Miss Margaret Montgomery, who died in September, 1888. He is a member of the orders of Good Templars and Freemasons.
LIFFORD L. DEVINNY, M. D., of Stock- ton, was born in Newark, Wayne County, New York, October 18, 1848, a son of Richard A. and H. M. (Mosher) De Vinny. The father, born in that State in 1819, died in 1879; the mother, born in 1830, is still living. The grandparents on both sides were well advanced
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in years when they died. Two of the grand- uncles Mosher are still living, aged over eighty.
The subject of this sketch received the usual district-school education in his youth, and an academic education of three years in Starkey's Seminary on Seneca Lake. He then entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, taking a full medical course and gradnating in 1876. He first prac- ticed in Rochester, New York, eight years, and in 1884 came to California, and has since prac- ticed in Stockton.
Dr. C. L. DeVinny was married in Newark, Wayne County, New York, July 4, 1876, to Miss Hattie E Landon. The maternal grand- mother. by birth a Miss Oakley, is still living in Newark, New York, aged about eighty-four. Mr. and Mrs. De Vinny are the parents of two living children: Richard Harold, born June 8, 1880, and Florence Sylvia, born August 3, 1882.
Dr. DeVinny is a member of Truth Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., and of Security Lodge, No. 83, Chosen Friends, and also of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church.
ON. JAMES H. BUDD. - Among the members of the bar of Stockton whose talents have brought them name and fame, none have been more distinguished as lawyers than this gentleman. He was born at Janes- ville, Wisconsin, May 18, 1851, and is a son of Judge Josephi H. Budd, who is mentioned at length elsewhere in this volume. He ac- companied his parents to California in 1859, and since their location at Stockton, in 1860, he has always made this city his home. He commenced his education at Stockton, and from 1866 to 1869 attended the Britan College School. He next attended the State University, and was graduated there in the class of 1873.
The profession of law was from an early age marked out for him by his parents' wishes and his own inclinations, and in 1869 he com- menced preparations therefor by reading in his
father's office. His legal studies were kept np during the progress of his college course, and in 1874, the next year after graduation, he was adınitted, at Sacramento, to practice in the Su- preme Court of California. He was associated in practice with his father for some time, and afterward with Judge Swinnerton. Since the dissolution of the latter partnership he has had no colleague in his law practice. In 1873-'74 he served as Deputy District Attorney under A. W. Roysden. In 1876 he received the unani- mous nomination of the Democratic convention for Assemblyman from this district, but de- clined. In 1882 he was nominated by the Democratic convention of this Congressional district as their candidate for Congress, and undertook what was generally considered a hope- less race. It assumed a different aspect, how- ever, under the vigor of his canvass, and when it was found, after election, that he was the fortunate candidate, many persons who thought that the Republican nomination meant election were surprised. He was, however, the first Democrat ever elected to Congress from this dis- trict. As a member of the National House of Representatives, he served on the Committee or Education, and the Committee on Invalid Pen- sions. He introduced and carried through House Bill No. 100, in the interest of the settlers on the Moqnelemos grant, a measure which had been pending for years, and which was carried in the House only by earnest and untiring labor. He also secured an unusually large appropriation for this district, and the money for the dredger now at work on the Stock- ton channel. He brought about the passage of an amendment to the Indian Appropriation Bill, inaking the Indians amenable to State and Ter- ritorial laws. He fought for and secured a special date for the consideration of the Chinese Bill of 1884, after its friends generally had con- sidered it lost. He took an active part in the discussion on Chinese matters, on the inter-State commerce bill, on the principal appropriation bills, and on fortification measures. The patlı of a Congressman during his first term in ta-
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tempting to secure recognition is generally a hard one, but many veterans did not come out of that Congress with so good a record. During the progress of his term the State of California was reapportioned, and the newly-constructed district of which San Joaquin County formed a part was so composed as to make it as strongly Democratic as it had before been Republican.
When the next Congressional convention met he was unanimously renominated, and the con- vention adjourned; but Mr. Budd felt that a proper regard for his own interests required that he should forego the certain re-election which his renomination implied, and declined to accept the proffered honor. This necessitated the reconvening of the delegates, and a second convention was called, resulting in another unanimous renomination of Mr. Budd, and the appointment of a committee to urge upon him the necessity of his acceptance. The committee failed of accomplishing its object, however, as Mr. Budd firmly declined to take the renomin- ation. He has, however, always used his most earnest efforts for the success of the Democratic party. As chairman of the city and county central committees he carried San Joaquin County for the Democracy at the general election of 1888. He was for six years a trustee of the Stockton city library, and made it a depository for ten years' issue of public books and docu- ments. He gave up the position of trustee of the library in 1889, to accept the office of Police and Fire Commissioner of Stockton. He became connected with the National Guard of California as a cadet at the State University, and he was graduated with the rank of First Lieutenant. Since then he has advanced rapidly to the front, and has been Major on Bridgade Staff, Lieuten- ant Colonel on Governor Irwin's Staff, Major of tlie Line, and Brigadier General.
Mr. Budd has taken an active and important part in nearly every movement of a public character concerning this section of the State for several years; yet it is in his profession as a lawyer that his real success has been made; and the general recognition of this fact has re-
sulted in bringing him a practice so extended that an ordinary man could not handle it. His opinion, once given to a client, has come to be regarded with much of the esteem of a verdict. from a court, so successful has been his practice. He prosecutes his profession in all the courts of the land, having been admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1884. He is a clear and rapid reasoner, ready and decisive in his opinions, and sound in his con- clusions. His strength of character is well exhibited by his declination of a certain re- election to Congress-something that history is seldom called upon to chronicle. In conclusion, it may be said that no man in central California has a larger circle of warm personal friends than has James H. Budd.
OSEPH OVERHOLTZER was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1845, his parents being Jacob and Catharine (Anglemire) Overholtzer, both na- tives of Pennsylvania. About 1854 they moved to Ogle County, Illinois, and settled on a ranch, where they spent the remainder of their days. Jacob died August 29, 1866, at the age of sixty-five years; his wife died March 23, 1875, at the age of sixty-eight years. In the family were six sons, all of whom are living except the oldest.
Joseph, the subject of this sketeli, was the youngest of the family. When his parents moved to Illinois he was nine years old. He inade his home there until October, after the death of his father, when he returned to Penn- sylvania, making a v.sit to his relatives in that State. In May, 1867, he went to Missouri, settling in Caldwell County, where he pur- chased a piece of land, which he afterward rented and engaged in teaching. He was ınar- ried there, and afterward moved on to his place, teaching in winter and carrying on farming also. In the spring of 1874 he went home, made his mother a visit of a couple of months,
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then started for California, June 20. He landed in Stockton July 2, and made his way to his brother's place, about seven miles south of Ban- tas. He remained there about three weeks, then went to the northern part of the State to Siskiyou County, where his wife's father re- sided. He taught school there for one winter. He made his first permanent home in San Joa- quin County, where his brother, S. A. Over- holtzer, was living. He rented land and remained there seven years. In October, 1882, he moved on to his present place, which he had purchased the previous September, and where he has since resided. The ranch contains 160 acres, situated on Cherokee Lane, in Liberty Township, two and one-quarter miles north of Lodi. His place is one of the finest in the country, and is under the best of improvements. It is principally devoted to grain.
Mr. Overholtzer is a member of the Church of United Brethren of Woodbridge, having been converted in Missiouri in 1872.
He was married August 24, 1871, in Cald- well County, Missouri, to Miss Mary A. Fultz, a native of Indiaua. Their family consists of three living children, viz .: Matthew F., born March 1, 1873; U. S. Grant, June 11, 1878; and Flavius J., June 14, 1881. They have lost one child-Ira B., born November 19, 1874, and died September 8, 1876.
AMES EDWARD KIDD, a merchant of Stockton, was born in Yorkville, New York, April 14, 1837, a son of John and Maria (Carew) Kidd. The father, born in Eng- land but brought up in Ireland, came to America about 1830, and settled in New York city. He had learned the trade of stoue-cutter and became a partner with Mr. Broderick, nnder the style of Broderick & Kidd, a well-known house of the last generation in the stone-cutting and building line. Among other large enter- prises they obtained the contract to supply stone for the Capitol in Washington. He died
iu New York, aged over fifty years. Grand- father Richard Kidd, English by birth, and a civil engineer by occupation, was married in England to a Miss Williams, and afterward moved to Ireland to fill a professional position. He died a middle-aged man, but his wife lived to be quite old. Grandfather Carew, a farmer near Johnstown, Kilkenny County, Ireland, died of old age, and his wife (by birtli a Miss Keily) also lived to an advanced age. After the death of her husband in New York, Mrs. John Kidd, with her only surviving child, tlie subject of this sketch, moved to Savannah, Georgia. He left Savannah for California by way of New Orleans and Panama, in 1851. Be- ing detained on the Isthmus six months, he went to work as an express messenger for Schlesinger & Co., forwarding agents and bank- ers of Panama. Young Kidd made his weekly trip to Gorgona in less than five hours, and thence by water to Chagres. In 1852 he left Panama for California by sailing vessel, and ar- rived in San Francisco in Angust, 1852. After a short stay in that city lie came to Stockton, and here, in partnership with Fred. Holder, he ran a large whale- boat of 4,000 pounds' tonnage, transferring freight and passengers from Stock- ton channel to the high lands at French Camp. They were paid one cent a pound for freight, and made one trip a day for about two months, until the water subsided. Mr. Kidd then tried mining around Sonora, and wasted about a year, only to find that mining was not his forte. Re- turning to Stockton in 1854, lie traveled two years with a circus, admission fee being $1, and reserved seats on rough boards $2, with tent crowded at every exhibition.
Mr. Kidd returned to the paint business and spent about three years in Napa, in the house and sign painting business, being of the firm of Bean & Kidd, and one year in Pacheco, without a partner, in the same line. He was married in San Francisco, in 1861, to Mrs. Jane (Mor- gan) Breen, a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, wlio had come to San Francisco about 1856, and was there married and widowed in a few years. In
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1862 he moved to Sacramento, where he became a member of the firm of Campbell & Kidd, honse and sign painter, and later of Calvin & Kidd, in the same line. In 1869 he returned to Stockton, and here continned the same busi- ness, but without a partner. In 1879 lie bought his present store at 178 Main street, and has since carried on a more general business, deal- ing in paints, oils, wall-paper, glass, and a full supply of painters', paper-hangers' and artists' materials. He has also bought and sold tracts of land at different times, and in August, 1887, laid out Kidd's addition to Stockton, about thirty-three acres, extending from Sacramento street to the City Homestead tract, and from Second to Sixth street. Mr. Kidd has been a member of the city council one termn. He has belonged to tlie Masonic order about twenty- two years, joining Union Lodge, No. 2, of Sac- ramento, and is now a Master Mason of Morning Star Lodge of this city.
Mr. and Mrs. Kidd have six children, the two eldest being born in Sacramento, and the others in this city: Edward L., 1867; Maria Amy, 1869; Mercedes, 1873; Bennett, October 14, 1875; Elizabeth, 1877; Joseph, 1879. Ed- ward L., a graduate of the business college, is book-keeper.
OHN TUNNICLIFF HICKINBOTHAM, a inerchant of Stockton, dealing in hard- wood lumber and in carriage-making ma- terials of all kinds, was born in New Hartford, Oneida County, New York, July 8, 1829, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tunnicliff) Hickin- botham. His father, born in Derbyshire, Eng- land, abont 1800, came to America in early manhood, and was married in Otsego County, New York. He became a farmer and veterin- ary surgeon in New Hartford, Oneida County, New York, where he died about 1851. His mother, born in Otsego County in 1803, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Tunnicliff, died abont 1845; but her parents lived to an
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