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 65
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
well-improved land, six and a-half miles from Lockeford, where he now resides. He is prin- cipally engaged in raising stock and grain.
He was married August 2, 1864, to Miss Sarah A. Noel, who was born in Wisconsin, August 17, 1843. They have two children, namely: Hattie L., born August 21, 1865, the wife of C. W. McIntire, clerk at the Yosemite House, Stockton; and Jerry, born April 10, 1879.
UDGE ALBERT GALLATIN BROWN, deceased. Among the pioneers of Califor- nia who have passed away in Stockton, none were more favorably known than he whose name heads this sketch. He was a native of Vassalboro, Maine, born September 9, 1801, his parents being Benjamin and Mary Brown. He grew up in his native State, where he em- barked in the business of paper manufacturing, owning extensive mills. His large interests were swept away, however, by a conflagration which destroyed his mills, and when the Cali- fornia fever set in so strong in the East, he joined the throng hastening to that land of promise in search of fortune. He made the trip around Cape Horn on the schooner Suliote in 1849, being accompanied, among others, by his son, Benjamin Hall Brown. He proceeded to Mokelumne Hill, but after mining there a short time removed to Stockton, where he was for a time time engaged in staging. He was a prominent public figure in Stockton, and for many years held the office of Police Judge and Justice of the Peace.
He was married in Maine, to Miss Maryan Hall, a native of Boston, who died in Stockton, leaving four children, three sons and one daugh- ter, still living. He afterward married Miss Maria Clark, who, with two children, the issue of the marriage, still survive him.
Judge Brown was a prominent Odd Fellow, and one of the old-time members of Charity Lodge, whose chairs he filled for years. He was 28
also a member of the Masonic order. His long residence in Stockton and prominence in local affairs gave him a wide acquaintance, and he was universally beloved for his many noble, self-sacrificing qualities. He led a moral and temperate life and never touched intoxicating liquors or tobacco. He was associated with the Congregational Church of Stockton, in the affairs of which he took an active interest. On the 13th of October, 1884, lie died, at a ripe age, mourned by as many warm and sincere friends as any man who ever lived in Stockton.
R. McGARY, a farmer of Elliott Township, was born in Washington County, Arkansas, September 1, 1853, a son of Matthew and Martha (Graham) Mc- Gary, the former a native of Indiana, born Jan- uary 31, 1824, at the present time the owner of a farm in his native State, and the latter a na- tive of Alabama, born March 25, 1823. W. R. McGary, the subject of this biographical sketch, remained on his father's farm nutil 1875, when he left home on the 23d day of March for Cali- fornia, arriving in Sacramento, April 4, 1875, withont a cent of money. He met his cousin and borrowed $2.50 of him, and at once took the train for Lodi, San Joaquin County; he has remained around this section of the country ever since. The first man he worked for was James Falkner, Staten Island, Union Township; he was taken sick the first summer but soon re- covered. He then came to within a mile of where he now resides and went to work for a man named Edward Bryant, whose step-daugh- ter, Fannie A. Parker, became his wife, No- vember 14, 1876, at Mackville, this county. She was the owner of this land (160 acres) on which they now reside; they also own 227 acres on the south side of the Mokelumne river, between Lockeford and Clements. Mr. McGary is a member of the Progressive Lodge, A. O. U. W., No. 190, and of the I. O. G. T., No. 115.
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Mr. and Mrs. McGary have four children, namely: Walter M., born September 13, 1877; Mable A., Angust 31, 1881; Ethel C., July 18, 1883; and Riley Q., May 10, 1887.
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H. WOODBRIDGE, superintendent of construction of the San Joaquin County court-honse, is a native of Newcastle, Lincoln County, Maine, born De- cember 16, 1848, his parents being Larkin and Cordelia (Chisam) Woodbridge; the father a farmer. W. H. Woodbridge was reared in the neighborhood of his native place, and there learned the carpenter's trade. He went from Maine to Massachusetts, and took np his resi- dence at Wakefield, though he worked most of his time in Boston. From there he went back to Maine in 1874, and in 1878 came ont to Cal- ifornia, locating in Stockton. He worked about two years at journey work, then undertook con- tracting, which engaged his attention until Oc- tober, 1888, since which time he has been superintendent in charge of the building of the new conrt-house of San Joaquin County, a po- sition for which his extensive experience and knowledge of building peculiarly adapted him.
Mr. Woodbridge was married at Wakefield, Massachusetts, November 29, 1872, to Miss Minelia Day. They have one child: Ethel Lil- lian, born at Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Mr. Woodbridge is a member of Charity Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed the chairs, and is also Past Chief Pa- triarch of Parker Encampment, and Commander of Canton Ridgeley.
S. HOWLAND, a farmer of Castoria Township, San Joaquin County, was born in Bristol County, Massachusetts, July 14, 1827, and at the age of seven years migrated to Ohio, where he remained until wenty-two years of age. He then went to In-
diana, where he stopped one year, then, in 1852, started across the plains to California, arriving on the 27th of October, of that year. He has been sitnated in several different places in the county, but finally settled on a ranch close to Lathrop, where he has a fine large residence and improvements to correspond. The ranch on which he resides contains sixty-five acres. On another ranch in the same vicinity he raises grain and some stock.
He was married to Miss Barbery Meyer, and they have five children, viz .: Annie L., Leros- coe, Leroy, Fannie V. and Oliver M. Leroscoe and Leroy were twins. Leroy was shot and killed in Tulare Connty, by L. Wicks, when about twenty-one years of age.
OHN T. DOYLE, superintendent of Eureka Warehouses (the Farmers' Co-operative Union of San Joaquin Valley, proprietors), and member of the Stockton City Council, is a native of New York city, born January 9, 1850. He was reared in the American metropo- lis, and there received his education and practi- cal business training. In 1876 he came to California, locating in Stockton, and was for two years connected with the Stockton Ware- house. Since 1878 he has been superintendent of the Eureka Warehouses, handling that ex- acting business with rare ability. In 1882 he was nominated and elected to the City Council, serving till the spring of 1884, and declining renomination. Under the new charter, how- ever, he was elected in the fall of 1884, and has been an active and influential member of that body ever since, by virtne of re-election in 1886, 1888 (during which term he served as president of the council), and in 1889. He has always taken an active part in the committee work, and is now chairman of the Finance Com- inittee, and a member of the committee on Or- dinances and Judiciary, on Public Improve- ments, and on Printing and Education. He has for a number of years held a high place in
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the councils of the Democratic party, and in the fall of 1888 received the unanimous nomi- nation of the party's convention for Assembly- man from this district. He declined the lionor, which crrried with it the certainty of election, on account of his business engagements, and in May of last year declined the nomination for Mayor, preferring his active business life. From Jannary, 1887, to June, 1889, Mr. Doyle was President of the Y. M. I. of this city, and he represented the local Institute in the second, third and fourth Grand Councils. In the last mentioned lie was Second Grand Vice-President of the Grand Council, and is now a Deputy Grand President of that flourishing organiza- tion. He has been President of the Irisli- American Benevolent Society for a number of years
When the volunteer fire department was in vogue, he was its secretary two terms, and also hield the position of foreman of Protection Hook and Ladder Company, being one of the representatives from this company in the Board of Delegates, Stockton Fire Department, during all the time he was connected with the depart- inent.
Mr. Doyle is an enterprising young inan, affable and agreeable, and is very popular, having a large circle of warm personal friends.
EROSCO W. HOWLAND, farmer of Cas- toria Towirship, San Joaquin County, was boru in San Joaquin County, January 26, 1854, son of H. S. and Barbara (Meyer) How- land, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Switzerland; the father was born July 14, 1827, came to San Joaquin County in 1852, and is now residing near Lathrop. Le- rosco W. was reared in San Joaquin County. He bought 185 acres of land, in 1883; four years afterward he sold 160 acres to parties who divided it into town lots. He has fitted up his place with fine buildings, and made a comfort- able homestead of it. November 18, 1885, he
was married to Miss Alice Smith. They have one child-Anna Dell.
ARY MEHRTEN, a fruit farmer of El- liott Township, was born in New York State, January 13, 1839, the daughter of Barnet Poppe, a native of Germany. Mrs. Mehrten came to California in 1850 and has remained here ever since. She has one of the largest and best fruit ranches in this section of the country. It contains 204 acres and is sit- uated near the banks of the Mokelnmne river on a fine piece of bottom land. A beautiful view can be obtained from the hill-side in front of the residence of the orchards, which were set out years ago. Frnit is the principal product of the farm, which is best known as the old Poppe ranch, although plenty of hay and grain is raised. The fruit consists of pears, peaches, plums and apples; they raise sonie grapes for their own use.
She has a family of eight children, namely: Lizzie, Henry, Daniel, George, Annie, John, Charley and Lora, all born in Calaveras County.
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R. H. R. BULSON, of Stockton, is a native of Rochester, New York, born March 4, 1841. When he was a mere child, his father died, and he was brought up in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he received a thorough literary education. When the civil war broke out, he enlisted in the Union cause, joining the Erie regiment, in the three-months' service, and went with his command to Wash- ington, in the defense of which he served until innstered out. After his discharge, he went to Michigan, locating at Dundee, Monroe County. He soon decided, however, to re-enter the serv- ice, and enlisted at Detroit, September 22, 1861, for three years, in Company K, First Michigan Cavalry. He served principally in the Shenandoah valley and Western Virginia
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under Generals Pope and Sheridan. He was discharged on account of disability incurred in the service, July 3, 1863. He then went back to Michigan, and commenced the study of med- icine under Drs. Munger and Newcombe at Dun- dee, with whom he remained abont two years, taking a thorough course of office reading. He attended lectures one year in the medical depart- ment of the University of Michigan at Ann Ar- bor, then took a similar course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and finished with two years' attendence on lecturers at the medical depart- ment of the Northwestern University. He also attended several terms of lectures at various times since. His medical education has been most thorough, and he has taken several diplo- mas. During the early part of his career as a physician he practiced in Michigan, but later removed to Wisconsin. Owing to the failing health of his family he came to California, and practiced at Eureka, Humboldt County, until 1889, when he was compelled to relinquish a splendid practice there on account of the cli- mate of that locality being unsuited to his health. He chose a location in Stockton, which has since been his home, and where he already ranks in the highest circles of his profession. He was a member of the State Medical Society of Michigan and Wisconsin while practicing in those States. In Eureka he served one terin as health and quarantine officer, and was commis- sioned Surgeon of the Sixth Brigade, National Guard of California, resigning the office when he removed to Stockton. He is a Chapter Ma- son and a member of the G. A. R. Of his three sons, the oldest died at the age of sixteen and the second, C. H., whose sketch appears below, is practicing medicine in partnership with his father. The third son, W. H., is at this writing (1890) taking a college course in San Francisco.
DR. C. H. BULSON is a native of Blooming- dale, Michigan, born November 6, 1867. Before he had reached the age of seven years, his par- ents removed to Rock County, Wisconsin, and there lie was educated. He accompanied his
father to California in 1883, and studied medi- cine with his father and with his uncle, Dr. S. B. Davis. He attended the Cooper Medical College, San Francisco, and the Rocky Mountain University, Denver, Colorado, where he grad- nated, April 9, 1889. He has had extensive experience in the hospitals and free dispensaries of the East, and lias been engaged in active practice since coming to Stockton.
METCALF, a farmer of Elliott Township, is the son of William and Elizabeth (El- kins) Metcalf,-the former a native of Kentucky, where he was born December 5, 1806, a Freemason and a member of the Baptist church; the latter a native of Tennessee, born May 1, 1811,-was born in Laurel County, Ken- tucky, October 17, 1833. His parents removed to Randolph County, Missouri, where they re- mained a short time, thence to Macon County, Missouri, where they remained a short time, then went to what is now Grundy County, Missouri, in 1838. They were among the first settlers in that county, and remained there nntil the father's death, March 31, 1878; the mother had died December 23, 1843. Our subject started for California May 7, 1857; lie joined a party of twenty-four who were going to cross the plains with ox teams, and landed within two miles of where he now resides, Sep- tember 19, 1857. He at once purchased a ranch containing 503 acres, situated on the Mokelumne river, one mile northwest of Locke- ford. He has resided there ever since. The farm is well improved and cultivated; his prin- cipal product is grain, and he carries on thie stock-raising business. He also raises enough fruit for family use.
He was married to Miss Margaret Bryant, February 8, 1857, who was born in Kentucky, January 26, 1830, and died March 21, 1885, leaving four children, namely: Elizabeth L., born November 3, 1857, a school-teacher, now residing at home; William, born September
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
15, 1867, a farmer, residing at home; Kather- ine, born September 26, 1870, attending college at Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, and Clara, born January 22, 1874, attending the same col- lege; and there were four children deceased. Mr. Metcalf was again married to Mrs. Martha (Popham) Sinclair, who was born in England, September 27, 1839, and died June 10, 1889.
Mr. Metcalf is an ordained Elder in the Church of United Brethren in Christ.
W. COWELL, City Treasurer and Tax Collector of Stockton, is a native of Caynga County, New York, born Au- gust 23, 1849, his parents being Myron and Melvina Ann (Sanders) Cowell. He resided in New York State until eighteen years of age, when the family removed to Virginia, locating about twenty-three miles from Richinond. He remained with his parents until he had reached the age of twenty-three years, and during the latter part of the time managed the family farm. He then went to Washington, District of Columbia, and entered the employ, as clerk, of J. J. Shipman, in the grocery and provision business. The business was purchased by Samuel Tyler, son of Dr. Tyler, and with the new proprietor Mr. Cowell remained nntil 1876. In February, 1877, he came out to California and located in Stockton. An opportunity pre- senting itself, he engaged in the milk business for C. Hurd, which employed his attention for fifteen months. After that he started a free delivery of mail matter among the business men of Stockton, and it was continued success- fully until the Government carriers took the business away. Mr. Cowell carried on the mail delivery nearly two years, then embarked in business on El Dorado street, in partnership with Miss E. F. Sanders. In 1882 he was chosen as Deputy County Assessor; after he had served two years in that capacity he was elected City Assessor, which office he held two years. He was then appointed Deputy City
Assessor. He still continued in his capacity of Deputy County Assessor, and the following year was elected City Treasurer and Tax Col- lector. He served as Deputy County Assessor in all six years. In May, 1889, he was elected as City Treasurer and Tax Collector, and as- sumed the duties of the office June 1, 1889, and will hold until the last of May, 1891. Mr. Cowell has had the Stockton agency of the San Francisco Examiner since July 1, 1888, and has nearly doubled the local circulation. He also handles the Stockton Independent, San Francisco Cull, Bulletin, Post, and Report.
Mr. Cowell has been twice married, first to Miss May Thresher, who died in this city. His present wife was formerly Miss Alma Howard. They have one child-Howard.
Mr. Cowell is a member of the Knights of Honor and the American Legion of Honor. He is a pushing and enterprising business man, and as an official commands the respect of the community.
EAL BROTHERS, Rufus B. and Charles H. -In writing the history of these gentle- men we will take them together, as in fact they have always been inseparable and all their business transactions are usually done together. There were orignally three of them, who came to this State together, one of whom, Joseplı W. Neal, has since died. The parents of these boys were Joseph, a native of Massachusetts, and Hannah (Hutchinson) Neal, the latter a native of Middleton, Massachusetts. They made their home in that State up to the time of their death. In their family were ten chil- dren, five sons and five daughters. One of the daughters came here in September, 1883, in a very delicate state of health and died about six weeks afterward. Another of the family came here in 1869, when the Central Pacific road was built, lived a year and a half and then died.
Rufus B. was born March 9, 1829, and Charles H. was born November 2, 1831. All
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the children were natives of Salem, Massachu- setts, where the parents resided. The three brothers attended the same school in Salem. Rufus afterward learned the bricklaying trade, at which he worked a while; Josephi was a car- penter by trade. After leaving school, Charles took a trip to the eastern coast of Africa, from where he had just returned when the gold ex- citement broke ont. The boys then concluded to cast their lots together and come to California after riches. November 29, 1849, they sailed from Newburyport in the brig Ark, Captain Marsh, around the Horn, and landed in San Francisco, May 6, 1850. They went to Sacra- mento and thence to Salmon Falls on the South Fork of the American river. The next season they went to Hangtown. They wanted to go prospecting toward the north but the trouble with the Indians was then in progress, Colonel Rogers having command of a regiment of troops. They prospected in the mountains around Placerville for about two months with a party of sixteen others on account of the In- dians, then they returned to Placerville. The following winter they built a cabin and spent the winter below Mud Springs, working at mining.
The next spring they gave up mining, came to this valley and took up a ranch, the one on which they now live. They afterward went back to the diggings and worked out a lot of loose dirt there. In the spring of 1853 they returned to this valley and extended their claim by putting Joseph's name in. The land was completely covered with heavy timber and un- dergrowth of bushes. At that time the nearest ranches were those of Benedict and Staple. There was a postoffice at the latter place. Since that time the population has been steadily in- creasing. Their ranch contains 500 acres, situ- ated in Liberty Township, on the north bank of the Mokelumne river; it is fertile land, well adapted to the raising of almost anything, bnt is principally devoted to wheat. There is a fine orchard and vineyard. In the exciting times of 1860, when Lincoln was elected, a convention
was called and Charles Neal was nominated and elected for the office of Constable. At that time a good reliable man was required to hold the office, and probably no better choice could have been made; Mr. Neal says it was the hard- est work he ever did.
Politically they have always been Republi- cans and are influential supporters of the party, both of them being well informed both in local matters and the political and general history of ancient and modern times. Joseph Neal died Jannary 14, 1883.
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HERBURN R. THORN is a native of Allenstown, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, where he was born April 18, 1830, sen of Nathan and Louis (Rowell) Thorn, both natives of New Hampshire. When Sher- burn was nearly two years old his parents moved to Canada, locating in Stanstead, in what was called Lower Canada, within five miles of the Vermont State line, where they made their home from 1832 till 1847, then moved back into Vermont, where Nathan Thorn died, in 1877; his wife died in Canada, in 1845. In the family there were six children, five sons and one daughter.
The subject of this sketch was raised princi- pally in Canada, where he lived until fifteen years of age. He made his home with his par- ents until twenty-one years old, during which time he worked on their farm and sometimes worked out for wages. He continued this mode of life until he came to California. October 20, 1856, he sailed from New York on the George Law for Panama, and this side took the steamner Golden Gate for San Francisco, where he landed November 14. He took the steamer for Sacramento and then the stage for Placer- ville, El Dorado County, where he engaged in mining, remaining in the vicinity up to 1861. Like mnost all miners Mr. Thorn had the usual luck attending ventures of this kind, sometimes striking a big lead and taking out considerable
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gold, and at other times losing it in some mining speculation. In May, 1861, he came down to this valley and settled on the place where lie now lives, a ranch containing 160 acres of Government land, which is now in a good state of improvement, all the work of its present owner. His efforts here have been attended with 'suc- cess, having up to the last winter done all the work ou the place himself. Mr. Thorn is a consistent and devoted member of the Meth- odist Church, of which he has been a member since 1857. Politically he has always been a Republican, although in no sense a politician. He was married at Diamond Spring, in July, 1859, to Miss Amanda Knight, a native of Caledonia County, Vermont. She came to California in 1859. They have a family of three children: Lois Amanda, Mrs. Sarah T. Bancroft and Ruby E. They have also lost two children: Albert S., aged nineteen and one- half years, and Elna M. died when young.
REIFF NAUMAN, Principal of the new Fremont School, Stockton, is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Man- heim, November 19, 1861, his parents being Peter and Elizabeth (Reiff) Nauman. He con- menced his education at his native place, and was graduated at the Manheim High School in 1879. He completed his education at the State Normal School, Millersville, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1884. He had, however, commenced his career as an educator before that time, having already taught five years in his native county. From the time of his grad- nation at Millersville until the summer of 1889 he was principal of the Manheim High School. Having come to California at the time of the meeting of the Nation il Educational Associa- tion in 1888, he was sufficiently impressed witlı the desirability of the State as a place of resi- dence and as a field of labor in his profession, to induce him to remove here, which he did in 1889. He was chosen by the Board of Educa-
tion as the first principal of the Fremont School, an appointment that promises to be a happy one, on account of the high character of the in- cumbent and a previous record as an able edu- cator. Mr. Nauman is a working member of the Y. M. C. A.
ATES NICEWONGER, a farmer of Cas- toria Township, San Joaquin County, was born in Pennsylvania, January 8, 1845, and in 1863 joined the Signal Corps and served in that capacity in the army until 1865, when he emigrated to Quincy, Illinois. In 1869 he came to California, arriving in Stockton May 18, 1869. He joined his brother, who had come to California prior to himself, and has been engaged in farming ever since. His resi- dence is on the French Camp road, abont four miles east of French Camp, and nine miles from Stockton. On the 11th of Angust, 1870, he was married to Miss Cynthia Castle. They have a family of three children, namely: Cary H., Charlie H. and Hattie H.
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