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 66
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HARLES W. WARD, Superintendent of the San Joaquin County Hospital, was born at Augusta, Maine, April 17, 1849, his parents being William L. and Sarah C. (Bur- rell) Ward. He was reared in his native State, and between the ages of six and nineteen years resided at Reedfield. His parents are now resi- dents of Oakland, Maine. When he was nine- teen years of age he left home and went to Prescott, Wisconsin, and for some time there- after was engaged in teaming and in stage- driving, being with the firm of Stone & Co. most of the time. In 1872 he came to Linden, California, and after several years' experience at farming, engaged in butchering, at which he was employed some four years. After that lie was for fourteen months in a mercantile estab- lishment. He came to Stockton September 25,
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1881. February 16, 1882, he commenced his connection with the hospital in the capacity of steward. February 15, 1889, the title of the office was changed from steward to superin- tendent, and Mr. Ward continned in the posi- tion. Under his supervision the hospital has taken high rank among institutions of its class, and the surroundings evidence the watchful care which Mr. Ward gives his charge. It is but a fair statement of facts, and one that is dne to say in this connection, that the Hospital of San Joaquin County reflects credit on the county and the able superintendent of the institution.
Mr. Ward was married in Wisconsin to Miss Henrietta L. Hoyt, a native of Maine. They have one child-May F. Mr. Ward is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W. He joined at Linden, but is now a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 23.
ORACE D. NORTHIROP was born in Franklin County, Vermont, November 16, 1824, son of Isaac and Polly (Rice) North- rop, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Springfield, Massachusetts. Our sub- ject was left an orphan early in life, his father dying when he was but four years of age, and his mother when he was ten. There were four children in the family, Horace being next to the youngest. He, after the death of his mother, went to live with an aunt till he was fourteen years old, when he hired out by the month, worked about eight months, then returned to his aunt and did chores for his board, going to school that winter. The next year he hired out to the same man again, staying about three months. He then went to work for a cousin, with the agreement that at the time he left him he was to have two suits of clothes, $150 in money, and during the titne that he remained, three months' schooling in the winter. He made his home with him till he became of age, when he went to Boston and engaged in the oyster business. For several years he worked
for another man, after which he did business for himself, continuing in that trade for about eight years. In the year 1850 he started for California, but on reaching Iowa he stopped with a brother who lived there, and who had persuaded him to remain there. Accordingly our subject purchased a farm in Jackson County, and engaged in farming. The same year, and shortly after he had bought his place, he was united in marriage to Roxana Wilson, a native of Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He lived on his farm in Iowa abont fourteen years, up to 1864. His first wife died January 8, 1856, at the age of thirty-four years, six months and eleven days. She was the mother of four chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. The others are George L., born November 24, 1853, now occupied in farming in Calaveras County, Cali- fornia, and Samuel W., born November 22, 1855, also farming in western Iowa. Mr. North- rop was married to Mrs. Lydia C. Wilson, his present wife, a native of Canada, Marchi 1, 1862. Her maiden name was Cram. She went to Iowa in 1860, and came with her husband in 1864 to California. They crossed the plains in wagons, being accompanied by several other California-bound families. The train left Iowa May 3, and reached Red Bluff, Tehama County, on the 22d of August, being nearly four months on the road. For about a month the party camped at Battle Creek, Tehama County, visit- ing friends there, and from there they went to Napa County, thence to Stockton, not yet de- cided upon a place for settlement. In October of the same year Mr. Northrop arrived in the vicinity where he now resides, and the following year purchased the ranch upon which he has ever sinee mnade his home. This ranchi contains 162₺ acres of choice farming land, which is under good improvement, devoted principally to general farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Northrop have four children: Frances C. (deceased). born in Iowa, June 11, 1863, died Jannary 19, 1885; Ella, born May 17, 1867; Cora E., April 26, 1870, and Charles W., October 10, 1873. Mr. Northrop and wife
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have been members of the United Brethren church since 1878.
Politically he has not taken an active interest. He belonged to the Democratic party until 1884, since which time he has affiliated with the Prohibition party.
ETER F. JAHANT is a native of France, where he was born February 12, 1827, a son of Francis and Marian (Boquete) Jahant. When he was about six weeks old his parents emigrated to Ohic and settled in Akron ; the mother is still residing there, at a very ad- vanced age; the father died in 1858. In their family there were eleven children, all of whom . are living, and the heads of families. Six reside in this county, namely: Victor, a prominent farmer of Liberty Township; Louis, residing in Stockton; Mary, widow of John B. Nye; Mar- ian, wife of Robert Winters; and Louisa, wife of C. A. Ashley, both of Stockton.
Peter was raised in Ohio. In 1850 he started for California March 11: he started by water for St. Joseph, Missouri, from there crossed the plains with mule teamns, arriving at Weaverville, about the first of July, after a very rough, un- pleasant trip. In the party were three or four young men who wanted to go to Sacramento. Our subject preferred to remain wliere he was and go to mining. He had only five cents in his pockets, and one of the others offered him some money, but he refused it, thinking that he could soon get work. After hunting for work all day he began to feel hungry, and having nothing to eat, he finally determined to ask advice. Accordingly he went to one Dr. Sar- gent, of Sargent Bros., and told him of his condition. Sargent, who kept store, told Peter to help himself to whatever he wanted and pay for it when he was able, as was the custom of the country. He took a little pork, that liad come all the way around the Horn, some flour and a few other things, and started in to get his first mneal. In crossing the plains he had been a teamster
and knew nothing of cooking. The bread which he manufactured ont of that flour would have been a novelty to the epicureans of to-day. It was blue and sticky, and he, not being accus- tomed to bread of his own baking, could hardly eat it. The next morning he took a few tools and asked Sargent where he should dig; upon being told "ont there, anywhere," he went to work, worked hard all day and earned $1. The second day $2, and on the fourth day $4; about that time an old Californian came along and asked him why he worked so hard, telling him that he would make himself sick. He also offered to take hin with him and do better by him than lie was doing for himself. Peter went and the result was an ounce a day and only four hours work. He mined about two months, then went to Sacramento, bought a team, and went to teaming, which he followed a month and six weeks, when he was taken with cholera, the ex- pense of which took all his hard earnings and also his mule team, and when he recovered he found himself again penniless. After that he returned to mining on the north Yuba until the stormy wet winter of 1852-'53, which closed his mining experience. He returned to Sacra- mento, which he found inundated, and finally came to this county, settling on the place where his brother Victor lives, taking up Government land. In 1865 he sold the place to his brother and went to Stockton, where he bought a livery stable, in which business he continued till 1871. He then returned to his old neighborhood and bought the ranch where he now lives. He has in all 540 acres of valuable land, which is under the highest state of improvement. His hand- some residence was erected in 1885 at a cost of about $5,250, and it formed a most comfortable home. He is one of our most successful farmers, and carries on the business with the most ini- proved methods.
In former years he was a Democrat, but since the war has been a supporter of the Republican party, yet does not take much active interest in political matters generally.
He was married in 1867, in Stockton, to Miss
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Susan Maley, who was of Irish descent, raised in Boston. They have eight children, namely : George, Frances, Charles, Martha, Adeline, Lizzie, Susan and Carrie.
EORGE F. McNOBLE, the bright young principal of the Weber School, Stockton, is a native of Calaveras County, California, born at Rich Gulch, July 29, 1866, his parents being M. D. and Margaret (Reely) McNoble. His father, a native of one of the British islands contiguous to the coast of Scot- land, was but a little over a year old on coming to this country, and was reared at New York city. He came to California in the pioneer days, via Panama, locating at Rich Gulch, where he mined for a time. Afterward he engaged in mercantile business, where he now lives and finally retired from active business. George F. McNoble, subject of this sketcli, was reared and commenced his education in Calaveras County, and was a grammar-school graduate when, in April, 1877, he came to Stockton for the pur- pose of fitting for the university, he entered the high school, where he made an enviable repnta- tion, and carried off the highest honors of his class, where he was graduated, in 1889. On account of the splendid impression inade by him he was elected principal of the Weber School, assuming the duties of the position August 22, 1889, and in that post has shown great strength and ability. He is a member of Truth Lodge, I. O. O. F., Stockton; he has passed the Chairs of Alta Parlor, No. 46, N. S. G. W., at Mokel- umne Hill, and represented the parlor in the grand body in 1887.
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E. BAIRD, Principal of the Franklin School, Stockton, is a native of California, born in San Joaquin County, May 23, 1861, his parents being B. P. and Julia (Guern- sey) Baird; both were natives of New York. The
father came to California from Elgin, Illinois, in 1853, and was for a time in San Joaquin County. From here he went to San Jose in 1854, and later to the mountains, where he fol- lowed mining. From there lie came to Stock- ton, and was in business here in 1859 and a portion of 1860. In the latter year he moved to the vicinity of Lockeford, where he now re- sides. From 1876 to 1883 he lived with his family in Stockton, during which time he served as Deputy County Assessor, and one term as City Assessor.
The subject of this sketch, E. E. Baird, re- ceived his education in Stockton, and was grad- uated at the high school in the class of 1881. For over a year following he was engaged in historical work in Washington Territory and Oregon. In 1884 he commenced teaching, and . tanght a considerable portion of the time in the county schools until 1888, when he was elected principal of the Franklin School, assuming the duties of the position on the 10th of August of that year.
Mr. Baird is a member of Stockton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Lebanon (Rebekah Degree) Lodge. He is a member of the Stockton Guard, Company A, Sixth Regiment, N. G. C. Mr. Baird is one of the most energetic of Stockton's superior corps of educators, and under his principalship the Franklin stands in the front rank of city schools.
THOMAS J. HOLMES is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Harrison County, Janu- ary 11, 1825, his parents being Thomas, a native of Virginia, and Jane (Vance) Holmnes, a native of Kentucky. In 1839 they removed to Marion County, Missouri, where they made their home up to the time of their death, both dying the same year, at an advanced age. In their family were eight children.
Thomas, the subject of this sketch, lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, working on his father's farm and teaching
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school for a while. He was married the year after he became of age, in 1847, and until 1851 carried on farming and teaching school. In 1851 he bought an ox team and joined some neighbors who were coming to California. They crossed the Missouri river April 18, landing at Diamond Spring, El Dorado County, August 28, 1851. He commenced mining and contin- ued it until 1860; during all these years, he, like many others, inade considerable money in the mines, but was not able to save it. At length he determined to go into some other business. He came down to Stockton, landing there with but $10 in his pocket. He worked for wages a few years, and finally settled on the place owned by Victor Jahan, where he stayed a year, when he purchased his present place of 240 acres, situated in Liberty Township, in the northern part of the county, and where he has resided since 1868.
Politically Mr. Holmes was an old-time Whig until that party became absorbed in the Know- Nothings, since which time he has been a Democrat.
Mr. Holmes was married to his present wife, Mrs. Anna (McGuin Bemenderfer) Holmes, in October, 1880. By her former husband there is one child, born February 2, 1880, in San Francisco, named Louis Bemenderfer; and Mary J., born January 23, 1882, is of the present union.
OSEPH ERVIN HALL, a member of the City Council of Stockton, was born in Mon- roe County, Michigan, February 6, 1852, a son of Thomas Erskine and Aznba (Eckley) Hall. His father, born in Rutland, Vermont, September 11, 1817, moved with his parents to Michigan, and afterward, in 1866, with his wife and children, to McHenry County, Illinois, where he is still living on his farm. His mother, born also in Vermont, in 1828, died in Illinois in 1886. Grandfather David Hall, born in Vermont about 1787, and by trade a marble-
cutter in early manhood, died in Michigan about 1860, and his wife, Abigail, lived to the age of eighty-two, dying in Illinois about 1874. Grandparents Eckley lived to be over eighty, and grandmother Eckley's brother, Samuel Simmons, is living in Ringwood, Illi- nois, at the age of nearly 100 years.
J. E. Hall, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm, received the usual edu- cation, and helped on his father's farm. He came to California in 1871, arriving in Stockton on the 20th of April. Here he became a clerk in the grocery business and is now an outside salesman in the same line, being with the saine firm seventeen years. In 1878 he embarked in the manufacture of gloves, and after two years in that venture he returned to his former posi- tion, grocery salesman. He was elected, in 1884, to the city council, and served one term.
Mr. J. E. Hall was married in Stockton, Sep- tember 11, 1879, to Miss Mary Jane Sınith, born in this city, a daughter of James C. and Harriet Melcena (Boone) Smith. Her father, born in Tennessee, March 29, 1820, is a rancher just outside the city limits on the northwest, owning about 2,400 acres. Her mother, born in Ken- tucky, May 10, 1824, was brought up in Indi- ana, where her father, a nephew of Daniel Boone, was a member of its first constitutional convention. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have three boys: Clarence Ervin, born July 3, 1880; Eckley Boone, November 4, 1883; Eugene Lynwood, January 9, 1886. Mr. Hall is a mein- ber of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., and the A. O. U. W.
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RS. T. E. MEGERLE, manager of a farm in Elliott Township, was born in Rich- land County, Ohio, November 14, 1849, a daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Jump) Boice; the former a native of England, died in Elkhorn Township, San Joaquin County, in 1875,and the latter, a native of Virginia, died in San Joaquin County, in 1871.
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Mrs. Megerle came to California with her parents in 1859 and remained with them until she was married in 1867 to Philip Megerle. He died February 13, 1886, leaving her with six children, all well provided for. Their ranch con- tains 155 acres, situated a half-mile from Clem- ents and three miles from Lockeford on the Clements road; it is devoted to stock- raising and general farming. Philip Megerle was a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. and of the A. O. U. W. He was an industrious farmer of San Joaquin County, respected by all his friends. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Megerle are: Ada M., born May 20, 1869, now the wife of C. H. Reasoner, a farmer of Elliott Township; Louisa A., born August 14, 1870; Ella, January 15, 1873; Lewis J., December 27, 1876; Philip H., October 6, 1879; and Robert G., July 20, 1882.
- OYES BAILEY, retired, of Stockton, is a native of Vermont, born at Newbury, Orange County, December 12, 1819, his parents being Noyes and Phebe (Tice) Bailey, to whom eleven children were born. His great- grandfather, General Jacob Bailey, was one of the distinguished officers of the patriot army in the Revolutionary war. Joshua Bailey, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was a Colonel in the Revolutionary war. An uncle of our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812. Noyes Bailey, with whose name this sketch commences, was reared at his native place, and received the education afforded by the neighbor- ing schools. In 1851 he removed to California, sailing from New York on the Prometheus, the trip being the second one made by a Vanderbilt steamer in the California trade. Arriving at Greytown, the party proceeded up the San Juan river to the rapids, and when they arrived there found the lake boat had gone. They were al- most without provisions, and a committee was formed to board boats and go down the river and see about supplies. They found only one day's provisions, and it was arranged with the
agent of the company that one would go back for provisions. Some of the passengers went with it; the boat came while they were away and took the remaining passengers away. Their contract with the company was that they were to be furnished transportation by pack ninle, but there were no pack mules there, and they had to walk fourteen miles in the rain. On arriving at San Juan they had to wait ten days, as the steamer they were to go on met with an aeci- dent to hier machinery, and went away for re- pairs. They then wanted the agent of the line to pay their board, according to contract, but lie refused. A Californian among them then told the agent that he would blow the top of his head off if he did not do it, and the next morn- ing the agent gave them $150 to pay board with. Finally an old steamer came in and they took passage on her for San Francisco. The boat was so far gone that when it reached San Francisco it had to be tied up and overhauled. It was afterward lost. They landed on the 26th of November, 1851, and Mr. Bailey proceeded to Stockton, where he remained a month with his brother, D. Y. Bailey, and then went to Vallecito to engage in mining. On the way there, however, he was taken sick, and the doc- tor told him he had fever. In the meantime he and his brother Jacob had purchased a claim, the former owners of which, some Boston par- ties, had shown them two milk pans nearly full of clear gold. Mr. Noyes Bailey was compelled to leave, however, on account of his sickness, and returned to Stockton. Here he placed him- self under the care of Dr. Grattan, and was cured after a year's illness. In December, 1852, he engaged in teamning between Stockton and tlie sonthern mines, and followed that occupa- tion until 1855. In 1854, however, he engaged in ranching on the Dailey place, where he put in one crop. The next year he went to farming in partnership with his brother D. Y., who had taken up some land twelve miles from Stockton, near the Sonora road. After three or four years there he sold out and he and his brother J. N. bought a tract abont eight miles from the city,
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not far from the Sonora road, and engaged in farming there. In 1864 J. N. Bailey sold out to Tim Page, and he and Noyes were in part- nership for three or four years. Then Mr. Bailey bought his partner's interest, and he thereafter carried on ranching without a partner until 1884, since which time he has resided in Stockton.
Mr. Bailey was married in Vermont in 1864, to Miss Hattie Fuller. He was born and reared a Democrat, bnt was connected with the Repub- lican party almost since its organization. He is now a Prohibitionist, however, and one of the most zealous and conscientious workers in the interests of Prohibition. He has been a Meth- odist since 1865, and is one of the prominent inembers of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church of Stockton. Five of the family are still living, one sister in their native town (New- bury, Vermont). The three brothers of Noyes Bailey residing in California are J. N. Bailey, A. J. Bailey, and George C. Bailey. Jacob Bailey, forinerly engaged in minining, has not been heard from in many years.
NGUS MCKINNON, of the firm of Mc- Kinnon & Tumelty, bridge builders and general contractors of Stockton, was born on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, March 14, 1841. a son of Donald and Mary (McCorinac) Mc- Kinnon. The father died in middle life, and the widowed mother came to Canada with her five sons and three daughters, of whom three sons and two daughters are living in 1890. Of these Isabella, living in Canada, is about sixty, and John is a Baptist clergyman in Ontario. The mother, born in the first decade of the cen- tury, died about 1879, aged over seventy.
The subject of this sketch received a limited education in his yonth, starting in early to earn his living. At the age of fifteen he came across the border into Michigan and went to work in a "logging camp" in the winter of 1855-'56, and thence to St. Louis, Missouri, where he
made a few trips as a steamboat hand. Going then to Louisville, Kentucky, he there learned the trade of shipwright and caulker; and in 1858 secured the position of carpenter on the steamer " Autocrat, " engaged in the Louisville and New Orleans trade. Yellow fever becoming an epidemic that season in the cities of the lower Mississippi, he and a companion went from Natchez to Fairchild Island, where they en- gaged in chopping wood. They not only made money but escaped the sconrge and returned to Louisville in the spring of 1859. From that city Mr. Mckinnon went to Metropolis, Illinois, on the Ohio river, where he worked at ship- building for the Memphis Packet Company un- til 1865. He then worked for the Morse Dry Dock Company in St. Louis, and then steam- boated for the St. Paul and St. Louis trade: he worked for that corporation seven years on salary, at different points. Meanwhile he was married in Dubuque, Iowa, January 24, 1868, to Miss Martha Morrison, born in Glasgow, Scotland, about 1845, a danghter of John and Martha (McDonald) Morrison, who came to America in and settled iu Dubuque, Iowa, where the mother is still living in 1890. The father died in 1877 in Santa Rosa, California, whither he had come for the benefit of his health.
Mr. Mckinnon came to this city in March, 1874, without his family, and found work at his trade of shipwright, building tugs and barges that summer. His wife becoming ill he went to Dubuque and returned with his family the following spring, when he resumed work in this city. Shipbuilding becoming dull here, he went to work for the "Southern Pacific, " on its western division between Brighton and Niles, and was employed by that corporation in bridge-building for four years. Mrs. McKinnon died in this city in 1878, and her remains were taken to Dubuque for burial. Four children survive her: Angus C., born in Muskegon, Michigan, March 24, 1870, is now reading law in the office of Louttit, Woods & Levinsky of this city; Martha Isabella; boru in Dubuque
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October 3, 1872; John Andrew, born in Du- buque, December 31, 1874; Ellen Young, born in this State, November 16, 1878. Miss Isabella McKinnon is being educated in Van Ness Seminary in San Francisco, and the younger children in this city.
In 1880 Mr. Mckinnon formed a partnership in this city with three others in the bridge- building line, under the style of Mckinnon & Company, only to find that there were too many partners for harmonious action. In 1883 he formed the present firm of Mckinnon & Tumelty, bridge builders and general contract- ors, who have since done a very considerable amount of work in their line in this city and county, and also in Stanislaus, Tnlare and Kern counties.
Mr. Mckinnon was married in this city October 1, 1885, to Mary Adne Allen, born in Wisconsin, her father being a Congregational clergyman, of the Allen family of Massachu- setts. Mrs. McKinnon has four sisiers on this coast, one of whom is Mrs. John C. Reid of this city.
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