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 72
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The subject of this sketchi finished his edu- cation with a full course in Placer Academy, and then went to plowing, by the advice of his father. He, however, followed farming only six months, and at the age of twenty-one became a clerk in Sacramento for a wholesale paint and oil house, where he remained four years. He then came to this city and went into the same line on his own account as a member of the firm of Douglas & Wulff, on El Dorado street, in
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1886. In 1888 he bought his partner's interest and has since been alone, at 296 Main street. Besides a good growing retail trade, he whole- sales some goods to country stores through the San Joaquin valley, north as far as Sonora and south to Visalia. He had been the local repre- sentative of Whittier, Fuller & Company, of San Francisco, and sold out to them January 13, 1890.
Mr. A. L. Wulff was married in Sacramento, in July, 1882, to Miss Louise Emrine, born in that city in 1864, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. (nee Krehmer) Emrine, both German by birth. The mother died in Sacramento, aged sixty-one; the fatlier, born about 1821, is living in 1890, in St. Charles, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Wulff have two children: Ethel Louise, born July 28, 1884, and Rutherford Lewellyn, born December 12, 1888. Mr. Wulff is a member of Stockton Parlor, No. 7, N. S. G. W., and was its first vice-president in 1889; also of Truthı Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., and of Conrt San Joaquin, A. O. F., besides being one of the associated bi- cyclists of this city, the O. L. W., or Oak Leaf Wheelman.
AMUEL W. BOICE, a farmer of Castoria Township, was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, June 2, 1834. When he was twenty years of age he started across the plains to California, in company with P. C. Crow, A. K. Ripperdan and Easton Brothers, bringing with them 600 head of cattle; on arriving in Stanislaus County, California, they had lost all but 450 head. Mr. Boice soon engaged in dairy business in Sonora, Tuolumne County, which lie followed five years. In 1859 he disposed of this business and took charge of the Golden Rule mines, near Poverty Hill, where he re- mained for four years. He then came to San Joaquin County. In 1866, on the 16th of Au- gust, he married Miss Emma Pence. They set- tled in French Camp, where for three years he was engaged in the blacksmithing business. In
1870 he disposed of it and purchased a ranch of 460 acres of fine improved land. A fine residence is on the grounds, partly hidden by a cluster of trees. Surrounding the house is a beautiful lawn, kept neatly inown. It and the fine shrub- bery add much to the beauty of the grounds; they are very rare in this part of the country, being seldom seen on any of our farms. Mr. Boice is engaged in raising thoroughbred horses, which business he pursues systematically and practically; he has all the facilities for this and general farming.
Mrs. Emma (Pence) Boice, the wife of our subject, was born in Piqua, Ohio, March 30, 1849. When she was but three years of age her family moved to Iowa, where she remained until fifteen years of age. In 1864 she started for California by water, landing in San Francisco on the 22d of May, that year. She took the steamer for Stockton and joined her fatlier, Dr. P. Pence, at Liberty, where he had been located for several months. Mr. and Mrs. Boice have a family of three children, two of whom are married. Their names are as follows: Hattie P., wife of Mr. O. Z. Bailey; Etta P., wife of Mr. White, and Emma M. Boice. They are in- dustrious and prosperous and are respected by all who know them.
ILLIAM DELOS BUGBEE, city weigher of Stockton, was born in Painted Post, Steuben County, N. Y., August 25, 1819, a son of Elisha and Teresa Elvira (Peeso) Bugbee, both deceased. The father, a native of Massachusetts, learned the trade of shoemaking, was married in Cherry Valley, New York. He was accidentally drowned in 1821, by falling off a raft, leaving three children, all living in 1890: Lucy Ann, now Mrs. Samuel Moe, of Enreka, Humbolt County, California, aged seventy-six ; Jane L., now the widow of Thomas L. Noyes, late of Washington, District of Columbia, aged seventy-four; and W. D. Bngbee, the subject of this sketch, aged seventy on his last birthday.
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
The mother, a native of Connecticut, by second marriage to Edward Stubbs, moved with her family to Hornby and then to Batlı, both in Steuben County, New York, and in 1829 to Washington, District of Columbia, where she died at the age of sixty-three.
The subject of this sketch was educated chiefly in Washington from 1829 to 1835, when he went to Philadelphia to learn the trade of machinist, staying, however, only one year. He then made a trip to Havana, Cuba, and thence to Boston, to Worcester, Massachusetts, and then to Provi- dence, Rhode Island, where he enlisted in the Second Dragoons, United States army, joining his regiment at the seat of war in Florida before the close of 1336. In 1838 he returned to Washington, and a few months later went to Cincinnati, where he worked for some months as clerk in the Denison House. In the spring of 1839 he went further west, and taught school at Caledonia, Illinois, during the winter; the following year, 1840, at Fayette, Howard Connty, Missouri, and the third year, 1841-'42, in Ran- dolph County, Missouri. In 1842 he again re- turned to Washington, and toward the close of the year went to New Orleans, Lonisiana, ar- riving December 25, 1842. There he served as clerk in the office of the Jeffersonian Republi- can until 1847, then went into the grocery business till July, 1850.
Mr. W. D. Bugbee was married in New Orleans, February 20, 1845, to Miss Mary E. Dickinson, born in Arkansas, March 9, 1827, a daughter of Judge Townsend and Mary (Moore) Dickinson, bothı natives of the State of New York. The mother died in Arkansas, aged thirty-three years; the father in Texas, in 1851.
In 1850 Mr. Bugbee inoved to Batesville, Arkansas, where he was engaged in trading and speculating until 1854, when he came across the plains to California, arriving in San Francisco in September. He saw enough of mining on the way, above Marysville, to satisfy him that it was not a desirable vocation. In San Fran- cisco he embarked in the grocery business, re- maining until 1856, when he came to Stockton.
Meanwhile Mrs. Bugbee had joined him in San Francisco, with their two children, in 1855, having come by the Nicaragua route. In 1857 he bought a 320-acre ranch of fine farmning land on the Sacramento lower road, about ten miles from this city, and engaged in farming until 1868, when his health failed him. He then came to this city and has resided here since. He was appointed city weigher in 1870, and has held the position to this time. He owns several lots and a $5,000 residence in this city. He also owns 640 acres in San Bernardino County. Mr. W. D. Bugbee is a member of Yosemite Lodge, No. 196, American Legion of Honor.
Mr. and Mrs. Bugbee are the parents of four living children, having lost four others. The living are: Philip Jefferson, born in New Or- leans June 18, 1850; married in San Bernardino County, now a merchant in Redding, Shasta County, has one child, Irene Florence, born in 1887. Frank Marshall, born in Batesville, Arkansas, in May, 1854, a painter of this city, was married to Miss Clara Fanning; Flor- ence Bugbee, born in this county in October, 1857, is an artist in painting and resides with her parents; William Scott Bugbee, born in this connty in December, 1859, is a partner with his brother in Redding, under the style of Bugbee Brothers, the firm being also interested in mines.
F. FOSTER, fariner of Elliott Township, was born in Calais, Maine, in 1842, a son of Edwin and Abigail (Scott) Foster; the former, a native of the province of New Brunswick, was born in Janvary, 1807, and died in San Joaquin County, California, Friday, April 20, 1877, at the hour of 9 p. M .; the mother was a native of Fredericktown, New Brunswick, also deceased. Edwin Foster came to California in 1850; his family joined him two years later and they moved to San Joaquin County, where they kept the Benedict Ferry on the Mokelumne river. He was not long in finding his family a
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good home, gave up the ferry in 1854, and homesteaded a quarter-section of fine land in in Elliott Township, where they lived the re- mainder of their lives; their children still reside in the neighborhood of the old ranch.
B. F. Foster, the subject of this sketch, came to California in 1853, by water, via Cape Horn, and landed in San Francisco after a voyage of four months. He came with his parents to Mokelumne river, where he remained until 1863, when he enlisted in the army; for three years he was stationed in Mexico as a scout. He served all his time under Kit Carson. He was discharged at Fort Sumner in 1866. He then went to Calais, Maine, to visit his relations. After several months lie returned to the old homestead, where he went to farming and has never left the place since. The farm contains 320 acres, situated about one mile from Locke- ford and seven miles from Lodi. He is engaged in raising wheat and stock, and carries on an extensive farming business. He owns another ranch of 180 acres in Calaveras County.
He was married October 29, 1885, in Stock- ton, California, to Miss Flora Starky, who was born in Sonoma County in 1860; botlı her par- ents are natives of Pennsylvania; they are still living and reside in Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Foster liave one child, Clara Belle, born Sep- tember 25, 1886. Mr. Foster is Assessor of the northern part of San Joaquin Connty, which office he accepted in 1888. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., Vesper, No. 94, and the G. A. R. He has held all the important offices in eaclı.
C.SHAW, of Elkhorn Township, was born March 29, 1834, in Stenben County, New York, his parents being Levy and Phila Shaw. The father was a farmer by occupation; he died in 1842 in Steuben County. The sub- ject of this sketch was but a boy of six years of age when his father died; he remained at home until twenty-one years of age. In 1855 he went
to Wisconsin and learned the millwright's trade. In 1858 he came to California by way of the Istlimus, arriving in San Francisco September 1, 1858. He went to the Mokelnmne river and found employment in a flour mill. In the fol- lowing spring he went into the mines, but soon became discouraged. He followed his trade in different parts of the State until 1868, when lie purchased property near Merced, resided on it four years, then sold out and went to Texas. In a year's time he returned to California, rented a farın and farmed it until 1877, when he pur- chased 240 acres, eight miles from Stockton, and five from Lodi, where he lias resided ever since. His fine residence was erected in 1889; it is one of the finest on the road. The farmn is principally devoted to hay, grain and stock.
Mr. Shaw was married in 1865 to Miss Emily Pixley, a native of Michigan. He is a mem- ber of the Lodi Grange, No. 92.
OHN DUCKER, of Stockton, is a native of Germany, born near Bremen, Hanover. April 15, 1821, his parents being John Dietrich and Katharina (Nullman) Ducker, He was reared there, and attended school be- tween the ages of six and fourteen years. ffe remained in his native country until 1849, when he emigrated to America, sailing from Bremen, April 15, on an English vessel, and landing at New York after a voyage of sixty days. He remained in New York until about June 15, 1852, when in company with four or five friends he took passage on the sail ship Dakotalı, Captain Sloan, bound for California, via Cape Horn. The vessel stopped at Rio Janeiro for water, and remained in that port twelve days. Soon after leaving, the vessel lost her masts and was compelled to put back to port, and they had to wait eleven weeks making repairs. They stopped twelve days at Valpa- raiso, and sailed thence direct for San Francisco, arriving in April, 1853, nearly a year out from New York. About two days after landing, Mr.
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
Ducker proceeded to Stockton by steamer, ar- riving in the morning. After breakfast he went out to the ranch of J. Carsten Grupe, nine miles from Stockton, and after spending the night there, proceeded on to Chili Camp, Cal- averas County, where he remained a short time. He then went to Poverty Bar, a little lower down on the Mokelumne river, where he mined about two years, with fair success. Having about concluded to go back to New York, he left there. and while journeying stopped at the ranchi of Charles Meyer. The latter urged Mr. Ducker to go into partnership. He took the matter under consideration, finally securing 160 acres there, and they became partners. Mr. Ducker sold out to his partner in 1858 (in which year he was married), and after a year's residence in Stockton moved upon a ranch which his wife owned in the uplands of Stanis- laus County (then in San Joaquin County). The winter of 1861-'62 was a very severe one on live-stock, and Mr. Ducker sold out and re- moved into Stockton, where they had a house. In the spring of 1863, being desirous of taking a trip into that region, he transported some passengers to Virginia City and Aurora, Ne- vada. In 1864 he bought a corner lot on the corner of Weber avenue and American street, and erected a store building, and opened busi- ness there in partnership with a man named Landmann. About two years later Mr. Ducker bought out his partner's interest, and thereafter carried on the business alone until 1878, when he sold out to L. Mollenhauer. He still owns the building, however. In 1881 he built the honse where he now resides, and moved into it.
Mr. Ducker has been president of the Stock- ton Warehouse Company since 1879. He is a member of Charity Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., and has passed the chairs of Parker Encamp- inent. He is an Exempt Fireman, having served three or four years as a member of San Joaquin Engine Company in the days of the Volunteer Fire Department. He is a man of the highest standing for business integrity, and commands the respect of all who know him.
His wife, formerly Miss Martha Woodman, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany.
AMUEL FERDUN, of Elkhorn Township, was born in Orleans County, New York, May 7, 1839, his parents being Samuel W. and Margaret C. (Rude) Ferdun, the former a native of New York city, and the latter of Canada. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion, although he was a carpenter and did con- siderable in that line. He spent the greater part of his life in New York State. He died July 17, 1889, in Orleans County, at the age of eighty-five years. The mother died about 1857. In the family there were eleven children, five girls and six boys. The boys were as follows: J. H., in the New York Artillery; Samuel, the subject of this sketch; Charles, George E., who was taken prisoner at Bull Run; William, in the United States Navy, and one deceased.
Samuel, the subject, was raised on a farm. When about sixteen he went to Michigan, where he remained abont a year, then returned to New York, stayed a year and then went back to Michigan, rented land and engaged in farming. At the end of two years he sold out and started for California, in 1859. He intended to go to Pike's Peak, but hearing discouraging reports of that place he decided to come to this State. Accordingly he went to New York State, made a visit to his parents, then went to New York city. He sailed on the Uncle Sam to the Isth- mus, April 11, 1859, crossed the Isthmus by train, and reached San Francisco May 8. He came to Stockton and obtained work of Lang- more, cutting hay. A month afterward he went to work for George Ashley, on a threshing- machine, remaining at that three weeks, and then was employed on a ranch. Finally he rented land and farmed for two years; then went to work once more by the month. He was em- ployed by Morse, with whom he remained three years. The next two years he spent in freight -. ing. In 1866 he traded his team's for land
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located in Elkhorn Township, San Joaquin County, commenced farming, and has followed that occupation ever since. He has purchased land from time to time until he has at last ac- cumulated 240 acres of choice farming land in San Joaquin Connty, and 250 in Sacramento County. His new residence was built in 1882. The land is devoted to general farming. He lias a vineyard and orchard for family nse.
Mr. Ferdun was married in 1868 to Miss Addie H. Morse, a native of Maine. They have two children, namely: Charles M. and Ernest E., both living at home.
Mr. Ferdun is a member of Lodi Lodge, No. 259, I. O. O. F., of which lodge he is Past Grand. He is Past Chancellor of the K. of P., No. 41, of Lodi, and a Past Master of the Lodi Grange, No. 92. Politically he is a Repub- lican.
ILLIAM F. McKEE, deceased, wlio was in times past one of the most prominent business men of Stockton, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Westmoreland County, in December, 1824, his parents being Andrew and Elizabeth McKee, botlı of wlion were Pennsylvanians by birtlı. He spent his boy- hood days in liis native State, and in 1851 came to California by the Istlimas route. He became a clerk in the Stockton postoffice, and afterward assistant postmaster. He entered the mercantile trade in partnership with B. W. Owens, and afterward was associated with the latter and Edward Moore, under the nanie of Owens, Moore & McKee. Shippee, McKee & Co., succeeded tliat firm, and later McKee & Soutli- worth carried on the business of the house.
He was married, May 3, 1854, to Miss Mary, daughter of Judge A. G. Brown (whose sketcli appears elsewhere). The children of this inar- riage now living are, four sons and one daugli- ter.
Mr. McKee died ou the 4th of September, - 1875, and in April, 1878, Dr. Grattan purchased
the interest of the estate in the firm of McKee & Southworth. Mr. McKee was one of the most thorough-going merchants that have ever been identified witlı Stockton, and made a great success of his business. He ranked among thie most prominent men of the city, and was always identified with movements calculated to advance the genuine welfare of the community. He was a member of the Masonic order.
ALTER BLACKMORE STARBIRD, resident partner and sole manager of the firm of Schmidt & Co., of Stock- ton, mannfacturers and exporters of Sarsapar- illa and Iron Water, was born in Portland, Maine, December 31, 1847, the oldest son of Charles H. and Eleanor Stuart (Chase) Starbird, both natives of tliat State. His father, a busi- ness man of Augusta, Maine, died there in 1879, aged about sixty; his mother, born January 1, 1827, is still living, being a resident of Cali- fornia since 1874. Grandfather George B. Star- bird lived to be over seventy, and his wife, Eliza (Beckett) Starbird, of Englishı parentage, died in Portland, about 1887, at the age of nearly ninety. Great-grandfather Albert Star- bird, an extensive land-owner of that State, also lived to an advanced age, as did his English wife Anna (Blackmore) Starbird.
W. B. Starbird was educated in Augusta, and his academic education had just begun when he went to sea in a vessel belonging to one of his uncles and followed a seafaring life a few years. In 1868 he went to Boston and became a part- ner in a lumber, grain and flonr house, and in 1872, his health having become impaired throughi overwork, lie went to Australia and spent a year in travel. Early in 1874 he came to California, and soon after to Stockton. Here he filled the position of book-keeper for Simp- son & Gray nearly nine years, and in 1883 went into the insurance business with C. W. Dohrmann, under the style of Dohrmann & Starbird, continuing about two years. After a
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year spent in San Francisco and in travel he re- turned to this city, where he has since represented the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company and five fire insurance companies. He became in- terested with Fred. W. Schmidt in the man- ufacture of Sarsaparilla and Iron Water, June 28, 1887, and after the death of Mr. Schmidt in September of that year he became equal partner with his widow, Mrs. Clara H. Schmidt, and sole manager, October 6. 1887, under the style of Schmidt & Co. When he first engaged in the business the output was about 300 quart bottles a day, to ineet a local retail trade. In Jannary, 1890, the product is about 12,000 quart-bottles a day, in the dull season; and the goods are shipped np and down the coast, as well as to Honolulu and Australia, and even into the heart of the wine and beer drinking countries. of Europe. The number of employés has grown from two men and a boy in 1887 to thirty men or more at the close of 1889. Schmidt & Co. are also interested, since Jan- uary 1, 1890, with George West & Son, in a new product composed of sherry and iron, under the style of the Sherry-Iron Company.
Mr. Starbird was married in Sacramento, October 24, 1882, to Miss Carrie A. Blatch- ley, born in Connecticut, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Blatchley, of that State, and a resi- dent of California since 1882. The father died in 1888, at the age of eighty-three.
ENRY B. KNIGHT, a farmer of Castoria Township, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was reared and educated up to the age of eighteen, when he started for California, arriving at Dntch Flat. He went on to Lathrop, San Joaquin County, where he was employed by H. Cowell four years. At the end of that time he rented 1,500 acres of land which he sowed to wheat; harvested that year, 15,000 sacks of wheat. After this successful year he bonght the old Barber Place, containing 160 acres, on which he now resides. It is sit-
nated about five miles southeast of French Camp and four miles east of Lathrop. In the year 1889 he had 660 acres sowed to wheat and ninety acres sowed to rye.
Mr. Knight was married to Miss Lottie Koch, April 22, 1883. They have two children, viz .: Ralph D. and Francis A.
E. ASHLEY, fariner of Castoria Town- ship, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1840. When four years of age he was taken to Wisconsin, and in 1852 he crossed the plains for California. He lost his mother on the plains, and, although but twelve years of age, the grief caused by her death spoiled all the pleasure le might have derived from the trip. He settled on a farın abont five miles from Stockton, and came to the ranch on which he now resides in 1882. The ranch contains 1,000 acres, which are chiefly devoted to the raising of stock and grain and owned by Dr. A. Clark.
He was married to Miss Emma Brannack, a native of Michigan, born in 1846. They have two children living and two are dead. The names of the living are, Ida E. and Georgietta. Al- bert died in 1869, and Alfred in 1880.
EORGE STEINMETZ, a farmer of Tnlare Township, was born in Germany, in 1834, leaving his native country in 1852, and settling in Missonri, where he spent two years; then came across the plains to California, the journey requiring six months. Arrived in San Joaquin County, in October, 1854, and engaged in the stock business. In 1870 he bought 160 acres of land in Tulare Township and began farming. He also owns one section in the foot- hills, large portions of which is good grazing land.
In 1870 he married Miss Boisen, by which marriage there were five children,-Henry, Edward C., George A., Lewis F. and Anna C.
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His wife died in 1878, and in 1884 he married Miss Hahas, and by this marriage there are two children: Jessie C. and August W. Mr. Stein- metz is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.
ERNHARD FRANKENHEIMER, a re- tired merchant of Stockton, was born in Brnek, near Erlangen, Bavaria, May, 1826, a son of Loeb and Yereth (Sutro) Franken- heimer. The father, a merchant of Erlangen, died at the age of seventy-five, and the mother somewhat younger. Her brother Emanuel was the father of the celebrated mining engineer, Adolph Sutro, of Sntro Tunnel fame, now of Sutro Heiglits, San Francisco. Samuel, an elder brother of our subject, came to America in 1842, and went into business first at Gaines- ville, Alabama, with a consin as partner, under the style of Pfeiffer & Frankenheimer, in gen- eral merchandise. In 1848 they moved to New York city, where they carried on the manu- facture of clothing until 1887, when they retired from active life.
The subject of this sketch, on his arrival from Europe in 1844, went by sea from New York to Mobile, where his brother Philip was doing business as an importer of fancy goods, by whom he was soon afterward put in charge of a branch store in Macon, Mississippi. There he remained until 1848, and from 1848 to 1850 was similarly employed in Tuscaloosa, Alabaına.
Mr. B. Frankenheimer came to California in 1850, by way of Panama, arriving in July, and settled in this city, engaging in the business of clothing and gents' furnishing goods, under the style of Frankenheimer & Co., having a partner for a few months before the close of that year. In 1851 and part of 1852 his cousin, Adolph Sutro, who had come to America in 1850, was his partner, under the style of Sutro & Franken- heimer; but trading was distasteful to Mr. Sntro as a life pursuit, and he soon embarked in his professional career of engineer, realizing fame · and fortune, besides satisfying the demands of
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