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 77
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Charles E. Owen, educated in the public schools and the City College of San Francisco, began his musical education at the age of nine, was considered an expert in that line at the age of fifteen, and graduated at the public schools. During a visit with his mother to their relatives in Boston he went to school in that city one year. At sixteen he filled the position of clerk in a San Francisco music store about one year, and was afterward engaged for a time in ar- ranging music for publication. He is also the author of original compositions in music, some of which were published in San Francisco, and others by Oliver Ditson & Co., of Boston. He came to Stockton in 1879, and las carried on a music store here from that time to the present. In 1889 he purchased the jewelry business, oc- cupying one side of his store, which he carried on six months, with a partner, and since De- cember, 1889, alone, being now sole proprietor of both lines of business. In 1889 also, Mr. Owen erected a handsome residence, at a cost of about $10,000, which he has occupied since February 22, 1890.
Mr. Charles E. Owen was married in this city, November 15, 1883, to Miss Sarah C. Dorrance, a daughter of Henry T. Dorrance (see sketch of Mr. Dorrance). They have
two children: Elise D., born September 21, 1884, and Henry D., born July 4, 1888.
Mr. Owen has been organist of St. John's Episcopal Church since 1880. He is a Past President of Stockton Parlor, No. 7, N. S. G.W., and a member of Charity Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F.
JOHN NEWTON WOODS, land-owner, residing in Stockton, was born in Fayette County, Indiana, June 7, 1837, a son of Johnson and Louisa M. (Eastes) Woods. The father, born in Brown County, Ohio, June 10, 1815, moved to Indiana, and was there married, June 4, 1834, and in 1840 moved to Savannah, Andrew County, Missouri, where he built the first residence and was engaged in trading. In 1850 he came to California, arriving in Hang- town on Angust 1, where he went to mining. He afterward became interested in inining claims on Woods creek, so called after his name. He was killed February 1, 1852, by a personal enemy for a cause unknown, but con- jectured to be the integrity of his evidence against the fraudulent claim of a pretended friend, who became his murderer. He left three sons and two daughters, all except one daughter living. The mother, born in Rush County, Indiana, October 24, 1820, is living in Tulare County, California. Grandfather Jere- miah Woods, born in Virginia, October 8, 1772, died November 29, 1858. Grandmother Margaret (Wooster) Woods, born in Pennsyl- vania, February 7, 1785, died December 21, 1874. Great-grandfather Rev. Robert Wooster, born in London, England, in 1727, came to America and settled in Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania, where he was married to Miss Mary Gorman. In the Revolution he sided as Colon- ist, renouncing all his allegiance to the king of Great Britain and Ireland. He was one of the first settlers of Fayette County, Indiana, and the first minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church west of the Alleghanies. Mr. and Mrs.
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Robert Wooster were the parents of eleven chiil- dren, of whom the youngest, Thomas, born in October, 1799, is living in Rushville, Indiana. Great-grandfather Henry Woods, born in Vir- ginia about the middle of tlie last century, was married in Pennsylvania to a Miss Londerbach, who was probably a native of that State. He emigrated to Kentucky and was killed by In- dians about 1790.
The subject of this sketch became a clerk in Savannahı, Missouri, at the age of fourteen, and remained thus employed about five years. He afterward worked in the same capacity in Knightstown, Indiana, some eighteen months, when he left for California by the Isthmus ronte, arriving in Stockton, December 2, 1857. From this city he went to live with his uncle, Jeremiah H. Woods, the founder of Woodbridge, and from whom it received its name. Early in 1858 lie became the owner of 320 acres north- east of Woodbridge, on a portion of which tlre village of Acampo now stands. In 1859 he en- gaged in mercantile business with a Mr. Porch, under the style of Porch & Woods. He sold out his interests in 1860, to try his fortune in Virginia City, Nevada; but finding that mining was not liis forte, he returned to mercantile business in Woodbridge, under the style of Woods & Davis, continuing from 1861 to 1863. He again sold out in 1863, and in that year was rejoined from Missouri, by his mother and two brothers-Albert, now living in Tnlare, and E. W. S., now of this city.
In 1864 he went to farming on his ranch at Acampo, and on December 22 of that year lie was married, in Amador County, to Miss Annie Victoria Farmer, born in Greenfield, Dade County, Missouri, January 24, 1843, a daughter of Washington and Sarah North (Dickinson) Farmer. She came to California across tlie plains in 1859 with her father, brother and sis- ter, the mnothier having died at the age of twen- ty-seven. The father died at Woodbridge, in 1872, at the age of sixty-three. The brother, Benjamin A. Farmer, is now living in Tulare City; the sister, Mary Cordelia, by marriage
Mrs. Edward G. Rutledge, of Amador County, died February 22, 1887, at the age of forty-one, leaving five sons. Mr. Rutledge, in company with Mr. Patterson, a cousin, while on a pros- pecting tour, discovered the first copper mines in Amador County, now known as the Newton inine.
Mr. Woods remained on his Acampo ranch, which he had meanwhile enlarged to 400 acres, until 1877, when he removed to this city. He is now joint owner with his two brothers of 640 acres near Lodi, and with one of them, E. W. S., he owns about 3,700 acres in this county, and 2,250 in Tulare. From 1877 to 1882 Mr. Woods was secretary and manager of the Granger's Union of this city. In 1883 and 1884 he was deputy and acting treasurer of this county. He has been a Mason since 1858, be- ing the first initiate of Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M. He belongs to Stockton Chap- ter, No. 28, and to Stockton Commandery, No. 8. He is a member of the San Joaquin Valley Society of California Pioneers. in virtue of his father's early arrival.
Mr. and Mrs. Woods have two children: Jessie Lee, born March 5, 1867, and Mary L., born February 22, 1869, both graduates of Mills' Seminary, near Oakland, in the class of 1887. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of this city, of whichi Mr. Woods has been one of the stewards and trustees since 1872.
HOMAS J. POPE, a farmer of Castoria Township, was born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, November 3, 1831, the third clrild of J. H. and Jane (Shoemate) Pope, na- tives of North Carolina, who had thirteen chil- dren: eight of these are still living and are all in this country and in prosperous circumstances. The parents left their native State, North Caro- lina, when very young and settled in East Ten- nessee in 1818. They were married in 1827, and removed in 1841 to Arkansas, and in 1861
Roswell C. Sargento
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
caine on to California, both of them dying ten years later, and leaving the ten children only $22 each. This is the only money or prop- erty which the subject of this sketelı ever received during his life without directly earning it by hard work. On coming West they left Washington County, Arkansas, March 10, and with ox teams and with some live stock they crossed the plains and mountains, having some trouble with the Indians on the way. who stole their cattle, two horses and two mules. Thomas pursued the Indians and recovered the cattle, but not the other property. They landed in San Joaquin County September 6. By this time the subject of this sketch had married Miss Morning West, September 6, 1849, and had seven children. He went to work for $35 a month, but the great floods of 1861-'62 washed away his house, with everything in it; they had left only the clothing they were wearing, and they indeed very narrowly escaped with their lives. Mr. Pope then purchased a settler's right to 160 acres of land near Woodbridge, and afterward obtained for it a homestead title from the Government. Here be began clearing the ground and raising barley, which he hauled over the foot-hills to the mines; and thus lie was soon able to make further purchases of land and rapidly increase his business. To a great ex tent he bought and sold land as a dealer, in places all the way from Shasta County to Los Angeles. He now resides on a fine ranchi of 860 acres of improved land six miles from Stockton, where he is now erecting a $4,000 residence. He also owns 800 acres sixteen iniles southeast of Stockton, 400 acres twenty miles east of Stockton, 160 acres near Lodi, and six seven-acre lots adjoining Lodi. He is well known throughout the county as one of the largest land owners and successful farmers.
In 1888 he visited his native place in East Tennessee, from which he had been absent forty- seven years. Singular must have been his memories and feelings, contrasting what he found with what he had left so long before. After spending there one very enjoyable month 38
he returned to spend the rest of his days in the best State in the Union. He is now living with his third wife, and has had nineteen children, only nine of whom are now living; their names are Anna Eliza, Amanda, Fannie, Alexander, John, James, Thomas, Grant, Viana, Selina, Matilda, Willie, Margaret, Lizzie, Catharine, Lily, Bertie and Robert. The two last named are by the second marriage. Mr. Pope was brought up a Methodist, but now enjoys a free- dom from the cages of religious creed that he can never abandon.
C. SARGENT .- California is noted for the number of her citizens who liave em- barked in farming and stock-raising upon a gigantic scale, controlling, improving and putting to the best use vast areas of land; but among them all certainly none have done more in the direction of real, useful progress than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and that great firm of which he has so long been a prominent representative, Sargent Bros. An outline sketch of his career, bringing out a few salient points, therefore becomes valuable, and indeed essential in this volume.
He is a native of New Hampshire, born in the town of Thornton, Grafton County, his parents being Jacob and Martha H. (Webster) Sargent. His father was a farmer and specu- lator. and at one time owned a great deal of land in the northeastern part of Grafton County, at the head of the Merrimac river, and right at the foot of the White Mountains, a little to the left of Mount Washington. The family was an old one in that part of the State, our subject having been born precisely where his grand- father Sargent settled. The Websters were also an old and well-known New England family.
When the subject of this sketch was about seventeen years old his mother died, and about a year later, his father consenting, he left home and went to Boston. He worked at agricultural labor for two seasons, and for the next three
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years was engaged in the milk business. He then joined his brother, J. P., in the ice busi- ness, which they carried on profitably, drawing the ice into Boston through Cambridge fromn Fresh Pond. The Sargent brothers sold out their business to Gage, Hittinger & Co., for whom they then went to work for double the salary paid any other employe. Our subject asked leave of absence to go to Illinois, and his employers consenting, he went abont the last of December, 1847, to Chicago. There he learned there had been a brick ice-house built with a capacity of 3,000 tons, the proprietor of which had been killed by an explosion on a steamer. The plant had been leased to a man named Sherman, who had made preparations to fill it, when a warm spell came on and the ice went out. Mr. Sargent went to Sherman and asked him if he would re-lease the building. Sher- man replied in the negative, saying that he wanted to go into the business for himself. Mr. Sargent asked him how he could afford to keep ten men and not have any ice in. Sherman wanted to know if he could do any better, and Mr. Sargent replied that he could if there was ice four inches thick after thirty days from the date of conversation, and asked what Sherman would give him to fill the build- ing, proposing to accomplish the task in four days at a dollar a ton, with four-inch ice. Sher- man figured on the proposition and accepted it. Mr. Sargent sent to Boston for his tools, and got ready for operations before they came out. They arrived there about the 1st of February, 1848, and the ice was then four inches thick. He got a man and went right to work that night grooving, and by daylight had everything ready for work. He commenced work with ten men that morning and continued right along until the second morning about seven o'clock. At ten o'clock that morning there was no more ice in the river. Mr. Sargent went down to Sherman's shop, and the latter asked him if he had any ice in yet, receiving the reply that the building was three-fourths full, and that there would probably be no more ice that spring.
They then went down to the building together and looked at it, and Sherman took it for 2,400 tons. Mr. Sargent bought one-fourth interest in the ice and then commenced selling it, first at twenty-five cents a hundred, afterward rais- ing it to one dollar a hundred, when ice got short. He had bought some, however, at She- boygan, and some more at Peoria. In the fall of 1848 Mr. Sargent bought out Mr. Sherman's interest in the business and building. Then his brother J. P. came ont, and the brothers went into partnership, putting up two large wooden buildings in addition to the original plant. They had just got them completed when a heavy snow storm came up, and the next morn- ing when they went down they found the build- ing full of snow and the roof's at the bottom. They cleaned out the rubbish, put on the roofs and filled the building with ice that was half snow. A warm spell came on clearing the river of ice, and the next cold spell froze a foot and a half of ice on the river, as clear as crystal. They then cleaned out one of the buildings and filled it with the better quality.
In the spring of 18x9 Dr. Jacob L. and J. P. Sargent made all necessary preparations to start for California, but they would not make the trip without R. C. The latter told them he would go if he could sell out, and the Doctor went ont on the Missonri river to buy oxen and complete the equipment.
Our subject went to Mr. Sherman to see it he would buy him out, and the latter said lie would like to do so, but had no money; how- ever, he could give him a note with four good names on it, mentioning the men. Mr. Sar- gent went to the bank and asked whether he could get the money there on those naines, and was told that he could on any two of them. He then took the note back to Sher- inan, who signed it, and, securing the signature of one of the other gentlemen, he took the note to the bank to have it cashed. The banker said, " You are going to California, are you not?" and receiving an affirmative reply, told Mr. Sargent that he had a lot of money worth seventy
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per cent. of its face, which he would sell him at that rate, and which he could dispose of at par for gold dust in California, where there was a scarcity of coin. He took the money, and most of it was carried by him and J. P. in belts, across the plains to California. When they reached their destination, and it was learned that they had the coin in their possession, men would come from miles away to buy it, to use on the gaming tables.
Our subject wound up his business in Chi- cago within two days, and he and J. P. went out to Weston, Missouri, where they joined the Doctor and a man named Arcan, who afterward settled at Santa Cruz. They had not bought the oxen yet, and R. C. was selected to make the necessary purchases. He went to St. Josephlı, and there bought a fine teamn, and brought it down to the camp. Mr. Sargent then started back to buy the remainder of the teams needed. About twelve miles away he met a man who had two yoke of oxen, for which he wanted $100 a yoke, although the usual price was only $30 to $40. They were the kind Mr. Sargent wanted, however, and he took them and was allowed to turn them out on a ten-acre field be- longing to the man, and located near St. Joseph. He also procured a yoke of high-headed wild steers from the same man, giving a negro $10 to yoke them. At St. Joseph he bought enongli to make six yoke, with the wild ones, and, with this part of the business out of the way, they were soon ready to start on the long journey.
They hitched up and started down the river, which they crossed at Independence on the 1st of May. There were two conceited men in the train, brothers, who said there was a train of wagons going to Santa Fe, and that that was the way to go. The party proceeded in that direction as far as the Kansas river, where they overtook a Government train. Mr. Sargent went to the commander and talked with him about the route. The latter said he would show them every courtesy if they journeyed with him, but advised them to turn back and travel by the regular emigrant trail. This they did, having
lost eight days. They took the ronte via Fort Kearney, and when 500 or 600 miles out, their cattle becoming ,restless, they purchased three yoke which liad given out, making nine yoke in all.
Mr. Sargent one day said to his companions, " We must have a different arrangement about driving," and proposed to do all of it himself if the others would do the remainder of the work. The Doctor said, " That will suit us all right, but you could not stand it." However, this was done. Mr. Sargent took the whip at Fort Kearney, and drove the outfit all the way to California, walking alongside. When they got to the forks of the road ate Big Sandy, consultation was hield considering what branch they should take. Mr. Sargent said he was going to California, and his wagon and that of a man named Carr proceeded on via Subs lette's cut-off, the others going by the way of Salt Lake. During the next seven days his party and Carr traveled 175 miles. At Car- son Wells, on the east side of the desert, they camped a day or two to rest, and then started for Carson river in the evening. At daylight in the morning they saw the timber on Car- son river, which appeared to be but three or four miles distant, but was in reality about fourteen. Mr. Sargent, who had been careful to supply his party with water, etc., necessary for the trip, stopped for breakfast and saw Carr throwing ont a part of his water supply. Further on, Carr came to Mr. Sargent for some water to save his cattle, and the latter told him "No," as he should have saved it, and by trying to save his cattle those of both would be lost.
About 11 o'clock A. M., they reached the river, the worst part of the trip being finished. Among the supplies of Mr. Sargent's outfit, was a five- gallon keg of alcohol and one of brandy. A large passenger train got in one day ahead of them, and their commander, Colonel Rogers, came to Mr. Sargent, and wanted to buy the alcohol. The latter opened it, put on a good price, and got about $300 for half of it. Two
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or three honrs later, Colonel Rogers came back for the balance of it. A short time afterward he returned and wanted to get an ox to butcher and eat, which was sold to him for $100. They started on, and the mate of the ox that had been sold dropped dead, the only one lost on the journey.
Just as they reached the top of the mountain Colonel Rogers again came up, and said he had come for a part of the brandy, which was sold to him for a stiff price.
They proceeded on to a little place in El Do- rado County, which some Mormons whom they had met in Carson valley had told them was pretty rich. That place was Ringgold, where they built the first house. They lay there two or three days, when our subject took a team and proceeded to Sacramento. On the journey he became acquainted with an Oregonian, who said he could get out " shakes," build a house, or do any work of that kind. He was taken along by Mr. Sargent, and put up a building in which a trading post was started. Our subject made nine trips to Sacramento and back, and at any time could take out a load of freight, getting $1 a pound for it, if he would guaran- tee to take it through.
During the latter part of that winter and early in the spring there came reports of a heavy immigration. The winter had been wet, and they had been keeping their cattle on the hills. When they pulled the team off the road it was necessary to take the cattle away to Sac- ramento. Our subject drove thein, while the rain was coming down in torrents, to Sutter- ville, three miles below Sacramento, and selected a place across the river for them. He became sick from exposure, and was prostrated for eight days, having to hire a man to do his work.
Abont the eighth day a friend came down to see him, and he told him to go to Sacramento and get a mule. This was done, and the next morning he mounted the mule and went to Sac- ramento. He picked up about twenty-five pairs of long-legged boots, and started with them to the mines, where they were worth any price one
chose to ask for them. At the first mud-hole his mule lay down, aud he was compelled to take off the saddle and blankets and carry them out to safe ground, when the mule got up. This was repeatedly done, at every mnd-hole! In the spring, the town being dull and business poor, the Doctor R C. and J. P. concluded they would not stay, and went to Georgetown, fifteen miles distant. There they lay two or three days and conversed with some merchants whom they knew, who said they expected no business for two or three months. Our subject said he was going after the cattle, and was going back to Ringgold, which he did, and J. P. went with him. They had a rich mine there, but R. C. never did a day's work in it.
In the spring, there being no water to mine witli, he engaged in cutting hay by means of a scythe and snath purchased at Sacramento for $75, and two more which he had previously found under the floor of an abandoned cabin. One day, having gotten pretty well along with the liaying, R. O. started for Sacramento, and on his way inet his brother, Bradley V., who in company with another man was coming up for a visit. A conversation ensned which re- sulted in R. C. engaging them to assist in hay- ing at $10 a day. He put them to cutting, at which they were engaged until their wages amonnted to about $800, while he went to work drawing the hay home and stacking it up. The very day after the stacking was completed, the immigration commenced to appear in an ini- mense volume. Within a week their little town had grown to be a half-mile long, while there was a continnous stream of wagons from a point thirty miles above them clear to Sacramento. It was like an agricultural fair or a race meet- ing for two months. Oxen could then be bought at $10 to $20 per yoke, while horses could be had at one's own price. They had in stack about eighty tons of hay, which they com- nienced selling at a bit a pound, and all was disposed of before any other came into the town. They also had a stack at Mormon Hill. An old English lady, who with her husband
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kept a store at Mud Springs, came one day and asked Mr. Surgent what he would take for the stack. He replied $1,000, or $100 a ton. She said she would give $950, and there tlie trade stopped. She came two or three more times, but as she would not give the original price asked, the sale was not consminmated. Finally Colonel Rogers (previously mentioned in this sketch) came along and agreed to give $1,000 for the hay, saying he would pay for it at an- other time. He got the hay, but never paid anything for it. Mr. Sargent only succeeded in saving a load or two out of it.
About that time would have been an excellent opportunity to embark in the stock business with succes when cattle were so cheap, but cir- cumstances prevented our subject from doing so. In the spring of 1850 he went down to look for his cattle, having with him about $1,000 in gold dust. The first sight he got of his herd was when he saw nine head stretched out under a tree-dead! He found seven head on the ranch where he had turned them out. He also came across a little mare he had lost in the mountains, and the gentleman who had her gave her up without any trouble or words. He went after a band of cattle containing 200 or 300 head, but could not find them. He took the seven he had recovered to Sacramento and sold one yoke to a man named Hastings for $350, taking his note, which was never paid. He spent the $1,000 in gold dust which he had with him in following the cattle, but he never got back any except the seven head already mentioned, and one inore, which had a bell on.
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