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 80
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born in Virginia in 1809, and his mother, Lurena A. (Wilson) Graves, was also born in Virginia in 1814.
OHN BUNCH .- In tracing the history of the Bunch family we find that they are of English extraction. The great-grandfather of our subject came from England and settled in Louisa County, Virginia, some time in the fore part of the seventeenth century. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. In that State they lived and died, with one exception,-David Bunch, who moved to Washington County, Indiana, in 1818. His two youngest children were born there. William, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1804. He lived in Indiana until 1854, when he moved his family to Iowa, where he died in 1870. His first wife was Catharine McGreer, a Kentuckian by birth, who died in 1832; by her he had four children. His second wife was Elizabeth Barnett, who bore him three sons and two daughters. She died in Iowa in 1888, at the age of seventy-two years.
John, the subject of this sketch, was born in Indiana, July 23, 1826. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to the Mexican war, enlisting in the Second Regiment of Indiana, and remaining in the service twelve months. After his dis- charge he returned to Indiana, and worked on his father's farm until 1850. October 3, the same year, he went to Iowa and bought several pieces of land, making his home there until he came to California. He was married there, March 4, 1852, to Miss Mary F. Wallace, a na- tive of Tennessee. April 14, 1864, he left for California; he had a wagon drawn by an ox team, and a carriage drawn by two mules, in which the family made the journey. They reached this State September 2, 1864. They passed the first winter at China Camp, Tuolumne County, on what is called the Oak Grove ranch. He came to San Joaquin County, August 8,
1865, and a year afterward rented a place from Joe Davis, on which he stayed one year. Then he bought the place where he now resides, mov - ing on to it October 11. It contains 280 acres of land under the very best of improvements, situated on the county road, running from the Eiglit-Mile House into the upper Sacramento road. He also owns eighty acres almost two and a half miles east of his home place. He is one of our most enterprising citizens, taking an interest in anything that portends to the public good. He has made a success in this State, which can be attributed to his own good inan- agement and business ideas.
His family consists of nine children, namely : Sarah F., Mary E., Charles P., David M., Ann Virginia, Julia C., Joseph W., Ida and Thomas.
MERICUS MILLER ABBOTT, president and manager of the Relief Wind-mill Company of Stockton, was born in Maine, June 10, 1847, a son of Abiel and Eleanor Jane (West) Abbott. The father, born in Maine, April 18, 1811, learned the trade of stonemason and became a contractor in that line. He came to California in 1855, and after some time set- tled on a farm in Bachelor valley, being also interested in mines, the new water ditch and other enterprises. He was a justice of the peace at one time, and died March 20, 1877, in Sears- port, Maine; the mother, born July 22, 1816, died in Stockton January 30, 1875. Grand- father Abbott, a soldier of the war of 1812, was killed in battle; the grandmother, Mrs. Abbott, died in Waldo County, Maine, at the age of eighty-seven.
A. M. Abbott received most of his schooling in Maine, with a few short seasons in this State after his arrival in 1861. After school days his chief occupation for several years was farm work, until 1868, when he abandoned tliat line of industry. He learned the trade of black- smith, and about 1871 started a shop in this city. Besides the usual work in his line he did
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considerable special work in the repairing of agricultural implements and machines. In October, 1875, he began to give exclusive attell- tion to the construction of a windmill and pump, and also on some minor devices and im- provements. In 1879 he formed a partnership for the manufacture of the Abbott windmill and the Abbott pump, together with tank and tank framnes, under the style of Abbott & Will- iams. By the admission of Mr. Stowell the firm becarne Abbott, Williams & Stowell, and by the withdrawal of Mr. Williams, in 1881, it became Abbott & Stowell, so remaining until 1886, when they separated, Mr. Abbott contin- uing to make the windmills known by his name and Mr. Stowell the Relief windmill. In 1889 they consolidated both enterprises, which was incorporated under the name of the Relief Wind- inill Company, June 17, 1889.
The mill is said to be lighter-running than any others, which reduces the noise to a minimum, while its durability and simplicity of construc- tion give it an advantage in reducing cost. These mills have been introduced everywhere on this coast, and is an evidence of their popular- ity, as well as durability. It may be instanced that on the great ranch of J. B. Haggin they have been gradually introduced until there are no less than sixty of them in use in 1890. It has been steadily improved from time to time, over a dozen patents have been obtained for various improvements, the result of close ob- servation and experience in manufacturing. The Relief Windmill Company use wheels of four distinct designs, including the Davis Improved and a strong, durable and light-running steel wheel, ;which is giving special satisfaction to their patrons.
Mr. A. M. Abbott was married in Stockton in 1875, to Miss Saralı Ann Connor, born in Pennsylvania, August 24, 1842, a daughter of James Connor and his wife (by birtli a Miss Mayberry). The father is still living, aged over eighty years. Mrs. Abbott died in this city in March, 1886, leaving four children: Mary Eleanor, born August 23, 1875; Charles Austin,
November 3, 1878; Frederick Connor, May 7, 1881; Asa Americus, Angust 18, 1884. Mr. Abbott was again married in Stockton, March 17, 1888, to Miss Minnie Fuller, born in Illinois in 1862 and a resident of this State since 1874. Both her parents are living in this city.
Mr. Abbott is a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 23, A. O. U. W., also of I. O. O. F., No. 55. A. M. Abbott has four brothers: D. F., C. A., George W. and W. L. His sister, Mary Jane, the youngest of the family, now deceased, was married to G. G. Hillman, in 1874, and left two children: Nellie and Lizzie. Nellie, the eld- est, died February 15, 1890.
T. BLANCHARD, farmer of Castoria Township, was born in New Hampshire in 1832, where he remained until 1850, when he started for San Francisco. He sailed from New York around the Horn; after a tire- some voyage of seventy-two days he arrived in San Francisco, April 4, 1851. He remained there one year working at odd jobs, tlien started on a mining tour all over California. After roving for four years lie settled in Castoria Township. In 1855 he purchased the ranch on which he now resides, of 160 acres, fourteen miles from Stockton, on the Durham Ferry road. When he bought it the land was totally uncultivated; now it is well cultivated and im- proved, and he has had an inviting little resi- dence erected on it.
He was married to Miss Sarahı Honser, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1849. They have seven children, viz .: Dora A., Charles E., Ada E., Emma B., Herbert D., Everett W. and Lester L.
H. BUTTRICK, a farmer of Castoria, was born in Massachusetts in 1831. When seventeen years of age he left that State for Illinois, where he remained until
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
1861, when he camne to California, across the plains, with 300 head of horses. On arriving at Sacramento he at once went to work on the Sacramento levee, which he has the credit of building. He hauled the first load of dirt for the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad, on which rode Leland Stanford and Charles Crocker. In 1864 he went back to Illinois, re- turning with 300 inore head of horses, bring- ing them this time to Stockton, where he became land agent for Captain Moss, in whose employ he remained for twelve years. Since that time lie has been engaged in farming.
He married M. E. Noble in 1882, a native of Wales, born in 1833. They have one son- Fred. W.
ICHAEL BOWERS was born in Mary- land in 1836, on Christmas Day, his parents being Anthony and Margaret (Johnson) Bowers, both of German descent. About 1843 or 1844 the family moved from Maryland to Ohio, settling in Darke Connty, where they both. lived and died. Anthony Bowers was both a baker and a miller by trade; the former business he followed in the early part of his life, but after he moved to Ohio he turned his attention to milling; he owned a · grist-mill at Jacksonville, Ohio; when lie first took control of it it was a water and saw-mill. He afterward remodeled it into a steam mill, making many improvements, etc., carrying it on for ten or fifteen years. He afterward sold the mill and embarked in the mercantile busi- ness, in which he was engaged at the time of his death. In his family there were five chil- dren, namely: Michael, Anthony, Anna, Frank and Elizabeth; two of them, Anthony and Anna, are deceased.
Michael is the oldest of the family. He was brought up on a farın and taught how to work. In his eighteenth year, in 1854, he came to California, via the Nicaragua route, arriving in
San Francisco from the steamer Nicaragua, May 1, after a voyage of about three weeks. He had but ten cents in his pocket when he landed, but soon found employment in the city wheeling brick in a brick-yard for $40 a month. At the end of four days he was taken sick and laid up for six weeks, but was not entirely confined to his bed, so found a place where he could inilk cows and do other light chores for his board. When he was able to do hard work he remained with the same family, at $25 a month, working in a garden. He next obtained a position driv- ing a butcher's wagon and helping to butcher at $50 a month. He remained here for six months, then made his way to Mariposa, where he stayed three months engaged in surface digging, about making his expenses. This was the first and only mining he ever did. He came to Stockton and was engaged at farm work by a inan named Rank, in O'Neil Township, on what is now called the Tom Day place. He remained there about three months, when he left there, went to Stock- ton, and carried a hod for $4 a day, working on the public building then going up. At the end of six months he quit this work and hired out to Elijalı Wilkins, working on his ranch, mak- ing $40 a month. He stayed there five years. He had saved liis earnings and had a small capi- tal on hand. He took this and bought out the interest of a man named Fry, who was in part- nership with John Duffee, in a tract of 202 acres. Bowers & Duffee continued in partner- ship for a year, when they divided the land and stock and other farming equipments, Mr. Bowers taking the npper half, and there he has since inade his home. The place is situated on the Waterloo road, eight miles from Stockton, and through the energy and industry of its owner is one of the most highly developed ranches in the county. The buildings, fences and other im- provements are of the very best.
Mr. Bowers was married Jannary 21, 1863, to Ellen Sheehan, a native of Ireland, but she came to the United States when very young, and to California in 1861. Their family consists of one daughter, Mamie A., born September 6,
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
1871. They have lost one son, Anthony, who died in 1869, at the age of two years.
OHN COWELL, a farmer of Castoria Town- ship, was born in New York State, January 2, 1842. He moved to Grant County, Wis- consin, in 1845, where he remained until 1861, when he went to the State of Nevada. A year later he came to Castoria township and pur- chased the farm where he now resides. It con- tains 1,133 acres. He is one of the largest grain-raisers in this section of the country; he has several threshing-machines run by engines, and does a great deal of threshing for his neigh- bors. He also raises some fine stock and some thoroughbred horses. He has a nice little home for his family, and takes a great interest in the education of his children. His wife, E. F. (San- ders) Cowell, was born in New York State in 1849. They have five children, namely: Hattie V., Ella A., Clara C., Mary E. and Otis M.
W. COWELL, a retired farmer, was born in New York State, January 3, 1837. In 1844 he removed with his parents to Wisconsin, where he remained until he started for California in 1860, across the plains. He arrived in Stockton after a four months' journey, November 1, 1861. He soon went to the sand plains of Nevada, where he married his first wife, who died leaving two children, namely: Ida, now Mrs. Tucker, and Mary A., now Mrs. Tubbs. He taught school in Union district, Nevada, where he had often to walk the distance of several miles from his school to Virginia city, through the snow. In the spring of 1863 he and his brother John went to teaming: they con- tinued in that business for the summer and winter, and then returned to Stockton. Mr. Cowell went to work for Mr. J. Reynolds, re- inaining with him one month, then decided to go into business for himself. He rented a
farm and did a prosperous business. He now owns two ranches,-one in Castoria Town- ship of 1,440 acres of well-improved land, on which he resides, and another of 1,800 acres in Tulare Township. Both are devoted to the rais- ing of wheat, barley and rye.
He married his present wife, Lorain (Dickin- son) Cowell, in 1867; she was born in Wiscon- sin, September 9, 1844. They have two chil- dren, viz .: Frankie G., born July 17, 1877, and Eugene, born May 27, 1882.
OBERT COFFEE, of Elkhorn Township, was born October 9, 1822, in Boston, Massachusetts, son of Roger Coffee, who was a mechanic by trade, and died in Boston in 1840 at the age of forty-three years. There were three children in the family, two boys and one girl: John, Ellen and Robert. Robert was raised in Boston, where he learned the ma- chinist's trade, which he followed until he came to California. When he was but eighteen months old his mother had died, which event broke up the family and threw the children on their own resources. But he set out to learn his trade, and worked his way steadily upward. In 1849 he came to California, crossing the plains in company with the Bunston & Newton Joint Stock Company, numbering twenty-five persons. They purchased stock in Missouri and drove them across the plains. The trip occupied about four months. On arriving in Sacramento they divided their stock. Mr. Coffee went to Winter Bar, on the Mokelumne river, and spent five months in mining, then came to Stockton, where he remained until spring, when he re- turned to the mines. He spent two more years at that occupation, then came to this valley and went to farming. In 1853 he purchased the ranch on which he now resides. It then con- tained 160 acres; since then he has added to it and now has 240 acres. It was, when he pur- chased it, in a wild state, but is now in a fine state of cultivation. It is located abont ten
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
miles from Stockton, and six from Lodi. It is devoted to the raising of hay, grain and stock.
Mr. Coffee has a pleasant home, and to-day enjoys his declining years in the county which he has helped to make what it is.
H. BILLINGHURST, a farmer of Elliott Township, was born in Gene- see County, New York, February 18, 1834, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hatchi) Billinghurst, both natives of Genesee County, New York, who moved to Calhoun County, Michigan, in 1844, where they now reside. Mr. Billinghurst, our subject, started for California in 1863, by water, and after a voyage of twenty- four days arrived in San Francisco, November 16, 1863. Ile stayed in Sau Francisco but a short time, then went to Nevada, thence to Washington Territory. In January, 1876, he came to San Joaquin County and engaged in threshing, which he continued for two years. In 1878 he bought the place on which he now resides. It contains 300 acres of fine land, located about four and one-half miles northeast of Clements, on the river road. His principal product is grain, although lie raises some fruit for his own use. He is a member of the order of Good Templars, No. 115.
He was married to Ella Freeman, who was born in Washtenaw County, Michigan, May 15, 1850, the daughter of Daniel Freeman, who died September 20, 1888, in San Joaquin County. Mr. and Mrs. Billinghurst have two children: Lee, a farmer, aged twenty-one years, and Bes- sie, aged fifteen years, living at home.
OHN DRISCOL, a worthy and honorable citizen of San Joaquin County, was born in Springfield, Ohio, March 12, 1827, his parents being Jeremiah and Temperance (Alban) Driscol, both natives of Ohio. When John was about two years old the family moved to
Indiana, settling three miles from La Fayette, where both the parents died. In the family there were eight children, four sons and four daughters, John being the oldest in the family. He made his home on his father's farm till he was about nineteen, when he went with one of his uncles to Cedar County, Iowa, where he re- mained about two years. He then made a short visit to his family in Indiana, then returned to Iowa, where he made his home up to the time that he started for the great West. In 1852 Mr. Driscol, with his wife and two children, started across the plains for California. The journey was made with ox teams, and occupied just five months to the day. They landed in Placerville, El Dorado County, in which vicinity Mr. Driscol worked in the mines up to the year 1857, having the success of the majority of miners, the money coming easy and going easy. The cost of living was high, and it took a good deal to supply the wants of a family. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Driscol went East, crossing the plains with horses, making the journey in about two and a half months. He went to his home in Cedar County, Iowa, and the next spring moved to Clarke County, where he pur- chased 120 acres of land and settled down to farming. There he remained about four years, during which time he was never satisfied, and as soon as he could he sold his land and again crossed the plains. He arrived in this valley in September, 1862. All he possessed was a span of inares and a wagon. One of the animals died a short time after. He had his family to support and it was necessary that he should find work in order that they might not want. He worked at anything that he could find to do, and finally in the same year he settled on the place where he now resides. He pre-empted 160 acres and as soon as the land came into market he entered it. Since that time he has been engaged in farming. He has at present 400 acres, all under cultivation, with the exception of eighty acres used for pasture. He has been a most successful farmer.
He was married in the winter of 1849 to
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
Sarah Ann Allen, a native of Ohio. She died in 1876, leaving eight children, all now living, namely: George, resident at Nelson Station, Butte County; Jacob Allen, El Dorado; Will- iam, John, Eliza Jane, wife of Charles Duston; Mary, wife of M. A. Sparks, residing in Galt, Sacramento County; Rachel, wife of S. D. Hol- man. Mr. Driscol was married to his present wife, Lydia King, a widow and a native of Pennsylvania, in 1879.
Politically Mr. Driscol has always been a Democrat, although he has never taken any active part in political matters.
ICHARD WOODS, a farmer of Elkhorn Township, was born August 10, 1822, in Marshall County, West Virginia, a son of George and Achsa (Birch) Woods, natives of Virginia, and residents upon a farm. In 1855 they moved to Iowa, settling in Linn County upon land obtained from the Government, and resided there until the father's death in 1863 at the age of seventy years. Richard, who was brought up to farm life, went to Iowa in 1853, two years before his parents emigrated there, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he came overland with ox teams to California, arriving here at the end of a six months' journey. On the way across the plains they were attacked by Indians, at the place known as the City of Rocks, north of Salt Lake; and although Mr. Woods and another member of the party were wounded, the forty whites put the 100 Indians to flight. On arriv- ing here Mr. Woods purchased a squatter's right to his present home, and was one of the first to settle in this part of the county. Therefore he had wild land upon which to make all the improvements which exist there now, and will attest the good judgment, energy and economy of the proprietor. He has therefore been a judicious, successful agriculturist.
Mr. Woods was married in 1851 to Miss Mary A. Durbin, a native of Virginia and
daughter of William B. Durbin. There are nine children having the following names: Adaline, wife of James Parrott; George A., Barbery .J., wife of E. Sollinger; William M., Charles R., Carrie G., wife of V. J. Lucas; James A. and Melvin O.
EORGE FAVINGER, a farmer of Elliott Township, was born May 10, 1833, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, his parents being Samuel and Margaret (Ryan) Favinger, both natives of Pennsylvania. George is the only one out of a family of ten chil dren who came to California. When he was thirteen years old he went to Ohio, thence to Michigan, where he remained until 1869 when he emigrated to Wyoming Territory and on the 2d of May, 1870, started for Cali- fornia with the intention of purchasing a home. Soon after his arrival he bought 160 acres ot railroad land sitnated about three miles north. west of Lockeford, and about six miles northeast of Lodi. At that time there was not a build. ing on the place; so, liaving a large tent they pitched it under a large tree and lived there until their house was built. Mr. Favinger be- ing a carpenter, it was not long before he had a comfortable little cottage built for his family, into which they moved and have remained there ever since. It is a quiet little home, partly hidden in a grove of trees. Mr. Favinger was married in 1854, in Ohio, to Miss Anna M. Barrett. He is a member of the Masonic order.
ELAND J. YOUNG, a farmer of Liberty Township, was born in Missouri, August 3, 1846, a son of William H. and Eliza- beth (Zumwalt) Young, both natives of Mis- souri, who came to California in 1853, settling on a ranch on Dry creek, Sacramento County, abont two and a half miles east of Galt; the
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father died February 18, 1883: the mother is still living in Galt. The old ranch is being farmed by Beaugard Young, the brother of the subject of this sketelı.
The subject of this sketch, Leland J. Young, caine to California with his parents when six years of age, crossing the plains withi ox teams. He remained on the home ranch until twenty- one years of age, then started out in life for himself. He bought a ranch of 160 acres on Dry creek, where he engaged in ranching until 1879, when he disposed of it and bonghit the place on which he now resides; it contains 320 acres of fine farming land, situated on the Wood- bridge road, four and one-half miles from Woodbridge. He is a member of the order of United Workmen.
He was married August 27, 1867, to Miss Fanny Fuqua, a native of California; by her he has five children, two of whom are dead, their names are as follows: Ella F., Eva R., Frank Resert, William H., and an infant unnamed. His wife died in the year 1878. He was again married, to Mrs. Geneva Adams. They have had three children: Bessie, Lloyd and Clara.
OHN D. WINTERS, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, is a son of Joseph and Saralı (McLean) Winters; the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of Scot- land. The father was a blacksmith or ship- smith in the navy yard and followed that trade until his death, which occurred in 1843.
John D. Winters, the subject of this sketch, was raised on board a naval vessel, being placed there when seven years of age and remaining until twenty-one, when he joined the army in Florida and served five years, during which time he was in Louisiana and Mexico. He came from Mexico in 1848 to California, act- ing in the capacity of teamster and coming witlı the Government troops. They wintered at Los Angeles and he was discharged there in the
spring of 1849. He came to Stockton in May and at once engaged in mining. In the fall of that year he came to the San Joaquin valley and started a public house in partnership with O'Neil. Ile remained at this until 1853, when O'Neil died : the property was sold and he went to his home in the East. In 1854 after returning from the States, lie located on his present prop- erty, situated eight miles from Stockton, and has made liis liome here ever since. He lias made all the improvements. The land is de- voted chiefly to the raising of hay and grain.
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