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 83
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Mr. Odell is an Odd Fellow, having joined the order in 1854 in Stockton. He was in early life brought up in the faith of the Baptist
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church, and still maintains his religious belief. His first Presidential vote was cast for Martin Van Buren, the Democratic nominee, who ran against General Harrison, and from that time to this he has always been an upright and honest supporter of the Democratic party; never but once in his life has he scratched a ticket, and that was in the fall of 1888, and that time lie scratched out one name. He has often been a member of the county conventions, and his judgment and influence has been brought to bear in more than one case for the good of the party.
The wife of Mr. Odell was born in England, but came to this country with her parents when two years of age. Up to the time she was nine years of age she was raised in Oneida County, and from there the family moved to Michigan and settled in Lenawee County, about twelve miles from Adrian. Mr. and Mrs. Odell have one son, James M. Odell, a business man of Stockton.
ILAS MARCH, farmer, is a native of Clark County, Kentucky, where he was born May 4, 1827. In the fall of the following year his parents moved to Boone County, where our subject was raised and attended school. At the age of twenty-one he taught school, following that occupation four years with success. At the expiration of this time lie decided to come to California; accord- ingly, he closed his school, settled up with the school trustees, and, January 6, 1852, struck out, coming by the regular mail steamer line of that day via New Orleans, Havana and Chagres, landing in San Francisco March 14, 1852. After remaining there one night he came up to Stockton, arriving here on the morning of the 16th. The same day he went to French Camp, remaining there till the following September, when he engaged in the cattle trade in Mariposa County, continuing in that business till 1866, having at times large bands of cattle and exten-
sive grazing grounds. When that country be- gan to get more settled up he bought a piece of land and went to farming, about two years before he sold out his cattle. During his residence there he served the county as Supervisor for thirteen years. He was also connected with the inauguration and carrying out of the school system of that county for about twenty-five years, in fact, during almost his entire residence there. He was also associated with the sheep husbandry in Merced County. In September, 1877, he sold out his interests in Mariposa County, and moved to San Joaquin County, going on to his present place on the 18th of that month, since which time he has followed farming exclusively. His ranch contains 666 acres, a part of which is on the Weber grant, and the remainder is State land, the whole situated on the lower Sacramento road, three miles north west of Stockton. Mr. Marchi has an extensive acquaintance among the public men of the State, but politically is not what we might term a poli- tician. His views in this respect, however, are Democratic, and, being one of that retiring kind of men, he has never sought any public notoriety. In an early day, when Merced County was first organized, the people did elect him as Justice of the Peace, which office he held one term. Mr. March was married July 11, 1850, to Elizabeth Ann Stevenson, a native of Boone County, Missouri. Their family consists of four sons and one daughter, all married and heads of families.
ORMAN S. MISENER, a farmer of Elliott Township, was born October 24, 1832, in Franklin County, Indiana, a son of Elisha and Amy (Butler) Misener; the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Vermont. When the subject of this sketch was seven years old his parents moved to Grundy County, Illinois, where he was raised on a farm up to the age of sixteen, when he served an apprenticeship of one year at the wagon-making trade at Newark, Illinois,
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then removed to Aurora, Illinois, where he fin- ished his trade. In 1860 he started for Cali- fornia, sailing from New York on the steamer North Star to the Isthmus and landing at San Francisco from the steamer Sonora, after a voy- age of twenty-five days. From San Francisco he went to Sacramento and found employment at his trade for a short time. He went next to Massachusetts Flat on the American river, where he remained until November and then went back to Illinois, remaining until the spring of 1864, when he returned to California with his family, settling in Folsom, where he engaged at his trade and helped to lay the railroad from Fol- som to Lathrop, a distance of twenty-five miles. Coming to this connty he was employed at ranching and working at his trade for a year; returned to Illinois in 1865, and remained nntil 1869. He then came back to this county and bought the ranch where he now resides. The ranch contains 250 acres of fine land situated on the Galt vand Elliott road, about a fourth of a mile from Elliott. He was for ten years in partnership with the Hickey Brothers, in the mercantile business, but disposed of that and turned his whole attention to ranching.
He was married to Miss Caroline E. Wood, a native of Michigan. Their family consists of four children, three sons and one daughter: Robert E., Frank L., Warren L. and Hattie E., who is now the wife of Mr. Lamb. Mr. Mise- ner is a member of the Masonic order.
ERRY O'NEIL, a farmer of Castoria Town- ship, San Joaquin County, was born in Ire- land in 1835. In 1854 he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York. He went to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he remained four years, then came to California via Cape Horn, landing in San Francisco. He went immediately to Stockton, where he was employed until 1863. During that year he bought the 160 acres of fine improved land on
which he now resides. The farm is principally devoted to raising grain.
His wife's maiden name was Hannah Shee- han, and she is a native of Ireland. They have an adopted child, a boy named John Sheehan.
DWARD J. McDADE, deceased, one of our old pioneers, was born in the South, probably in Tennessee, and was raised in the State of Virginia. He moved from there to Arkansas, and was a stage-driver in an early day between Little Rock and Hot Springs. He went up the Arkansas river to a place called Ozark, where he remained a short time, then came to this country. He made the journey across the plains, landing in California in 1853, going to Vallicita, where the train disbanded. Shortly after that he engaged in hauling freight from Stockton to the mines of Columbia, Sonora and other places. He followed this business up to 1860, at which time his employer failed and he was compelled to take a wagon as part pay for his services. Taking this and what money he had, he came to San Joaquin County and bought 160 acres of land in the township of O'Neil, on the lower Sacramento road, six miles from Stockton, where he made his home up to the time of his death. He was one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of this sec- tion of the country, having a keen insight as to how farming ought to be done. In 1865 he purchased 850 acres, known as the Daggett ranch, located in the same neighborhood, whichi he used as a stock ranch. He also had valuable residence property, situated on the corner of Miner avenue and Pilgrim street, now belong- ing to the estate, which is controlled by his widow.
He was married in Vallicita to Miss Ann M. Webb, and his family afterwards made their home in Snellings, Merced County, while he was engaged in teaming. His death occurred October 16, 1878, at the age of fifty-one years.
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His widow is now residing in San Jose, with some of her children. In the family there were four children, viz .: Harlow J. and Hugh, re- siding on the homestead property in this county, and Orlena and Alice, both of whom are married and residing at San Jose.
0 L. MAGEE, a farmer of Elliott Town- ship, was born in Columbia, Washington County, Maine, July 25, 1826, a son of John and Linda (Looke) Magee, both natives of Maine, who never left their native State. The father was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and was taken a prisoner to England. By trade he was a lumberman and ship-builder.
S. L. Magee, the subject of this notice, left Maine in 1849, taking the bark Belle Gray, around the Horn for California, where he arrived May 7, 1850. Shortly after his arrival he as- sisted in building the steamer San Joaquin, and became part owner of that vessel, which was built for the river trade between Stockton and San Francisco. He disposed of his interest in that vessel and purchased an interest in the steamer Sagamore, with Captain Folsom. When the news was received of the admission of Cali- fornia as a State into the Union, the people of San Francisco celebrated the event very enthu - siastically, and the day was brilliantly closed by the accidental explosion of the boilers of the Sagamore as she lay at her wharf in the San Francisco harbor. Mr. Magee received the news with resignation and fortitude. Soon afterward he went to Mokelumne Hill and engaged in placer mining, which occupation he followed for two years, and fortune filled his cradle with a goodly amount of the precious metal. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Mokel- umne Hill until 1858, when he was solicited by his Democratic fellow-citizens to run on the Democratic ticket for the office of County Treas urer. He was elected and thrice re-elected on the same ticket; but, being desirous of with-
drawing from the political arena, he declined the last nomination.
He has an interesting family, consisting of a son and two daughters, in whose education he has taken an active interest. He was married in May, 1859, on her parents' ranch, the Ath- earn ranch, to Miss Rebecca Atlearn, who was born in Rising Sun, Indiana, in 1839, and came with her parents to California in 1859. As be- fore stated, they have three children, namely : Sophia A., wife of Mr. Gaskel, a farmer of Elliott Township, was born January 6, 1863; Louisa, wife of Mr. Misener, of Lockeford, born July 29, 1865; and Henry S., boru November 22, 1868, now attending a business college at San Francisco.
LEXANDER MAYBERRY was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1830, son of William and Martha (Laugh- lin) Mayberry. The former is of French de- scent, and was born and raised in the State of Pennsylvania, and the latter was a native of Ireland. Alexander was the next to the young- est in a family of thirteen children, and is the only one residing in this State. His boyhood's days were spent in a new country, where the land was covered with timber, underbrush and stones, which had to be cleared off. From the time he was able he had to pick stones and cut brush. He was able to go to school three months out of twelve, of which he got on the average one month out of three. He continued this inode of life until he was eighteen. He worked for wages up to 1852, the highest he ever received being $13 a month, and it took a good man to get that much.
March 1, 1853, he was married to Eliza Canon, a native of the same county in Pennsylvania. On the 30th day of the same month they went to Jackson County, Iowa, arriving there April 16, where he farmed for eight years. May 1, 1861, he left there for California, making the
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journey across the plains with ox teams, reach- ing Sacramento river September 27, after a trip of five months. He worked in Chico twenty- eight days, and from tltere came to San Joaquin County, landing here on November 13, same year. He worked by the month for $35 a inonth the first year, his wife working in the same family for her and her children's board. In the winter of 1862-'63 he rented a piece of land, the same place where he had worked by the month, situated on the Mariposa road, seven miles sontlieast of Stockton, where he continued till the winter of 1865-'66, when he purchased the place for $2,500, going in debt for it. He finislied paying for it in the summer of 1872. He then bought another quarter- section near by for $8,000, making a payment of $500 on it. He farmed it up to 1881, when he sold it for $17,000. He then came to the northern part of the county and purchased the place where he now resides, consisting of 160 acres, for which he paid $6,400. It has since been well im- proved by Mr. Mayberry.
Politically he is a Republican; his first Presi- dential vote was cast for a Whig candidate, then the Republican party came into power, and he has been a good supporter of it ever since. In 1886 he was the Republican nominee for the position on the Board of County Supervisors, was elected, and has held the office ever since. His judgment has been felt in more ways than one, to the interests of the community.
His family consists of three children, namely : Willy W., Prairie J. and John S., all residing in this county.
HARLES C. LONG, a native of Pennsyl- vania, was born October 20, 1835, in Schuylkill County, Pa., his parents being Michael and Barbara Long, both natives of Ger- inany. They came to America in 1828 and settled in Pennsylvania. Michael Long went to work in the coal mines, and afterward took up a coal claim from the Government, but was
unable to work it because he lacked the means with which to develop it. The mine after- wards became very valuable. He also took up some land, on which he remained till his death, which occurred in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, in 1875.
Charles C. was raised on a small farm until eighteen years of age, when he started to learn the wagon-maker's trade with Daniel Crebes, with whom he remained two years, and, being a natural mechanic and so apt, he became master of the trade in that time. In 1855 he started for California via the Isthmus, landing in San Francisco after a trip of forty days, during which they had some accidents, and Mr. Long acted as ship carpenter, receiving good wages. They offered him $5 to return with the ship in the same capacity, but not caring for that posi- tion he refused. He went to Sacramento, thence to Stockton, where he went to work at his trade with Mr. Cory, remaining with him about five months. He then went to the mines in Siskiyon County, where he stayed eighteen months, then came down to Trinity Connty and engaged in mining there for about two years. The mining on the whole was a success, and he liked the industry very much, but had to give it up on account of rheumatism. In 1859 lie returned to Stockton and started a wagon shop, which he ran for one year, then sold out, and located 160 acres on the Calaveras river, about ten miles from Stockton. After four years had elapsed he sold the place, came down and located 220 acres on the Waterloo road, about seven iniles from town. It was then covered with timber and underbrush, and to-day it is one of the best improved farms in this county. It is devoted to the raising of hay, grain and stock.
Mr. Long was married in the fall of 1859, to Miss Rachel Wildprett, a native of New Or- leans. They have seven children living and two deceased. The living are: Charles M., Barbara, wife of Charles Lydecker; Lucy, wife of James Main; Frank, Henry, Joseph and Rosa.
The subject is one of our old Californians and most respected citizens, beloved by his fam-
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ily and respected by all who know him. He is a member of the Druid Lodge, No. 9, of Stock- ton, to which he has belonged twenty years.
ZEKIEL LAWRENCE was born in Can- ada, June 24, 1826, his parents being Oli- ver and Maria (Bonesteel) Lawrence, botlı natives of New York; the former of English aud the latter of German descent. From New York they moved to Canada, locating in the township of Sidney, Province of Ontario. Eze- kiel was about four years old when his father died. He made his home at the old home place up to the time he was sixteen years old, when he learned the inillwright trade and served his apprenticeship of four years, continued at his trade one year, and in 1848 went to Branch County, Michigan, where he followed his trade. In 1850 he left Michigan for California, crossed the Missouri at St. Joe, May 2, and made the journey across the plains with mule teams, ar- riving at Hangtown, Angust 31. For eight years he worked at his trade and at mining al- ternately. In 1858 he came to this valley, land- ing in the place where he now lives, May 22. He took np a quarter section of land and bought another, which he has kept to the present day. He is principally engaged in farming, also in selling, buying and storing grain, he having a half interest in the warehouse with George S. Locke of Lockeford, these gentleinen having built the warehouse together.
The ranch of Mr. Lawrence is situated just at the edge of Lodi. On the ranch is an irri- gating ditch, which was constructed by himself and John Hutchins, which is two miles long, running from the Mokelumne river, just north of Mr. Lawrence's place, through his land to Mr. Hutchins', which lies just south of Lodi. It was built in the fall of 1887 and is run by a sixty-five-horse-power engine. The pumps have a capacity of 10,000 gallons a minute, throwing a powerful stream. Mr. Lawrence had a fine almond orchard, of twenty-one acres, set out in
the spring of 1887. His first house was a lit- tle cabin built on the piece of land he took up, where he lived until his better residence was completed. His present and third residence was put up in 1879, at a cost of $4,000. It, witlı the valuable improvements around it, inake one of the handsomest places in this vicinity.
Mr. Lawrence was married May 22, 1857, to Miss Mary Hutchins, a native of Canada. The marriage took place in Placerville, El Dorado County. They have three children, namely: William H., George E., a practicing attorney of Visalia, Tulare County, and Nettie M., residing at home.
Mr. Lawrence was one of the original mein - bers of the Grangers' Co-operative Business As- sociation of Lodi, and he has been a director in the same since it was started. He was one of the starters of the grist-mill in Lodi and also one of the directors of the bridge on the Mokelumne river at Lodi until it was turned over to the county.
HEODORE LEE, rancher, was born in Albany, New York, August 31, 1820. He made his home with his parents in Albany up to the time lie came to California in 1849. He left Albany March 4, the day that Taylor was inaugurated as President of the United States, and a few days later sailed from New York on the packet ship Helena, bound for San Francisco, via Cape Horn. They made but two stops on the voyage, at Rio Janeiro and Valparaiso, and landed in San Francisco after a trip of six months. They had a very pleasant time on the whole; in passing the Horn they encountered a severe storm and liad somne difficulty in weathering it. After landing in San Francisco he went directly to the mines in Calaveras Connty, and followed this pursuit for the next five years in that and El Dorado counties, meeting with moderate success. In 1854 he quit the mines, came down to the San Joaquin valley and purchased a ranch of 160
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acres where he now lives, situated about five iniles north of Stockton. It was at that time a barren and unbroken country. The land be- tween liis place and the Calaveras river was all swamp land, most of which is now under good cultivation. He has since made other purchases of land, having at the present time 234 acres, constituting one ranch, devoted to general farm- ing, principally wheat and stock. Mr. Lee has made four trips to the East since his coming here, and is of the firm opinion that there is no country on the face of the globe equal to this, and is therefore perfectly content and willing to spend the remainder of his days here.
Mr. Lee was married September 3, 1870, to Deborah Hall, a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania. The station of Devon, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, is situated on her father's farın. Both of Mr. Lee's parents were Penn- sylvanians, and remained in their native State all their lives.
Politically Mr. Lee is a Republican, and for the past two years has been a member of the Republican county committee.
RS. SARAH LAURY was the wife of Benjamin H. Laury, a native of Maine, who was raised in Boston, where he learned the machinist's trade. Being a practical engineer he followed his trade until he came to California. In 1859 he came direct to Stockton and engaged in the flour mills as engineer. Then he went to Linden, thence to his ranch, which is located twelve miles from Stockton off the Cherokee Lane. He died in 1880, at the age of forty-nine years. His wife still resides on the ranch, which is a beautiful little home. It con- tains 160 acres of choice farming land, which is devoted to general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Laury had four children, two boys and two girls, namely: John M., Cora E., wife of W. J. Hun- ter; George W. and Susie I. Mr. Laury was a man well known among his early companions and is remembered by them as a man of worth
and ability. His wife now superintends the farm in a way that does credit to herself, show- ing her to be a woman of ability and resource.
EORGE M. KASSON was born February 13, 1813, in Granby, Connecticut. When eighteen years of age he commenced trad- ing through Pennsylvania and the Southern States. In 1848 he went to St. Louis where he kept a livery stable and feed stable. Having a touch of the gold fever he started for California across the plains in 1850, arriving at Placerville in August of that year. The next eighteen months he spent mining at Placerville, and on Ynbaand Feather rivers, at the end of which time he went back to the States. He found the cli- mate tliere so severe that he came once more to California via the same route that he had trav- eled on his first journey across the plains, the Mexican ronte. On his arrival he commenced ranching on the Merced river, but soon sold out and took up a farm below Hill's ferry, on the San Joaquin river. Disposing of his farm he went into the cattle business in Fresno County, then into the sheep business, and finally, in 1868, purchased the ranch on which he now resides. It is situated in Tulare Township and contains 5,852 acres of well improved land. He engaged in raising stock, which business he pursues in a systematical and practical manner, and in farming.
AMES L. HUTSON was born July 8, 1826, in Baltimore County, Maryland, his parents being Alexander and Anna (Odell) Hutson. Alexander Hntson was a wagon-maker by trade. He moved to Carroll County, Maryland, where he purchased 110 acres of land. In 1841 thie family moved to Iowa, where they lived until his death, which occurred in 1876. In the family were ten children, six of whom are still living, five boys and one girl. James remained
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at home till fifteen years of age. Before com- ing to California he taught school most of the time. In the spring of 1849 he crossed the plains with ox teams and landed in Los An- geles, California. He followed mining for a time, then, thinking it was a rather uncertain occupation, he gave it up, came to Stockton and hired out to drive ox teams at $150 a month. He afterward went to cutting and putting up hay, which was a profitable business. In the fall he went into the fishing business, at which he averaged $25 per day. Later he came to Stockton, bonght ox teams and took np a ranch on the north side of the Calaveras river, where he built a house and was ordered off by a man who claimed the land. Mr. Hutson remained on the land, but in the fall, becoming discour- aged, he gave his title to his partner, who after- ward sold it for $5,000. In the fall of 1853 he located on his present place, containing 160 acres. He has now 400 acres, all well improved and cultivated land. It is devoted to general farming, and is located in Elkhorn Township, twelves miles from Stockton.
Mr. Hutson is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Woodbridge, No. 131, and of the Woodbridge Grange, No. 84. Politically lie is a Democrat. He is one of the earliest farmers of this county, of a genial disposition, social and clever, always ready to do his neighbors a favor or kindness, and highly respected by all.
ANCY HUBBS was born in Canada, in 1843, and came to Red Bluff, California, in 1878, where she remained one year. She then came to Stockton, California, where she was engaged in conducting a hotel, and a year later came to her present location and took charge of the Castoria Hotel, which is sitnated five miles from Stockton on the French Camp road. She has run the hotel for nine years, and, being a good manager, she has built up an ex- cellent trade. The farmers make this their stopping place when traveling to and fromn
Stockton. They can always depend upon good water for their horses and hot meals and wine for themselves. She has a shady drive-way, so that all can enjoy the shade on the warm days of the summer months and obtain shelter from the fall rains.
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