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 88
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fire department of this city about eleven years, and for seven years was a menber of the Na- tional Guard of California, going through all the grades from private to captain, and resign- ing the latter in the spring of 1888. He has been a member of the Improved Order of Red Men since 1874, and of the Knights of Pythiias since 1876.
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Douglass have two children: William Grant, born in Columbia, California, December 27, 1860, educated in the schools of Stockton, including high-school and business college, learned railroad and steamboat engineering and is now employed by the city as an engineer. He was married April 22, 1884, to Miss Annie Goodman, born in Kansas, January 24, 1865, a daughter of John and El- len Goodman; they have one son, John Aloy- sius, born October 5, 1886; Joseph Smith, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Douglass, also born in Columbia, May 8, 1863, and edu- cated in this city, was here married, December 31, 1883, to Miss Annie Hentzelmann, a native of Stockton, whose mother is still living at the age of about seventy. They have one child --- Irene, born in 1884. Joseph S. Douglass is work- ing for the firm of Douglass & Badger, at 339 Hunter street.
AMES SKIFF DUNHAM, a rancher of this county, residing in Stockton, was born on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, October 24, 1852, a son of Shubael and Elizabeth (Dex- ter) Dunham. (See next sketch.) He was brought to California by his mother in 1856, and was educated in the district schools of this county, closing with a few years' course in the higher institution in Collegeville and in the Stockton high school. In 1872 he engaged in farming, being placed in charge of some of his father's lands in Merced and San Joaquin coun- ties, and has followed that avocation to the present time. Since the age of twenty-one he has been the owner of 320 acres, and since the
fall of 1886 has been a permanent resident of this city, where he owns a very pretty and com- fortable home. He has been a member of the Stockton Board of Trade, and takes a deep in- terest in whatever promotes the advancement of this city and county. He is a life member of the San Joaquin Agricultural Society.
J. S. Dunham was married in Douglass Town- ship, July 20, 1881, to Miss Berenice Bishop, born in this county April 7, 1861, a daughter of Henry Bostwick and Caroline Elizabeth (Gilli- land) Bishop, both natives of New York State, married in California, and living in this county in 1890, born about 1824, came to California in 1849. The mother, born in West Fayette, New York, about 1840, came across the plains from Illinois in 1851, with her parents William and Emma (Young) Gilliland. Grandfather Gilli- land died in middle life, aged about fifty, and grandmother lived to be sixty-six. Grandfather Bishop married a Miss Reed, both being prob- ably natives of the State of New York.
Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Dunham have three chil- dren, all born in this city: Edna Lucille, June 27, 1883; Charles Bishop, January 28, 1886; Leland L., April 7, 1889. Mrs. Dunham is a member of Lebanon Rebekah Lodge, No. 41. Mr. Dunham is a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 11; of Parker Encampment, No. 3, and of Canton Ridgeley, I. O. O. F., being ensign of the last named in 1890. He is a member of Centennial Lodge, No. 38, Knights of Pythias, and of several social and athletic organizations; the Yo Semite Social Club, the San Joaquin Rowing Association, and the Pacific Coast Field Trial Club.
HUBAEL DUNHAM, a rancher of Doug- lass Township, residing in Stockton, was born in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, September 15, 1825, a son of George and Eliza (Manter) Dunham. The mother died at about the age of thirty-one, both her parents, Jonathan and Jane (Butler) Manter, reached the ages of
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eighty and seventy, respectively, both being natives of New England. The father, born about 1803, died in 1872, and his parents, Shu- bael and Charlotte (Norton) Dunham, also lived to be seventy or more; especially his grandpar- ents Norton were also long-lived, and owned a large tract of land on the island of Martha's Vineyard, being able to give a farm at marriage to each of their eight dangliters. Grandfather Shubael Dunham, the son of an English emi- grant, was a sea captain in middle life, and postmaster of what is now known as Vineyard Haven, he and his son, George, holding it in succession for thirty years. The former served in the local custom-house for some years, aud the son filled some of the town offices for the greater part of his mature life, both also owning farins in the vicinity. Of the children of George and Eliza (Manter) Dunham, four are living in 1890. The subject of this sketeli and his sister Peggy, by marriage Mrs. James Skiff, in this county; Charlotte, Mrs. Isaac Cowan, of Fair- haven, Massachusetts, and Eliza, the wife of William E. Sparrow, M. D., of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, residing at Mattapoisett.
The subject of this sketch was enterprising from his youth, and could with difficulty be kept from going to sea. He was induced to learn the trade of carpenter, but served an ap- prenticeship of only six months, when he left for Wisconsin and worked at his trade in Port Washington, near Milwaukee. He soon bought 160 acres in that State, and had spent only a few years in Wisconsin, when he canght the gold fever. He came to California in 1849, across the plains, leaving Milwaukee in February and taking about six months to reach Salt Lake city, where those who had families, about forty in number, left them to winter, and then pushed on by the Humboldt route, and Mr. Dunham reached Sacramento in September, 1849. He went to mining on the Cosminnes and Dry creek, making also a prospecting tonr as far as Mari- posa. In 1850 he opened a miners' supply store on Dry Creek, which lie conducted for more than a year, when he sold ont. In 1851
he went East by way of Panama, and was mar- ried in 1852 to Miss Elizabeth Dexter, of Mar- tha's Vineyard. After some months he again set out for California by the Nicaragua route, and on his arrival, in 1853, he bought a half interest in a store on Mormon creek, in Tnol- umne County. Dissolving partnership in 1855, he took 160 acres of land in this county, in set- tlement. In 1856 he again went East, and returned with his wife and child. In 1859 he built on his ranch, at a cost of about $10,000, a fine residence and farm buildings. To his 160 acres he added by purchase of adjoining lands from time to time until he owned 1,760 acres in one body in Douglass Township. Of this he deeded 320 acres to his son James S., about 1876, and still owns 1,440 acres, the farming of which he now superintends from this city, the chief product being wheat. He was the first to ship flour to New York and wheat to Liverpool from this county. About 1876 he bought the resi - dence and grounds he occupies in this city, and has continued to improve and embellish thiem down to 1890. By his second wife, Berenice Bishop, a native of this State and for some time a resident with her uncle in Honolulu, Mr. Dunham has three children: Lucille, Charles Bishop and Kneeland L. Dunham. Mr. Dun- ham lias been a director of the Farmers' Union since its establishment, and is interested in the Stanislaus Canal Company and the San Joaquin Water Company.
HARLES W. DOHRMANN, a prominent insurance agent of Stockton, and general agent of the Alta Insurance Company of this city, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Ger- inany, June 21, 1846, a son of William and Frederika (Behrend) Dohrinann, both natives of Germany. The mother died in that country in 1856; the father, born in 1805, died in San Francisco in 1886. The subject of this sketch came to California by way of New York and Panama, arriving in San Francisco January
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6, 1864. Coming to Stockton, where his brother Adolph was engaged in the grocery trade, he worked here partly for the firm in which his brother was a partner, and partly in other pursuits until 1868. His brother having inean while become sole owner through the death of his partner, the subject of this sketch bought the business, and carried it on until 1871, when he sold ont and engaged in insurance, which has been his chief avocation since. He also owns some land, to the cultivation of which he gives his personal supervision. When the Alta In- snrance Company was organized here in May, 1888, he was chosen general agent by the direct- ors, and still holds that relation to the company in 1890. Ile is believed to have initiated in this section the system of insuring growing grain against fire, and in this as well as in gen- eral insurance he has built np a large business.
Mr. Charles W. Dohrmann was married in this city June 23, 1870, to Miss Panline Wetz- ler, born in Saxony, of German-American par- ents, then on a visit to their native land. Mr. and Mrs. Dohrmann are the parents of five children, each of whom uses a final initial W., representing Wetzler in the given name. The children are: Augusta E., Lonise B., Marie J., Ida C. C. and George C. Dohrmann.
Mr. Dohrmann has been a member of the Na- tional Guard of California since 1864, and is on the staff of the Third Brigade, with the rank of Major in 1890. He is also a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Druid and a Turner.
ORD & WATSON. The United States Stables, Stockton, owned by the above- named firm, is one of the leading livery establishments of the city. In the early days of Stockton the business was started, under the name of the Warsaw Stables, by Newton Nye, a well-known figure of that day. The estab- lishment was afterward carried on by Thomas Nye and Peter Jahant, which firm became later on Jahant & Beswick. Dr. Northrup afterward
became Jahant's partner, buying out Beswick, and eventually Jahant became sole proprietor. On the 14th of April, 1874, James and Patrick Ford bought the stables, and three years later James Ford bought his brother out. He was alone for some time, but finally sold a half in- terest to William Brennan, who was a member of the firm four years. During the next three years Mr. Ford carried on the business alone, but on the 1st of October, 1888, he sold an in- terest to J. A. Watson, making the present firm. They run thirteen head of good livery stock, and an assortment of a dozen first-class vehicles, of all kinds necessary to a livery stable of the better class.
James Ford, of Ford & Watson, is a native of Ireland, born in the county of West Meath, on the 22d of November, 1848. He spent his boyhood days there, and in 1866 came to Ainer- ica. He was in New York city until February, 1868, and then started for California via Pana- ma. On the Atlantic side he was a passenger on the steamer Folletet, and he landed at San Francisco from the steamer Oregonian, on the 10th of March. He came directly to Stockton, and was soon employed at farm work. After two years he rented land in O'Neil Township, six miles from Stockton, where he farmed for himself. The first year he had good success, but not so the second season, which was very dry. He then went to work for others again, after which he worked awhile at Doak's stable, then back at ranching again until the spring of 1874. He then engaged in the livery business, the price paid for stock, etc., being $1,450, and $45 per month rent for barn. Seven years later he bought the establishment. The history of the business is given above.
He was married in San Francisco to Miss Ellen Byrnes. They have two children, viz .: Maggie and Nellie. He is treasurer of the Y. M. I., and a member of the A. O. H.
He is an Exempt Fireman, and was identified with the old volunteer department from October, 1873, nntil it disbanded to make way for the paid system. Ile was a member of Protection
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, all that time, and was for one year First Assistant En- gineer of the department.
Mr. Ford takes an active interest in public affairs, is a Republican politically, and promi- nent in the party councils.
A. WATSON, of the firm of Ford & Watson, proprietors of the United States Stables, Stockton, is a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania, born at Pittston on the 21st of September, 1850, his parents being J. D. and Isabella (McCowan) Watson. In 1857 the family came to California via Panama, land. ing at San Francisco. They located at Chinese Camp, where, after mining for a time, the father engaged in the restaurant business. In April, 1858, they removed to Stanislaus County, locating on the Sonora road, within four miles of Knight's Ferry. The mother died in Stan- islaus County, in March, 1861, aged thirty-four years. The father is now a resident of Stock- ton, having retired from farming. He was born in 1813.
J. A. Watson, with whose name this sketch commences, was reared to ranch life, and when grown he and his brother James became part- ners in the general farming and stock business. They are still associated together in that busi- ness, and James makes his headquarters on the ranch in Stanislaus County. J. A. Watson was married to Miss Mary Nolan. Mr. Watson is a member of Summit Lodge, No. 112, A. F. & A. M., of Knight's Ferry, and of the Y. M. I., Stockton. In politics he is a Republican.
ICHOLAS ENDICH, part owner of the " Poplar Resort," two miles east of Stock- ton, was born near Ragusa, Austria, early in 1831, a son of Michael and Mary (Erlevich)
Endicli, both deceased. The father was by oc- cupation a farmer, and both parents lived and died in their native land.
The subject of this sketch went to sea at the age of sixteen in a vessel engaged chiefly in the trade between Ragusa and Bristol. After tliree years in that line he spent six months in Bris tol, England, and then sailed from that port for America. He arrived in San Francisco in Oc- tober, 1850, and went to mining near Sonora, where he spent the first winter. He afterward inined two or three months on Feather river, and in August, 1851, he began mining in Ama- dor County, near Jackson, where he remained until 1854, engaged in that pursuit. He then bought 160 acres in partnership, and went to farmning. He planted a vineyard and some 700 peach trees, only to find, after seven years, that vine-growing was not profitable in that region. In 1862 he lost his peach orchard by the great flood, and the necessaries of life sold at famine prices-sugar, $1 per pound; bread, $1.25, and everything else proportionately dear. Mr. En- dich sold out his interests in that district on February 23, 1864, and moved to this city. Meanwhile he had been married here, July 19, 1863, to Miss Pauline Vizelich, also a native of Ragusa, and a daughter of Stephen and Lucy Vizelich. She had come to California direct from Ragusa, leaving that port March 25, and reaching San Francisco June 30, 1860, where she spent nearly a year. In May, 1861, her brother Nicholas bought a place in this city, and she came here also.
Soon after their marriage Mr. Endich bought the square in this city on which he still re- sides, the portion not taken in with the home and out-buildings being planted to fruit trees. In 1867 he bought the square immediately south, but sold it in 1869. In 1875 he bought about fifteen acres two iniles east of the city on the Copperopolis road, which he retained and cultivated twelve years. In 1887 he sold ten acres, retaining the remainder, on part of which is situated the "Poplar Resort," in which he is still interested.
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Mr. and Mrs. Endich lost one child in infancy and have three living, all born in this city- Mary Agnes, born September 14, 1864, was married September 11, 1884, to Nicholas P. Chagal, of this city; Nellie Cecilia, born Octo- ber 5, 1868, received a liberal education, is an accomplished musician and an artist of marked ability; Nicholas Francis, born March 28, 1871, was educated in the public schools and in the Business College of this city. He was engaged with his brother-in-law, N. P. Chagal, from Sep- tember, 1887, to September, 1889, and has since been with his father in charge of the " l'oplar Resort." The whole family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
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AMUEL WALKER ELLIOTT, superin- tendent of the Stockton Combined Har- vester and Agricultural Works, was born in Bow, New Hampshire, March 16, 1850, a son of James G. and Elvina (Walker) Elliott. The father, born in August, 1827, is a farmer in the town of Bow, about five miles from Concord, New Hampshire, in 1890. Grandfather Samuel Elliott died at the age of forty-nine; grand- mother Martha (Green) Elliott is living in Bow, New Hampshire, in 1890, aged eighty-nine; her father, "Colonel" Green, was ninety-three at his death, in the saine town.
S. W. Elliott received a common-school edu- cation and helped on his father's farm in a small way until 1864, when he went to learn his trade of carriage-making with the Concord Coach Company, entering the wood-work department. He remained with that concern six years, three of which were spent as an apprentice and the others as journeyman. In 1870 he went to work in his line in Amesbury, Massachusetts, and had an opportunity to get a comprehens- ive understanding of the carriage-making bus- iness in all of its departments. There he was placed in charge, in 1880, of a carriage factory having a capacity of manufacturing 2,000 ve- licles of all kinds annually.
In 1883 he was induced to come to this city, and was employed by the Holt Brothers, of the Stockton Wheel Company, with whom he remained until 1888. He then found it of financial advantage to go to work for liis pres- ent employers in the Stockton Combined Har- vester and Agricultural Works, as superintend- ent of the car department, and at the annual ineeting of the directors in 1889 he was chosen superintendent of the works.
Mr. Elliott was elected to the city council in 1886 and held that office until the adoption of the new charter, which became operative in June, 1889.
He has been an Odd Fellow since the age of twenty-one, joining the order in Concord, New Hampshire; was afterward a member of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and is a charter member of Truth Lodge, No. 55, of this city, being also one of its first representatives to the Grand Lodge of California.
Mr. S. W. Elliott was married in Concord, New Hampshire, June 7, 1870, to Miss Estelle E. Judkins, born in that State December 26, 1852, a daughter of Gilman and Adeline (Gar- vin) Judkins, both living in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have two children: Frederick Weeks, born in Massachusetts in July, 1878, and Estelle May, born in Stockton, December 26 1885.
ATRICK ELIOT, a rancher of Douglass Township, deceased June 16, 1883. The subject of this sketch was born in Otsego County, New York, March 1, 1810, son of George and Jane (McCarthy) Eliot. The family moved to Kentucky and thence to Indiana, where the father died on his farm in Putnam County, aged forty. The mothier lived to be seventy- two, dying in Iowa. Both grandfathers were enii- grants, Eliot being English and McCarthy Irislı.
P. Eliot was brought up to farming, and was married January 14, 1830, in Putnam County, Indiana, to Miss Aun Westfall, born in Miami
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County, Ohio, a danghter of Levi and Margaret (Pettit) Westfall. The family moved to Put- nam County, Indiana, and afterward to Boone County, where the father died, aged sixty-six. The mother died at Lafayette, Indiana, aged sixty-eight, and was buried beside her husband at Thornton, Iowa. Grandparents Jacob and Mary (King) Westfall died in Indiana, the former at the age of seventy-seven and the latter abont ninety. Grandfather John Pettit died in Ohio, aged sixty.
Mr. and Mrs. P. Eliot came to California by the Panama route in 1859, and on their arrival in San Francisco proceeded by boat to Sacra- mento. They settled on a farm near Sutterville, where they remained until 1862, when they moved to the 160-acre ranch in Douglass Town- ship, in this county, still occupied by the family. It is good farming land, wheat and barley be- ing the chief marketable products.
Mr. and Mrs. Eliot have had eleven children, of whom ten are living in 1889: George D., born December 30, 1830, is married and resides in Missouri; Levi W., born April 11, 1833, be- came a physician, and was married in Illinois. He came to California in 1876 and practiced in Stockton eight years when he returned to the East, settling in Valparaiso, Indiana; Margaret Jane, born July 1, 1835, by marriage, in Nov- ember, 1854, Mrs. Samuel A. Hummer, died in Illinois in February, 1856; Isaac W., born July 16, 1837, came with his parents to California in 1859, went East in 1861, studied medicine in Philadelphia, practiced in Chicago nine years, returned to California in 1883, and is now an orchardist in Pasadena; Jacob, born Jannary 28, 1840, came to California in 1861, went East after a few years, and is now a farmer in Wash- ington Territory (or State); Henrietta, born February 19, 1842, now Mrs. Peter Glasscock, of Clay Station, Sacramento County, has one son, David Orpheus, born in March, 1870; Sarah Caroline, born August 3, 1844, now the widow of Robert Nason, of O'Neil Township, who died July 10, 1889; Francis Marion, born November 23, 1846, married November 30,
1869, to Miss Rose Bruce, now resides in Washington State (or Territory); they have one child, Ernest D., born in 1883; Winfield Scott, born July 7, 1849, married December 23, 1880, to Miss Mary M. Lewis, born February 11, 1858, in this township, a daughter of David and Mary Ann (Medlin) Lewis; they reside on the Eliot ranchi, and have three children: Roy B., born August 11, 1881; Annie, June 4, 1884; Alice Adele, June 6, 1886; Miriamn, born June 2, 1852, married September 7, 1870, to Barton Hurd, now a rancher of Yolo County; they have six boys and three girls; Patrick Henry, born July 28, 1855, resides on the Eliot ranch, and is unmarried. With his brother, W. S., he owns 500 acres near Clay Station.
All the children have been well educated. Besides the two physicians mentioned George D. also studied medicine, but did not follow it as a profession.
D. EATON, of the real-estate firm of Eaton & Walsh, is a native of Califor- nia, born in San Joaquin County, April 30, 1861. His father, E. R. Eaton, a New Yorker, came to California in 1852, and farmed successfully in this county, about six miles from Stockton on the Sonora road, until his death in 1886.
The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in this county. He learned the wagon- maker's trade, sewing an apprenticeship in tlie establishment of M. P. Henderson, Stockton, with whom he remained eight years. In 1884 he engaged in the real-estate business, which has since employed his attention. He is a member of Stockton Parlor, N. S. G. W., and of Truth Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F.
Mr. Eaton is one of the most enterprising young men of Stockton, and has done a great deal towards calling attention to what are des- tined to be the true sources of prosperity in this region.
The firm of Eaton & Walshi, of which he is a
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
member, was organized in 1884, composed as at present, of M. D. Eaton and Thomas F. Walsh, and succeeding the firm of Tucker & Walslı; while they sell property on commission, their business is by no means confined to that branch, as they buy and sell largely. The firm enjoys an excellent reputation.
They have a ranch of sixty-five acres on tlie Stockton and Copperopolis road, distant ten miles from Stockton, and a quarter of a mile from Holden. This tract is what is called slum land, the soil being formed by the overflow of the Mormon slough. They purchased the place in 1887 from George Klinger. In February, 1888, the present owners planted the entire tract to fruit, of the following varieties, and in the quantities mentioned. Apricots (four varie- ties), 2,200 trees; peaches (running from very early to very late), 2,400; Bartlett pears, 450 to 500; cherries, one acre, or 108 trees; prunes (French), 500; almonds, 550; English walnuts, 110; figs, 150; apples, 50. All the trees named have done well, the planting having been superintended by Mr. Eaton in person, and every care having been given the orchard. The place is connected with the Mormon slough, the land being leveed along the bank, and the waters from the slough are admitted by means of flood gates. When the water is high these gates are opened long enough to admit six inches or a foot of water, and when it soaks into the ground cultivation is commenced, right in the dead of winter. It is expected that the crop taken from this orchard in the season of 1890 will more than pay expenses for the year.
OSEPH FYFE .- Among those who have led in the recent material advancement of Stockton, noue have been more active than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He came to this city in 1870, and assumed his connection as book-keeper with the firm of Moore Brothers, Ininber dealers, which estab- lished the Stockton branch of their business in
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