History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 100

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1660

USA > California > San Joaquin County > History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 100

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Marietta, Eugene, and Louis. Well, and still enthu- siastic enough to ride about his ranch and give orders as to important details, Mr. Murdock is essentially a home man. He takes a live interest in politics, and endeavors to support the best men and measures.

WINFIELD SCOTT HARSHNER .- A worthy pioneer family who came to California in the early '60s is represented by Winfield Scott Harshner, who resides on his well-improved ranch of eighty acres on the Harshner Road six miles west of Lodi. He was born on the old Harshner ranch three miles southwest of Woodbridge, Cal., May 8, 1880, a son of Andrew M. and Mary Ann (Garver) Harshner, both natives of Ohio. The father, Andrew M. Harsh- ner, was born March 22, 1839, a son of Andrew and Mary (Murray) Harshner, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. Grandfather Harshner was a farmer by occupation and lived in Ohio until his death in 1889, at the age of eighty-six years, and Grandmother Harshner passed away in 1878, aged seventy years. There were eight children in the family. The father, Andrew M. Harshner, was reared on a farm and remained at home until he was twenty- one years old. In 1860 he was married to Miss Mary A. Garver, born December 22, 1840, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Garver, and four years later Mr. Harshner crossed the plains to California, where he found employment near Sacramento putting up hay by the month. In 1865, Mrs. Harshner and her daughter Laura E., came by way of Panama to join Mr. Harshner. In March, 1865, he went to San Fran- cisco and then to San Joaquin County, where he rented land and farmed for two years. In 1867, he purchased 160 acres three miles southwest of Wood- bridge, on which he made all the improvements, making it one of the best farms in the locality, resid- ing there until his death, August 18, 1913, at the age of seventy-four. His wife survived him until July 19, 1916, passing away at the age of seventy-five. There were eight children in the family: Ellena, Charles A., Laura E., and Allen T., are deceased; Mary Emma, Mrs. C. D. Shaw on the old home place, Clara B., Mrs. Fred Sprott on the home place, Lillian E., Mrs. Joseph Maley of the Turner district place, and Winfield Scott, of this sketch. The father was a member of Woodbridge Grange No. 84 and politi- cally was a Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas.

Winfield Scott Harshner grew up on the farm, re- ceiving practical experience along agricultural lines and his education was obtained at the Turner district school in the vicinity of the home ranch. He was married at Stockton in September, 1912, to Miss Katie Blohm, born at Rio Vista, Cal., a daughter of Charles and Minnie Blohm. Mrs. Harshner lived in San Francisco until 1906 when her parents re- moved to the Turner district of San Joaquin Coun- ty, where the father engaged in farming. Mr. Harsh- ner inherited eighty acres from his father's estate, fifty-five acres of which is in vineyard of Zinfandel and Tokay grapes; in 1912 he built a modern resi- dence and other farm buildings; this ranch is also well irrigated from the Stockton-Mokelumne ditch. Mr. and Mrs. Harshner are the parents of two chil- dren: Evelyn Bernice and Ellen Dorothy. In poli- tics Mr. Harshner is a Democrat and fraternally is affiliated with the Native Sons of the Golden West of Lodi.

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W. 8. Harsher

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

WILLIAM H. RIECKS .- One of the most popu- lar and efficient officers that San Joaquin County has ever had is William H. Riecks, county sheriff since June 5, 1911. A native son, he was born near Ver- nalis, on November 9, 1869, a son of William H. and Rebecca (Von Bremen) Riecks, both born and reared in Germany and early settlers of this county. The senior Riecks was one of the early pioneers and was engaged in ranch work all his active life. He located in the county before the Civil War, and from that time until his death in 1879 did his part as a public- spirited citizen to lay secure the foundation for the development of the county. Mrs. Riecks is still living, and resides upon the ranch she settled on in 1868, where she is surrounded by a wide circle of friends. By her marriage with Mr. Riecks she is the mother of three children: William H., of this review; Herman A., and Karl F. She married for a second husband, Thomas Ohm, by whom she had three chil- dren, Henry T., and Bertha and Tonia.

As a boy W. H. Riecks attended the public school in the district where he was born and at the same time helped with the ranch work; later he supple- mented his primary schooling by a course at Heald's Business College in San Francisco. His father's death, when the lad was but ten years old, threw a certain responsibility upon his young shoulders, and after his school days were over he took up grain and stock farming on the home ranch, continuing as his mother's right-hand man for many years, and at the same time winning a host of friends by his strict attention to the task he had in hand.

Mr. Riecks always took an active part in local politics, and became recognized as a leader in the West Side political arena for the Republican party. Upon the death of Sheriff Sibley in 1911, the board of supervisors sought the best man in the county to fill the vacancy and offered the position to Mr. Riecks; and so ably did he fill the responsible office that at the general election in 1914 he sought the nomina- tion at the polls and won out at the primary over five opponents. He succeded himself in the office again in 1918, and likewise in 1922, after a hard- fought campaign; the voters were satisfied with re- sults in the past and returned their favorite to the office. Mr. Riecks has a force of seventeen deputies, and with the growth of the population in the county the responsibilities of his office are increasing each year; but he has so systematized its routine that wonders are accomplished in the maintaining of law and order. The deputies under him are all capable and trustworthy men and are loyal to their chief, who never sends a man where he won't willingly lead. In maintaining law and order Sheriff Riecks shows no partiality, and has no favorites to protect; his aim is and has been to serve the whole people to the best of his ability, and such has been his success that his popularity is constantly growing.

The marriage of W. H. Riecks united him with Miss Sarah E. Prather, born in Missouri, but from in- fancy a resident of San Joaquin County. With her husband Mrs. Riecks takes an active interest in com- munity work. Mr. Riecks is a Mason, belonging to the Lodge, Chapter, Scottish Rite Consistory in Stockton, and to Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Oakland. He is also a member of the Sciots, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of Pythias, the Foresters of America, the

Woodmen of the World, Tracy Parlor, and Native Sons of the Golden West. Since attaining his major- ity Sheriff Riecks has always given his aid in all en- terprises that had for their objective the upbuilding of San Joaquin County. His activity was especially noted as a member of the bond-selling committee during the World War.

JOSEPH D. PARKER .- A native son of the state, who has served his community for the past twenty years as constable, is Joseph D. Parker, who pos- sesses in a large measure those qualities which have been the foundation of the upbuilding of the West, enterprise and determination, qualities which he no doubt inherited from his father, Thomas B. Parker, a pioneer settler of California.

Thomas B. Parker was a native of Kentucky and grew to young manhood in his native state, and there married Miss Margaret Givens, also born in that state. Their families moved to Missouri and the young couple came across the plains in the customary ox- teams in 1851, locating at Mokelumne Hill, Cala- veras County, where Joseph D. Parker was born on December 20, 1852, one of a family of nine children, four of whom are still living. Thomas B. Parker en-

gaged in the livery business in Mokelumne Hill; then in 1860, he purchased a ranch of 240 acres above Lockeford, to which he moved his family. Later the family removed to Nevada, where the father died at the age of forty-two years, the mother surviving him until she was sixty-three years old. She married M. E. Bryant after Mr. Parker died.

Joseph D. Parker began his education in the Ath- earn school of the Lockeford district. Upon his re- moval to Nevada, he went into the Central Cortes mines and for the next twenty years was engaged in mine work of all kinds, and as he was mechanically inclined, took readily to construction work. Return- ing to Lockeford he engaged in carpenter work, and for many years has been active as a contractor and builder, erecting many of the business blocks and resi- dences of Lockeford and vicinity. As constable of Lockeford, he has faithfully and creditably served for twenty years, and the community is indebted to him for his honesty of purpose in matters of law and order.

Mr. Parker's marriage occurred in Lockeford on November 20, 1895, and united him with Miss Min- erva Hartley, a native of Arkansas, daughter of H. G. Hartley. Mrs. Parker came to California with her married sister in 1891. They are the parents of two sons. Ralph, while attending the Lodi high school, was awarded a trip to various parts of the United States as a reward for his excellent scholarship; later he was graduated from the University of California in the mining engineering department, and at the pres- ent time is in Ontario with the Cherry Hydraulic Mining Company. Ray, the other son, is attending the University of Nevada, pursuing a course in elec- trical engineering.

Forty-eight years ago, Mr. Parker became a mem- ber of the Esmeralda Odd Fellows Lodge of Nev- ada. Upon removal to Lockeford he was demitted to Progress Lodge No. 134; he has passed through all the chairs of the order and is now serving as secre- tary. He and his wife are active members of the Lockeford Rebekahs, and Mrs. Parker is the secre- tary of the organization. Mr. Parker was active in the Knights of Pythias at Battle Mountain, Nev., and has passed through all the chairs of that order many

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

times. In national politics he is a Democrat, but he does not allow narrow views of any kind to interfere with his support of every measure or movement likely to build up the community with which he is so vitally and so honorably associated.

EDWIN A. WILLIAMS .- A native son, proud of his connection with San Joaquin County, Edwin A. Williams was born on his father's ranch four miles from Lodi, October 8, 1878, a son of Edwin and Bessie (Martin) Williams, the former a native of Wales who came to California during the year 1869, soon afterwards settled down to the life of a rancher and here, on his Lodi ranch continued agri- cultural pursuits until his death. He was an early member of the Lodi Lodge of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Williams was born in England, and she is still liv- ing, the mother of five children: Reese, of Stockton; Mrs. B. Parmento, of San Francisco; Edwin A ; Mrs. Margaret Thim; and Mrs. Lea Hussy.

Edwin A. Williams attended the district school in the vicinity of the home ranch, and when old enough began helping his father. Later he was employed on the George Ashley ranch. In 1898 he came to Stock- ton and entered the employ of the Holt Manufactur- ing Company, and began learning the trade of ma- chinist; and later he was with Matteson & Williams. In 1900 Mr. Williams entered the employ of J. M. Kroyer, when he started the Samson Iron Works, and soon became superintendent of the plant. He remained in the employ of Mr. Kroyer until 1918, when the plant was sold to the General Motors Cor- poration, and Mr. Williams became manager of the retail division, having charge of the sales of trucks, tractors and agricultural implements, with head- quarters in Stockton. When the sales department of the Star Motor Car was perfected, Mr. Williams severed his connection with the General Motors Cor- poration and became the local agent for the "Most Talked-of Car in America." His many years of contact with people in his home county has given him a wide acquaintance, and his business integ- rity and personality easily win friends.

The marriage of Mr. Williams united him with Miss Emma Lambert, born in Stockton, a daughter of Fred Lambert, an early settler in Stockton. In pioneer times he conducted a shoe store at Chinese Camp, Tuolumne County, later moving to Stockton, where he continued in business at the corner of Main and El Dorado streets. He was a natural- born musician and able to perform on almost any instrument, and he was leader of the Stockton band. He owned the property where now stands the City Bank, which he sold at a small figure and which is now one of the most desirable business sites in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one son, Errol, a student in the high school, who inherits his ma- ternal grandfather's musical talent. Mr. Williams is a prominent Mason, holding membership in San Joa- quin Lodge, No. 19, F. & A. M., Stockton Chapter, No. 28, R. A. M., Stockton Council, No. 10, Stock- ton Commandry, No. 8, K. T., and Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Oakland. He is also a mem- ber of the Eastern Star Chapter. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, Charity Lodge, No. 6, the Rebekahs, the Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, and Stockton Parlor, No. 7, N. S. G. W.

DAVID FACCINI .- Comfortably situated among those who have both merited and attained the good will of a wide circle of friends is David Faccini, now living at 427 South Harrison Street, Stockton, an honored pioneer Italian-American, and a member of the Exempt Firemen of that city. He was born at St. Terezo, on the Gulf of Spezia, near the historic city of Genoa, on December 8, 1850, and at the very early age of ten went to sea on the steamboat "Tuscano," and for twenty-five years he followed a sailor's life. Most of this time he served on large Italian vessels, and he not only has sailed the "seven seas" but he has coursed around Cape Horn three times, and has seen much of many countries, particularly in South America. While ashore in Peru, where he was em- ployed by one of the best clubs for nine years, he competed in water-athletics, being a champion oars- man; and he is rather proud of the record of never having lost in such a .contest.

Aboard the good ship "Garibaldi," on which he had visited practically every port on the Pacific Coast in North and South America, David Faccini arrived in San Francisco in 1881 from Peru, then he went North to the salmon fisheries on the Columbia River, near Astoria, where he remained for two years. Then he returned to California, coming down to Stockton in 1883 on the river boat Paris City, and that season put in with service on the freight boats in the Delta. For twelve years he worked in the Stockton Paper Mill as a fireman and then for eleven years for the Bowers Rubber Company in San Francisco.

In 1892 he bought a tract of land near Stockton, which he developed into a garden ranch; for the past fifteen years he has been a faithful and trusted em- ployee of the municipality of Stockton in the depart- ment of streets and highways, and now lives in the quiet and comfort of his family circle, entertaining his friends with remarkable ability in the narration of his many and varied adventures while traveling over the globe before he reached California, but no- where, at any time, did he find any place more attract- ive to him than Stockton, in which city, in 1888, he was married to Miss Clarinda Largomazino, a native of Calaveras County, where she was born in 1866. Her father was a '49er, and he came direct from Italy to the Golden State via Nicaragua.

Four children have blessed this fortunate union of Mr. and Mrs. Faccini. Frank is the eldest; Angelina married Don Hopper and died leaving one son, Don; Josephine married Fred Fritz and has two girls- Dorothy and Evelyn; David, Jr., first saw the light on October 8, 1895; he served in the late World War, responding patriotically to the call of his native coun- try on February 26, 1917, enlisting as an aviator at Kelly Field and went overseas in the 32nd Aero Squadron; and during spirited action, when exposed to the deadliest fire, he received three wounds and has still a piece of shrapnel in his leg. He is a member of the Army and Navy Union, Hiram W. Johnson Garrison No. 33, and of Karl Ross Post No. 16, American Legion. By a former marriage Mr. Fac- cini has one daughter, Mrs. Emily Benz.

Mr. Faccini early joined the volunteer fire depart- ment, becoming a member of Weber Engine Company and is now a member of the Exempts; he then joined the Bersaglieri, an Italian society; then became a member of Concordia Grove No. 98, U. A. O. D., and also holds membership in the Beneficencia Puccini.

Davide Faccini

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

IRA CLARK BARRON .- From young manhood Ira Clark Barron was a resident of the Golden State, having arrived in California in 1863; and after locat- ing near Lodi he was continuously identified with agricultural interests. Early in life he learned the value of industry and enterprise as the initial steps toward success, and he made these qualities his salient characteristics throughout a business career in which he worked steadily upward. He was born at Mar- engo, Ill., December 23, 1838, a son of Francis and Emily (Perry) Barron, natives of Canada and Ver- mont, respectively. Grandfather Barron was a com- missioned officer of the English army, and during the Revolutionary War was sent to America in charge of English troops. Arriving on American soil, he be- came convinced that the Americans were fighting for a just cause; and recognizing the privations and sacri- fices the American people were making for their liberty, he resolved that he would take no part in such a struggle. He went home to England, resigned his commission, married, and with his wife moved to Canada, where they reared the'r family. Grandfather Perry was a cousin of Commodore Perry, and was a native of Vermont. Francis Barron married Miss Emily Perry in New York State and engaged in farm- ing there for a while, and then moved to Marengo, Ill. They were the parents of six children: Emily Minerva, Mrs. Dinsmore, deceased; Garret Albert, deceased; Ira Clark, deceased; Francis Edwin, a vet- eran of the Civil War, now deceased; George Decker, deceased; Harriet Julia, the only one living, who re- sides at Huntington Park, Cal.

Ira Clark Barron received his education in the grammar school in Marengo and early in youth learned practical lessons in agriculture. In 1863 he came via Panama to California and worked for wages on a ranch at Elk Grove, Cal., for one season, and then came to San Joaquin County. Here he worked on the Tredway ranch for a short time; then, in 1864, in partnership with his brother, he rented a half sec- tion of land on the Lower Sacramento road near Lodi, which they farmed to grain for three years. After- wards they rented a quarter-section of land on the corner of Cherokee and Kettleman Lane roads, where they also raised grain. He then purchased a half- section of government land southeast of Lockeford, which he farmed until 1871. He sold out and moved to Ventura County near the present site of Oxnard, farmed for one year, and then moved to near Nordoff, Cal., where he farmed until 1881.

On October 26, 1870, Mr. Barron was married on the Freeman Mills ranch, west of Lodi, to Mrs. Mary L. (Mills) Peters, a native of Peru, Ill., daughter of Freeman and Minerva Mills. Mary Mills was a young girl of thirteen when her parents moved to Cal- ifornia and settled in San Joaquin County. She first married James V. Peters, a native of Michigan, who came to California in 1858 and mined for a time, and then came to San Joaquin County and purchased a quarter-section of land on the Davis road in the Woodbridge section. Mr. and Mrs. Peters had two children: Mrs. Fronia May Dinsmore, a widow resid- ing at Inglewood, and James Edward Peters, of Po- mona, Cal. Mr. Peters died in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Barron had four children: Harriet Louise, widow of F. L. Coe of Los Angeles, Cal., who has one son, F. Llewellyn; Lillian Irene, Mrs. J. W. Dins- more, who resides at Moorpark, Cal., and has one son, Glen; Flora M., Mrs. J. G. Blazer, who lives on the home piace near Lodi; and Ira M., who married Miss

Mable Williams, and resides on part of the home place, the father of two children, Elizabeth and Mary Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Barron had two grandchildren, who served during the late war. James Elwin Peters entered the army serving overseas for two years with the 42nd Division. Llewellyn Coe trained at Arcadia and Camp Kearney, and then went to France, where he became a motorcycle dispatch rider. He suffered severe injuries when thrown into a deep shell hole. Mr. Barron usually gave his support to the Republi- can candidates, but weighed well the qualifications of the candidate before casting his vote. From the age of ninteen he was a consistent member of the Metho- dist Church. A public-spirited citizen, he favored every movement calculated to improve his locality and advance the interests of the state. In 1881 Mr. Barron removed to Los Angeles County, purchased ten acres a mile and a half west of the University of Southern California, and there resided for twenty- five years, nearly seven of which he was employed by the city of Los Angeles. In November, 1907, he moved back to Lodi, and later bought eleven acres on the corner of Stockton and Vine streets, which is irri- gated with a four-inch pump, driven by a ten horse- power motor. Upon locating in the vicinity, Mr. and Mrs. Barron settled on twenty-five acres on Sargent road, about a mile west of Lodi, which was an in- heritance of Mrs. Barron from her mother's estate, and which she had set out to a vineyard prior to set- tling on the place. In 1921, Mr. Barron erected a modern bungalow on the ranch. Mrs. Barron died on February 16, 1923, and Mr. Barron passed away the 18th of that same month, and both were buried on February 20. On October 26, 1920, this pioneer couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home.

F. JOSEPH DIETRICH .- One of the leading real estate and insurance men of San Joaquin County is F. Joseph Dietrich, member of the firm of Diet- rich & Leistner, located at No. 26 South San Joaquin street, Stockton. Mr. Dietrich is a native son of Stockton, born on November 7, 1875, a son of Theo- dore C. and Marguerita (Majer) Dietrich, the former born in Germany and the latter in France, but both now deceased.

Joe Dietrich, as he is known to his friends, was reared in Stockton and was graduated from the high school in 1893; he then spent one year at the Hopkins Art Institute in San Francisco, and soon after re- turned to Stockton. In 1895, Mr. Dietrich entered the county clerk's office as a deputy under Otto Grun- sky; and during the six years he remained there he studied law, but did not take the examination to en- ter practice. When the newly organized Chamber of Commerce began to function, Mr. Dietrich was soli- cited to act as assistant secretary in 1902, and he served until January 1, 1903, when he formed a part- nership with Otto Grunsky and embarked in the real estate business, with offices occupying all of a small building on North San Joaquin street, and began to build up a business under the name of Grunsky & Dietrich. There was also a firm doing a general real estate business under the name of Grunsky & Leist- ner; and when Otto Grunsky retired from the firm of Grunsky & Dietrich, the latter firm was merged un- der the name of Grunsky, Dietrich & Leistner, con- tinuing thus until the death of the senior member, E. M. Grunsky, when Dietrich & Leistner bought his interest. They have since continued in business and

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

have grown to be among the leaders in their field in the county, specializing in subdivisions, a feature in which they are the pioneers. The firm also is inter- ested in the development of country properties, parti- cularly in the growing of English walnuts.

Mr. Dietrich was married on October 6, 1902, to Miss Henrietta Mann, the daughter of Stephen Mann, pioneer of this county. Of this union four children have been born: F. Joseph, Jr .; Stephen M .; Mar- guerita; and Henrietta. Mr. Dietrich is past presi- dent of Stockton Parlor, No. 7, N. S. G. W., and is a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, and of the Yosemite Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Merchants & Manufacturers Association. For nearly twenty years he has been a member of the board of managers of the . Stockton State Hospital, having been appointed by Governor Pardee and hav- ing served under the various governors ever since. He is keenly interested in the upbuilding of his county and is liberal with time and means in the support of all progressive measures.

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History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 100

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849 Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1660

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1660