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 109

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 109

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

days and three nights longer, without a drop of water or a morsel of food to eat except prickly pears. At Los Vegas Springs they found a poor colt which had been left by General Fremont's pack train and this they were not long in butchering and devouring. The next meal was a coyote, on the Mojave desert, and after that only a few acorns until they reached the settlement. They returned to their party with six mules packed with provisions and twelve head of beef cattle, and arriving at the train in time to save their lives. They reached the Cucamonga ranch, September 23, 1849. Robert Gruwell and his brother after eluding their enemies, who were unaware that they had received any notice of the secret plot, came on by the way of Marysville, Sacramento, Stockton, Los Angeles, and met their families 150 miles out from the settlement, and they completed the journey safely together. The father and family remained at Cucamonga ranch until spring and then moved up into El Dorado County, near Coloma, and en- gaged in mining there until late in 1851. The par- ents and their younger children then removed into Santa Clara County, where the father had bought land. In June, 1852, with his eldest son, Noah N., he went East via Panama, where Noah N. was ill seventeen days with the fever, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. As soon as he was able to travel he completed the journey, assisting his father in buying some cattle. He married Sirena Cox, and the next spring started for California with a herd of cattle. He arrived at the sink of the Humbolt, but relapsed and suddenly died. In 1857 Robert Gruwell sold out and moved to Lake County, buying land and entering into agri- cultural pursuits and stock raising. In 1861 he moved back to Santa Clara County, where in the same year the mother died, aged fifty-four years. In 1883 he died, aged seventy-six years.

John D. Gruwell went to work on his own ac- count in 1849, mining. In 1851 he made his first purchase of land, adjoining Santa Clara, and con- sisting of thirty acres. Selling this, he bought, in partnership with his brother, Labin H., 160 acres three miles further south, which they farmed until 1857. Then selling out, they moved to Lake County, taking up Government land and following stock rais- ing and farming there until 1869. In 1869 John D. Gruwell moved in to San Joaquin County and con- ducted a hotel at Peters, during the construction of the Copperopolis and Milton railroad. In 1871 he bought a squatter's right to 160 acres of land, which he preempted, and on which he resided until about 1900, four miles east of Farmington; later he in- creased the extent of his land to 720 acres. Soon after settling on this ranch he commenced raising wheat; at that time it was the most easterly point of the wheat-growing section of the valley. He erected a good two-story residence, with all necessary out-buildings and here he reared his family.

On June 19, 1854, in Santa Clara, Mr. Gruwell was married to Miss Evelyn Fine, born in Fayette County, Mo., May 22, 1836, and they were the par- ents of six children, two of whom are now living, Robert C. and Oscar. Mrs. Gruwell passed away in June, 1906, Mr. Gruwell surviving until August, 1911, aged eighty-oné.

JOHN B. CORY .- The story of the progress and success of John B. Cory, a native Californian whose interests in the San Joaquin Valley are of such nature as to make him one of the most prominent and influ- ential citizens of the county, is interesting and illum- inating, showing what may be done by steady applica- tion, industry and well-directed activity. A native of Santa Clara County, he was born in San Jose, Cal., on February 20, 1854, a son of Benjamin Cory, a pio- neer physician of San Jose. His father was a native of Ohio, who came to California at an early day and established a practice in San Jose.

John B. Cory was reared and educated in Santa Clara County, his public school education being sup- plemented by a course in the College of the Pacific. After finishing school he tried stockraising for a time; then, in 1882, he removed to Vacaville, Solano County, and began his career as a fruit grower, in which line of business he has been very successful. During the fall of 1887, in company with his brother-in-law, Frank H. Buck, he came to San Joaquin County and purchased 400 acres of the Langford tract near Acampo, a part of the ranch of the late Senator Lang- ford. At that time most of the San Joaquin Valley was devoted to the raising of grain; but when Mr. Cory and his partner acquired the land they set it to fruit trees, planting peach, plum, prune and apri- cot. Later they purchased 350 acres more of the same ranch, making a total of 750 acres, and the property became known as the Buck & Cory, ranch. Thus Mr. Cory is the pioneer fruit grower in the Lodi district, for they set out the first commercial orchards here, and when their orchards came into bearing, showing a large yield of most excellent fruit, it was demonstrated that their judgment had been correct. They incorporated the Frank H. Buck Com- pany, fruit shippers, which became one of the large fruit companies of the state. Mr. Cory became man- ager for their local business in this section. Upon the death of Mr. Buck in 1918, the Buck and Cory ranch was divided, the home place of Mr. Cory containing 240 acres, which has been so highly im- proved that it is one of the show places of the valley. 'An attractive and commodious residence has been erected with beautifully laid-out grounds and tropical gardens; and a complete system of irriga- tion has been installed with three pumping plants, which furnish an abundance of water for all pur- poses. Mr. Cory's ranch is a fine demonstration of what can be accomplished in the way of beautifying and improving property in the San Joaquin Valley.

In 1905, in conjunction with a number of influen- tial citizens of Lodi, Mr. Cory organized the First National Bank; and he was its first president, serving in that responsible position until he disposed of his interest in January of 1922, when he was one of the organizers of the Citizens' National Bank, of which he was elected president, a position for which his years of experience so well qualified him. Mr. Cory is also a director in the Lodi Investment Company, among the notable buildings which they have erected being the Lodi Hotel and the Lodi Theater Building. He is also a stockholder invthe City Improvement Company that built the modermbusiness buildings on the corner of School and Oak streets.

The marriage of Mr. Cory in Vacaville, in- 1884, united him with Miss Nellie Buck, a native of New York. Her father, L. W. Buck, was one of the leading fruit growers of California, and was promi-

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

nently known all over the state as a highly intelli- gent and progressive citizen. He served as state senator from his district. Mrs. Cory was reared in Vacaville, and completed her education at the College of the Pacific. Fraternally, Mr. Cory is a member of Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He is also a member of Stockton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M .; of Stockton Council, R. & S. M .; Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T., of which he is a past commander; Islam Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in San Fran- cisco; and the Order of Eastern Star. He belongs to the Yosemite Club and Country Club in Stockton, and the Mokelumne Club and Rotary Club in Lodi. Mrs. Cory is also prominent in civic and social affairs, being a member and past matron of Wood- bridge Chapter No. 118, O. E. S., of which Mr. and Mrs. Cory were charter members, and served as the first matron and patron. Mrs. Cory is also a member of the Lodi Woman's Club and the Philo- mathean Club of Stockton, having served two terms as vice-president of the latter. Mr. and Mrs. Cory have traveled extensively, and recently returned from a trip around the world. Mr. Cory's promin- · ence as a progressive citizen has been won by strict application to business, backed by ability and intelli- gence, and Lodi is proud to count him among her most worthy and valuable citizens.

ALTHA C. CUSTER .- A prosperous viticulturist of the San Joaquin Valley, Altha C. Custer is now living retired from active business care at his com- fortable home at 214 West Oak Street, Lodi. An Ohioan by birth, having been born in Highland County, March 5, 1852, a son of Samuel and Anna Custer, both natives of Pennsylvania. There were four children in the family, our subject being the old- est, and he and a sister Orpha residing in Oklahoma are the only two living; Melvin and Alvina are de- ceased. In 1873 the family removed to Iowa where they spent a couple of years and in the spring of 1875 moved to Gentry County, Mo., where the father purchased a ranch. The mother was only thirty- two years old when she died, the father surviving her until he was sixty-five years old.

Altha C. Custer remained at home with his parents until his marriage, on March 24, 1880, when he was united with Miss Eunice Johns, a native of Madison County, Iowa, a daughter of A. B. and Ann (Smith) Johns, both parents natives of Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Custer is the fourth in a family of eight children: Eliza, John, deceased, Nancy, deceased, Eunice, Mrs. Custer, James H., Mary Elizabeth, Carl, and Joseph, deceased. Mrs. Custer was seven years of age when her parents removed to Andrew County Mo., where the father became a well-to-do farmer. After his marriage, Mr. Custer leased 220 acres of land, which he farmed for six years when he removed to Rea, Mo., where he became employed with the Great Western Railroad on construction and maintenance work; this position covering a period of six years. In 1897 the family came to California and settled at Covina, where he worked at various kinds of employment for seven years, four years of which was spent in the orange and lemon industry in the Covina district. In 1904 Mr. Custer removed to Berkeley, Cal., and worked at the carpenter's trade for three years, then moved to Lodi, where he bought a twenty-acre ranch northwest of Victor. This ranch was a bearing vineyard and

Mr. Custer improved it with a pumping plant and a good house where he and his family resided for thir- teen years, when he sold his place and purchased his present comfortable home in Lodi. To Mr. and Mrs. Custer were born three children: Rolla Johns, the second oldest, has been efficiently and successfully connected with educational work of San Joaquin County for the past eleven years. Joseph died in Mis- souri when two and one-half years old, and Bernice died in Covina, California, when seven years old. Mr. Custer is a Democrat in politics, and has the respect and good will of all who know him.

GEORGE HARPER .- Now the pioneer custom tailor in Stockton, having been in business longer than any man in his line in the city, George Harper can look back on an interesting career in the world of sport, having a national reputation in the baseball arena for many years, both on the Pacific Coast and in the big leagues. Mr. Harper was born near Mil- waukee, Wis., August 17, 1865, where he was reared and educated, learning the painter's trade when quite young. The life of outdoor sport made a strong ap- peal to him, however, and he entered the great Ameri- can game in 1886 as a pitcher for the Milwaukee team of the Northwestern League. In 1887 he was pitcher for Omaha in the Western League, coming to California in 1888 with the Oakland team in the old California State League, but on August 19 of that year was acquired by the Stockton team as pitcher to take the place of Eddie Lorigan, winning the championship that season.

Mr. Harper, after the ball season was over that year, was engaged by H. J. Cochran, the manager of the steamboat line and a well-known river man of the early days, to take charge of the painting of the steamer J. D. Peters, just being built, and he com- pleted the job that winter. He pitched for Stockton again in 1889, then for Sacramento in 1890, San Jose in 1891-92, Stockton again in 1893, and then for six years pitched ball for the big leagues, play- ing with the Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Rochester, New York teams. Returning to Stockton in 1900, Mr. Harper became president and manager and part owner of the Stockton team, and during that year he also opened up his tailor shop, which he has conducted ever since. He still retained his in- terest in baseball affairs, however, and in 1914, the year four teams of the Pacific Coast League main- tained a farm to develop young players, Mr. Harper was the manager of the Stockton Club, owned and financed by Eddie Maier, who also owned the Vernon team of the Coast League.

In February, 1889, Mr. Harper was married to Miss Clara May Campbell, daughter of C. A. Camp- bell, former city clerk of Stockton. One daughter, Leslie, was born of this marriage. She is now Mrs. Clyde Jenkins and the mother of one son, Clyde Jenkins. Mrs. Harper died in 1893. Mr. Harper's second marriage, in 1898, united him with Miss Rosalie Stuppacher, the daughter of one of Stockton's old-time tailors, who for years was cutter for Lewis & Johnson; they reside in the home purchased some years ago by Mr. Harper at 734 West Poplar Street. Capable and progressive, he has built up a splendid business and stands high in Stockton's commercial circles and in the Odd Fellows, having joined Stock- ton Lodge, October 25, 1889; he is also a member of the Eagles.

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ANDREW WOLF .- To depict in their entirety the salient events in the life of Andrew Wolf, would be to portray the progress of California during the period that has elapsed since its American occupancy, and such portrayal would fortunately familiarize the younger generation of readers with many of the thrill- ing adventures experienced by the men known in his- tory as the pioneers of '49. To this class belonged Mr. Wolf, who in the flush of young manhood made the memorable journey across the plains to the un- known region lying beside the sunset sea. Travelers of the present day, crossing the continent in the splen- didly equipped limiteds, cannot realize the dangers and hardships incident to that trip taken under the conditions existing sixty years ago. To that journey as made by Mr. Wolf there was added to the dangers from attacks by Indians and starvation through being lost on the desert the even greater danger of cholera whose victims fell by the wayside, where their bones met the eyes of the traveler to add terror to his dreams by night.

The life which this narrative depicts began in Bath Township, Greene County, Ohio, May 26, 1821, in the farm-house of John W. and Mary (Hawker) Wolf. During the era antedating the Revolution the Wolf family became established in America, its first repre- sentative in this country being a pioneer of Pennsyl- vania. There John W. Wolf was born in 1791, and from there in 1792 he was taken by his parents to Greene County, Ohio, the family settling on what was then known as the Western frontier. The first re- collections of the boy were associated with visits from friendly Indians and with hunts for wild animals, the securing of game being the means of furnishing the family larder with meat. During 1812 his father died of the plague, and later he bought from the other heirs their interest in the old homestead, where he en- gaged in farm pursuits, During the War of 1812 he volunteered in the American Army and served at the front until the surrender of General Hull, when he was honorably discharged.

The first wife of John W. Wolf was born in Mont- gomery County, Ohio, November 17, 1800, and died March 5, 1837. Eight children were born of that union, namely: Israel, born in 1819, died at the age of fourteen years; Andrew, whose name intro- duces this sketch; Catherine, born in 1822; Susannah, born in 1826, and who died in Indiana; George W., born in 1828, a pioneer of California, where he died in 1861 at the age of thirty-three years; Mary A., born in 1831; Malinda, born in 1833, and who died in Dayton, Ohio; and Louise, born in 1835, now the wife of Putnam Visher, living in Stockton. The second wife of John Wolf, whom he married February 25, 1838, was born in Ohio in 1808 and bore the maiden name of Rebecca Swadner. Her death occurred in 1899, at the age of ninety-one years. Of her six chil- dren the two eldest, Elizabeth, born in 1838, and Will- iam B., born in 1840, are deceased. Benjamin, born in December, 1843, is a resident of Bryan, Ohio. Mar- tha A., born in 1845, makes her home in Dayton, Ohio, where also reside John M., born in 1849, and Charles E., born in 1852.

Abram Morgan, of David County. This uncle met him at Burlington, Iowa; but before proceeding with him he paid a visit to an old friend at Bloomington, now called Muscatine, Iowa, and later went to his uncle's home. Through this friend he secured a posi- tion with Greene & Stone, general merchants and pork packers of Muscatine, with whom he continued from November 1, 1847, to March 1, 1848. On leav- ing their employ it was his intention to return to Ohio. However, he was interviewed by Alexander Oglebie, the merchant who had sold the first yard of calico in Muscatine. Having planned to reenter business, Mr. Oglebie asked Mr. Wolf what he plan- ned to do and was told that he intended to return East as soon as he could get across the river. The next inquiry was as to the terms on which he would enter the employ of Mr. Oglebie. Replying, "My price would be so high that you would not want me," he named the terms, not thinking they would be ac- cepted, but at once Mr. Oglebie closed the bargain. At first Mr. Wolf thought he would offer $100 to be released from the bargain, but he decided it would be best to fulfil his part of the contract and accordingly took charge of opening up the mercantile business of Oglebie & St. John, whose stock of goods had been purchased in St. Louis.

Meanwhile the tales of the discovery of gold in California proved so alluring that the young clerk de- termined to try his luck in the West, and at once he began to make his plans for the trip. The outfit for the overland journey, consisting of four pairs of steers, one yoke of cows and a mule, was carefully selected by a friend who knew the requirements of stock for such a trip. Among the party were S. C. Hastings, Dr. Owles, James Baker and a Mr. Smith. Two friends of Mr. Wolf, William Scott, an exper- ienced cook, and Isaac Heath, a teamster, were asked to, accompany him, but as they had no money Mr. Wolf agreed to pay their expenses, they to reimburse him as soon as they had earned the means in Califor- nia. Mr. Heath stated that he would drive every step of the road to California and upon his arrival there would pay back one-third, besides giving Mr. Wolf the outfit. In the party there were thirty-six persons, three to each team, and Mr. Scott cooked and washed for their party of three, besides doing duty as guard.

Leaving Iowa, April 5, 1849, the party proceeded to St. Joseph, Mo. There they found the regular ferry would not cross the river for six weeks with their outfit, as each party had to wait their turn. Thereupon they proceeded to make a special ferry, at which they worked from the 11th to the 13th of May. On the launching of the boat their twelve wagons were ferried across free of cost in return for their work, while if they had waited for the regular ferry it would have cost them $300 to get their teams across the river. Meanwhile hundreds of emigrants were dying of the cholera, and during the night of the 14th one of their party died of the dread disease. This was the only one they lost, although three others were very ill for a time. With them was a doctor who never lost a case of cholera if notified in time, and through his instrumentality many emigrants were saved, for he always responded to appeals for aid from other parties than his own. An abundance of meat for the party was secured through the killing of wild animals, and Mr. Wolf had a record for killing more antelope than any other man in the train. In selecting a route the expedition adhered to the road

Shortly after the death of his mother Andrew Wolf started out to seek his own livelihood in the world and at first clerked in a store in Dayton, Ohio, owned by an uncle, William Van Cleaf. Two years later he embarked in business with J. R. Coblentz, and con- tinued there until October of 1847, when he severed the partnership and went to Iowa to visit an uncle, surveyed by Gen. John C. Fremont for the govern-

Andsour Moth

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

ment, and traveled to the Sink of the Humboldt over the hard road and the sand. Well-equipped with water and hay as per instructions, they arrived at the sand strip about three o'clock in the afternoon, intend- ing to travel the twenty-five miles of its length dur- ing the cool of the night, and by so doing they avoided disastrous consequences; but all along the trail they met wagons with emigrants who had disobeyed orders and were begging for assistance, as their stock had become worn out with hard driving in the heat of the day. By taking every precaution they got safely through to California, but for two weeks they were never free from the sight of cholera victims. A saving of sixty miles was effected through continuing the journey via Fort Laramie and the Sublette Cut- off, and they entered California at Truckee. They camped and slept in the cabin that had been occupied by the ill-fated Donner party, and from there traveled across the Sierra Nevada Mountains and entered Hangtown, now Placerville, where the company dis- banded. Mr. Wolf, with his two friends, Heath and Scott, and some members of an Illinois train, found a place to put their stock for recruiting it, and then proceeded to the mines.

A German who belonged to the company soon found gold that he could pick up with his hands, and claims were at once staked out by all. In three days Mr. Wolf cleaned up $1,500 worth of gold, but on the fourth day he was blinded by poison oak so that fur- ther work was impossible. Hiring a driver at ten dol- lars per day, he took his team to Sacramento, mean- while suffering untold agonies all the way. It was his good fortune to meet an emigrant train in which a woman had some sugar of lead, which she gave him, besides rendering every assistance in her power. Without her timely aid he would probably have per- ished on the road, but the help came in time and after recruiting for seven days in Sacramento he was able to proceed to San Francisco. October 15, 1849, he ar- rived in Stockton, and from that time to the day of his death he was inseparably associated with the de- velopment of this part of the state. Until 1851 he engaged in freighting between Stockton and the southern mines. Later he built a livery stable on Main Street, and in time this business increased until he owned 200 feet on Main Street, 130 feet on Cali- fornia, 150 on Market and 100 on Sutter Street. The Wolf stables became known throughout the entire state and remained in the same location until 1906 al- though after 1865 he leased the business to other parties. As early as 1860 he became interested in farming, and in 1865 he moved his family to his ranch on the Mariposa road, eight miles from town, where he owned 800 acres of land. For this he paid two dollars and fifty cents per acre after buying out some squatters who had settled on the tract. With characteristic generosity he donated land to the rail- road and for the opening up of highways, which lessened his ranch to 750 acres. The land is fertile, and still ranks among the finest properties of the kind in the entire valley. After 1875 Mr. Wolf resided in Stockton, and with the exception of twenty years he conducted the ranch himself. In 1886 he replaced the cottage built in 1852 by a modern structure.

On August 17, 1852, Mr. Wolf was married to Amanda Dwelly, a native of Maine. When she was a small child she lost her father, and later her mother married again. In 1850 she came to California with her mother and stepfather and settled in Stockton.

Of her marriage four children were born. Laura, who married W. T. Smith, died at Elko, Nev., March 27, 1880, leaving an only daughter, now the wife of State Senator Charles Henderson, and the mother of two sons. Franklin resides in Alameda; he married Laura Usher, by whom he has a daughter, Lita, and a son, Andrew. George L., who was born May 26, 1858, resides in Stockton and conducts a real estate business. Delia became the wife of Dr. J. J. Meigs and is residing in Stockton; they have one son, John Gerald.

While making the management of his ranch his main activity during the years of his prime, Mr. Wolf found many other enterprises to engage his attention, as might be expected of a man possessing such great energy, varied resourcefulness, and fine qualities of mind. Many enterprises that afterward became im- portant owed their origin to his foresight and pro- pressive spirit. He built the first track and sheds for the Fair Association, with which he was identified as treasurer during its existence. On the organization of the Stockton Grange he was chosen the first mas- ter. As president of the Grangers' Union in Stock- ton he erected for them a building now occupied by Hudson & King, and also had charge of their ware- house, where an immense volume of business was transacted for a number of years. Eventually he re- signed his office as president and disposed of his in- terests in the enterprise, thereafter living retired. In the organization of the San Joaquin County Pioneers' Society he was a prime factor, and for one term of- ficiated as its president. On September 3, 1845, he joined Buckeye Lodge, No. 47, at Dayton, Ohio, and later became a member of Charity Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., in which he had passed all the chairs. In addi- tion he was associated with the Parker Encampment. At the time of his demise, in July, 1912, aged ninety- one years, he was the oldest Odd Fellow in San Joa- quin County, and so far as known, also in the entire state. He and his wife were members of the Episco- pal Church. At the inception of the Stockton Savings & Loan Society Bank he became one of its stock- holders, and remained until his death a member of its board of directors, in which body the value of his sagacious counsel and optimistic spirit was appre- ciated, as a member of the finance committee. Mr. Wolf was always active in mind and body, thoroughly posted concerning matters of current importance as well as the happenings of pioneer days, and was a delightful companion for those progressive spirits who study conditions of the past and present, there- by to gain an intelligent outlook on the future. No one had greater faith in the future of Stockton than he and none were more ready to advance local pro- jects by contributions of time, money and by saga- cious advice founded upon the experiences of many busy years. To an unusual degree he was honored by the people of his home town, and in its annals his name will ever occupy a prominent place.

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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 109

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