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 126

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

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mining section of Placer County. Four children have blessed their union. The oldest was Sylvan; he died at the age of nineteen, unmarried; Annette C. is now the wife of C. W. Howard, vineyardist, of Acampo, and has one child, Naomi Jane, eight years old; Rob- ert E. married Miss Christine Wesner. He served the Southern Pacific Railway Company for nineteen years, nine years as day operator at the Southern Pacific down-town office in Stockton, until he succumbed to the influenza in 1918. He left one child, James Eu- gene, now twelve years old. Mildred is the wife of Leo Cooper, of Santa Barbara, Cal.

The death of Mrs. Denehy occurred on November 23, 1920, just a year, to a day, before that of her brother. Since her death, Judge Denehy has been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. C. W. Howard. The Judge was long a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Woodbridge. He is patriotic and popular as a justice of the peace, and finds the admin- istration of that office easier, with public sentiment in his favor.

JAMES T. HERBERT .- Milling interests of Cali- fornia have received impetus through the labors of James T. Herbert, who has devoted his entire life to this branch of activity and is now acting as superin- tendent of the plant of the Sperry Flour Company at Stockton. He was born on a farm in Union County, Ore., August 29, 1880, and when seven years of age removed with his parents to California, the family home first being established in Sacramento. In 1890, they located at Kirkwood, in Tehama County, this state, where the father operated a small feed mill.

In the public schools of Kirkwood, Cal., James T. Herbert completed his education and he has since de- voted his attention to the milling business, gaining his first knowledge thereof in his father's feed mill. When twenty-one years of age he went to Marysville, Cal., and entered the employ of the Sperry Flour Company, in whose service he has since continued. He remained at Marysville for less than a year and in 1901 came to Stockton as miller in their plant in this city. Later he became millwright and in 1916 was made superin- tendent of the mill, in which capacity he has since served. In addition to being an expert millwright he is an able milling engineer and had charge of the work of installing the machinery in the Sperry mills at Stockton, Marysville, Los Angeles, Chico and Fresno, Cal., while he also made the blue print draw- ings for the machinery. He is the possessor of marked mechanical skill and ingenuity and has in- vented a number of improvements in milling ma- chinery which are now in use in the Sperry mills. He is an exceptionally capable man and his employers thoroughly appreciate the value of his services.

Mr. Herbert married Miss Gertrude Marx, a native of Stockton and a member of one of its pioneer fam- ilies. Two children have been born of this union: Gertrude E. and Ralph E. Mr. Herbert's fraternal connections are with Truth Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., and Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. E. His enter- prise and ability have brought him steadily to the front and as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well. His success is largely at- tributable to the fact that he has concentrated his efforts, upon a given line of activity, in which he has gained that specialized knowledge which makes him

an authority in his line of work, and his labors have ever been of a constructive nature, contributing to public progress as well as to individual prosperity.

IRA B. LADD, M. D .- A distinguished represent- ative of the medical profession in California whom posterity will always delight to honor was the late Dr. Ira B. Ladd, who was born at Stockton on May 28, 1868, the son of George S. and Abigail (Bour- land) Ladd, the former a Vermonter, and the latter a native of Arkansas. George Ladd was born at Danville on May 28, 1832, came out to California in 1853, reaching Stockton by way of Panama on Janu- ary 14, 1853. He died at Stockton on April 25, 1902. He was one of Stockton's most honored citizens, and was closely identified with educational progress . and real mercial enterprises there. As a result of his estate and com- particular interest in educational movements he was in 1867 appointed superintendent of schools; and he held that office until 1880. He also served as a member of the city council, and was appointed by Governor George Perkins state commissioner of the Yosemite Valley. Mrs. Ladd, the mother of our subject, was born on January 30, 1840, and is a charming lady of enviable accomplishments.

Ira B. Ladd was educated in the public schools of Stockton, was graduated from the Cooper Medical College of San Francisco, and became one of Stock- ton's leading physicians. He was a skillful surgeon, and built up a large practice. He was city health officer of Stockton for a number of years, and when the Emergency Hospital was opened in Stockton he became surgeon-in-charge, and occupied that posi- tion of responsibility until his death, which occurred on June 5, 1913. Then, in his lamented passing, the city lost one of its most progressive and public- spirited citizens. He had ardently loved the city of his birth, and was always interested in any move- ment that promised to advance its interests. He also enlisted in the Spanish-American War, and served with distinction as chief-surgeon, with the rank of captain, while he was stationed at Manilla, in the Philippine Islands. He belonged to the National and State Medical Associations and County Medical Society, and was also prominent in fraternal orders, being a member of Lodge No. 218, Stockton Elks, and also the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. He had a fine tenor voice, and was prominent in musical circles in Stockton, where he often partici- pated with enthusiasm in benefit programs. While attending college he had taken up the study of the pipe organ, and had played in the churches of San Francisco.

Dr. Ladd's first wife, Mrs. Mollie Ladd, was the daughter of Mrs. Christopher Grattan. On De- cember 29, 1910, Dr. Ladd was united with Miss Mabel Elliott, a native of the state of Washington, and this union was blessed with the birth of two sons, Ira M. and Bourland E. Ladd. Shortly before his death, he bought a twenty-acre ranch on the Farmington Road, near Nightingale, which he planted to peaches and walnuts. Mrs. Ladd, upon the demise of her esteemed husband, took charge of the ranch and brought it to a high state of cultivation; and then she disposed of the property. From all of which it will be seen that, distinguished as he was in the medical world, Dr. Ladd was something more than a mere professional man; and active and successful as he was in promot-

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

ing and caring for his own affairs, he was influential and helpful, as a broad-minded, progressive leader, in giving direction and impetus to movements, and in co-operating with others in public activities, likely to be of the greatest good to the greatest number.

HARRY CARSON FINCK .- One of the foremost representatives of agricultural interests in San Joaquin County, Harry Carson Finck, is an extensive rancher and stock raiser of the Tracy district, his property being located fourteen miles southwest of Stockton on the Lincoln Highway. He was born on his fath- er's ranch about one mile west of the present home place, on Tom Paine Slough, October 9, 1890, a son of the late Henry and Lena (Roady) Finck, promi- nent and highly respected pioneers of the county. Henry Finck was born at Hanover, Germany, Sep- tember 5, 1844 and the first fifteen years of his life were spent in his native land. In 1859 he came to the United States with his maternal uncle, Henry Dimmer, and located in San Francisco where he re- mained until the fall of 1866 when he removed to San Joaquin County, locating several miles west of Tracy, where he engaged in farming and butchering. For four years he was in partnership with the Lam- mers Brothers, and then continued in the same line on his own account at what is now known as Lammersville. He remained there until 1887, when he settled upon the ranch now occupied by our subject. The ranch consists of 1,900 acres of valuable land. When it came into his possession it was in its primi- tive condition, hardly a furrow having been turned or an improvement made, but it is now one of the best developed farms in the county, and nearly the entire amount of 1,900 acres has been placed under the plow. He followed butchering for a time as well, but during the last few years devoted his ener- gies entirely to raising grain and stock and to dairy- ing. His labors were untiring, and his life of thrift and industry in the management of his extensive ranch resulted in making him one of the prosperous citizens of the county.

On September 30, 1875, Henry Finck was married to Miss Lena Roady, born near Hamburg, Ger- many, who came to California at the age of fourteen years. To this marriage were born nine children, six of whom are living: Frederick H., Gesena A. R., Anna D. J., Harry Carson, our subject; Eliza- beth C. and Martin L. In politics Mr. Finck was a Republican and fraternally was connected with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias of Tracy. For many years he served as school trustee and aided in the progress and development of the county. The father and step-mother were accidentally killed on May 1, 1922, at the railroad crossing on Park Street, Stockton, Cal. as they were going in their automo- bile to their home on Lindsay Street.

Harry Carson Finck received his preliminary edu- cation in the district school at Banta, then took a business course at the Western School of Commerce Stockton, and having grown up on his father's farm he became a partner with his father in 1911, farming 500 acres on shares, which was a highly productive year; then came the flood of 1913 which swept away everything; however, the water did not reach the mark made in the flood of 1906-07, which was the highest in the history of the Finck family. In 1894 the Western Pacific Railroad Company purchased a right-of-way through the Finck ranch, which is

now their main line to San Francisco; also the San Francisco Sierra Power Company have crossed their lands with two high tension power lines, carrying power from the high Sierras to the cities and val- leys and on to the Bay district. In 1912, Mr. Finck installed a twelve-inch pump and a fifty h. p. motor for the purpose of lifting water from the San Joa- quin River for irrigating his land.

Mr. Finck entered the service of his country in the World War on December 22, 1917 at Camp Lewis there he spent seven months in training, operating a Holt tractor as a first class private. On July 4, 1918, he left New York arriving at Liverpool eleven days later and July 20, arrived at Cherbourg, France, where he trained until October 28 when he entered the First Army Corps as wagoner under Col L. E. Bennett, and on November 11 his regiment was in the engagement at Metz, but as the armistice was signed at 10 o'clock on that day, fighting was dis- continued. He was with the army of occupation in Germany until February 12, 1919. On March 13, 1919, Mr. Finck's regiment was a part of the guard of honor to President Wilson at Brest and on March 23 set sail for the United States, arriving at San Francisco on April 22, 1919, and on May 5 he received his honorable discharge at the Presidio.

On February 2, 1918, while at Camp Lewis, Mr. Finck, was married to Mrs. Edna (Eickert) Cle- ments, a native of Red Bluff, Cal. After his dis- charge he returned to the Finck ranch which had been managed by his father during his absence. In politics, Mr. Finck is a Republican and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias and is a past officer of the Tracy lodge and in 1916 was a delegate to the grand lodge; he is also a member ct Tracy Parlor, N. S. G. W.

GLEN E. SAXTON .- Among the more recent acquisitions to the business circles of Tracy is Glen E. Saxton, the proprietor of the G. E. Saxton Plumb- ing Shop, and has already proven himself a valuable asset to the progress and building up of the San Joaquin County. A native of Michigan, he was born at Albion, Calhoun County, on June 30, 1888. His father, Justus Saxton, was a native of Bristol, Pa., and emigrated to Michigan in the early '60s, where he was employed as a painter.

Glen E. Saxton attended the public schools of Michigan, and as a boy sold newspapers at Battle Creek to earn his own way. In 1904 he left home to work in a large implement shop and spent two years there learning the machinist's trade; later he removed to Roseburg, Ore., and for a number of years his occupations were diversified, working in the hemp rope mills, the pine box factories and Sutter's Paper Box factory; later upon removing to Portland, Ore., he took up the plumber's trade, working as an ap- prentice, and in 1908 he removed to White Salmon, Wash., and established his first plumbing store with repair shop in connection and built up a fine trade, which he continued for a year and a half when he disposed of it to good advantage. Learning of a good opening in Portland he returned there and entered into partnership with Mr. Lonpaugh in the conduct of an extensive pumping machinery busi- ness, which occupied him for one year. He then became much interested in the Mellon Institute of Pittsburgh, Pa., and upon hearing that a plant was

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

to be opened at Thompson, Nev., he made applica- tion for the position of superintendent and foreman in the scientific mining and leaching of copper; five years were spent in that occupation and Mr. Saxton was released with reluctance as the general foreman of this concern.

The marriage of Mr. Saxton united him with Miss Bonnie Moquist, a daughter of A. E. Moquist, of Los Banos, Cal. They are the parents of one child, Ellis Edward. In December, 1920, Mr. Saxton opened his shop in Tracy and the volume of business has so increased that he has sought larger quarters twice, his present location being at 30 West Eighth Street. He owns a comfortable residence in Tracy and has entered into the industrial life of the com- munity with true California spirit, and has already taken a most active interest in the progress and development of the West Side country. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally is a Mason and has been a member of the Odd Fellow lodge for fourteen years.

HENRY A. MAGHETTI .- A model institution that seems to fill a long-felt want because of progres- sive operation is the Tracy Creamery at Tracy, Cal., conducted along up-to-date lines by Henry A. Mag- hetti, where high grade alfalfa produced under irri- gation, fed to well-bred dairy cows, results in the best quality of pure milk and cream which is dis- tributed by this house. A native of California, he was born at San Rafael, Marin County, on July 26, 1886, and was reared and schooled there until he went to San Francisco, where he took a course in the Humboldt evening high school. He is the son of Oriollio and Mary (Corti) Maghetti, natives of Italy and Switzerland, respectively, who were early settlers of Marin County, where the father became a very successful dairy farmer, and here Henry received his first lessons in farming and stock raising. After his parents passed away Henry de- cided to learn the pattern making trade, but he was fond of an outdoor life and could not content himself to stay indoors, as this trade would compel him to do. He then entered the employ of Shafter Howard in his creamery plant at Point Reyes and here he found the occupation to his liking. In 1909 he entered the dairy business for himself and has built up and dis- posed of several very fine herds of dairy cattle. Removing to Tracy in 1918, he looked the field over and became greatly impressed with the possibilities of the section under the West Side Irrigation system. He purchased the Tracy Creamery, made a number of important improvements, and installed an up-to- date pasteurization plant.

Mr. Maghetti is making and distributing a fine quality of butter, ice cream and cheese. In the con- duct of the milk, cream, butter, and cheese industry, Mr. Maghetti uses progressive methods. The plant is thoroughly sanitary and is maintained along ad- vanced lines. An automobile delivery provides quick response to orders from town and outside patrons, immediate service being a special feature. Mr. Maghetti is well pleased with conditions in the Tracy country, and having had much experience in farming he is in position to appreciate the future in this sec- tion where the lands are irrigated.

The marriage of Mr. Maghetti occurred in Santa Rosa in 1919 and united him with Mrs. Margaret

(Mehegan) Maritzen, a native of San Francisco. They are the parents of three children: Clara, Barbara Jean, and Jack. For the past fourteen years, Mr. Maghetti has been active in the Odd Fellows and is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce.

WILLIAM HEIL .- Conducting his realty opera- tions on a large scale, William Heil has not only made a splendid success in this field since locating in Lodi, but was well known for his extensive de- velopment work in several sections of North Dakota before coming to San Joaquin County. Born in Yankton, Dakota Territory, May 6, 1878, he started his business life by clerking in a store at Menno, leaving there in 1899 to locate in Morton County, N. D., where he homesteaded 160 acres of land, which he developed into a stock ranch, a property he still owns. Going to Glen Ullin, N. D., Mr. Heil began his career in the realty business, being a pioneer devel- oper of that section and doing much to develop it, selling land to Eastern speculators, disposing of Northern Pacific Railroad lands and locating home- steaders. In 1910 he helped to build up the town of Elgin, erecting the first store building and residence there, and he founded the town of Heil, laying out the town site and starting the sale of the lots the following spring in what is now a thriving town.

In the fall of 1913 Mr. Heil removed to Bismarck, N. D., and a year later he came to California and located at Lodi, having made his first visit to Cali- fornia and Lodi in 1907. Here he became actively identified with the real estate field under the firm name of The Heil Land Company, operating on an extensive scale in the handling of ranch properties, and has bought a number of vineyards, improved them and resold them at a fine profit. In 1919 Mr. Heil sold the Fink Bros., ranch of fifty-five acres for $1250 an acre, this being the first sale of vine- yard land at this high price in the county, and in 1920 part of this same land sold for $2,000 an acre. The Trimberger place of ten acres which he sold for $7,500 brought $27,500 three years later, and the vineyard of John K. Bender, consisting of twenty acres, which he sold in 1919 for $16,000, has changed hands three times in two years, bringing $46,000 the last time, showing the increase in values in this thriving district. The company now holds the Kirschenmann ranch of seventy acres of vineyard and orchard on the lower Sacramento Road, the latter property being brought up to a high state of culti- vation under the supervision of Mr. Heil. The com- pany also owns 500 acres of bare land of which Mr. Heil personally owns 480 acres in Merced County.

Mr. Heil's first marriage united him with Miss Magdalena Fink, who passed away in Lodi, leaving three children, Emma, Hilda and Harry. On Feb- urary 13, 1908, he was married to Miss Augusta Lipelt, a native of Poland, and this union has been blessed with the birth of two children, Loraine and Gerald William. Mr. Heil was one of the organi- zers of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Lodi and was at one time its largest stockholder, but he recently disposed of his interests in it. Progressive in all his ideas, Mr. Heil has been successful since first coming here, and with his enthusiasm and be- lief in the future greatness of this favored district, he has contributed much to its prosperity.

Auguste Heil.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JOHN BUNCH .- At his San Joaquin County home, on June 4, 1904, John Bunch surrendered the duties of life and passed to his reward, having com- pleted almost forty years residence in the county. During those years he was one of the most promi- nent ranchers and esteemed citizens of this section of the state. His life was one of industry, thrift and honest toil, from the years of youth until he had reached the Psalmist's span of allotted years. Be- sides a worthy family of sons and daughters, he left his aged widow to enjoy a few years longer, the comforts which their united efforts for many years had accomplished. She passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Grosclose, at Linden, Cal., on March 30, 1920, surrounded by her devoted family.

Born in Washington County, Ind., July 23, 1826, John Bunch was a son of William and Catherine (McGrew) Bunch. His mother dying when he was four years old, he was reared to his majority in his native county, receiving such educational advantages as the pioneer school equipment of the time and locality afforded. He was at the time of his death one of the few surviving veterans of the Mexican War, having enlisted for that service and having . taken part in the battle of Buena Vista, as also in some minor engagements. On his return from war he remained with his father near Salem, Ind, for some time, and then went out to the new state of Iowa and located in Davis County, where he was en- gaged in farming and stockraising until he came to California. In connection with his other regular pursuits in Iowa, he also for a time conducted a steam saw and grist mill. His father, William Bunch, was born in Virginia in 1804, where his English ancestors had settled in the seventeenth century. In 1854 he removed to Indiana and still later to Iowa, where he passed away in 1870.

On March 4, 1852, John Bunch was married to Miss Mary F. Wallace, who was born near Nashville, Tenn., December 13, 1829, a daughter of John N. and Sarah E. (Hamilton) Wallace, her father a native of South Carolina and her mother of Kentucky. In in- fancy she was taken by her parents from Tennessee to Randolph County, Mo., where she lived and was reared to the age of fifteen. The family then re- moved to Platte County, Mo., and made their home there until they settled in Davis County, Iowa, in 1851. John Bunch and wife had nine children: Sarah F., wife of George J. Leffler; Mary E., wife of John A. Swain, of San Joaquin County; Charles F .; David M., deceased; Ann V., wife of Florin C. Swain, of San Joaquin County; Julia C. who became the wife of the late James G. Russell, but is now the wife of Davis Grosclose, farmer and stockman at Linden; Joseph W., of San Joaquin County; Ida D., wife of George Sayles; and Thomas who died July 18, 1906. In 1864 John Bunch brought his family across the plains to California, driving ox and mule teams; and after a short time spent in Tuolumne County he moved to San Joaquin County in 1865, where he rented a ranch from Joe Davis, which he farmed for one year, and then bought 280 acres run- ning from the Eight-mile House to the upper Sacra- mento Road. He also owned eighty acres two and a half miles east, where he continued his activity until his death. For many years he was a trustee of the Davis school district, and he was noted for his loyal support of all public institutions and enter- 52

prises. He was a member of the Methodist Church South of Stockton, in which for a number of years he served as steward. For forty years John Bunch held the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens in this part of the state, and stood for uplift and civic betterment in his community. He was a successful business man, a good manager and financier, and was always reckoned as one of the substantial men of the county.

ADOLPH G. BUSCHKE .- An early settler who has seen much of San Joaquin County grow from a wilderness and who is, therefore, a natural lover of the Golden State, is Adolph G. Buschke, a native of Germany, born near Posen on October 11, 1859. His father, Gottleib Buschke, made a visit to Tracy early in 1910, and upon his return to his native land of Germany, passed away during May of the same year; and his mother, Louisa Meatzner, in her maiden- hood, passed away in 1870. Adolph G. received a good public school education in his native country and was confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1885 he came to Tracy and entered the harness shop owned by his brother, G. A. D. Buschke, whose sketch is also in this volume; two years later he removed to French Camp and went to work in Brandt's Factory remaining there for about two years; and in 1889 farmed on shares for Mr. Ott, a promi- nent landowner; two years later he again returned to Tracy and farmed on the William Golden ranch until 1901; during this time he had acquired a ranch near Banta, which was the first land he had owned since coming to America; today he owns three fine ranches adjacent to Tracy.

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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 126

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