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 127

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 127

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The marriage of Mr. Buschke occurred in Stockton and united him with Miss Adelaide Golden, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. William Golden, honored pion- eers of San Joaquin County; Mr. Golden came to the county soon after the close of the Civil War and now is the sole survivor of the G. A. R. members of Tracy. He has been a most successful farmer throughout his lifetime. Mr. and Mrs. Buschke are the parents of eight children: Ella is the wife of George Shep- pard and has two daughters, the family residing at Stockton; Adolph is married and has two daughters and they reside in San Francisco; Oscar married Miss Marccinni, is a rancher and resides in Tracy; Paul married Miss Noble, and they live in Oakland, Cal .; he served in the U. S. Army during the World War; Herbert married Miss Moffet and they reside at Ver- nalis, where he is employed as assistant engineer of the Standard Oil Pump Line; he served in the U. S. Army during the World War; Reuben is a student of the University of California in the architectural de- partment; Gussie was married to Mr. . O. Perry, a rancher at Tracy, October 14, 1922; Fred Ewald is a student in the West Side Union high school of Tracy. Mr. Buschke received his U. S. citizenship in 1893 in Judge Jones' court at Stockton, and has reared his family according to American ideals, being assisted in this work by his devoted helpmate. Hs is a Re- publican of stanch party loyalty and the family have been active members of the First Presbyterian Church, Mr. Buschke serving as elder. The first church service was held in the Willow district school- house and rough candles made of sheep tallow were used to furnish artificial light in those pioneer days; he was one of the organizers of the West Side Bank,

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

since known as the Bank of Italy, but he has dis- posed of his interest in that institution. Mr. Buschke has been a pioneer in various lines of business; he was the first man to conduct a dairy and for many years supplied the city of Tracy with dairy products, before the establishment of creameries. His prize dairy herd has been his pride, and he has shown as far away as the Tacoma, Wash., Fair his pure-bred shorthorn cattle. In recent years chickens have been his hobby, and he takes great pride in his thoroughbred poultry. A close adherence to the Golden Rule has been the policy of Mr. Buschke throughout his entire life, and his honesty and industry have brought him peace and plenty for the balance of his lifetime.

ROBERT T. MELTON .- For twenty-two years Robert T. Melton was actively and prominently iden- tified with farming interests of San Joaquin County, during which period he made substantial contribu- tion to the agricultural development of this part of the state. He was born on a farm in Monona Coun- ty, Iowa, November 20, 1862, a son of Jesse C. and Sarah (Nutt) Melton, the former a native of Ala- bama, while the latter was born in Indiana. In 1875 the family started for California and they were nine days in reaching Stockton, Cal. On arriving in the Golden State they settled in Stanislaus County, where for many years the father followed the occu- pation of farming. Elias Nutt, the maternal grand- father of the subject of this review, had crossed the plains to California with ox teams in the early '50s acquiring a large acreage near Ripon, on the Stanis- laus River. He also brought with him to California a horse, which was still living at the time the Melton family arrived here.

Robert T. Melton remained upon the home ranch in Stanislaus County until he was twenty years of age and then came to San Joaquin County, after- ward renting- a part of the G. W. Trahern ranch, five miles west of Ripon. He raised grain on an ex- tensive scale, having from 1,000 to 2,000 acres planted to wheat, and later he purchased 1,000 acres of the land, which he subsequently sold. In 1904 he rented the ranch and moved into Stockton, where he has since resided, devoting his attention to the buying and selling of real estate, in which he has been very successful. He has negotiated many important realty transfers and when the San Joaquin Irrigation District was being formed he took an active part in promoting the sale of the bonds and contributed in large measure to the success of the enterprise. He is a director of the City Bank of Stockton and is also a director in the Pacific National Fire Insurance Company of Sacramento, and helped to organize the Bank of Ripon, serving as a director for many years.

Mr. Melton married Miss Mary Silvis, a native of Pennyslvania, and they have become the parents of two children: Oscar T., sealer of weights and measures for San Joaquin County; and Elsie Eva, 'a graduate of the University of California, class of 1922, now engaged in teaching in Merced County. Mr. Melton has always taken a deep interest in civic affairs, especially in the promotion of educational standards, and served as school trustee of the Ripon district. He joined the Ripon Lodge of Odd Fel- lows in 1884 and is a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. Elks.

LEON JAMES LUCAS .- For the past thirty-nine years Leon James Lucas has resided on his home ranch west of Woodbridge on the Thornton road. He is a fine example of the enterprising man who came to this state and centered his activity in one locality, and by industry and the best of business man- agement built up a solid and permanent success. He is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, born on June 25, 1859, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Phillips) Lucas, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively.

Grandfather Adam Lucas was born in Germany. With his wife he emigrated to America and located in Pennsylvania, later removing to Johnsville near Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, where he followed farming until his death.

Grandfather Thomas Phillips was born in Vermont, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He became a farmer in Ohio, and it was then that his daughter Sarah was reared and educated. She was a woman of much amiability and native charm.

Isaac Lucas followed farming in Ohio. In 1852 he moved to Iowa, locating on a farm near Cedar Rapids and continued husbandry there for ten years. It was during his residence there that Leon James was born. In 1862 Mr. Lucas, with his family, moved back to Richland County, Ohio, and there he was a farmer until his death. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas: Darius, of Cleveland, Ohio; Upton, in Richland County, Ohio; William and Allen, de- ceased; Leon James, our subject, and his twin sister, Leah Jane, who passed away when six months old; Jerome, deceased; Thomas, of Richland County, Ohio; Mrs. Emma Rinehart, of Morrow County, Ohio; Mrs. Roby Snyder, and Laura, both deceased.

Leon J. Lucas received his education in the public schools of Richland County, Ohio. He was an adept pupil and good student, so that when eighteen years old he had already received a certificate to teach school. He taught school in that county for two years, and then resolved to come west and cast in his lot with California. In 1883 he came to San Joaquin County, where he engaged in farming.

On September 5, 1888, on the Richard Woods ranch west of Woodbridge, Mr. Lucas was married to Miss Carrie L. Woods, a native daughter of San Joaquin County and a daughter of Richard and Mary Ann (Durbin) Woods, born in Virginia and West Virginia, respectively. Grandfather Thomas Woods was a planter in Virginia. After their marriage in West Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Woods removed to Lisbon, Iowa, where they farmed until 1863, when they crossed the plains in an ox-team train of about forty wagons, the journey occupying from May until November. They had considerable trouble with the Indians, who seemed intent on getting their stock. At various times, while passing through the Snake River country, when they were corralled at night, the Indians would surround them. The train ar- ranged their wagons in a circle, in frontier style, and dug large hole the center for protection to the women and children. One night Richard Woods was wounded in the leg; but it was only a flesh wound, so they were not delayed. It was by surrendering some of the stock that they finally got through that section, and they were all glad when they arrived in California. Mr. Woods located in northern San Joaquin County, then covered . with brush and live oak. He purchased 160 acres of land, cleared and improved it, and then farmed until he retired. His wife died in 1903, aged seventy-three,

2. J. Lucas Carrie L. Lucas.

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

after which he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Lucas until his death in 1913, aged ninety years and six months. They had ten children. The first baby, named John, died in West Virginia. The others were Mrs. Barbara Sollinger, of Lodi; Mrs. Addie Perrott, deceased; George A., in Alaska; William A., living in Lodi; Achsa, now Mrs. Hughes of Sacramento; Carrie L., Mrs. Lucas; Charles R., deceased; James A., of Walnut Grove; and Melvin O., living in Stockton.

After his marriage, Mr. Lucas followed grain farm- ing until 1894, when he began orcharding and raising fruits. In 1903 he purchased his present place of ten acres on the Thornton road, one mile west of Wood- bridge, which he set out to grapes, and which is to- day a splendid full-bearing vineyard. He made all the other improvements, including residence and farm buildings, and set out the ornamental trees and small orchard. It is a sightly place and a comfortable home.

Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have four children: Roby, wife of R. N. Welsh, a rancher in this county; Erma, the wife of Ray L. Allen, a civil engineer in Sacramento; Mrs. John A. Roseberry, wife of a rancher at Lodi; and Richard, a rancher at Acampo. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have nine grandchildren.

Mrs. Lucas is a member of the Woman's Improve- ment Club of Lodi; the White Apron Club at Lafay- ette; and the W. R. C. in Lodi, of which she served as treasurer. She is also a member of the W. C. T. U., and is a strong Prohibitionist. In politics, Mr. Lucas is a Republican, and in voting with his party he takes a good citizen's interest in all public affairs. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church at Stockton.

HERBERT A. FAIRBANK .- Among the repre- sentative men of San Joaquin County, Herbert A. Fairbank is in the front rank, his various interests bringing him in close touch with viticulture, horticul- ture and commercial activities, for which he is spe- cially fitted. His resourceful business ability has been used in behalf of public improvement, and the sub- stantial upbuilding of the state and county. He was born in Cook County, Ill., on April 19, 1860, a son of John B. and Emily P. (Mack) Fairbank. The father, John B. Fairbank, was a Congregational minister and moved to Morgan County, Ill., when Herbert A. was a small lad. Having had the misfortune to lose his mother when he was two weeks old, Herbert A. Fair- bank was sent to Jacksonville, Ill., to live with his grandmother. After the father's second marriage he went to live with his father's family at Fort Wayne, Ind. He began his education in the Fort Wayne public school and in course of time was graduated from the high school of that city. He then entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, where he re- mained for three years. The father, John B. Fairbank, passed away in 1881.

After leaving Illinois College, Mr. Fairbank went to Sioux Falls, S. D., and was employed by the Sharp Lumber Company as bookkeeper for three years. He then went to San Antonio, Texas, and was book- keeper for the William Cameron Lumber Company, which operated twenty-seven yards throughout the state, and remained with this company for two and one-half years. In 1886 he removed to San Fran- cisco, Cal., and for six years was with the California Fruit Union. Then for four years he was employed with the National Fruit Association, and afterwards

became identified with the Producers Fruit Company and served in the capacity of president and manager of the company up to five years ago, when he came to Lodi. There he had secured fruit lands previously in the Christian Colony district. Jointly with his son-in- law, W. H. Dement, he owns and operates 220 acres, all amply supplied with water for irrigating purposes by pumping plants. They have fifty acres in vine- yard and 170 acres in orchard. After purchasing this property they had remodeled the house into a com- fortable and commodious home, but suffered the mis- fortune of having it burned to the ground during January, 1922.

When the Citizens National Bank of Lodi was or- ganized, Mr. Fairbank was unanimously elected a director of the institution; he is the president of the Lodi Canning Company and also serves as president of the Associated Fruit Growers, Inc., of Lodi.

The marriage of Mr. Fairbank occurred in Sioux Falls, S. D., on September 6, 1882, and united him with Miss Lillian E. Buck, born in Viroqua, Wis., a daughter of I. K. and Sarah Buck. Her father, I. K. Buck, was a hardware merchant in Viroqua. Later he was in the same business in State Center, Iowa, and then moved to Sioux Falls, S. D. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbank are the parents of one daughter, Gladys, Mrs. W. H. Dement. Mr. Fairbank is a Republican in politics, and fraternally is a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons of Lodi, Chapter R. A., and Scot- tish Rite of Sacramento, and Islam Temple Shriners of San Francisco; and is also a member of the W. O. W. of Sacramento and of the National Union. It is not success alone that has won for Mr. Fairbank the respect, confidence and friendship of his fellow men, but his high character, his devotion to the gen- eral good, and his exemplification of manly principles.

EDWIN THOMAS HANNAFORD .- An hon- ored pioneer resident of Stockton, Edwin Thomas Hannaford has made this part of California his home for more than sixty years. He was born on Cape Elizabeth, near Portland, Maine, May 1, 1840, his an- cestors being of English birth. In the fall of 1860 he left his native state and sailed on the Star of the West to the Isthmus of Panama, and up the Pacific on the Cortez to San Francisco, landing in the latter part of December, 1860. On January 3, 1861, he ar- rived at Stockton and for a year and a half he worked on the Foreman ranch, where the town of Linden now stands, grinding grain in a primitive flour mill owned by Rynerson & Wasley. Later he came to Stockton and engaged in the tobacco business with George Houston. They raised their own tobacco on Craig's ranch and cured it, having five acres in this crop. Natural leaf was then selling for $1.00 a pound and smoking tobacco was seventy-five cents a pound. Selling out and dissolving partnership he went to Knight's Ferry, working in the old flour mill of D. W. Tulloch, and when he returned to Stockton in 1865 he entered the employ of the City Flour Mill, located on Main Street and owned by Willard and Austin Sperry and Mr. Burkett. For fifty years he was one of their most trusted employees and at the time of his retirement in 1915 he was presented with a gold service pin by the Sperry Company in honor of his long and faithful service. He filled all positions in the mill except that of engineer and general superintendent. He was superintendent of the cereal mill and later for twenty-six years had

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

charge of the boys and girls employed in the cereal mill. He did all the flour packing in the early days and has seen many changes in the mill's processes and machinery during his long term of service. At a recent banquet at the mill he was the guest of honor and made a fine speech, his name heading the list of veteran employees.

In earlier years Mr. Hannaford was prominent in musical affairs, having a fine basso-profundo voice. He formed two male quartettes and with the three Wheeler sisters made a concert tour throughout the Valley, visiting San Jose and other places. For three years he sang in the choir of the Congrega- tional Church and never missed a Sunday during that time. Hale and hearty in his eighty-third year he is still very active and can dance a jig as well as in his youth. He joined the Odd Fellows in 1863 at Lin- den; afterwards he was a member of Yerba Buena Lodge in San Francisco. The world is his church and to do good is his religion. He has been a Re- publican from the time of Lincoln.

Mr. Hannaford was first married in Sacramento to Miss Madeline Bingham, born in Pennsylvania, who died in Oakland, leaving six children, five of whom are living: Mrs. Mary Hihn, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Nellie Andrews, of Watsonville; Edwin T., Jr., of Stockton; Mrs. Jennie Menasco, of Watsonville; Mrs. Lorena Elliott, of Venice. His second mar- riage united him with Miss Margaret Andrews, who was born in Nebraska. Her parents, John H. and Margaret (Curry) Andrews, were both natives. of England, and in 1865 they crossed the plains with mule teams. They settled at first in Oregon and later came to Stockton, where Mr. Andrews opened up a harness shop on South Center Street between Main and Market, and the brick building which he erected is still standing. By this union they have one son, James L., a carpenter in Venice.

JAMES DRACE .- An honored pioneer of San Joaquin County, James Drace passed away at his home at San Jose, Cal. August 8, 1918. He was born at St. Joseph; Mo., April 14, 1834, being a son of James Drace, a pioneer farmer of Missouri who was born after the death of his father in Philadelphia. When nineteen years of age, he started across the plains to California with ox teams. He did what most of the early comers to California did, went first into the mines seeking for gold; then he began freighting from Stockton to the mines driving an eighteen-mule team over the rough mountain roads. He followed this occupation for seven years, then invested his savings in 160 acres of land and built a house on it, residing there until 1866, when he sold out and bought the home place on Mormon Slough, near Linden, now known as the Drace ranch.

At Linden Mr. Drace was married to Miss Jane Potter, born July 3, 1847, a sister of Joseph Potter, a pioneer of Linden. Five children were born to this couple: Charles E .; Dora is the wife of C. H. Needham, of Wesley, Cal .; J. A. is associated with Charles E. in extensive ranching operations and re- side in Stockton; Elizabeth is deceased; Alice M. is with the Associated Oil Company of San Jose, Cal. After more than thirty years residence in San Joa- quin County, James Drace rented his home place to his son J. A. Drace, and removed to San Jose where he purchased a residence on South Fifteenth Street, and there resided until his death. He was preceeded

by his wife who died in 1916. He was a charter member of the Scio Lodge I. O. O. F. of Linden, was a Democrat in politics and was a member of the Methodist Church.

ERNEST MAXMILLIAN TSCHIERSCHKY .-

One of the early settlers in California who has con- tributed his share towards the building up of the commonwealth is Ernest Maxmillian Tschierschky, who was born near Bunzlau, Silesia, Germany, Octo- ber 3, 1836. Left an orphan when three years of age, he made his home with an uncle in Nausholz, where he received a good education in the public schools. After being confirmed in the Lutheran Church when fourteen, he removed with his uncle to Stettin, on the Baltic Sea. There he naturally went to sea, as was the custom of the youth in that port. He made six trips before the mast in a German vessel to England. Then he went deep sea sailing in the "Mirau," a sail- er bound for New York City, in 1858, and from that port he made seventeen trips across the Atlantic. He also sailed in coasting vessels, to the West Indies and South American ports. On the steamer "Liberty" he made twenty trips between New York and Havana.

Mr. Tschierschky was shipwrecked in the Bay of Biscay off the French coast in a sailing vessel, but got ashore in the night. He then traveled by land to Paris and then made his way back to Stettin. He was also in a collision in the North Sea when their ship sunk an English vessel off the coast of Eng- land. During the Civil War he served as quarter- master on two different government transports, the "Delaware" and "John Rice," out of New York City, along the Southern coast, transporting troops and supplies.

Mr. Tschierschky was married in New York City in August, 1868, to Miss Caroline Beneker, who was born in Brennerhaven, Germany. In September of the same year he came with his wife to San Fran- cisco via Panama. Landing from the old "Constitu- tion," he quit the sea and located in Stockton, being employed in a lumber yard until 1870. That year the Stockton Lumber Company was started and he entered their employ, continuing with them without interruption for forty-one years. During that. time he was foreman for a year and then was salesman until he retired.

Soon after he came to Stockton, he built a resi- dence on North Pilgrim Street, and he resided there for many years. His wife died in 1911, aged sixty- three years. Their union was blessed with ten chil- dren: William is postmaster at Tracy; Frederick is in the plumbing business; Herbert is also a plumber; Louis is employed in a planing mill; Alexander is a deputy sheriff. The other children are Laura, Wilhelmina, a graduate nurse, Mrs. Caroline Wole- son, Mrs. Freda Sturla, and Mrs. Grant. All live in Stockton, excepting William and Wilhelmina, who make their homes in Tracy and San Francisco re- spectively.

During the years he was in the lumber trade he was also interested in ranching, having had the fore- sight many years ago to purchase land near Ripon which he devoted to grain raising and later set to vineyard. After keeping it for a number of years, he sold at a good profit, and later on he disposed of the remainder of his land. He had purchased the original 480 acres in 1875 for $5,000. Some men, considered good business heads, said he was a very

E. M. L, Fichierschiky

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

foolish man to pay so much; but a few years later, after he had demonstrated it a success, the saine men changed their minds and said they guessed he understood land.

Mr. Tschierschky was made a Mason in New York City, and then became a member of the Morning Star Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M. He was reared a Lutheran, and still adheres to that religious faith.

THOMAS GARNER .- Among the prominent citizens of the West Side section of San Joaquin County, Thomas Garner for the past twenty-seven years has been the superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad department of signals and general yardman at Tracy. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on November 28, 1866. When he was about two years old, his father, James L. Garner, was killed by a Mexican while riding the range. His grandfather, John Garner, took Thomas to his home and reared and schooled him until he was eleven years old. John Garner was an extensive land and stock owner in Texas. In 1877 he left his grand- father's home and came to California alone to the home of his mother's sister, Mrs. Thomas Fox, in Sutter County, Mr. Fox being engaged in the cat- . tle business near Yuba City. Thomas found em- ployment on the range and. earned fifteen dollars per month and within three years time he had saved enough money to pay the transportation for his moth- er and sister from Texas to San Francisco, Cal. Mrs. Garner passed away in Tracy during 1910.

Thomas attended the public schools in Yuba City and when the family removed to San Francisco he attended the Lincoln grammar school; and in 1890 finished a business course at Heald's Business College in that city. He then learned the blacksmith's trade and follewed it in Yuba City and San Francisco. In 1891 he became a brakeman out of Oakland on the Western division of the Southern Pacific Railroad; three years later he was stationed at Tracy and had the run out of Lathrop to Fresno.

The marriage of Mr. Garner in 1895 united him with Miss Lulu Lisle, a native of Sutter County, Cal., a daughter of John Q. Lisle, a prominent pion- eer farmer of Sutter County who passed away in 1912. In the early days he erected and owned the Lisle toll bridge over the American River; the bridge is still standing and in good repair. Mr. and Mrs. Garner are the parents of one daughter, Margaret E., a graduate of the West Side Union high school; she is also a gifted musician, having completed a three years course in piano and harmony in San Francisco; she has a large class in piano at Tracy. In 1898, Mr. Garner joined the Summer Lodge of Odd Fellows and has passed through all the chairs; he is now a trustee of the lodge; he has been high priest of the Encampment for the past fourteen years, with the exception of one term. For the past thir- teen years, with the exception of two years, he has been the clerk of the board of trustees of the Tracy schools; this school district recently voted $75,000 worth of bonds for new buildings, for which Mr. Garner is in no little measure responsible. In an article signed by the Tracy grammar school teachers, which appeared in the Stockton Record of March 30, 1922, the teachers warmly endorsed Mr. Garner for re-election. Needless to say he was reelected by a very emphatic majority. Mr. Garner has been the treasurer of the Brotherhood of Trainmen for twelve years and has recently been honored with the twenty-

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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 127

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