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 128

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 128

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five years service button, in recognition of his faith- ful and efficient service. His political views are those of the Democratic party. While contributing liberally to all worthy charities, Mr. and Mrs. Gar- ner hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church; their home is at 55 West Ninth Street, and they also own a residence and some excellent real es- tate in the Rosedale addition. In April, 1920, he was elected, by popular ballot, city trustee. He was se- lected by the city board of trustees as it chairman, and is now serving as mayor of the city of Tracy with ability and dignity.

MRS. MARY CECELIA JACOBSEN .- A native daughter who is giving of her best efforts towards building up and developing her county, Mrs. Mary Cecelia Jacobsen was born on the Selby ranch near Redwood City, San Mateo County, a daughter of Edmund and Sarah (McSorley) Elligott, born in Lim- erick, Ireland, and New York respectively. Her father came to Minnesota as a lad and when six- teen came to California via Panama. For a time he followed mining and then coming to San Jose he was married to Sarah McSorley. Her parents, James and Mary (Martin) McSorley, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, had come to Oneida County, New York, where the daughter, Sarah, was born and there the father died. The mother then in 1862 came via Pan- ama with the children and she spent the remainder of her days in San Juan. Of the six children in the McSorley family there is only one, Dan McSorley, now living ,and he resides on his ranch adjoining Mrs. Jacobson.

Mr. Elligott was foreman of the Selby ranch in San Mateo County, later for Alex. Grogan at Palo Alto. He removed to San Juan, San Benito County, and purchased a sixty acre ranch; engaging in fruit raising. Selling out, he purchased a wheat ranch, a part of the Curran ranch at Gilroy, and when he sold that he moved to Petaluma, where he followed farm- ing and dairying. He came to Stockton in 1880 and in 1881 he purchased 1191/2 acres and later 271/2 more from John Tretheway, and on his 177 acre ranch he farmed until his death, March 5, 1908. The mother had passed away October 21, 1895.

Mary Cecelia, their only child, completed her edu- cation in the Petaluma high school, coming to Stock- ton in 1880. She was married in St. Mary's Church October 3, 1893, to Jacob Jacobsen, a native of Den- mark, born December 18, 1860, whose father, Louis, was a farmer, and there Mr. Jacobsen was reared and educated. When eighteen years of age he came to New York State, later removing to Kansas, whence he came to California. Mr. Jacobsen inher- ited the Elligott ranch and after their marriage they engaged in farming the place.

The Jacobsen ranch is devoted to grain, hay and fruits, some of the acreage being devoted to raising table grapes. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen's union has been blessed with two children: Louis E., a graduate of St. Mary's College and Heald's Business College, is now engaged in viticulture and in buying and ship- ping grapes, as well as managing his mother's ranch. Edmund D. entered service in the World War, June 3, 1918, and was sent to the recruiting barracks at Angel Island and afterwards to Camp Johnston, Fla., and then transferred to Newport News and at Camp Hill served in 312th Remount Squadron. Three weeks later he was sent to Brest, France, where he continued in the service in remount work. During

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his seven months of service in France he was in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and upon the termination of hostilities his regiment was sent into Germany as a part of the Army of Occupation, and his par- ticular company was stationed about seventeen kilo- meters west of Coblenz. During the Meuse-Ar- gonne offensive he received a slight shrapnel wound from which later blood poisoning set in and it took three months' treatment in the hospital before the in- fection was eradicated. Returning to the United States, he received his honorable. discharge at Mit- chell Field, Long Island, as private, first class. Af- ter his discharge he returned to Stockton and for two years was employed with the Holt Manufactur- ing Company and then he entered his present posi- tion with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He was married September 17, 1919, to Miss Blanche Duncan, a daughter of Chas. H. and Ethel (Tupper) Duncan, of Linden, and they have a lovely daugh- ter, Meredith, who is the pride of Grandmother Jacobsen. For some years Mrs. Jacobsen was a mem- ber of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Loyal Order of Moose. In national politics she is a Republican.

STANLEY D. HERBERT .- Among the more re- cent additions to the horticultural industry in the Farmington section of San Joaquin County is Stan- ley D. Herbert, who is the owner of the Littlejohn Creek orchard, consisting of eighty acres in produc- ing orchard of cherries, apricots, prunes and walnuts. He was born in 1879 in Dane County, Wis., a son of A. W. and Sarah P. (Baldwin) Herbert, now engaged in horticulture at Ashland, Ore. The father is a native of the Isle of Wight, England, and Mrs. Herbert was born in Indiana of French-Canadian parents. A. W. Herbert located in Oregon in the '80s where Stanley D. received a good education and was graduated from the Agricultural College at Cor- vallis, Ore., in 1901, with the degree of B. S. In 1902 he left home and engaged in civil engineer work in eastern Oregon remaining there until 1904 when he entered the University of California at Ber- keley, taking a post-graduate course during 1904-5. He then followed civil engineering work in Califor- nia and Nevada, working on the Truckee-Carson re- clamation project and in Solano County and was en- gaged in this work for about ten years; he then became superintendent of the Natomas Consolidated of California in Sacramento County. During 1916-17 he was in the seed business at Stockton and sold out in 1918 just after entering the service, and after the war he located on his farm southwest of Farm- ington in 1920.

On October 11, 1919, Mr. Herbert was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Hewitt, a daughter of W. T. Hewitt, a pioneer of the Farmington section, San Joaquin County. One son has been born to them, Edward William. Mr. Herbert served in the World War in the 104th Engineers and was at Camp Hum- phrey, Va. He was discharged with the rank of captain. Fraternally he is affiliated with Charity Lodge, I. O. O. F. and the American Legion at Stockton; he is a director in the San Joaquin Coun- ty Cherry Growers Association and is a member of the Prune and Apricot Growers Association and serves as the director of the Farmington Farm Bureau. Reliable in business, loyal in citizenship, he is highly esteemed by his many friends.

MARGARET FARRELL .- A patriotic woman who may well be proud of the record of her family in the late war is Mrs. Margaret Farrell, enterprising and successful vineyardist and rancher, who lives about two miles west of Acampo. She was born in San Francisco, on July 26, 1864, the daughter of Patrick and Maria (Burke) Haley, both natives of County Galway, Ireland, and substantial farmer-folk Owing to conditions in that country, her parents had little opportunity for education, and her father looked more hopefully toward the future when he came to America in 1859. Her mother came several years earlier, with a married sister. Mr. Haley and Miss Burke were united in matrimony in New York on November 1, 1859. In that city they lived for a couple of years, until they went to St. Louis; and then they engaged in farming in Missouri. From the Iron State they came to California in 1864, and settled in San Francisco, in which city Mr. Haley was a laborer for a couple of years. When they left the Bay City they went inland to Santa Clara County, where they rented a part of the Martin Murphy ranch, east of Milpitas, and engaged in farming.

In the fall of 1869 Mr. Haley removed to San Joa- quin County with his family, and for a year rented a ranch near Waterloo; and then for three years they farmed west of Woodbridge. On October 31, 1874, Mr. Haley bought a farm of 220 acres on the Mokelumne River two miles west of Acampo, which soon became known as the Haley grain ranch; and a year or so later he purchased an additional eighty acres, making in all some 300 acres. In 1900, he rented his ranch and retired; and sixteen years later, a couple of days before Christmas, 1916, he passed away, aged ninety-five years. Mrs. Haley, the mother of our subject, had died on November 4, 1901, aged seventy-four, mourned by a large circle of friends. Four of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Haley died in infancy, and our subject was the only one that grew to maturity.

Margaret Haley attended the school at Wood- bridge, and finished her education at St. Joseph's Academy in Sacramento. On February 15, 1885, she was married to Edward Farrell, the son of John and Ann (Welch) Farrell, natives of West Meath, Ire- land, where Edward Farrell was also born. His parents remained in their native land, and died there; but Ed. Farrell came to California as a boy and settled in Sacramento. He went to school there, and in time became identified with the Southern Pacific Railroad. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Farrell lived in Sacramento, making their home at their resi- dence at 2115 M Street; and Mr. Farrell continued working in the Sacramento shops until the time of his death at Sacramento on January 17, 1914, when he closed a very useful life, the honored father of nine children. John E. is at Sacramento, in the employ of the Southern Pacific; Thomas is a well- known lawyer in Sacramento, formerly deputy dis- trict attorney of Sacramento County for seven years, and now in private practice; Edward P. is a plumber of Sacramento; Joseph M. is with the State Highway Commission in that city; James A. is farming and lives at home; Frances died of the influenza on No- vember 4, 1918; Anna is at home; Leo William is a medical student at St. Louis; and Winifred is at home.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Farrell continued to reside in Sacramento and also took charge of the ranch in July, 1915; and now, out of her 300 acres,

Margaret Fanell

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

forty-two are in vineyard, and a part is a young vine- yard; and all are Tokay grapes. She also has a home in Sacramento, and thus spends time both at her city residence and at the ranch dwelling. In national pol- itics a Democrat, Mrs. Farrell allows no partisanship to hinder her support of the best men and the best measures affecting local interests.

Mrs. Farrell was privileged to have four sons in the service, and when the Liberty Loan was floated in October, 1918, she marched with some 12,000 women, all dressed in white, in the parade in Sacra- mento; and as the only woman bearing a four-star banner, she was the recipient of an ovation such as might have been given with propriety to the Presi- dent of the United States. Edward P. Farrell was a member of Company I, 363rd Infantry, 91st Divi- sion. He trained with the division, went to France with them, and also returned with them, a private in excellent standing. Joseph M. served in the 115th Division of Engineers, and was in France from July, 1918, to July, 1919. Leo William was at Camp Pike, in Arkansas, in the officers' training school. At St. Louis, in August, 1918, he enlisted and served until December of that year; and then in February, 1919, he returned to the Medical School at St. Louis Uni- versity. James A. enlisted in the service on Septem- ber, 1917, and was sent to Camp Lewis, where he was placed in Company M, 363rd Infantry, 91st Division. He was there for four months, and then was trans-

to Company

E, 58th Infantry, 54th Division, and was

sent to Camp Green, in North Carolina. On May 18, 1918, he went to France, and on July 18 he went into Chateau-Thierry, and later was in the Aisne-Marne, Vesle, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and the Toulon offensives. He went over the top five times, but had the miraculously good fortune never to be wounded. On August 13, 1919, he was discharged with the rank of corporal, having returned to the United States on the first of June. Mrs. Farrell is a member of the Y. L. I. and the Catholic Ladies' Relief.

MRS. CAROLINE M. SMYTH .- A representa- tive pioneer woman of San Joaquin County, is Mrs. Caroline M. Smyth who, for over sixty-two years, has borne her share in the advancement and develop- ment of the Linden section of the county, where she still resides, honored and respected for her many admirable traits of character. She resides on the ranch nine miles east of Stockton to which she came as a bride in the year 1860, and where her children were born and reared. Her husband, James H. Smyth, whose useful life came to an end on April 19, 1885, was one of California's forty-niners, and from the period of early settlement until the time of his death was prominent in the agricultural and public life of San Joaquin County. In business he was an excellent and sagacious manager, and in the various affairs of social and community nature he always manifested a large degree of public spirit and showed himself capable of the highest American citizenship.

Mrs. Smyth was born in County Derry, Ireland, November 27, 1833. She was reared and remained in her native land until her marriage with Mr. Smyth, which occurred January 3, 1860, a sketch of this pio- neer also appearing in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Smyth were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living; Mary M .; Annie E. has recently

returned from a trip to Europe, a member of the Lundy party that toured Europe, where she spent a most enjoyable time; Carrie M .; Herbert is the manager of the home ranch; Helen, and J. Hudson, a prominent medical practitioner of this part of Cali- fornia, who has a son, J. Hudson, Jr. The fourth child, Grace, died when four years old, and the youngest, Samuel Edgar at six and one half years. Mrs. Smyth's ancestors were English who left for Ireland during the reign of Charles I. in order to enjoy religious freedom, and for many generations the family have been Presbyterians, Mrs. Smyth being a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Stockton. For the past thirty years, Mrs. Smyth has spent a portion of each summer at her cottage by the sea, which is located near Capitola. She is a highly esteemed member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers, and in all her relations of life has proved herself worthy of the esteem with which she is held in her locality.

JAMES H. SMYTH .- The life of this honored pioneer of 1849 had its beginning in County Antrim, north of Ireland, February 9, 1822, and its end came in 1885, after sixty-three years of activity and use- fulness. The family which he represented was of prominent lineage in the annals of Ireland, where his parents, Samuel and Mary (Adam) Smyth, held a high position in the most refined circles of so- ciety. The mother died at the age of eighty-five years in 1865, and the father, who owned and oper- ated a large farm, was seventy at the time of his demise. Reading had given them a broad culture and they aspired to give their children advantages which they had been denied in their early years. One of their sons, Samuel, was educated for the min- istry and at the age of twenty-two he assumed a Presbyterian pastorate at Draperston, where he re- mained until his death forty years later. Meanwhile he was honored and beloved by the people among whom his lot was cast, and into their homes he went, welcomed alike in times of joy and of sorrow, cheering the sick, helping the sorrowing and be- friending the needy.

It was the intention of the parents that their son, James H. also should enter the ministry, and with that ambition in view gave him exceptional educa- tional advantages for that day and locality. How- ever, his tastes were not in the direction of minis- terial work and after he had studied some years he decided that he would seek other avenues of activity. Coming to America in 1842, he settled in Texas and there engaged in ranching for five years or more. During 1849 he came to California via Panama. For a time after arriving in this state he mined at Co- lumbia, Tuolumne County, and at Sonora, the same county, but he met with no special good luck. His next venture was in the hauling of freight from Knights Ferry to Columbia and Sonora, and later he had several teams hauling copper from the copper mines to Stockton. In 1859 he bought a raw tract of 970 acres and later increased his holdings by the purchase of 140 acres and another tract of 240 acres.

Returning to his old Irish home in 1859, Mr. Smyth was there married early in the year of 1860, his brother officiating at the wedding, which united his destiny with that of Caroline M. Smyth, who though bearing the same family name, was not re- lated to him. Born in Ireland, November 27, 1833, she was a daughter of John and Mary (Laughlin)

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Smyth and traced her ancestry to England on the father's side and Scotland on the mother's side. The wedding trip of the young people was a voyage to America. It had been the intention of Mr. Smyth to settle in Texas, but his wife became ill, and it was then deemed advisable to proceed to California. They came via Panama and settled on the ranch eight miles from Stockton, where they industriously labored in the improvement of the land and the building up of a valuable property. Meanwhile he bore an active part in establishing the early schools and making the first roads through his part of the county. As school trustee he accomplished much in behalf of the common schools. It was his belief that nothing promoted the growth of a district more than good schools and good roads, and his public spirit was evidenced in the energy and sincerity with which he supported these movements. One of his intimate friends was the illustrious Captain Weber, who gave him an opportunity to buy land in his grant, later a part of Stockton, but the difficulties encountered in perfecting the title caused him to hesi- tate, and he thus lost an opportunity which did not come to him in later years. For years he was active in the membership of the San Joaquin Society of Cali- fornia Pioneers. In politics he voted with the Dem- ocratic party.

NEAL S. HOLMAN .- Among those who have contributed to the agricultural development in San Joaquin County is Neal S. Holman, who since a child has made his home in the county and now re- sides on his fine home ranch two miles southwest of Linden on the Holden Road, where he engages in the grain and stock business. He was born in Randolph County, Mo., March 28, 1872, a son of William Benjamin Holman, a native of Missouri. He was one and one-half years old when his par- ents started for California, arriving in the Golden State on Thanksgiving Day, 1874, and he assisted his father until he was twenty-seven years old.

On December 5, 1899, Mr. Holman was married to Miss Lavina Abbie Dunton, a native daughter of California, born in Stockton, August 11, 1873. Her parents, Marcus L. and Harriet (Greenleaf) Dunton, were both natives of Westpoint, Maine, and came to California in 1872. Mrs. Dunton was a direct descendent of the John Greenleaf Whittier family. Both parents are now deceased, survived by Mrs. Holman and Mark Alfred Dunton, a resident of Eugene, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Holman became the parents of two daughters; Claire Estella, a gradu- ate of the Stockton high school, class of 1920; and Avis M., a beloved daughter, who passed away on February 24, 1920.

The same year of his marriage, Mr. Holman began farming on his own responsibility, first leasing the McFarland place, where he engaged in raising horses, mules and cattle, as well as raising large quantities of wheat, continuing on this ranch for ten years; then he purchased his present ranch of 120 acres, a portion of the old Henry place, where his family has since resided. Three years ago Mr. Holman erected a modern residence on his ranch; he owns a complete harvesting outfit and does a great deal of contract harvesting throughout the county, besides on his own place. Mr. and Mrs. Holman are stanch friends of the best along educational lines, both hav- ing served as school trustees; at one time Mrs. Hol- man was clerk of the board of trustees of the Home

Union school district. Mr. Holman is an advocate of good roads and is an active member of the local Farm Bureau. The success that has attended his efforts in business is well merited, for he has labored untiring and at all times has been honorable in his dealings with his fellowmen.

MRS. CAROLINE C. GERARD .- An interesting pioneer of San Joaquin County who did her share to aid in the development of the country around Lodi, was the late Caroline C. Gerard, a native of England, where she lived until she was seventeen years of age. Then she came to the United States, making her home in New England; and there she met and married John H. Gerard, also a native of England. He was a mere child when he was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Soco, Maine. The straitened circumstances of the family made it necessary for John H. to begin his self-support when other chil- dren of a similar age were attending school. As a boy he was employed in the cotton mills of Bidde- ford and Soco, Maine; so his education was obtained by his faithful attendance at night school. His du- ties in the mill were confining, and he felt his re- strictions even more keenly as the reports of better prospects in the West came to his attention both by means of the press and by word of mouth from those who had returned to the East from the newly dis- covered gold mines. In 1855, after his marriage to Miss Caroline Sterling, a young lady who was am- bitious and heartily seconded his desire to cast his lot in the Golden State, they made the journey to San Francisco, the same year of their marriage, com- ing via the Isthmus of Panama route. They went to Calaveras County, where Mr. Gerard inined for a while; and then came to San Joaquin County, lo- cating near Woodbridge, in 1856, where he purchased 183 acres of virgin soil, the clearing of which en- tailed much hard labor. Later he acquired 640 acres northwest of Lodi and engaged extensively in the stock business. He also owned 300 acres of graz- ing land in Calaveras County. His ranch near Lodi being heavily timbered he continued to clear off the timber and brush until he had the entire tract under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Gerard had the distinc- tion of being the pioneers in the raising of grapes in this locality. In 1862 they set out six acres of vines, at the same time also planting an orchard. They worked together happily, both ambitious to im- prove their place, and it was a sad blow to Mrs. Gerard when her husband passed away in 1882. He left an only son, James Stevens Gerard, who is mak- ing his home on a part of the ranch.

Mrs. Gerard, after her husband's death, continued their ranching enterprise; and in time a goodly por- tion of the ranch was set out to vineyard, which proved profitable. The place is now divided between her three living grandchildren, Raymond, James Ste- vens, Jr., and Mrs. Lillian Schleef, who make their homes on their respective places.

Grandmother Gerard, as she was familiarly known by her friends, was endeared to all who knew her. She continued in the even tenor of her ways, doing all she could to build up and improve this won- derful county and thus bring about the civilization of the present day; and at her passing, at the age of seventy years, she left an honored name and was mourned by her family and all who knew her.

MRS. CAROLINE GERARD

- --

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JOHN GEORGE MAISEL .- A man who by hon- est toil and close application to business made a success and who enjoyed a large place in the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow citizens was the late John George Maisel. He was a native of Catons- vi'le, Md., was born in January, 1856, and was reared and educated there. After leaving school he learned the butcher's trade at Catonsville in all its details and opened up his shop and successfully operated his business until 1880. In Catonsville on September 7, 1880, he married Miss Mary Ann Hahn, a daughter of Frank and Julia (Simon) Hahn. The young people came to the Pacific Coast on their honeymoon intending to remain only a short time in Stockton, but remained for two years, Mr. Maisel meanwhile working at his trade in the El Dorado Street market. Returning to his native town in 1882, he sold out his interests and in 1884 returned to Stockton for his permanent residence. He estab- lished the New California market on El Dorado Street; then in 1893 he moved his market to North Hunter Street, a few doors from the present Maisel market. The Maisel Meat Company is now carried on by the son of the founder and many new branches have been added; the company now owns a chain of four shops in Stockton and have their own slaughter house on the Linden Road.

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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 128

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