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 134

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 134

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

devoted to grain raising, although he has a five-acre Tokay vineyard on the place.

On New Year's Day, 1890, in Stockton, Mr. Grat- tan was married to Miss Edith L. Brownell, born in San Rafael, Cal., a daughter of Fred and Sarah Brownell, early settlers of California. Fred Brownell was a truck farmer on Roberts Island and he and his wife were the parents of a large family. Mr. and Mrs. Grattan have three children: Roland H., Mrs. Edith L. Foster, and Beulah M. Mr. Grattan is a stanch supporter of the public school system and served as a member of the board of trustees of Lin- coln school district. He is a Republican in politics" and is a member of the Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., in Stockton.

JOHN BALDWIN .- For over thirty years John Baldwin was a pioneer settler and prominent citizen of San Joaquin County. He passed away at the home of his daughter in San Francisco, April 27, 1913, aged almost ninety. He was associated with many of the early events in the county, as well as with its later progress and improvement and to the activities of these early settlers the generation of to- day owes much. He was born in Potosi, Mo., May 29, 1823, a son of William John and Ann (Kirkpat- rick) Baldwin, natives of Mississippi and Tennessee, respectively. The Baldwin family were originally from Holland, while the Kirkpatrick family were from Scotland, both families coming to America soon after the eventful voyage of the Mayflower. John Baldwin received a good education in the private schools of his native state and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years old, when he crossed the plains over the Oregon Trail to Oregon City, Willamette Valley. The next year he came to California, arriving in May, 1849, and en- gaged in mining on the American River until 1851, when he returned to his home in the South via the Isthmus of Panama. One year later, with his mother and sister, he again crossed the plains to California, this time settling in Yolo County, where he engaged in general merchandising at Knights Landing on the Sacramento River, remaining there until 1860, when he removed to San Joaquin County.

On March 29, 1855, at Knights Landing, Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Kirk, a native of Missouri. Mrs. Baldwin accom- panied her brothers, John W., Thomas; James and Joe Kirk, to California; and they purchased and set- tled on a ranch near Bellota, known as the Bluett ranch; later, in 1860, this ranch was purchased by Mr. Baldwin. Here he and his wife spent over thirty years of their married life, and here all their children were born. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, five of whom grew up. Thomas J. married Lilla Cody; John K. married Myrtle Berry; Edward L. married Mary M. Jacobs; Maude A. became Mrs. Walter E. Bidwell; and Henry G. is now deceased.

In 1899, Mr. Baldwin left his ranch and removed to Stockton, where he lived with his son, John K., and on April 27, 1913, he passed away at the home of his daughter in San Francisco. He was a prominent member of the Grange Lodge, and in politics voted the Democratic ticket. His church affiliations were with the Baptist denomination. Mr. Baldwin worked his way gradually upward to prosperity, and his life history exemplified the statement that success has its foundation in earnest and honorable labor.

CHAS. J. BENDER .- An enterprising, progres- sive and highly successful farmer whose specialty is that of vineyarding, is Chas. J. Bender, a native of South Russia, and now one of the highly esteemed residents of San Joaquin County, where he cultivates a trim 'estate three and one-half miles to the north- west of Acampo. He was born near Odessa on March 17, 1869, the son of John Bender, who married Miss Christina Bender, a lady of the same name but of no blood relationship. His father was a farmer, and there were nine children in the family, those now living being Charles J., Margaret, John and Bertha. The father had fled his native land to get away from military oppression, and he came to America with his family when the oldest child, our subject, was a small boy of four years.

Arriving safely in Yankton County, Dakota, in 1873, John Bender bought 173 acres of land three miles out of Yankton; but the time of the great flood on the Missouri River in 1881, swept all of his pro- perty away, stripping him of everything. He then moved to Hudson County, S. D., and there home- steaded 160 acres, as well as locating a timber claim of like amount. He was successful at farming and purchased land adjoining, and when he left that state for California in 1903, he owned 800 acres of fine land. Arriving at Lodi, he purchased twenty acres and there he resided until his wife died in 1908, after which he resided in Lodi until his death, July 6, 1916.

The oldest of their nine children, four of whom are living, Chas. J. Bender, remained at home, faithful to his parents, until he married, in the meantime hav- ing profited by such educational advantages as he could obtain at the public schools in Yankton and in Hudson County. He was married at Menno, in Hud- son County, on December 23, 1891, to Miss Elizabeth Ulmer, who was also born in South Russia, not far from the birthplace of her husband. She is a daughter of Jacob and Caroline (Mutchelknous) Ulmer, who came from their birthplace near Odessa, Russia, in 1873 with their family and located on a homestead near Menno, S. D., where the father became a large landowner and successful stockman. He passed away in 1917, his wife having preceded him in 1893. Mrs. Bender was born in 1871, and when one and, one-half years old was brought by her parents to the United States, and out to South Dakota, where they settled near Menno. There she was reared and educated, as one of a family of seven, each of whom received the best advantages their devoted and industrious parents could afford.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bender operated a half-section grain farm for five years, and then Mr. Bender went in to Menno, where he engaged in the dray and livery business. Selling out, he came further west to California, in 1903, where he bought 400 acres of land about three miles to the northwest of Acampo. Today, he uses 300 acres of this land, forty acres be- ing devoted to a vineyard, in which he has twelve acres set out to Tokay grapes, and the balance equally to Mission and Zinfandel grapes. He has twelve acres in alfalfa, and the rest is open farming land. His ranch is so piped that he can well irrigate both the vineyard and the alfalfa pastures. Mr. Bender has deeded fifty acres to each of his elder sons, and each is running his own ranch. This valuable ranch of 400 acres was formerly an altogether different prospect; for 160 acres were in a field ranch, while 240 acres were known as the Ing Bros. ranch, all of which was purchased by Mr. Bender. In 1908 he

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Charles & Bende,

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

became one of the original stockholders in the Lodi Cooperative Winery, that built the winery at Lodi, and he continued interested in it until it was sold to West & Son. In 1922, he became a stockholder in a company of ranchers that bought it again.

Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bender. Theodore is the popular and proficient den- tist at Lodi; then comes Eugene; Alma has become Mrs. Koenig; while Calvin, Edna, and Ella are at home. Mr. Bender is a Republican, but first, last and all the time an American, broadminded enough, especially in matters of local import, to cast partisan- ship to the winds when it is necessary to support some other candidate or measure conceded to be the best. He is a member and trustee of the German Reformed Church in Lodi, and a member of the order of Sons of Herman.

HOWARD MALCOLM FANNING .- The life of this pioneer of 1850 began in Troy, N. Y., June 3, 1826; and in his passing, April 23, 1906, the city of Stockton lost an esteemed and honored citizen. Howard Malcolm Fanning grew to manhood in the vicinity of Troy; and on October 4, 1848, he assumed domestic responsibilities at the early age of twenty- two, being then united in marriage with Miss Laura Louise Butts, of Delaware County, N. Y. In July, 1850, the young couple started for California, reach- ing their destination the following October. They made their way via the Isthmus of Panama, and Mr. Fanning was compelled to walk across, there being a scarcity of mules. Mrs. Fanning was the only woman on the ship from Panama to San Francisco. By the time they reached the Pacific side, many of the party had been taken sick with Panama fever, but for- tunately all recovered. They had expected to be inet by a steamer to take them to San Francisco, but were disappointed in this and were compelled to take pas- sage on a sailing vessel. Severe storms drove them back almost to the Sandwich Islands after San Fran- cisco had been sighted, and the superstitious sailors wished to cast Mrs. Fanning overboard; for since she was the only woman on board, they believed her pres- ence to be the cause of all their misfortunes. From San Francisco, Mr. Fanning and his wife came direct to Stockton, where they were met by his brother, Harry T. Fanning; and here for a time he was en- gaged in the butcher business, and later worked at the carpenter's trade, receiving sixteen dollars a day.

Harry T. Fanning, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, was one of California's earliest pioneers, arriving in 1843. He was a sailor, taking to the sea when but sixteen years of age. He served throughout the Mexican War, He became a very good friend of Captain Weber, whom he met at Monterey, Calif. Together, they drove cattle from Sacramento to San Jose, and in so doing crossed that section of the country which is now the site of the city of Stockton. They camped under the old oak tree, situated at a spot which is now bordered by Sutter, San Joaquin, Park and Flora streets. Harry T. Fanning cut his name in the old oak tree, which was later cut down to make way for the growing city. He and Captain Weber then and there resolved to locate permanently at Stockton. They went to San Francisco in a sail- boat, bought lumber, which required two weeks to bring back to Stockton on a river sailing vessel, and with it built the first frame house in Stockton.

In 1858, Howard Malcolm Fanning purchased a 56

ranch of 250 acres near Stockton, a part of an old Spanish grant, and here he engaged in farming and raising fine horses, which he sold to the government during the Civil War. At that time O'Connor's regi- ment was camped near the ranch, and Mr. Fanning delivered milk to the soldiers from his dairy, and also made and sold butter. When Mr. Fanning sold out the butcher business, he bought a lot on Weber and California streets which is now occupied by the Ma- jestic Market; here he started to build a home, which he soon sold at a profit of $1,000, and this was the first $1,000 he ever acquired in California. He then bought another lot, where Gummer's furniture store on East Weber Street is now located, and proceeded to build another house, which became the Fanning home; and there the two oldest and the two youngest children were born. The Fanning home was the scene of much hospitality in the early days, and no stranger was ever turned away from their door. Mrs. Fanning was the third white woman to settle in Stock- ton, and for a time was the only woman attending the Presbyterian Church. With her husband she entered heartily into the life of the community, to which her death, on August 1, 1906, came as a distinct loss.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Malcolm Fanning became the parents of six children. Clara Louise is now Mrs. Clara F. Bugbee. She married Mr. F. M. Bugbee, a son of the Stockton pioneer, Wm. Delos Bugbee, who came to California in 1853, and settled two miles northeast of Stockton. Together with her sister, Miss Delia J. Fanning, she resides at their beautiful home at 1724 Mt. Diablo Avenue, Stockton. Mrs. Bugbee was born at the Fanning home on East Weber Ave- nue, and according to Dr. C. C. Grattan was the fourth white girl baby born in Stockton. The two Fanning sisters have always been favorites in their native city, and are true types of Stockton's pioneer generation of daughters. They keep a beautiful gar- den with plenty of flowers, and are in love with nature and the great out-of-doors. Mrs. Bugbee is an accom- plished painter, having produced many art-works of unusual merit. She is, furthermore, gifted with orig- inality and rare executive ability, and it was she who drew the plans for their present beautiful residence, which contains many unique and exclusive built-in features. Frank Albert, the second child, died at the age of three years. Delia Jane, who was born on the old Fanning ranch south of Stockton, has always been prominent and active in Stockton's musical circles, and is a member of the Stockton Musical Club, as well as of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Before coming to California, Mr. Fanning had learned the cabinetmaker's trade in his native state. Miss Fanning has in her possession a mahogany sofa made by her father in Vermont in 1846. She also has an old chest made by him in the East in the year 1843, while Mrs. Bugbee has in her possession the first rocking-chair ever brought to Stockton, and a wash- stand made by her father in the East. It was shipped around the Horn. Another heirloom is a set of China dishes which was bought by the mother at the first state fair held in Sacramento in the early sixties, with the proceeds of her prize-winning butter, made and exhibited by her at the fair, where it won the first prize. Harry Howard Fanning was born November 15, 1865, also on the old Fanning ranch. He married Catherine Ortman, of Stockton, by whom he had one child, Louise Fanning, who on July 6, 1917, married

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Curtiss M. Robbins, and is now the mother of one child, Richard Marshall Robbins, born November 22, 1922. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, with their child, are residing at the corner of Sutter and Oak streets, in Stockton. Harry Howard Fanning passed away on November 21, 1918. Bessie and Mary Alice died in infancy. Mrs. Catherine Ortman Fanning is still carrying on the fine Fanning orchard and vineyard on the Jack Tone road, eight miles east of the city of Stockton.

Few citizens were more deeply interested in the welfare of his home city than was Mr. Fanning, towards whose betterment he was ever lending his best efforts. For a number of years he served as supervisor of his township. He was a prominent member of the Pioneer Society, serving as its presi- dent, and in fraternal life was a Mason.

SAMUEL L. MARTIN -The story of a real pio- neer family is to be found in the record of Samuel L. Martin, who came to California in 1857, and from that time until he died was counted among the real builders of the county. A native of Tennessee, he was born in Hardin County, May 22, 1833, and when he was but nine years old he was taken by his par- ents to Arkansas and there reared and received such education as possible at that time and place. On March 22, 1857, he started for the Golden West, all alone, with his blankets thrown on the back of his mule. After traveling a few days he overtook a large train westward bound and joined them, doing his share of the work in driving stock. In this train was the Scott family, Kentuckians, and here he met his future wife, Miss Ala Scott, who was born in Ken- tucky, on July 16, 1835. As soon as they reached California, the young folks were married, in October, 1857. Some members of the train decided to choose the well-beaten trails, while others who were over anxious to reach California, took a shorter route and were murdered in the Mountain Meadow massacre.

Arriving safely, after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Martin began housekeeping on a ranch six miles south- east of Lockeford, opposite the home of Mr and Mrs. J. H. Cole, who were Forty-niners, Mrs Cole being sister of Mrs. Martin. Mr. Martin acquired 260 acres of the Pico Grant, and here he developed and im- proved a good ranch, carrying on grain and stock- raising with a fair degree of success. Nine children came to bless their home: William T, the eldest, was born on the Dodge place, where the parents stopped a short time; the others, born on the old Martin ranch, being Joseph H., Susie, Mary J., Samuel L., James H. H., Elizabeth, Carrie M., and Ellen V. The survivors of the family are William, James, Carrie, Mrs. Lewis Moreing, Mrs. McCall and Ellen. Mr. Martin died in December, 1914; Mrs Martin passed away on April 3, 1898.

The first seven years after locating on his ranch, the crops were a failure owing to the overflow of the river. Mr. Martin, with others of his locality, put through the drainage ditch into Martin's Slough, and ever since, there has been no difficulty with water. He was a friend of education and helped build the Cal- averas schoolhouse and served as a trustee of the dis- trict for many years. Mr. Martin was a whole-souled man, generous to a fault, ever ready to do his share to develop the interests of the state, county and locality.

GUSTAVE A. GERLACH .- An active participant in the business affairs of Lodi is found in Gustave A. Gerlach, the vice-president and part-owner of the Henderson Hardware Company. He was born at the mining camp known in early days as French Gulch, located about three miles from Murphys, Calaveras County, Cal., on June 7, 1864, a son of Gustave A. and Christina (Gunther) Gerlach, natives of Prussia and Bingen, Bavaria, respectively. The father arrived in California in 1850, coming via Panama, and settled at Vallicita, Cal., where he engaged in mining. There he married Miss Gunther, who had made the trip to California via Panama in 1852. For several years he was in the bakery busi- ness at Angels Camp and Vallicita. The family came to Stockton in 1877, where the father was employed with the Simpson & Gray Lumber Com- pany until he purchased a ranch eight miles from the city on the Linden Road, after which he engaged in viticulture until his death in 1896, aged seventy years. The mother passed away in 1899, at the age of seventy-one years. There were seven children in the family. Louis and Julius are deceased; Lena, Mrs. J. M. Harry, resides in Stockton; Emma died at the age of seven years; Gustave A. is the subject of this sketch; Fred W. died at the age of fifty-two years; and Amelia is the wife of Dr. C. R. Harry, and resides in Stockton.

Gustave A. Gerlach began his education in the grammar schools of Angels Camp and completed it at the Washington school in Stockton. His school days were over at the age of fifteen, when he began to make his own living, at first working at anything he could get to do, until he was sixteen. Then he was apprenticed to learn the tinsmith trade in Stock- ton with Robert Rowe, at the corner of Main and Sutter streets. After completing his apprenticeship of four years he worked as a journeyman for Mr. Rowe another four years, and during this time learned the plumbing trade as well as the trade of sheet metal worker. After this he worked for John Jack- son for eight years, until 1896, when he located in Lodi. Here he entered the employ of Henderson Bros. Co., who had taken over the hardware business of John Collins; and Mr. Gerlach took charge of the sheet metal and plumbing department for the com- pany and has continued in that capacity ever since. When Henderson Bros. Co. was incorporated, in 1906, Mr. Gerlach was solicited to become a member of the corporation. He bought an interest and became a director, still continuing in the same capacity. In 1909 W. A. Spooner and E. G. Steacy purchased the interest of the Henderson brothers, and then Mr. Gerlach was elected vice-president of the com- pany. Their location is at 13 and 15 North Sacra- mento Street. They deal in all kinds of hardware and are equipped to do sheet metal, plumbing, and steam fitting work of all kinds, employing twenty- one men in shop and store work. Mr. Gerlach is a stockholder in the Lodi Investment Company, that built Lodi Hotel and Lodi Theater.

On August 6, 1885, in Stockton, Mr. Gerlach was married to Miss Kathryn Morton, a native of that city, and daughter of Freeman and Kathryn (Brown) Morton, the former a native of New York and the latter of Germany. The mother was eight years old when she came to America with her parents, and grew to young womanhood in New York, where she met and married Freeman Morton. In 1847 the

Gustave. a. Gerlach

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father came to California as a member of a New York regiment under Colonel Stevenson, to serve in California during the Mexican War. With his wife and one daughter he came around Cape Horn landing at Monterey, and served with the regi- ment as a sharpshooter until the close of the war. He was honored by being presented with a silver- mounted rifle. After his discharge he mined for a time at Mokelumne Hill, after which he returned to Stockton and engaged in the draying business until his death in 1868. His widow survived him until 1900, passing away at the age of seventy-three. This worthy pioneer couple were the parents of eleven children: Elizabeth, Samuel, Harriet, John, Mary and Tillie (twins), Cornelia, Emma and Alice (twins), Louis, and Kathryn (Mrs. Gerlach). Mrs. Ger- lach was born, reared and married, and her two children were born, in the same house in Stockton.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerlach had two children: Christine, a graduate of Chico Normal, who is teaching in Stockton; and Gustave A., Jr., who met a tragic death by drowning at the age of twenty-three. With two companions he was in a rowboat on the Mokelumne River just below the Woodbridge dam, when one of the company fell overboard. The river was at a high water mark in flood season; and when Gustave A., Jr., endeavored to save his companion, both were drowned, and it was several hours before their bodies were rescued from a whirlpool in the river bottom.

Mr. Gerlach was a charter member of the Lodi volunteer fire department, and has served in various offices. In 1913 he was elected president of the department and he has been retained in that position ever since. He is prominent in fraternal circles, having been made a Mason in Lodi Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M .; and he is a member of Lodi Chapter, O. E. S. He is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Lodi; a member and past president of the Eagles, of Lodi; and a member of Lodi Par- lor, N. S. G. W., and Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. Mrs. Gerlach is a member of Lodi Chapter No. 150, O. E. S .; past president of Ivy Parlor, N. D. G. W., and a member of the Woman's Club and the Congregational Church in Lodi Mr. Gerlach has served as a school trustee of the Salem district. He votes with the Democratic party and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. His success in business is well-merited, and has served as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others. His life has been characterized by unflagging industry, and it is upon this foundation that he has builded his present prosperity.

WILLARD J. BUZZELL .- A native son of Cali- fornia, and a representative of one of the earliest pio- neer families, is Willard J. Buzzell, tower foreman of the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge at Mossdale since 1907, without a single accident to mar his rec- ord. He is a son of W. J. Buzzell, a native of France, who was a seaman on a whaling vessel sailing the seven seas. In 1840 the father made a trip to the Pacific Coast; and while his vessel lay at Half Moon Bay, Cal., he and a companion deserted and made their way to shore under cover of night and a few days later he engaged to work as a trapper in the mountains along the coast. Coming to Sutter's Fort in 1844, he was married to Miss Frances Kelsey, a daughter of David Kelsey, a pioneer who settled near French Camp, San Joaquin County, in August, 1844.

Here David Kelsey built a tule-house on land given him by Mr. Gulnac. The agreement was, that if David Kelsey would live on the land for one year, Mr. Gulnac would give him a square mile of land on the Mokelumne River. This Mr. Kelsey agreed to do and built his house, the second house built in what is now San Joaquin County, the first being that of Thomas Lindsey, also constructed of tule. Soon after the family were settled in their new home, Mr. Kelsey visited an Indian who had the smallpox, con- tracted the disease, and died a short time later from its effects. The mother also was a victim of the dread disease. She became blind and later passed away, leaving their two children, America and Frances, alone in that unsettled, pioneer country. They were cared for by herders, and there Frances later met W. J. Buzzell, her future husband. The other sister, America Kelsey, is a noted character in California history, famed in song and story, and immortalized as the heroine in Dave S. Matthews' historical novel, "America Kelsey, a Romance of the Great San Joa- quin Valley," from the press of the Stockton Record. 1915. In his foreword to this story, the author says:

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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 134

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