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 138

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 138

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

EDWARD REYNOLDS .- Among the old-timers of San Joaquin County, Edward Reynolds occupies a prominent position and is among the oldest living pioneer citizens of California, where he arrived in 1853, and almost continuously has employed his ener- gies for half a century in the wholesome and honor- able occupation of farming near Lathrop, where he has been highly successful. He was born near Ellen- boro, Grant County, Wis., December 2, 1844, a twin brother of Eldridge Reynolds, who now lives in Stockton. Edward Reynolds is the youngest son of James and Martha (Ramsey) Reynolds. His great- grandfather, in the Reynolds line, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and his maternal grandfather, David Ramsey, displayed equal valor in defending American interests in the War of 1812. The father, James Reynolds, was born in Fleming County, Ky., November 30, 1806, where he received a fair education, and in 1826 was married to Miss Martha Ramsey, who was in the same county, and was born February 6, 1804. In 1828 James Reynolds moved to Indiana, where they remained but a short time, then going to Illinois. In 1830 he returned to Indiana, where he engaged in farming for a year, then moved to Grant County, Wis., where three of their children were born. James Reynolds was an expert brick and stone mason and followed his trade until 1853, when he and his family became members of a party under Captain Cutler Salmon which started across the plains in April, 1853, reaching California in Octo- ber of the same year. Following are excerpts from a letter written by Cutler Salmon and dated at French Camp, Cal., October 30, 1853, and addressed to James Borah, his brother-in-law in Grant County: "I landed at Hangtown on September 8. I found no difficulty in crossing the plains. We took our time for it, made every day count for itself. I have settled seven miles southeast of Stockton on the main trav- eled road to Sonora. I bought a farm, paid $3,000 for it, was offered $1,000 for my bargain, would not take $10,000 for it. Stockton is a shipping town, from two to four steamboats every day. I have 200 acres under fence. Our timber in the valley is oak- rather poor for fencing and building. The mountains afford any amount of the best pine and cedar. We can raise any kind of grain and vegetables that can be raised anywhere. A sample of corn grew fourteen feet to the first ear and twenty feet to the top of the stock. It grew on the T. Clark ranch. Large horses, for instance, such as I sold Ashley, are worth $1,000; oxen are worth $200 and $300 per yoke, cows $150. I got all of my horses through, even to the General-that is my colt-he stood the trip the best of everything I had. I started from the Missouri with fifty head of cattle, got through with thirty-two. I have seen the wild oats as far as the eye could see, standing just as thick as it could with thousands of Spanish cattle feeding on it. The weather here this morning is as pleasant as ever I saw in midsummer in the states. I think I shall be amply paid for my sacrifices that I made in leaving that country. I think I have got my family where they can enjoy life, though the trip across the plains is a tedious trip. We were over six months, but nothing very hard about it. We started with twenty men in the company and we stood guard every night and day from the time we left the Missouri till we got to Hangtown. Had no trouble with the Indians nor nobody else. My son, James Salmon, stopped at

Hangtown, have not heard from him since. I will now tell to those who intend crossing the plains next season, if there be any, to fetch the lightest and best horses that you can get-oxen the same-cows of the very best quality. My wagon that William Runk made is worth $400. The best wagons I ever saw are made in Stockton, they carry from four to six tons and are drawn by ten mules, all valued at $5,500. As far as the mines, I know but little about them-the boys are teaming and make ten dollars per day each; they drive four horses each and receive three dollars per team per day-common labor me- chanics receive from seven to ten dollars per day. We have the greatest salmon in great abundance, elk, antelope and wild fowls of all kinds. I will not advise anyone to come to this country yet. I will now close by advising you to stay in the East some little time." The location mentioned in this letter is known as Dutch Point and in the early days was a freighting station and hotel on the road between Stockton, Sonora and the Southern mines.

James Reynolds came to San Joaquin County in 1854, having stopped one year at Placerville. He settled near French Camp, acquiring lands under pre- emption and later became an extensive grain farmer with unusual success; he also became a strong advo- cate of irrigation, planting and developing one of the first orchards and vineyards of the valley. The Rey- nolds home became the headquarters for the emi- grants from Grant County, Wis., for almost a quarter of a century. In 1855 the first school was organized and the first schoolhouse was built on a portion of the Reynolds home place; the first year there were fourteen pupils in attendance, coming from four to eight miles, riding horseback or in wagons, as the Spanish cattle were numerous, as well as dangerous. James Reynolds passed away July 22, 1867, survived by his widow and seven children: Eliza, Richard, David R., Rosana, James A., Eldridge and Edward, the latter two being twins.

Edward Reynolds received a good education in the district schools of San Joaquin County and grew to young manhood on his father's farm. Returning to Grant County, Wis, in the fall of 1869, he waited until the close of the spring term of school, 1870, and on April 7, 1870, married Saluda Campbell, his childhood sweetheart, who was teaching near Ellen- boro, Wis. She was born October 23, 1851, the youngest daughter of William Campbell, born of Scotch parents in the North of Ireland, and Susan (Maloy) Campbell, who was born in New Brunswick. Mrs. Campbell was reared in New Brunswick and the state of Maine, and came to Grant County, Wis., with her parents, in 1848. Edward Reynolds re- turned with his bride to California, in April, 1870. Six days were spent in making the trip from Wiscon- sin to California, which sixteen years before had re- quired six months. They are the parents of three children. Edwin M., a rancher and dairy farmer, married Bertha May Salmon, of French Camp, and resides between Manteca and Lathrop. Sydney W. married Mabel Fisher and they had one child, Eleanor Lucile; Mrs. Reynolds passed away January 20, 1910, and Mr. Reynolds was married a second time to Mrs. Byrd Birmingham, of Ripon, where he had a large general merchandise store known as the McKee & Reynolds store, and also has large farming interests in South San Joaquin County. Jessie Viola was mar- ried to William A. Ryhiner, of Lathrop, a farmer

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

and rural delivery mail carrier, and for years treas- urer of the State Mail Carriers' Union; he is a grand- nephew of Capt. C. M. Weber, founder of Stockton.

Mr. Reynolds has been identified with every move- ment. for progress and development and has endeav- ored to keep to the standard set by his father along agricultural and dairy lines and success has rewarded his years of perseverance and toil. He was a pioneer mover in the establishment of the Manteca Creamery and bought the first block of stock. In politics he was a stanch Republican early in - life, but later be- came affiliated with the Prohibition party. For twelve consecutive years he served as school trustee of the East Union school district. Since 1902 Mr. Reynolds has lived a less active life, his sons assum- ing the responsibility of the home place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have been active in the temper- ance work of their district and have contributed both time and means toward its success. They rejoice that they have lived to see the adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment. Mrs. Reynolds has been an active and Mr. Reynolds an honorary member of the W. C. T. U. of San Joaquin County for the past thirty-five years, Mrs. Reynolds having served as president of local and county work, and as state superintendent of departmental work

On April 7, 1920, Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds cele- brated their golden wedding anniversary at the Brethren Church at Lathrop. The following original poem from the pen of O. B. Parkinson, an old-time friend of the family, was read:

"Here's to our grand old neighbor, Good friend of yours and mine,

Who has beat a goodly path

Through the corridors of time, Straight on the center guide line

Toward the pearly gates sublime,

A path which we may travel And be sure to reach the goal; Ghosts of his good deeds shining

O'er our heads into the soul. To the wife who traveled with him And whose feet the path have trod, And whose voice and hand uphold him On their journey on toward God, May the sunshine of her presence In the future as in the past, Play around them on their journey- Play each day until the last."

ERNEST M. McKINDLEY .- Among the well- known fruit culturists of San Joaquin County is Ernest M. McKindley, whose career in that industry has been markedly successful. He was born at Sut- ter Creek, Cal., January 7, 1884, a son of Josiah Mc- Kindley and his wife, Emma A. (Mattice) McKind- ley, natives of Missouri and Illinois, respectively. Josiah McKindley was a babe in arms when his parents crossed the plains to California in 1853. The story of his life may be found in this history.

Ernest M. McKindley went to school at the Lee district school of Sacramento County, and his earliest recollections are those of helping with the farm work on his father's farm. In 1901 his father settled on his present place, and Ernest has assisted in cultivat- ing, planting and caring for the orchards and vine- yards since his youth. In 1919 he purchased a thirty-

acre ranch on the Terminous road, fifteen acres of which he set to vineyard, and further improved it, and in January of 1922 sold it at a fair profit. For the past six years he has had charge of the 300-acre stock ranch owned by his father on the Mokelumne River, but makes his home on Poplar Street in Lodi.

On Christmas Day, 1909, Mr. McKindley was mar- ried to Miss May Tenney, a native daughter of Cali- fornia, born in Monterey County, but educated in the schools of Acampo. She is the daughter of John and Mary-Tenney and the oldest of a family of four children, the others being Jose, Edith and Lester. John Tenney was the proprietor of a hotel in Acampo, and was in that business at the time of his death in 1913. Mrs. Tenney resides at the present time in Healdsburg. Mr. and Mrs. McKindley are the par- ents of seven children: Mahlon, Irma, Edna, Ruth, Ray, Cecil and John. In politics Mr. McKindley is a Democrat, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Lodi Parlor, N. S. G. - W.

WILLIAM THOMAS FRANKLIN .- Among the most thorough and practical viticulturists of the Lodi section is William Thomas Franklin, who has been reared on a farm and has studied grape culture from all angles. He was born on his father's ranch six miles west of Lodi on July 25, 1864. His father. Rufus Franklin, was born in Arkansas and made his first trip to California, crossing the plains with an ox-team, in 1848; however, he returned to the East and when he came back to California in 1853 he came via the Isthmus of Panama. As a young man, he worked on ranches throughout San Joaquin County and in the early '60s took up a Government claim of 160 acres six miles west of Lodi, on which ranch our subject was born; later he acquired more land, in the same vicinity, on which he raised grain. He planted the first large vineyard of wine grapes, principally Zinfandels, in the county, consisting of eighty acres, his cuttings coming from Napa County. He was a member of the Jefferson lodge of Odd Fel- lows in Woodbridge. He married Miss Elvira Lynch, a native of Missouri, and they became the parents of eight children, three of whom are deceased; the five living are: Mrs. J. Burrill of Berkeley, Jessie Louis of Stockton, Amos W. on the home place, William Thomas, our subject, and Mrs. Florence E. Wood of Oakland.

When a boy, William Thomas attended the district schools of San Joaquin County and when he was ten years old learned to plow and do other kinds of farm work. After the death of his father he took charge of the home place; he planted 165 acres to Tokay grapes and in 1919 sold his interest in the home farm.

Mr. Franklin married Miss Nileta M. Thompson, a native of Kansas, and they have two children, Nileta C. and Harold W., who is married and has two children. In 1914, Mr. Franklin became outside man for the Pacific Fruit Exchange of Lodi, in which ca- pacity he is giving most efficient service, for his years of experience and close touch with the grape indus- try make him invaluable. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M. He is an upright and honorable citizen in every sense of the word and has the good will of all with whom he has come in contact.

O. T. Thanklin

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

EDWARD M. DRAIS .- Among the notables of early San Joaquin history who have passed to their reward and after lives of conscientious, upright liv- ing and successful endeavor in material affairs have been called to the next higher realm of existence, is Edward M. Drais. Mr. Drais was a representative of the best class of men of the early fifties who streamed into the Golden State and sought fortune and home on the sunny western slope of the conti- nent. When he died on April 6, 1918, the county lost one of its best citizens, a man of great individual worth and excellence, who had performed the tasks allotted to his years with credit, and who left behind him a family who, themselves an honor to his name, will cherish his memory and works till the peaceful end of their own human lives. He was born back in the old state of Missouri, in Platte County, Feb- ruary 17, 1842. His father, Madison J. Drais, a native of Virginia, during early manhood moved with his parents from Virginia to Illinois. He was employed in the butcher trade for a time at Chilli- cothe, Ill., whence he subsequently moved to Platte County, Mo., where he was married. In 1852, with his family, he emigrated across the plains, by way of Salt Lake, to California, and came directly to San Joaquin County, settling at the present site of Farm- ington. He was thus among the very earliest settlers of that region, and for many years was a well-known citizen and prominent rancher of that locality. At his death on October 26, 1896, San Joaquin County lost a worthy pioneer citizen, one who had passed a life of most successful effort and gained for himself the lasting regard of those around him. He was a Democrat, and was identified with the Masonic order.

Edward M. Drais was ten years old when the family migration took place from Missouri. He was able to perform a good share of the labor of that journey, and he often recalled the events connected therewith perhaps more vividly than any subsequent scenes of his life. They drove ox-teams, and from the time they left St. Joseph, Mo., until Stockton, Cal., was reached, they were three months and fifteen days on the road. From the time he arrived in this state until he had attained to man's estate he lived at Farmington. He was equipped with a fair com- mon school education, and from his earliest years he was identified with agricultural pursuits and stock- raising. In 1864, he settled on a ranch in Stanislaus County, where he resided for more than half a cen- tury. He had a fine, commodious residence on his ranch, and the bloom of prosperity was upon his career for many years and in all departments of his work. For a number of years Mr. Drais served as a trustee of the Home Union school district in his neighborhood, and his interest in education was pro- moted by his regard for the welfare of his own chil- dren as well as by the public-spirited interest which he felt for the community in general. While he was not identified with any particular church denomina- tion, he lent his aid and approval in a generous man- ner to all public institutions and causes for the good and advancement of his community.

On August 11, 1864, Mr. Drais married Miss Rosa Gann, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of John and Eliza Gann, both natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Drais was brought, in 1859, by her parents from Buchanan, County, Mo., to San Joaquin County, Cal., the trip being made across the plains in emigrant fashion. Mrs. Drais passed away on December 31, 58

1906, and on April 6, 1918, Mr. Drais died. They were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom survive them. These are: Birdinia N., wife of R. C. Gruell, farmer at Peters, Cal .; George E, executor of the Drais estate; Walter, who assists in running the home farm; Min- nie P., wife of W. D. Mobley of Farmington, repre- sented in this volume; Henry H., a farmer in the Farmington district, married Annie Alders, and now resides at Hotel Phelan in Stockton; Elizabeth E., widow of Louis Stuart, son of J. D. Stuart, well- known farmer in the Eugene section; and Madison James, who helps to operate the Drais home place.

George E. Drais was appointed executor of his father's vast estate; and he and his brothers, Walter and Madison, in partnership, have successfully con- ducted the large Rock Creek farm for years. All are men of fine character and sterling worth, and are worthy sons of a worthy father.

GEORGE C. LAWRY .- One of the pioneer fam- ilies in the Golden State is that which finds a worthy representative in San Joaquin County in George C. Lawry. The Lawrys have ever borne their part in the upbuilding and development of this region, and have invariably been exponents of progress. Mr. Lawry was born on his father's ranch on Harney Lane, July 9, 1872, a son of Benjamin H. and Sarah (Pope) Lawry. The father was a native of North Anson, Maine, born in 1829, but was reared in Boston and there learned the machinist's trade. In 1859 he came direct to California and settled in Stockton, where he was engaged in the flour mills as engineer; later he was engineer at the Linden flour mill. He then went to Stockton and opened a machine shop and his family lived on the ranch on Harney Lane which he had purchased, first a quarter-section, and then later added another quarter-section of land, which was devoted to general farming, after the brush and timber had been cleared away. Mr. and Mrs. Lawry were the parents of four children: John M., Cora E., wife of W. J. Hunter; George C., the subject of this sketch, and Susie I., Mrs. F. W. Coblentz. The father passed away on July 5, 1883, at the age of fifty-three years and seven months. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Lawry super- intended the farm in a very creditable manner, her management showing ability and resourcefulness. She passed away in May, 1908.

George C. Lawry received his education in the Live Oak district school and after finishing the eighth grade attended the San Joaquin Valley College at Woodbridge. After finishing school he helped his mother about three years with the management of the ranch, and at the same time he leased a grain ranch of 200 acres near Lockeford and engaged in farming for three years. In 1894 he leased some bottom land on the Mokelumne River and began to raise potatoes. With his season's crop of about sixty tons of baled hay, 300 sacks of barley and 400 sacks of potatoes he went to Mokelumne Hill, haul- ing all this produce to the mountains with teams and opened a grain, feed and livery stable business. He also engaged in farming, leasing 300 acres in one tract and a section of land from Mrs. Leota, where, besides raising hay and grain, he started in the stock business and got his first experience in that work.

Remaining at Mokelumne Hill for seven years, Mr. Lawry then went to Valley Springs and there bought

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640 acres of land and within three years added 320 acres to his holdings in that vicinity, also leasing 2,000 acres of range land, and engaged in the stock business, his average never falling below 250 head and many times going over that. During the first four years of his residence at Valley Springs he teamed and hauled provisions to the mines. Mr. Lawry also acquired 700 acres below Lodi in the tule land, which he still owns. The family resided at Valley Springs for seventeen years, then came back to Lodi and now live on a fifty-acre ranch, a portion of the old home place, deeded to him by his mother. When Mr. Lawry received it it was a stub- ble field; he put in nine acres in Tokay vineyard and the balance in Zinfandel grapes; he has laid three- quarters of a mile of concrete pipe for irrigation purposes and has a five-inch pump with a twenty horsepower motor. In 1921 he built a fine, new, modern bungalow on his place.

At Lockeford on December 5, 1894, Mr. Lawry was united in marriage with Miss Sarah M. Hart, daughter of Edward and Mary Jane (Ralph) Hart, both born, reared and married in England, where their first two children were born, the others being native Californians. Their names are: Arthur J., deceased; William, living near Clements; Edward lives at Elliott; Sarah M., Mrs. Lawry; Eletha A, Mrs. George Olson of Linden; Harry J., of Elliott; and Albert, of Clements. Edward Hart and his fam- ily came to California in 1871 and located on a ranch near Clements, which he purchased and on which he lived until his death, as did his wife. He was a fancier of bronze turkeys, exhibiting at nearly all the fairs held in Northern California and always taking first prize; he also shipped birds to various western states and to New Zealand and Australia. He was a highly respected citizen and at the time of his death was mourned by a wide circle of friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawry have had six children: George Melbourn worked with his father on the home place until he entered the service of his country in the World War. After receiving his discharge from the army, he helped his father that season, then located on a ranch of forty acres nearby for a year. He then managed a 280-acre ranch near Stockton, running about 1,400 head of sheep and a dairy; soon after he took his sheep to a 1,000-acre ranch in the hills, controlled by his father, and when he sold off his flocks he went to Los Angeles and engaged in the foundry business. Having a natural mechanical talent, he has succeeded in his undertakings. He married Miss Imogene Hawkins of Lodi and they have a daughter, Vallerie June. Irene Lawry married Les- ter Magellan of Stockton and has two children, Betty Vern and Billy; Hazel is the wife of E. H. Hawkins of Acampo and has one child, Gerald; Alma became the wife of Otto Sapp of Stockton and the mother of Robert and Lawrence Lester; Ethel and Theodore are at home with their parents.

Mr. Lawry has always been interested in the ad- vancement and development of the educational sys- tem of San Joaquin County and was one of the or- ganizers and was clerk of the board of trustees for the first four years of the Oak Grove district at Valley Springs. Thirty years ago he became a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics he is a Republican. By diligence and enterprise Mr. and Mrs. Lawry have improved their opportunities and they have become very substantial citizens.

GEORGE WIGGINTON .- A resident of the Lodi section of San Joaquin County, George Wigginton came to California in 1886. He was born in Steuben- ville, Ohio, on October 24, 1844, a son of George and Anna (Hottel) Wigginton, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. The family of Wigginton dates back to the sixteenth century. Dur- ing the War of the Rebellion they were strong abo- litionists and Mr. Wigginton served under General Schof in the Army of the .Potomac in Company C, of the 157th Ohio Infantry, and was stationed at Fort Delaware on the Delaware River for four months.

George Wigginton is next to the youngest of a family of ten children. He received his education in the public schools of Ohio and assisted his father with the farm work until eleven years of age, when he began to earn his own living. He went to Pitts- burg, Pa., and there learned the cigar-maker's trade, which he followed in various places for fifty years, having his own business a great part of the time. Mr. Wigginton vividly recollects the grandfather of Harry Thaw-who then lived in Pittsburg near the cigar factory, where he worked as a lad of twleve-and his own boyish pranks in shooting beans and putty-balls at the old eccentric in his perambulations past the factory. He also recalls the occasion of Abraham Lincoln's first visit to Pittsburg at the beginning of the Presidential campaign in 1860, when he made a strong plea for home manufactures and the iron and steel industry, then taking up the slavery ques- tion, he made a powerful argument in favor of abo- lition. After hearing the address, young Wigginton ventured the prediction that the speaker's looks would probably never put him into the Presidency, but that he would go in with a smashing vote just the same.

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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 138

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