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 143

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 143

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JAMES GRANT MURRELL, M. D .- An honored pioneer physician of Tracy, Dr. James Grant Mur- rell located here during 1891, when a few cottages constituted the town. His first office was in a small shack on Eighth Street, and during an epidemic of diphtheria, in the handling of thirty severe cases, Dr. Murrell lost but one patient. Dr. Murrell served as city health officer, and city physician, and when it was decided to make two offices, he was retained as city physician. He was born in Georgetown, S. C., on March 11, 1843, and while a young lad was thrown on his own resources. Leaving home with five dol- lars in his pocket, he made the trip to Charleston in three days. There he found employment in an office. Near the close of the Civil War he reached New York City, where he found a friend who worked for the U. S. Government, and there Dr. Murrell secured a job at five dollars per day making coffins for the burial of the soldiers, later removing to Boston, Mass., where he remained for the next thirteen years. After attending the centennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill held in Boston in 1875, he removed to the Pacific Coast and located in San Francisco and three years later entered the Eclectic Medical College in Oak- land, Cal. and completed his three year course in 1881. He opened his first office at Lincoln, Placer County, Cal., and remained there for one year, when he removed to Kern County, active in the practice of his profession there until 1891.

The marriage of Dr. Murrell united him with Mrs. Alice (Minter) Wilkes, a daughter of Monroe and Louisa (Arnold) Minter. Her father was a sturdy pioneer of Kern County, who crossed the plains with ox teams from Shelbina, Mo., when he was seventeen years of age; he spent several years in the mines and then located in Kern County where he ranched near Glennville. Her mother came to California across the plains with her parents in 1854, coming by way of Los Angeles, then to Kern and Mari-

972

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

posa counties. Both of Mrs. Murrell's parents lived to a fine old age, and are well remembered by the old residents of Bakersfield, as the father conducted a general merchandise store there for several years. By her first marriage Mrs. Murrell had three chil- dren. Ida, now Mrs. B. E. Grady of Stockton, has two children, Jack and Bobbie; Charles R. is mar- ried and resides in Bakersfield and is chief deputy county clerk of Kern County; Mrs. Clytelle Hewitt resides in Stockton and has two children, Leslie and Nadine. Mrs. Murrell is past officer and an active member of the Tracy N. D. G. W. and a member of the Tracy Rebekahs, and has just received the de- gree of Chivalry of that fraternity. During the recent war she was active in the canteen work and in the local Red Cross chapter. "Both Dr. and Mrs. Murrell have been liberal with their time and means and have assisted in building churches and other local institutions. Dr. Murrell volunteered his services during the late war, and on November 9, 1918, he was enrolled by the Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker, as a member of the Volunteer Medical Service Corps, having been authorized by the Council of Na- ticnal Defense.

HENRY THOMAS OHM .- A prominent citizen and an extensive grain farmer, Henry Thomas Ohm has a fine farm and residence three miles northeast of Vernalis, and as a practical farmer and business man he has achieved a most desirable degree of suc- cess. He was born on the Ohm ranch near Vernalis on December 29, 1881, the only son of Thomas and Mrs. Rebecca (Riecks) Ohm, natives of Bremen and Holstein, Germany, respectively. The father passed away July 19, 1886. The mother still resides upon the old home place, and her sketch also appears in this work.

Henry Thomas Ohm grew up on the grain ranch, and received a good education in the New Jersualem district school, supplemented by a course in the Adams Cosmopolitan School at San Francisco and the Polytechnic high school, continuing his course of study for three years. He then became a clerk in the office of Bovee, Toy & Sonntag, real estate and insurance brokers of San Francisco, where he re- mained for a year and a half; then, at the solicitation of his widowed mother, he returned to the home ranch, which he managed on shares. From time to time, Mr. Ohm has made an investment in lands, until he now owns extensive holdings near Vernalis, all devoted to grain raising, that yield abundant crops each season. Mr. Ohm, besides farming his own land, also operates the ranch belonging to Sheriff W. H. Riecks, a half-brother of our subject, who is a resi- dent of Stockton. About one year ago, Mr. Ohm was one of the prime movers in, and brought about the election for, the foundation of an irrigation district, and is a member of the board of directors.

The marriage of Mr. Ohm occurred at Stockton on March 4, 1914, and united him with Miss Lillie Ohm, a native of California, born near Woodbridge, a daughter of John Ohm, of a prominent and influential family of San Joaquin County, and they are the par- ents of one daughter, Evelyn. Politically, Mr. Ohm is a Republican and fraternally is affiliated with the Stockton Elks, No. 218. His entire life has been spent in the San Joaquin Valley, with the exception of the time spent in acquiring his education at San

Francisco, and his business career has been imbued with the spirit of enterprise which is so character- istic of the far West and which has led to its wonder- ful and rapid development.

CHARLES LEVER VAN BUSKIRK .- A long life of service to his community and to his fellow- men was; that of Charles Lever Van Buskirk, who throughout his successful and busy career showed a signal integrity of purpose, and who probably did more than any other one man toward the building up of the business district of Lodi, the buildings he erected now standing as monuments to his pro- gressiveness and faith in the future of this city. Born in Nova Scotia, September 29, 1845, Mr. Bus- kirk came to Wisconsin when a youth and started to work as a logger in the Wisconsin woods when he was only fourteen years old. He continued in this work for many years, meeting with rapid advance- ment, and became known as one of the leading lum- bermen of Wisconsin.

The lumber business brought Mr. Van Buskirk to California in 1893, when he and his brother, George W. Van Buskirk, bought extensive timber lands in Calaveras and Amador counties. Soon afterwards Charles L. bought out his brother's interests, and later he sold three-fourths of his holdings to the Brown Bros. Lumber Company of Rhinelander, Wis., and recently the remainder to Charles F. Ruggles, a Michigan lumberman, still retaining a certificate of investment in the holdings.

When Mr. Van Buskirk came to Lodi, in 1893, he had the foresight to recognize the possibility of its growth and future business prospects. Backing his judgment, he bought a number of corner lots in the city, five of which are now in the main business center. He designed and built the Lodi opera house, since remodeled and now occupied by M. Newfield & Sons, the Van Buskirk Building, the Davis Building, the Telephone Building, the Sentinel Building and the School Street Garage. He took an active part in obtaining the first public library that Lodi had and afterwards put forth his efforts to secure the Carne- gie Library. All matters pertaining to schools, charitable organizations, the paving of streets, build- ing of churches, and other institutions of public bene- fit were not only encouraged but received his assist- ance. He made a strong fight against vice and intemperance and with others had the satisfaction of seeing Lodi rid of saloons.

While a resident of Wisconsin, Mr. Van Bus- kirk was married to Miss Angie B. Crocker, a native of that state, who was a loyal helpmate to her hus- band in all his undertakings, for four years she was county president of the Woman's Christain Temperance Union, and is an active member of the Lodi Woman's Club. Both she and her husband were devoted members of the Lodi Congregational Church, Mr. Van Buskirk being one of its trustees for many years and a leader in all its good works. Two sons were born to them: Charles Raymond, a vineyardist, and Erle Lever, manufacturer of the Vans pump, both married and residing in Lodi. Throughout his entire life Mr. Van Buskirk was in- terested in every movement that was progressive, aiding every community in which he resided. At his passing, October 7, 1920, Lodi lost one of its most enterprising and progressive citizens, one who was deeply interested in the civic, social and moral uplift of the community.

6 Je Vantwokirk

- -

975

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JOHN A. RATHJEN .- Among the agriculturists of San Joaquin County John A. Rathjen has made a fine business and industrial record at Tracy. He is engaged in general farming, but makes a specialty of the raising of barley and wheat. He annually harvests fine crops and has become one of the fore- most representatives of the grain-raising industry in this section of the state. He was born on the John Rathjen ranch May 24, 1884, his father being the venerable pioneer who settled in San Joaquin County in 1872, and whose life history likewise appears below, on this page.

John A. Rathjen received a good public school education in the Banta district school, finishing in 1901. Inheriting the traits of industry and thrift from his forebears, he worked at home and on neighboring ranches on combined harvesters and at ranch work, when a mere lad, working many seasons for Hans Christian Lorenzen on his river ranch. He is the eldest son in a family of six children and naturally his father looked to him to assist in the management of the home ranch, the birthplace of all the children. Since the death of his father on June 14, 1919, he has resided on the home place with his mother and been the active manager of the extensive grain farm, consisting of 320 acres de- voted entirely, at the present time, to the raising of barley and wheat. Mr. Rathjen is a strong advo- cate of irrigation and is, at the present time, assisting in the establishment of an irrigation district that will transform the Rathjen acres, so that other crops can be planted. Mr. Rathjen is a stanch Republi- can in politics, and has favored all worthy institutions and causes, being especially loyal to the public school system and the cause of irrigation. Having spent his entire life in this locality he is well known and has many friends.

JOHN RATHJEN .- One of the successful, hon- ored and respected citizens of San Joaquin County, John Rathjen located here at an early day, when the work of improvement and progress was as yet scarcely begun. As the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity and its evening of accomplished and successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was the life of this worthy man, who in his business career directed his labors so carefully and intelligently that he gained prosperity, and so honorably that he won the confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He engaged in general farming near Banta in San Joaquin County, where he owned 320 acres of land, on which he had made his home since 1872, and was a representative of that class of worthy citi- zens that Germany has furnished to the new world. He was born at Holstein, Germany, on September 21, 1843, and his parents were also born in the same locality. The father, Hans N. Rathjen, remained a resident of the old world until 1872, when, leaving his native country, he crossed the Atlantic to America and spent his last days in Nebraska, his death occur- ring in Washington County on October 17, 1903.

John Rathjen spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land and acquired a fair educa- tion. Experience and observation added greatly to his knowledge and gave him broad practical information that enabled him to successfully transact business af- fairs. In 1865 he sailed for the United States and made his way to Scott County, Iowa, where he re-

mained for a short while. After visiting various portions of the West he came to California in 1868. settling in San Joaquin County, and in 1872 he took up his abode upon the present ranch, the home place of his wife and eldest son, John A. Rathjen, whose sketch also appears in this work, and here he re- mained until his death on June 14, 1919, making a continuous residence of forty-seven years. His labors were devoted untiringly to the improvement of his farm and the cultivation of his fields, and whatever success he achieved resulted from his own efforts.

The marriage of Mr. Rathjen occurred March 24, 1879, and united him with Miss Gesine Hilken, who was born in San Francisco, Cal., and is a daughter of John Hilken. This worthy couple were the par- ents of six children: Clara married Joseph Smith and they have one son and reside in Tracy; Feda, Mrs. W. J. McArdle; John A .; Charles is married and resides on a ranch near Tracy; Amy, Mrs. T. A. McCloskey of San Jose; Ida married James C. Cas- selman and they have one daughter and reside near Tracy. Mr. Rathjen never sought to figure in any public light, caring not for political preferment nor anything else that would cause him to occupy a place in public attention, but he had the qualities of the good and loyal citizen, and upheld the business in- terests and stability of the county; and he always felt that he made a wise choice when he determined to make San Joaquin County his permanent home.

MRS. REBECCA OHM .- One of the few sur- vivors of the early day settlers of San Joaquin Coun- ty, Mrs. Rebecca Ohm has borne an important part in its development. Although advanced in years, she has maintained her association with the progressive. alert, and constructive element of the locality where she has resided since 1867. With the exception of three years passed in San Francisco, Mrs. Ohm has continuously resided on the home place located about ten miles south of Banta. She is a native of Bre- men, Germany, born on January 14, 1846, her parents being German and Rebecca (Segelkin) Von Bremen, who were also natives of Germany. Mrs. Ohm was reared in her native country, where she remained until her twentieth year, when with a brother and two sisters she came to the United States, sailing from Bremen to New York City, and then via the Isthmus of Panama she made her way to San Fran- cisco, Cal., the trip covering a period of six weeks.

The first marriage of Miss Von Bremen occurred on February 12, 1869, and united her with William Riecks, a native of Hanover, Germany, and to them were born three children: William H., the sheriff of San Joaquin County; Herman A. and Carl F. In 1868 William Riecks, who was born at Kiel, Germany, settled upon the ranch upon which our subject now resides and was one of the early residents of the neighborhood. He had come to California in boy- hood, crossing the plains in 1856. He first engaged in agricultural pursuits in the Livermore district, and subsequently settled in San Joaquin County. He passed away on June 9, 1879, and was numbered among the worthy pioneers who took advantage of the natural resources of the state and who in carry- ing forward his own business interests also promoted the general prosperity and welfare of this portion of California. On August 14, 1881, Mrs. Riecks became the wife of Thomas Ohm, a native of Holstein, Ger- many. where he was born December 29, 1842. He

976

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

came to California in 1866 by way of the Isthmus route, and settled in San Joaquin County in 1868. In 1881, following his marriage, he settled upon the farm now occupied by his widow, and continued there until his death on July 19, 1886. Besides being an extensive grain farmer, for many years he was engaged in the general merchandise business as a member of the firm of L. Borach & Company at Banta, Cal. He was a public-spirited citizen and was widely known in his locality, because of his devotion to the general good. He favored all meas- ures for the promotion of the social, material, in- tellectual and moral welfare of his community, and he held membership in the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Ohm is also a member of that church and is among the representative pioneer women of her district in San Joaquin County. She has made many friends, and her own home in the New Jerusalem school dis- trict has always been noted for cordial hospitality. Mrs. Ohm has seen many changes during the long period of her residence in California and has watched the development of San Joaquin County as it has emerged from pioneer conditions to become a factor in the progress and prosperity of the state. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ohm, Henry Thomas, who operates the home place; Bertha M., and Antonia A.

MRS. WILLIAM H. POPE .- An exceptionally interesting and highly-esteemed resident of Tracy is Mrs. William H. Pope, the youngest of a family of five children surviving their parents, Frenz and Mar- garetha (Warch) Huck, both pioneers of this county, who settled in the New Jerusalem district about 1868, coming in by way of the river and Mohr's Landing. She was born in this county, and attended the New Jerusalem School, and grew up in a com- fortable home; her father, who was a native of Ger- many, and a man of sterling qualities, spent a part of his life in the Southern mines in Tuolumne County. He passed away at Tracy, on April 9, 1904, mourned by many who had come to know and appre- ciate his worth. Miss Margaretha Warch had come to California alone, and had located at San Fran- cisco; and in the Bay City she met Mr. Huck, and there, in 1862, they were married. Mrs. Huck passed away in December, 1906, survived by Mrs. Eva Schmidt, Mrs. Caroline Jepsen, Mrs. Margaretha Schmidt, F. W. Huck and Julianna Augusta, now Mrs. Pope, the subject of our story.

On September 29, 1901, Julianna Augusta Huck was married to William Henry Popc, who was born at San Francisco on August 10, 1877, the son of Gus- taf and Christina (Schlichtman) Pope, and who was reared in San Francisco. He had worked at the blacksmith trade in Alameda County, and had then come to San Joaquin County; and from 1901 to 1907 had engaged in ranching. Later, he acquired the West Side Garage business on the Lincoln Highway at Tracy, to which city he naturally then moved, and there, while enjoying the pleasant companion- ship of his family, he met his death without a mo- ment's warning, when, on September 15, 1921, he was accidentally killed in a collision of his automobile with a railway train, his death proving a great shock to the community. Since his death Mrs. Pope has disposed of the thriving garage business, but the ranch she has leased out on shares. He left two children, Frenz William and Nola C.

Residing in her delightfully attractive home, which she had built in 1922, Mrs. Pope is and has been very active in the Lutheran Church, and she leaves nothing undone whereby she may advance the best interests of the town and the county.

HENRY W. SCHROEDER .- A native son of San Joaquin County who finds recreation in his leisure hours in the study of history, particularly in historical research of the state of his birth, is Henry W. Schroeder, the successful proprietor of the Habit Cleaners & Dyers, at 2315 North California Street, Stockton. Mr. Schroeder was born at Tracy, Sep- tember 2, 1890, his parents being William and Sophie M. (Hilken) Schroeder, the former a native of Ger- many, while Mrs. Schroeder was born in San Fran- cisco; both are now deceased. William Schroeder was an early settler in the Tracy district, where he rented a part of the Sargent ranch and later pur- chased 640 acres of it, farming there for . many years. He was the father of seven children, six of whom are living.

Henry W. Schroeder attended the Tracy schools, the Western. School of Commerce and the Western Normal School, both at Stockton, and receiving a teacher's certificate, he taught for one year in Mono County. Returning to Tracy, he farmed the home place and in addition rented land. He then took up mining for a time, after which he engaged in the car renting service in Stockton. During the World War he served as quartermaster on the U. S. S. Beaver, in the submarine service, being stationed in Panama waters, and after his term of service was finished, he spent a year and a half at Los Angeles with the Standard Oil Company and the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. About two years ago he returned to Stockton and opened up in business for himself as the Habit Cleaners & Dyers, and from a small beginning he has built up a large patronage and a fully equipped plant, his business requiring two auto delivery wagons.

Mr. Schroeder's marriage united him with Mrs. Catherine (Felt) Newman, a native of Fortuna, Humboldt County, Cal., and she is the mother of two children by a former marriage, Ruth M. and Robert E. Newman. Mr. Schroeder is a member of Mount Osso Lodge, No. 460, F. & A. M., of Tracy and of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., and Karl Ross Post, American Legion.

ARTHUR ROBERTS .- Thirty-one years ago Arthur Roberts arrived in California and decided to make the Golden State his permanent home, and for twenty years he has been identified with Ripon in a representative way. He was born in London, England, November 19, 1864; a son of James and Jenny (German) Roberts, the former a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the latter of London, Eng- land. James Roberts was born in 1821, and his father, Thomas Roberts, removed to England in 1823. There James Roberts became a well-to-do hardwood timber merchant, until his decease.

Arthur Roberts was sent to a private school in London and at the age of fourteen was sufficiently advanced to hold a clerkship in his father's estab- lishment; then for two years he was employed as. a messenger by the Postal Telegraph Company of London. On February 6, 1884, he enlisted in the British army for general service in the Royal Artil- lery. After a year's training at Woolwich and Ports-

Henry W. Schroeder

[

979

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

mouth he was transferred to Second Battery, Second Brigade, South Irish Division R. A., afterwards known as No. Ten Mountain Battery, for service in Egypt. He was soon promoted to corporal and for the next three years was stationed in Egypt. He went through the Soudan War with the troops with Major Kit- chener in the recovery of the province of Dongola, the conquering of the Mahdi tribes and the final re- covery of General Charles G. Gordon. The final battle in December, 1885, at Giness, was fought with heavy losses, but with victory for the British troops. Returning to England in November, 1887, Mr. Rob- erts was given a bronze star war medal by the Khe- dive of Egypt and a silver medal by the Crown of England. The last three years of his military career were spent as sergeant under Maj. F. W. Ratcliffe at Aldershot and Newport, Monmouthshire. Soon after receiving his honorable discharge, on Febru- ary 6, 1891, Mr. Roberts came to America, arriving in San Francisco March 15, 1891, where his brother Frank was engaged in the upholstery business. Early in 1892 he went to La Grange, formerly known as French Bar, to prospect for gold; Lyons Gulch proved to be a better place and here he met with .considerable success for two years when an epidemic of malaria forced him to leave, and for the next six years he was manager of the general merchandise store of Percy Davis at La Grange.

On February 9, 1898, at San Francisco, Cal., Mr. Roberts was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Jane (Withington) Roberts, the widow of his brother, Frank Roberts. She was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of A. L. Withington, a Cival War veteran who passed away in 1898. Mrs. Roberts is the mother of three sons by her first marriage: Leland J., who resides in Stockton, went to work for George West & Sons, viticulturists, when only fiftteen years old and rose to be superintendent of their large interests. Frank W. enlisted in the Aviation Corps and served in France during the World War. Returning to the United States, he entered the employ of A. B. Shoe- make, commission merchant at Modesto, as buyer; later he became buyer for the Hume Fruit Company and is now in business for himself at Modesto. He

recently married Miss Florence Bates, a daughter of Mrs. Ora R. Bates of Modesto. Earl W. en- listed in the U. S. Navy and served on the U. S. Battleship Arizona, which served as an escort to President Wilson on his first trip to France, and also did patrol duty at Smyrna, Asia Minor. He is as- sociated in business with his brother Frank but makes his home at Ripon. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Roberts have one daughter, Violet V., a graduate of the Ripon high school, class of '20.

Mr. Roberts received his U. S. citizenship papers at Modesto in 1898 and since 1899 he has been en- gaged in agriculture, first near Copperopolis, then five miles east of Farmington. In 1902 he settled near Ripon, where he bought twenty acres, and this he has developed into a model fruit ranch. For two and a half years Mr. Roberts served as justice of the peace of Dent township and he has been a trus- tee of the Ripon school district. He became the first president of the first Board of Trade in Ripon. For the past twelve years he has been deputy county assessor and in 1910 and 1920 he took the U. S. census. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Farm Bureau of San Joaquin County, of which he served as director for three years: he also served

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 143

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