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 154

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 154

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

GEORGE FRANCIS THOMPSON .- A distin- guished Californian to whom the citizens of the Delta district near Stockton owe much for his great work in the development of that important section-a task which would have been impossible except for optim- ism and courage, and hard, almost heroic work-is George Francis Thompson, the well-known pioneer farmer now residing at 1138 North Center Street, Stockton, in which city he was born on July 24, 1866. He was the son of J. W. and Margaret (Carlin) Thompson, both natives of Ireland and both now deceased. The father crossed the great, untracked plains to reach California in the famous Argonaut year of '49; and after mining for a while, he teamed to Sonora in Tuolumne County, and as a veritable pioneer, did much to open the way for those that came after him. Five children were born to this worthy pioneer couple: Anna, Mrs. Gofield, of Stock- ton; James, who died at sixty-two years; W. J., of Stockton; Sarah Jane, who died when fifty; and George Francis, of this sketch. The father died about 1870, and Mrs. Thompson afterward married Sol Hurey, a fruit grower on Roberts Island; later they sold out and returned to Stockton, where they both passed away, the mother at the age of sixty- five years.

George Francis Thompson attended the Franklin school at Stockton, and later the Stockton Business College, where he graduated in 1884. As a boy he went to Roberts Island and there learned the rudi- ments of farming on the ranch of his stepfather. Later, with John O'Brien as a partner, he rented 320 acres on Roberts Island and farmed it to grain, con- tinuing until they were operating 3,000 acres. Later still, the floods ruined their crops, and then Mr. Thompson bought 160 acres on the Island and also worked for Frank Lane, farming a large acreage. In 1898, with Ralph P. Lane as a partner, he farmed 3,000 acres on Union Island, using a steam tractor, and they were among the first to break the soil after the reclamation of this island. They raised grain and vegetables and were very successful until 1906, when the land was again flooded. While farming on the islands Mr. Thompson was through seven dif- ferent floods, but he persevered and in time made a success, raising grain, cattle and fine Percheron horses. He has gone through the different phases of California agriculture, from the old header to tract- ors and combined harvesters, and at times has raised crops of as high as 90,000 sacks. When he was twen- ty-two years old, he spent a year at Huron, Fresno County, as superintendent for Bowles & McNear, in developing water to prove up six sections of land, tapping Big Cantua Creek and bringing the water by ditch to the land.

With Dr. C. L. Six as a partner, Mr. Thompson rented the Gillis ranch, 320 acres of the Woods brothers' tract, and 598 acres of the St. Catherine ranch, all on Roberts Island. They also operated the Jacobs & Flack ranch of 720 acres, raising potatoes there in 1912; but owing to the low prices of that year, they lost heavily. In partnership with Peter Dentoni and J. Campodonico, he at length bought the St. Catherine ranch, and in 1915 he bought out his partners and then sold a half-interest to Mr. Ruess; and now, with Robert T. Melton, present city com- missioner of Stockton, as a partner, he owns the other half. He also farms 320 acres on Woodward Island. Mr. Thompson has invested a portion of his

profits in Stockton real estate and is now the owner of a fine flat building and two residences besides his own home, on Center and Rose streets. He is one of the best-informed men on land values in the Delta district, for all his life he has farmed there.

On Roberts Island, November 26, 1897, Mr. Thomp- son was married to Miss Clara Fox, a lady of many accomplishments, a native daughter of Lodi, and three children have been born to them, Ralph, George and Ruth. Mrs. Thompson's father, William Morgan Fox, who was born in Clark County, Ohio, served in the Civil War and was a prisoner at Andersonville for nine months. He was married in Canton, Ill., to Miss Mary J. Sproul, and in 1867 they came to Cali- fornia via Panama, settling at Stockton. He was a shoemaker, but followed farming here. He passed away at Manteca, survived by his widow, who makes her home near Oakdale. Of their six children, Mrs. Thompson is next to the youngest. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Native Sons of the Golden West. Always interested in the community's progress, he served as public administrator of San Joaquin County from 1907 to 1911, and he has been on the Democratic County Central Committee.

WILSON HENRY THOMPSON .- It is interest- ing to chronicle the life history of the successful busi- ness man who has risen by his own individual efforts from the bottom rung of the ladder, step by step, until after years of honest endeavor and well-directed energy he has acquired not only an affluence but a rich experience and far-reaching influence, making him a leader both in his own line and in the affairs of his community. Such a man is Wilson Henry Thompson, the genial and popular vice-president and one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank of Lodi, which has its home in a new $100,000 struc- ture on a site he selected on School and Oak streets.

Mr. Thompson was born near Lawrence, Kans., September 27, 1868, a son of John and Catherine (Shank) Thompson, the former a native of Penn- sylvania. The parents brought their family to Cali- fornia in 1874 and were pioneer farmers and fruit growers near Lodi until their passing. Coming to California in his sixth year, Wilson H. Thompson was educated in the public schools of San Joaquin County, and supplemented his secondary schooling with a three-years course in Woodbridge College. His first business experience was gained as a clerk in Bentley's general merchandise store at Wood- bridge, where he remained for one year. He then became associated with A. L. Cowell, and together they conducted a general merchandise store and hotel at Woodbridge for the next four years.

Selecting Lodi as his future place of operations, Mr. Thompson came here in 1896 and started a gro- cery store. In 1899 F. W. Beckman became his partner, and the firm was known as Thompson & Beckman; but shortly afterwards they took in H. E. Welch, their bookkeeper, as a third partner, and on February 24, 1904, were incorporated as Beckman, Welch & Thompson, Inc., and thereafter branched out into the various lines of general merchandising. Mr. Thompson was president of the company, and his years of experience and wide acquaintance enabled him to build up a business second to none in the county in this line. In order to provide larger and more suitable quarters, Mr. Thompson erected a brick

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business block 70x160 feet on South Sacramento Street. He continued as president until 1918, when he sold his interest. With Mr. Beckman, Mr. Thomp- son also erected the Beckman & Thompson Building on School Street. In 1910, with others, he established the Pacific Fruit Exchange, with headquarters in Sac- ramento, and became vice-president of the company and local manager of the Lodi district.

Recently Mr. Thompson disposed of his interest in the First National Bank, in which he had been vice- president and director for some years, and with others organized the Citizens National Bank of Lodi, being elected its vice-president. He saw a splendid loca- tion for the new bank and business houses on the corner of Oak and School streets; so he purchased the three corners and turned them over to the City Improvement Company, which was organized for the purpose of building up all the corners with substan- tial two-story store and office buildings and the bank home. The bank building is a Class A concrete and terra cotta building 50x75, and is devoted entirely to the use of the bank. The City Improvement Com- pany also built the new post-office building on Oak Street. Mr. Thompson's associates are all local men, like himself acknowledged for their integrity and worth, and represent a diversity of interest and wide experience, their influence being of especial value to the institutions with which they are associated. Mr. Thompson is interested in viticulture, his hold- ings being principally in the vicinity of Lodi. He is a director of the Stockton Home Builders' Associa- tion, and the Masonic Temple Association in Stock- ton; is president of the Lodi Investment Company, which erected the Lodi Hotel and Lodi Theater; is president of the Lodi Public Library Board; and was formerly a member of the Lodi Board of Education.

Mr. Thompson was first married on November 11, 1892, to Miss Mary Eliza Fowler, a native of this county and the daughter of Joseph and Eliza Fowler, pioneer farmers near Lodi. She passed away in Feb- ruary, 1900; and on December 9, 1903, at Crocker Station, he was united in marriage with Miss Celia M. Crocker, a native of that place, the daughter of Henry and May (Hall) Crocker, natives of Massachusetts and pioneers of California. Mr. Crocker came here in 1853 and engaged in mining until he established Crocker Station, on Big Oak Flat road, leading into the Yosemite Valley. There he continued until his passing away. He was survived by his widow. Mrs. Thompson was reared at Crocker Station and re- ceived her education at Woodbridge College. They have a son, Henry Allen, a graduate of the Lodi high school, class of 1922.

Fraternally, Mr: Thompson was made a Mason in Lodi Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M., and is a member of Stockton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M., Stockton Council, R. S. M, Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T., and Ben Ali Shrine, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Sacramento; and with his wife he is a member of the Eastern Star, of which he is a Past Patron. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, and Elks, and was a charter member of the Lodi Rotary Club. Naturally progressive, Mr. Thompson has engaged in many enterprises looking to the development of the city, regardless of pecuni- ary benefits to himself.

FRED D. NAYLOR .- Although for many years identified with the flour milling industry and well known all over the United States through his inven- tions in this line, Fred D. Naylor has made an out- standing success in the automobile business as agent for the Ford car and Fordson tractor for Stockton and vicinity. Mr. Naylor was born at Woodstock, Canada, July 6, 1869, the son of James Naylor, who married Nancy Maria Outwater, and moved with his family to Columbus, Neb., in 1874, where he be- came a pioneer, owning a farm near that city and at the same time plying his trade of blacksmith in the town. He died there in 1904, after having done his part to help build up his section. Mrs. Naylor died in 1921, leaving four daughters and two sons, of whom Fred D. is the only one in the West. He attended the local schools in his district and learned the trade of blacksmith with his father, but he did not follow it; instead he engaged in the grocery business at the age of nineteen. Later he learned the trade of miller in the Elevator-Roller Mills at Columbus, Nebr., and having mastered the business thoroughly he was advanced to the position of head miller, and was with this concern for ten years. While there he invented and patented a flour bleach- er, called the Natural Refiner, and with this he trav- eled all over the United States, installing the same in flour mills.

In 1909 Mr. Naylor came to Stockton and for a year and a half was with the Crown Mills, and in 1911 he entered the employ of J. L. Whitmore as a salesman for the Chalmers car. About this time Mr. Whitmore took the agency for the Ford car, and later he turned it over to Mr. Naylor without a cent of expense, as he could not see any future for it. Mr. Naylor had the good judgment to grasp the opportunity and thus virtually had a gold mine pre- sented to him- In 1912, the first year he had the agency, Mr. Naylor sold sixty-nine cars, and in 1920 his contract with the Ford Motor Company called for 600 Ford cars and 150 Fordson tractors. In early days he was limited to eight square miles of terri- tory, which included Stockton, but in 1920 the limit was removed from his territory. In 1922 he took the agency for the Lincoln car, Mr. Ford having succeeded to the ownership of the manufactory. At 317 North El Dorado Street, Stockton, Mr. Naylor erected one of the largest and finest buildings in the West for a garage and sales room, the plant being 100x300 feet in size and modern in every appointment, making an ideal business place for his expanding custom.

Mr. Naylor's marriage united him with Miss Nel- lie E. Brown, a native of Hastings, Nebr., and they have two daughters: Esther, who graduated from the University of California in 1920, and is now the wife of .Irwin Barbour, married on December 22, 1921; they reside at Glenn Cove, N. Y .; and Helen, who attended Miss Head's School in Berkeley and the Bishop's School at La Jolla, Cal. Mr. Naylor belongs to Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. E., and to the Knights of the Maccabees; he is an enthu- siastic member of the Stockton Golf and Country Club, and holds membership in the Chamber of Com- merce, the Merchants' Association and the State Automobile Association. After several years of hard work in building up a successful business, in 1922 Mr. Naylor decided to take a needed rest and accom-

Forcaylor

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

panied by his wife and daughter, Helen, left Stockton on June 15, took an extended Mediterranean cruise and visited many interesting points in Europe, re- turning to Stockton on September 21, 1922.

JAMES E. THORP .- A native Californian who has added to the wealth of the Golden State by his intelligent and successful breeding of pure-bred Jersey cattle and Duroc hogs, is James E. Thorp, a rancher and stockraiser of San Joaquin County. He was born in Santa Rosa on March 1, 1879, a son of John Bailey and Jennie (Zimmerman) Thorp. In young man- hood John Bailey Thorp came to California with an ox team from Texas and located near the town of Wallace, Calaveras County. While living there, he enlisted, when only nineteen years old, for service in the Civil War. His service consisted wholly in quell- ing Indian outbreaks. He became an extensive stock and sheep breeder and for many years was the dairy superintendent at the state asylum at Stockton. There are four children in his family: Mrs. M. J. Beck; Mrs. Josephine Cheesewright; James E., of this sketch; and Charles, who was in the employ of the United States government in the transportation paymaster's office in the Philippines at the time of his death. The father and mother reside about three miles from Stockton on the Waterloo road.

James E. Thorp attended the Stockton grammar schools and completed his schooling with a commer- cial course in the Stockton high school. At the age of sixteen, having been reared in the environment of farming and dairying, he took up ranch work and became especially interested in creamery work. In 1900 he took a dairy course at the University of Wis- consin at Madison, and while there determined to become a stock-breeder. Upon finishing his course and returning to California, he purchased a couple of Jerseys, and as the years have passed he has devel- oped his own herd, mostly of the "Raleigh" and "St. Lambert" strains of Jersey cattle, although he has some of the "Financial King" breed, and now has about fifty pure-bred Jersey cattle. He also has some twenty Duroc brood sows. Mr. Thorp has had the good fortune to breed prize-winners, and pos- sesses one cow, now twelve years old, that is a cham- pion. This cow he has exhibited for the past ten years at various fairs in California and Oregon, and she has been grand champion at the State Fair sev- eral times. In 1921 he took this cow to the Portland fair, and there she took second place against a strong competitive field. Other cattle, as well as Duroc hogs, were exhibited with much success. He was the first Jersey breeder from California to enter the competitive lists at the Pacific international exhibit at Portland. In March, 1922, in partnership with L. K. Marshall, Mr. Thorp bought the famous Locke estate, consisting of 370 acres, located just north of Lockeford, which is being developed to a fruit and stock ranch.

Mr. Thorp's marriage occurred on August 15, 1906, and united him with Miss Theresa Locke, a daughter of Dr. Dean J. and Delia Locke, whose life history appears in this work. Mrs. Thorp was born in Locke- ford and attended the grammar and high schools of Stockton; later entering the Woman's Hospital, San Francisco, from which she was graduated. They are the parents of two children: John Willard and Delia Marcella. Politically, Mr. Thorp is a Republican.

He is an active member of the California Jersey Breeders' Association and the California Duroc Hog Breeders' Association. He is also a member of the Milk Producers' Association, with headquarters at Modesto, and has served as president of the board of directors for two years. He is a charter member of the Lodi Lions Club. Mr. Thorp's foresight and industry have been potent factors in the growth and improvement of dairy stock in the San Joaquin Val- ley, for which the central portion of California has become famous; his optimism and belief in the future of San Joaquin County have enabled him to win suc- cess both for himself and for the entire county.

ANDREW EUGENE WAKEFIELD .- Another successful vineyardist who has attained an enviable place in the history of California agriculture, is An- drew Eugene Wakefield, who lives about one-fourth of a mile to the north of Youngstown. He was born in Brownfield, Maine, on December 26, 1853, the son of Henry and Lucy Ann Wakefield, whose families both date back to Colonial days. His father was a farmer in the timber country of Maine, and Andrew attended the Brownfield school. He was one of three children. His brother William still lives in Maine; and Charles, who also came out to California, lives to the north of Lockeford. When only seven years of age, Andrew lost his father, who was killed by a falling tree. His mother remarried, eleven years later, becoming the wife of Abner Wakefield.

Andrew Wakefield remained at home until he was twenty-one, and then went to Boston and for a year worked for wages on the farms. After that he re- turned to the old home place and worked there again for a few years. Then, in 1880, he came out to Cali- fornia. Here he first leased a quarter-section of land north of Lockeford, and in 1882 farmed at New Hope; but he was completely washed out by the great flood, after which he returned to the vicinity of Lockeford. In the fall of 1883 he went back again to Maine, and remained there for eight years; and during that time, on July 12, 1885, he was married, at Hiram, to Miss Madeleine Bennett, who was born in Boston, on February 26, 1861, the daughter of John and Margaret Augusta Bennett. Her father was a cabinet-maker, who had settled at Whitehall, N. Y., where he died; then the family moved to Gorham, Maine, when she was about seven years old, and there she grew up and was educated, attending the gram- mar and high school. She was the only child. Her father died at the age of sixty years; but her mother lived to the age of seventy-four.

In 1890, Mr. Wakefield returned to California and purchased a quarter-section of land three miles to the north of Lockeford; but he lost this ranch after ten years. Then he went to the Black Land district on the Islands, and leased 320 acres for eight years. After that he leased a half-section of land near Clem- ents, and farmed there for three years. Nine years ago he purchased the place where he now resides. It consists of twenty acres, one-half of which is in orchard and eight acres in vineyard, and is improved with a fine home and farm buildings. He has devel- oped water, having an irrigation well with a fifteen- horsepower motor and a five-inch pump. He himself set out the orchard of Elberta and Lovell peaches. He also owns fifty acres of vineyard near Elliott.

Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wake- field: Harry Alton, born on May 6, 1886, at Brown-

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field, Maine; and Walter Harmon, born at the same place on January 20, two years later. The two sons are farming at the Lyons place, north of Lockeford. Both are members of the Clements Lodge of Odd Fellows. In their political affiliations, Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield are Republicans.

WIRT ELDRED WILDER .- A very progressive pioneer whose demise in 1919 caused wide-spread regret, was the late Wirt Eldred Wilder, who was born in Martin, Allegan County, Mich., on January 26, 1862, the son of Ebenezer and Belinda (Eldred) Wilder, and one of a family of six children, three boys and three girls, among whom he was fourth in the order of birth. His father was a general farmer, raising grain and stock, and Wirt grew up in a com- fortable country home, while he pursued his studies in the district school.

About 1889, he came out to California and settled in the Acampo district, where he worked for Mr. Van Gelder until he went into the nursery business. Later, he formed a partnership with Eli S. Ferguson, and they had one of the crack nurseries in the country. At Acampo, on December 31, 1895, he was married to Miss Lucy Langford, the daughter of Ira J. and Mary M. (Sweany) Langford, the former of Holland descent, but a native of Tennessee, and the latter a native of Missouri, born near St Joseph. Mr. Lang- ford came to California in 1846, when he was four- teen years old, traveling by way of the Isthmus; while Mrs. Langford came across the plains, in the great gold-rush of '49, journeying in a prairie schooner drawn by an ox team, and settling with her people near Nevada City, Placer County. Lucy Langford was born near Hollister, in San Benito County; and when she was four years old her father, who had gone from the mines to San Benito County, removed again to Sacramento County. It was there that she received her education in the district schools. In 1886, Mr. and Mrs. Langford retired and took up their resi- dence in Acampo; and there Miss Langford lived with them until she was married. She was one of seven children, the elder being Robert C., who died on May 9, 1918; Anna N., who became Mrs. Fitzgerald and died April 12, 1888; James S., who died in Alaska; Maymie V., who married and is now a widow, of Acampo; and Nellie, who is Mrs. McArthur, of the same place. Samuel Langford of Oakley, Cal., is the younger brother.

Mr. Wilder, while a partner of E. S. Ferguson, had acquired sixty acres, on ten acres of which he built the home where his family still reside. Mr. Fer- guson also took ten acres; but the balance, or forty acres, is owned jointly with Mr. Ferguson. Besides her ranch, Mrs. Wilder owns property in Berkeley, a handsome heritage, some day, for her four accom- plished and promising daughters. Mary Belinda is a teacher in the Woodbridge school; and Vivian Lang- ford, Nina Aileen, and Bonnie Wirt Eldred are stu- dents in the high school at Lodi.

Mr. Wilder was a Democrat. He was a member and Past Grand of the Odd Fellows, and a member of the Rebekahs, of Woodbridge. Mrs. Wilder is a member of the same lodge of Rebekahs, and is a Past Noble Grand. She is a devoted member of the Meth- odist Church.

JOHN P. WATKINS .- For nearly fifty years John P. Watkins has been a resident of the great state of California and during that time he has borne his full share of the responsibilities that have been the lot of successful Californians from the early days to the present. A native of Georgia, he was born near Atlanta on September 1, 1855, the son of Allen and Martha (Burnett) Watkins. The latter was a second cousin of Alexander H. Stephens, vice-presi- dent of the Southern Confederacy. Allen Watkins was born in the vicinity of Atlanta on April 2, 1829, and became a man of prominence in his locality. On June 6, 1861, he organized Company A, Twenty-first Georgia Regiment, and was commissioned 2nd lieu- tenant; on July 27, 1862, he was promoted to be 1st lieutenant, and on September 1 of that same year became a captain. On September 23, 1862, he was killed at Chancellorsville and was survived by his widow and two children, Mary Frances and John P. The war left the Watkins family without resources and John P. became the sole support of his mother and sister, hence he was unable to get just the kind of schooling he desired. As he grew to manhood he educated himself by self-study and qualified to teach school, which he did in Douglas County, Georgia, for two terms. From the savings of his years of labor he invested in a small farm in Douglas County and there the family lived until 1878, when John P. decided he could better his condition by coming to California. His mother afterwards made her home with her daughter at Whitesburg, Ga., where she died on October 6, 1922, having reached the age of ninety-one years; her son fortunately reached her bedside before she passed away.

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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 154

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