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 166

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 166

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).

CHARLES A. SLACK, JR .- An enterprising and representative young rancher, who is the pro- prietor of the Ofcee Stock Farm, located five miles west of Tracy on the Lincoln Highway, is found in Charles A. Slack, Jr., whose practical and scien- tific knowledge of agriculture is being put to good use. He was born at Tracy, Cal., on November 17, 1894, the eldest son of Charles A. and Elda (Wacksmuth) Slack, who have, since 1904, resided in San Francisco, although well and favorably known in San Joaquin County. Charles A. Slack, Sr., was born in Iowa on November 5, 1861, and came west in 1883, when he settled in Tracy; at the age of seventeen he accompanied Chief Hood into Texas and for seven and one-half years was con- nected with the construction work of the Southern Pacific Railroad; when he located in Tracy he be- came road master for the same company, Fresno- Merced division, his entire service covering a period of about twenty years. He married Miss Elda Wachsmuth, a daughter of the late Ed. Wach- smuth, a pioneer and founder of Tracy. She was born in Franklin, Pa., on May 5, 1868. They were the parents of five children: Olive married Rudolph Mohr, Jr. They have three children and reside in San Francisco. Fern is deceased; Charles A, Jr .; Elda married L. G. McAbee and they reside in San Juan; Ed is a student in the San Francisco Poly- technic high school.

The education of Charles A. Slack, Jr., began in the Willow district school, where he remained for four years, and in 1904 he accompanied his parents to San Francisco, and there successfully passed through the grades of the Crocker gram- mar school; later he was graduated from the Lick high school of that city. During 1914-16 he at- tended the Agricultural College, University of Cali- fornia, at Davis, Cal. In January of 1917, he re- moved to Tracy and found employment on the ranch of his uncle, A. Grunauer, near Tracy, and the following July became a partner of his father on the home ranch, on which he raises pedigreed Poland China hogs and registered shorthorn cattle and Hampshire sheep. This ranch consists of 480 acres under an irrigation system; father and son also own two other ranches, 126 acres north of Tracy and adjoining the city, and 260 acres on Old River, a fine grain farm.

On October 13, 1920, Mr. Slack was married to Miss Mary Troth, a native of Tracy, the daughter of Daniel Sherman and Louisa A. (Moran) Troth of San Joaquin County. Her father was born in Indiana in 1862 and came to California in 1892. when he located in Tracy, while her mother, Louisa

A. (Moran) Troth, was born at Ellis, San Joaquin County, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Moran, venerable pioneers of this state, who now reside in Oakland, aged ninety and eighty-three, respectively. Grandmother Troth is still living, and makes her residence in Centralia, Wash. Mrs. Slack is a graduate of the Fremont high school of Oakland, class of '16. Fraternally Mr. Slack is a member of the Masonic order of Tracy, and his political affil- iations are those of the Republican party.

H. H. DRAIS .- A well-known couple who well de- serve both their substantial prosperity and their pop- ularity, are Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Drais, representatives of old pioneer families. Mr. Drais is a farmer and orchardist, operating extensively near Farmington, and is a son of the late well-to-do and honored pio- neer Edward M. Drais, who figured in the early his- tory of Farmington, and whose life-story is given elsewhere in this volume.

Henry Horace Drais was born on March 5, 1877, and attended the public school at Farmington. At an early age he began to help with the farm work on his father's great rancho at Rock Creek, which comprised some 2,500 acres on the San Joaquin-Stan- islaus county line, and which at that time was devoted to grain and cattle. The lessons in industry and business management afforded him in his youth have served him well in after years. He has prospered, and is now the owner of 450 choice acres on Little- john Creek, near Farmington, which he has im- proved, and on which he is at present planting twenty acres of the Tilton variety of apricots. He purposes to engage more and more in horticulture, since his land lies in a locality of late shown to be especially adaptable to cherries and apricots. As a grower of wheat and barley, he has few equals and no superiors in this section of the country. Mr. Drais is an untir- ing worker, and devotes his best efforts to his farm- ing operations, being therein ably assisted by his only son, Leland Stanford Drais, who at present is residing upon the farm at Farmington, while Mr. and Mrs. Drais are temporarily domiciled in Stockton, without, however, having given up their rural home.

Mr. Drais was married at Farmington on February 24, 1900, to Miss Annie Alders, a daughter of the late well-known and highly respected pioneer, Charles M. Alders, of Farmington. Mr. and Mrs. Drais are the parents of one child, Leland Stanford, already re- ferred to, who is taking a live interest in horticul- tural pursuits. During the late war he enlisted at Mather Field, Cal., in the Aviation Corps. He served until the close of the war, and was honorably dis- charged, being specially commended for the high grade of service and character. He was recently married to Miss Mildred Mobley, of San Francisco, and as assistant to his father, is operating the ranch.

Mr. and Mrs. Drais take an active interest in all matters pertaining to the general welfare. Mr. Drais is prominently connected with the Native Sons of the Golden West, and with Truth Lodge, No. 296, I. O. O. F., of Farmington; while Mrs. Drais is a Pythian Sister, and a worthy member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Still in the prime of life, with an excellent ranch and home as the result of their own industry, Mr. and Mrs. Drais are main- taining the good name and the old-time hospitality of their honored ancestors.

- -- -

Benny Ho Drais

1151

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JAMES WILSON STUCKENBRUCK .- A resi- dent of the most favored section of the San Joa- quin Valley is James Wilson Stuckenbruck, the suc- cessful vineyardist recently chosen County Super- visor from the Fourth District. He was born in Tipton, Iowa, on December 14, 1857, the son of Frederick and Jane Stuckenbruck; and he was the third child in a family of five. His father was a farmer on a small ranch. James received an educa- tion in the common schools.

At the age of thirteen he learned the blacksmith's trade at Tipton, Iowa, and later he went to Coon Rapids, Iowa, following his trade there. From 1892 to 1897 he served as the postmaster at Coon Rapids, and while there he was also for twelve years on the school board; he was for about fifteen years a resi- dent of that place.

At Bayard, Iowa, on October 16, 1882, he was married to Miss Anna Goodrich, a native of Michi- gan and the daughter of Charles and Mary Good- rich. His wife's father was a blacksmith by trade, and he moved to Iowa when Mrs. Stuckenbruck was a little child, and there the family resided for many years. . Mr. Stuckenbruck was employed for three and one-half years, from 1902 on, in the gov- ernment service at Fort Bayard, acting as an in- structor in' mechanics on the Indian reservation. His health gave way, and in 1905 he and his wife came to California and settled at Santa Ana, in Orange County, and after a year and a half there, he went to Lodi, and in 1908 served in the Legis- lature, until 1912. From 1914 to 1915 he was mem- ber of the State Senate. In 1915 he was admitted to the bar of California, and practiced law at Lodi until 1917; and in 1918 he was elected Supervisor from the Fourth district, and he has served as such since, to the satisfaction of everyone concerned.

Mr. Stuckenbruck has made his home on his twelve-acre ranch, about three miles east of Acampo. He has one son, Ellory, a rancher, who resides with him. Mr. Stuckenbruck is vice-president of the Farmers Insurance Company of San Joaquin County, a Mason of Lodi Lodge, and a member of the Knights of Pythias of Lodi.

ED. SPIEKERMAN .- In studying the record of the life of Ed. Spiekerman, for many years a pros- perous merchant in his native state of Iowa, one cannot but be convinced that there is no such word as failure to the man who is determined to suc- ceed. He was born, reared and married in Iowa, his wife being, before her marriage, Miss Nettie McCartney. They had removed to Fergus Falls, Minn., where Mr. Spiekerman engaged in the dry goods business until 1908, when, on account of fail- ing health, he removed with his family to Cali- fornia and settled in Lodi. Two years later, in 1910, he established his business of concrete pipe manufacture; at first making concrete pressure pipe for irrigating purposes. His business has steadily increased until in 1920 he made and laid 200,000 feet of concrete pipe, and up to June 1, 1921, has laid over a half-million feet. His manufacturing plant is located at No. 412 South Sacramento street, Lodi, with a branch factory in Stockton. The pipe which he manufactures is known as Amaroc pipe, the highest standard pipe on the market. The machine with which he constructs the pipe is known

as the K. T. and with the mixer and tools was in- stalled at a cost of $10,000. This machine makes pipe four times as strong as the old hand method and straight, true and water-tight, under a test pressure of one hundred pounds, and every foot of pipe is guaranteed water-tight. Each carload of material is tested and graded and includes three grades of sand and three sizes of rocks. The plant has a capacity of from 1,500 to 1,800 feet daily, or 400,000 feet of pipe yearly. Mr. Spiekerman has installed irrigation systems on most of the ranches in San Joaquin County, but more particularly in the Lodi, Stockton, Delta and Manteca districts. His honest and intelligent work has been a real factor in the development and prosperity of the northern part of San Joaquin County. Recently he has added the manufacture of sewer pipe and made and fur- nished the city of Stockton with 25,000 feet, the first big contract of the kind in the county. Before the pipe was laid it was thoroughly tested in every particular and was found to be 100 per cent. perfect; he also manufactures concrete ornaments, such as fences, posts, vases, etc., for beautifying residence property. He is a member of the California Asso- ciation of Concrete Pipe Manufacturers, whose chief engineer is F. W. Stanley, formerly senior engineer of the U. S. government.

Mr. and Mrs. Spiekerman are the parents of one son, Fred, who is the efficient manager of his father's business. He was born on March 1, 1898, while his parents were residing in Fergus Falls, Minn., and was brought to Lodi when he was ten years old. After finishing the grammar and high schools of Lodi he entered the University of Cali- fornia and was graduated in 1918 with the degree in pharmacy, and after his graduation he became associated with his father.

Mr. Spiekerman is a great lover of horses and at the present time has two in training at the Stock- ton agricultural park, which are showing great possibilities as racing horses, and he anticipates en- tering them in the fall racing events.

JOHN COX WHITE .- Among the notable Cali- fornia forty-niners resident in San Joaquin County who have joined the silent majority of that adven- turous host and found homes in yet fairer golden lands than those to which they struggled amid countless hardships in 1849 is the late John Cox White. Mr. White was a real pioneer in San Joa- quin County, sojourning there from the first year of his advent in the Golden State until his death. On May 19, 1891, the county and that section of the state was called upon to mourn the taking off of a true and worthy man, one who had been true to his own ideals and convictions and who by his large life work conferred benefit upon hundreds of his fellow-citizens who of necessity shared in what he accomplished toward the material progress and upbuilding of his community. He was born in Ohio, September 2, 1822, being a son of John C. White, who came to Ohio from New Jersey. Reared in his native state until about 1846, being then a young man of twenty-four years, he moved with his parents to Illinois, locating near Knoxs- ville. He was living there when the gold fever struck the country, and in 1849 he crossed the plains to this state, being five months on the way

1152

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

from Illinois. In the same year he took up his location in San Joaquin County, and for a short time engaged in freighting from Stockton to the mines. He was then in the cattle business with a partner, William Dunlap, under the name of White & Dunlap, until the death of the latter in August, 1854, after which, on his own account, he combined the industries of agriculture and cattle-raising until his death. In the course of a few years he became one of the extensive cattle ranchers of this section of the state, operating a large tract of land, his home ranch, of 1,400 acres, on the Davis Road, about nine miles from Stockton, and also owned other large land properties in San Joaquin County, among them being 1,400 acres farming land on the Telegraph. Road, adjoining the. Kellerman ranch; he also owned 2,000 acres near where the town of Manteca now stands, now known as the Pillsbury tract. The Pillsbury tract he sold for eighteen dollars per acre and it is now worth $175 and more per acre. He also owned a ranch of 510 acres on the Linden Road which was subdivided in 1904 and sold for $125 per acre, now worth - $500 per acre. The old White residence built of brick fifty years ago still stands at the corner of Commerce and Poplar streets, Stockton. Mr. White was a very successful business man, noted for his able manage- ment of affairs, and had a reputation wherever known as a strictly reliable man. He was one of the organizers and for many years a director in the San Joaquin Valley Bank at Stockton, and took great interest in the welfare of this institution. Though often solicited to hold local offices, he always refused, for he devoted himself exclusively to the direction of his large business, and therein discharged his most important obligations to him- self and the world in general. But he could always be found lending his influence for the best welfare and progress of his county. In politics he was a Democrat. From the year 1867 until his death he was a resident of the city of Stockton, directing his affairs from that place. Previous to that he had lived many years on his estate on the Davis Road nine miles from Stockton. He was one of the original members of the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers.

Mr. White was married, October 2, 1853, to Miss America Elizabeth Smith, who survived him six- teen years, passing away in 1907, an honored pio- neer woman. She was born in Platte County, Mo., May 19, 1838, being a daughter of John Payton Smith, born in Tennessee, and Elizabeth C. (Crit- tenden) Smith, born in South Carolina. At the age of three years Mrs. White was left an orphan, and she was thenceforth reared in the family of her brother, James C. Smith, also a late resident of San Joaquin County. In 1852, with this brother and his family, she came across the plains direct to San Joaquin County, where in the following year she was married to Mr. White. Of this marriage were born ten children, five on the home ranch in the county and five in the Stockton home: J. Frank, deceased; Jennie W., Mrs. W. R. Fisher, deceased; Charles B., deceased; Lewis B., deceased; Arthur C., residing in Los Angeles; Lizette W., Mrs. J. D. Maxey, residing in Stockton; Morgan M., deceased; Harry D., residing in Stockton; Anna W., Mrs. Ozro O. Farnsworth, of Stockton; and Kate W., Mrs. Frank A. McPherson, residing in Sonora. Harry D.

White, clerk of the justice court of Stockton, was born in Stockton August 7, 1877, and received his education in the Stockton public schools. At eighteen years of age he began to clerk in Samuel's Cigar Store, remaining there for six years; in 1907 he formed a partnership with Benjamin Jacobs under the firm name of White & Jacobs, dealers in cigars and tobacco. In 1914 he sold his interest in the business to accept his present position of clerk in the justice court. He married Miss Della Gam- betta, also born in Stockton, daughter of John Gambetta, an early settler of Stockton, who was the founder of the Gambetta addition to Stockton. Mr. White owns a twenty-acre vineyard and an almond orchard, a part of his father's old ranch, four miles from Stockton on the Linden Road, which he planted to vineyard in 1905, and in 1914 every third vine was pulled up and planted to almonds, both of which yield a nice income. Fraternally he is a member of Delta Lodge No. 471, F. & A. M., and the local lodge of Sciots and Stockton Aerie No. 83, F. O. Eagles.

MICHAEL HANDLIN .- An old settler of San Joaquin County who has continuously resided in the Lodi section of the county for the past fifty-two years is Michael Handlin. His birth occurred in County Kildare, Ireland, in 1844 and he is the second oldest in a family of five children born to Dan and Nancy (Burns) Handlin, both natives of Ireland. The children are as follows: Peter, Michael, the sub- ject- of this sketch, Dan, Thomas and Sarah. The father was a farmer by occupation and lived to be eighty years old, while the mother passed away at sixty-five years.

At sixteen years of age, Michael Handlin started out in life for himself, working at odd jobs on farms in the neighborhood of his home and thus ten years were consumed. In 1870 he embarked for the United States and came directly to California, where he set- tled at Lodi, then Mokelumne Station. At first he rented a 240-acre ranch east of Lodi on the Locke- ford Road and farmed to grain for about seven years, when he purchased the place and it has since been known as the Handlin ranch, Mr. Handlin rented out some of his ranch which was used for raising watermelons, but a large part of it was used for raising grain. Portions of this ranch have been sold from time to time until Mr. Handlin now owns sev- enty acres, twenty-five acres of which is in vineyard and the balance used for grain and alfalfa. The ranch is irrigated by a five-inch pump driven by an electric motor, thus furnishing ample water for the proper care and cultivation of the entire seventy acres.

The marriage of Mr. Handlin which occurred in 1889 in San Francisco, united him with Miss Kate Kelly, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and a daughter of Joseph Kelly, a farmer of that country. Mrs. Handlin left Ireland alone and came to Cali- fornia to visit her sisters and here she became ac- quainted with Mr. Handlin. Mrs. Handlin passed away in 1913 leaving two daughters: Anna, Mrs. Kels, who resides in Lodi, and Mary. In 1914 Mr. Handlin took up his abode at 12 North Stockton Avenue, with his daughter Mary, who presides over the home, devotedly ministering to his comfort. Mr. Handlin is a Democrat in politics.

Michael Standlin

1155

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

WEST SIDE IRRIGATION DISTRICT .-

With nearly 12,000 acres of fertile land under irri- gation, producing abundantly rich crops, the orig- inators and backers of the great West Side Irriga- tion District, in the Tracy country, have cause for general rejoicing. This magnificent system cost in the neighborhood of $545,000, and its operation under most favorable conditions stands out as a glowing tribute to the men who labored so loyally carrying the big project forward along progressive lines. All the preliminary organization details from a legal standpoint were worked out by Neumiller & Ditz, of Stockton, and the bond issues and con- tracts by Crittenden & Hench, who handled all matters in an able manner, and did much to push forward the sale of the irrigation bonds at the right time.

The West Side Irrigation District is the first one of its kind in the West, and it unique in that the water supply is not governed by seasonable condi- tions in the mountains, and, consequently, the dis- trict is not limited to seasons of operation. There is a big acreage of alfalfa, where formerly some , ninety per cent. of the land was in barley and wheat. Many of the farmers have planted a variety of products, including fruit trees of various kinds, corn, potatoes, beans, sugar beets, and garden truck, all securing splendid results.

Water is pumped from the head of the intake canal from Old River, which cost in the neighbor- hood of $32,000, including the right of way, bridge over the road, and all other costs. This runs from Bethany Ferry to a point just north of the Southern Pacific Railroad, where the huge pumping plant is located. The water is pumped from this point through two pipe lines to two big main canals, one at an elevation of fifty-five feet and the other at an elevation of 110 feet. The water is then carried through these canals and laterals to the highest point of each 160 acres in the district. The intake canal is one and one-eighth miles long, the excava- tion being from 85 to 100 feet wide and from twelve to twenty-eight feet deep. A notable feature of this big project is the fact that the pumps can be oper- ated separately or all together and all started or stopped by one operator at a switchboard.

The pumps provide enough water in fifty-two days to cover each acre of land in the district one foot deep, and the total horsepower of the plant is about 2,000. There are some sixty-two headgates, consisting of concrete inlets and outlets, with corru- gated iron pipes through embankments, the gates being operated by screw lift devices. In the con- struction work ten railroad crossings were built under the tracks, together with concrete inlets and outlets. The flumes consist of two concrete and two wooden ones. Sixty-eight combined drop structures, road crossings and check gates, made of corrugated iron pipe of special construction, were necessary to complete the details.

Twenty-two reinforced concrete county highway crossings and siphons and sixty-six wooden take- out gates were installed on this project. A com- plete telephone system of three wires with under- ground road crossings, equipped with drop signals and telephone instruments every mile and a half, was installed. Power for the great project is furnished by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

Substantial houses have been built for the engineer and employees of the plant.

Among the well-known early day boosters who worked energetically with other leading interests for the formation of the project are such well-known leaders as A. Grunauer, C. A. Slack, A. R. Arnold, Linne Brothers, J. D. Van Ormer, L. Kroner, Lewis Parker, S. A. Shearer, Fred P. Von Sosten, Peter P. Schmidt, the Heinbockel brothers, Henry A. Frerichs, George J. Luhrsen, Mrs. Anna Von Sos- ten, D. J. Looney, Neil and Tom Looney, Neil Fabian, W. G. Lang and others. The first meeting was held on November 9, 1915, and Samuel A. Shearer was chosen chairman or president, W. G. Hunter of Stockton as engineer, who resigned, and was succeeded by the present engineer, Mr. W. D. Harrington, in November, 1918. At present Henry Frerichs is president; Mrs. Bertha M. McGee, treas- urer; and George L. Parker, assessor. Neumiller & Ditz were chosen as attorneys; later Crittenden & Hench became attorneys for the project. Mr. Ditz was the first secretary, but upon his resignation, Wil- liam Von Sosten was chosen to fill that office; in 1917 John C. Chrisman was chosen secretary. The peo- ple of Tracy and this section of Central California are proud of this big irrigation achievement, as it has proven early day statements made by men who had faith in the solidity of the enterprise.

JESSE W. WAKEFIELD .- An experienced vineyardist and orchardist who has come to assist in the development of California realty is Jesse W. Wakefield, who lives one mile and three-quarters east of Acampo. He was born in Brownfield, Oxford County, Me., on March 16, 1865, the son of Edwin and Sarah (Palmer) Wakefield. His father came out to California and Truckee in 1849, and the following year lost his hand in the sawmills in that place. As soon as he was able to travel again, after his accident, he returned to Maine, married, and there reared a family of nine children. Calvin P., the eldest, is now in Stockton; Edwin is in Modesto; Alice has become Mrs. Woods, and lives in Maine; Oren L. died in 1919; Laura became Mrs. Seevey, and is deceased; Angies also has died; Jesse W. is the subject of our review; Fred is the next youngest; and A. P. Wakefield lives at Stony Ford, in Glenn County, California.

Edwin Wakefield bought a farm on the Saco River in Maine and lived there until his death at the age of eighty-five years, while Mrs. Wakefield, who passed away in 1918, attained her eighty-sixth year. Jesse attended school at Eaton, New Hamp- shire, and in 1882 he left home to come to Cali- fornia, and here he went to work on the Cressy Ranch in Merced County, near Livingston. This place contained about ten thousand acres, and he re- mained there for four and one-half years, after which he came to San Joaquin County, and worked out for two years. He next leased 480 acres of land from Mrs. Gage, lying north of Lockeford, and known as the Faulkner ranch; and this place he farmed for sixteen and one-half years. In 1907 he sold his stock and purchased the place where he now resides. This was then open land; but he has developed fourteen acres of it to peaches, five acres to plums, five acres to cherries, ten acres to Tokay grapes, and six acres to walnuts and alfalfa. He has built a home on the rauch, and has also de-

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 166

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