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 168

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 168

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WALTER HANSEL .- A representative of an old pioneer family, Walter Hansel, under the firm name of Hansel & Ortman, has established a large business as a distributor of automobiles at 211 Hunter Street, Stockton. Mr. Hansel is a native son of California, born at Stockton, February 7, 1878, the son of Joseph and Emma (Dressman) Hansel, the former a native of New York and the latter of Berlin, Germany. Both parents have passed away. His father came to California around Cape Horn and settled in Stock- ton in the early '50s and operated a wagon and carriage shop on North Hunter Street, being a pioneer in that business in Stockton. He was active in local affairs and was a member of the old volun-

teer fire department. They were the parents of seven children; three are living: Walter; Emma E. is Mrs. E. E. Aldrich; Bertha is Mrs. E. L. Ferguson. Four children have passed away: Joseph, Henry, Mrs. Anne Stroupe and Dr. C. E. Hansel.

Walter was educated in the public schools of Stockton and then for three years worked in the blacksmith shop of L. Salbach. In 1898 he entered the employ of A. H. Wright, who conducted a bicycle store and had the first automobile agency in Stock- ton, selling the Oldsmobile, National and Stanley. In 1901 Mr. Hansel opened a bicycle shop with a twenty-foot front on South San Joaquin Street; at this time Charles Merrill became his partner in the business and the firm was known as Merrill & Han- sel; later L. Salbach was taken into the firm and it was known as Merrill, Hansel & Salbach. In 1908

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the partnership of Hansel & Ortman was formed, taking over the interests of Merrill and Salbach, and in time they erected the first reinforced concrete building in Stockton, becoming agents for the Reo and Cadillac motor cars. In 1914 the new garage was erected at 211 North Hunter Street, which they still occupy. When they started in business in 1908 it was valued at $6,000 and is now worth half a million dollars. In 1918, before the line was cut up among so many dealers, they were the largest buyers of Goodyear tires in the United States. They employ seventy-five people, doing the largest busi- ness of any firm of its kind in the northern part of California, and are distributors for the Cadillac and Oldsmobile in the counties of San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador.

The marriage of Mr. Hansel united him with Miss Nellie Curtis, a native of Kansas, and they are the parents of one child, Walter, Jr. Fraternally, Mr. Hansel is a member of Stockton lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E .; Charity lodge I. O. O. F .; Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W .; and Independent Order of Foresters. In 1920 he built a beautiful residence on the corner of Stockton and Acacia streets, where he resides with his family.

JAMES S. TRIOLO .- In a .life of well-directed business activity, resulting in success, James S. Triolo has become well known as a produce shipper of San Joaquin County. A native of Illinois, he was born in Chicago, October 12, 1883, and at the early age of fourteen began working in the produce busi- ness in Chicago, packing for the firm of Porter Bros. Company on South Water street. His father was a large importer of Palermo, Sicily, and when James was seventeen years old he went to that city and worked for his father for three years, packing and shipping lemons and oranges. In 1902 he came to California, accompanied by his father and a brother, and for three years was associated with them in the Ontario district of Southern California, packing and shipping oranges and lemons. At the end of three years he removed to San Francisco and engaged in the commission business until 1912, when he settled in Stockton and established his own business. He represents White Bros. & Crum of Salt Lake City; Dawson Bros. Company of Denver, Colo. He buys wine grapes for Descalzie Company of Pittsburgh, also for L. Gallucci Company, a large Eastern firm, and for Shafton & Company of Chi- cago, buying all kinds of produce direct from the grower and paying cash for same and shipping over 1,000 carloads yearly from Stockton and vicinity. He maintains offices in Sacramento, Walnut Grove and Turlock. He is an ardent booster for San Joa- quin County, which he considers the richest and most productive county in the world, and which he believes to be only at the threshold of its productiv- ity and prosperity.

The marriage of Mr. Triolo united him with Miss Ada Crowley, a native of Wisconsin, whose father is a prominent lumberman of that state, and they are the parents of two children: James S., Jr., and Beatrice E. Mr. Triolo is a member of Westgate Lodge No. 335, F. & A. M., of Los Angeles, Pyra- mid No. 3, Sciots, of Sacramento, and the Sacra- mento Lodge of Elks. He is eminently public- spirited in all matters that affect the general wel- fare, and is held in the highest esteem.

NOAH HOVARD .- For eighteen years Noah Hovard has been a resident of San Joaquin County, and his time and energies have been devoted to farming interests, more especially to the culture of grapes. By close application to his business and well directed energy he has gained success so that he is now living retired from active business cares, re- siding at 821 Central Avenue, Lodi. He was born in Gloucestershire, England, July 3, 1862, a son of Thomas and Ann Hovard, also natives of England. Thomas Hovard was a farmer by occupation. There were six children in the family: Sarah, John, Perci- val, Andrew, Noah, the subject of this sketch, and Maria. After a grammar school education, at the age of sixteen Noah Hovard . was employed at the butcher's trade in England, working until 1882 when he came to the United States and first settled at Gilman, Ill., where he worked on farms for a year and a half. Then he removed to Jefferson County, Neb., and again took up farming working for wages until 1885 when he homesteaded a quarter section in Hayes County, which he farmed for ten years, then was obliged to relinquish his claim on account of the continued crop failures; he then returned to Jef- ferson County, Neb., and for another ten years farmed leased properties.

On October 3, 1889, occurred the first marriage of Mr. Hovard, which united him with Miss Olive McAdow, a native of Nodaway County, Mo., a daugh- ter of Dr. J. S. and Malinda (Brown) McAdow, both parents natives of Kentucky, where her father was a practicing physician and surgeon. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hovard; Herbert entered the World War with the first contingent that was drafted from Stockton and with the Ninety-first Di- vision was sent to Camp Lewis; then he was trans- ferred to Company E, Fifty-ninth Infantry, Fourth Division, and on October 15, 1918, was killed in ac- tion in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. He was a member of the Masonic lodge. Alice, Mrs. Jack Ross, resides in Stockton; John Hovard, who makes his home with his parents at Lodi, participated in the World War as a member of Company A, 364th Infantry, Ninety-first Division, took part in the var- ious engagements with his command after he arrived in France, and when the armistice was signed re- turned to the United States and was honorably dis- charged; Grace, Mrs. John Hagel, lives in Sacra- mento County.

In 1904 the family left Nebraska for California and upon their arrival in the Golden State settled near Lodi where Mr. Hovard purchased a twenty-acre ranch three-fourths of a mile south of the Alpine district school; this ranch was set to a vineyard which was two years old at the time of purchase. Here Mrs. Hovard passed away in 1916, and in March, 1920, Mr. Hovard sold his ranch and moved to Lodi. The second marriage of Mr. Hovard oc- curred on May 30, 1917, in Stockton, and united him with Mrs. Dollie (Mason) Keen, a native of Illinois. Mrs. Hovard removed from Illinois to Utah and then to California, arriving here about the time that her husband did. Mr. Hovard is a Democrat in poli- tics and for eight years was clerk of the school board of the Alpine district. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, which he joined twenty-three years ago.

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Noah Howard

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JAMES E. NELSON, M. D .- Since becoming a resident of Lodi in 1905, Dr. James E. Nelson has witnessed the phenomenal growth of this section of San Joaquin County with a great deal of interest, and his influence as a physician and as a business man has had much to do with the actual development of the community. He came here when Lodi had a population of only 1,300 and began the practice of medicine, continuing at his chosen calling until he now is recognized as one of the leading physicians of Lodi and San Joaquin County. A native of Penn- sylvania, he was born on a farm near Volant, Law- rence County, May 23, 1879. His education was re- ceived, first in Volant, and then at a school in Rogers, Ohio. In 1901 he was graduated from Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pa., with the degree of B. S., and four years later he received his M. D. degree from the medical department of the Uni- versity of Missouri at Columbia. During the month of September, 1905, he arrived in California, located in Lodi in the Bank of Lodi building on West Pine Street, and began the practice of his profession. With the passing of the years success has crowned his efforts and he now enjoys a large practice. He is a member of the County and State Medical societies and of the American Medical Association.

The marriage of Dr. Nelson united him with Miss Grace Belle Mudd, a native of Missouri. They are parents of two children, Margaret B. and William Raoul. Dr. Nelson is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, holding membership in Ben Ali Temple in Sacramento. In civic affairs Dr. Nelson was instru- mental in organizing the Rotary Club in Lodi and served as its president the first year. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Lodi Union High School and of the Lodi board of health and a member of San Joaquin board of health of the local health district of which he was one of the organizers. To show his faith in this com- munity he has invested in country real estate and owns an eighty-acre vineyard east of Lodi. While a student in college he was active in athletics and was an expert golf player. Dr. Nelson enjoys fishing above all other outdoor sports and each summer he and Mrs. Nelson seek some favored spot in the mountains where trout abound and they have visited nearly every part of the state where trout fishing is to be found. Dr. Nelson is one of the real "boost- ers" for this favored section of the San Joaquin Valley and in his adopted city he is always found ready and willing to lend his aid in its development.

PAUL STURLA .- As a successful orchardist Paul Sturla has demonstrated the desirability and produc- tiveness of the Lodi district; from a small beginning he has become a prosperous and well-to-do citizen. A native of Genoa, Italy, he was born on May 18, 1846, and was only fourteen years of age when he landed in New Orleans, where he had a brother, Joseph; but on landing found his brother had just died. The following year he came to California via Panama. He followed various kinds of employment for a while, then worked on the construction of the Central Pacific until he was made section foreman at Oreana, Nev., continuing there eleven months, then at Sunol for a year, when he was sent to Altamont, where he remained eleven years. He then came to Lodi and was section foreman for the same company for seven years. Meanwhile, he purchased a tract

of land containing twenty-two acres, in the south- west part of town, now in the city limits, and en- gaged in farming, clearing the land and planting it to orchard and vines. From time to time he pur- chased more land until he now owns forty-eight acres set to all kinds of fruits and thirty-five acres of Tokay and Zinfandel grapes. The fruit trees were all planted by Mr. Sturla, besides there are many shade and ornamental trees; also a vegetable garden and a few acres in alfalfa. He sold three acres to the city of Lodi on which now stands the Needham school building, a new and modern structure. Mr. Sturla has recently cut off six blocks from his ranch and has subdivided the Sturla school district extend- ing from Lodi Street on the north to Sturla Street on the south and from Quimby Street on the west to Church Street on the east. Each block averages twelve lots 50x140 feet. The lots are sold with the understanding that a certain type of residence shall be built thereon; there are now fourteen fine res- idences on the property.

The marriage of Mr. Sturla united him with Miss Louisa Mandragola, a native of Genoa, Italy, who came to California with her parents, John and Theresa Mandragola. Mr. and Mrs. Sturla are the parents of five children: Tillie is Mrs. L. Sanguinetti of Lodi and has two children, Melvin and Alben; Mamie is the wife of Frank Smith of Lodi and they have one son, Gerald; Fred is married and has one son, Alfred. He is with the Buick automobile agency in Stockton. Joseph is married and has two daughters, La Verle and Maxine; Eva resides at home with her parents. Mrs. Sturla has indeed been a helpmate to her hus- band, assisting him capably in fulfilling his ambitions.

JOSEPH M. CAMPODONICO .- A prominent business man of Stockton who is also a native Cali- fornian is Joseph M. Campodonico, a successful drug- gist and an influential banker. He was born in San Francisco, Cal., on October 21, 1876; his father, a vegetable farmer in the Visitacion Valley south of San Francisco; there our subject was reared and edu- cated, finishing his education in the schools of San Francisco and St. Ignatius College and graduated from the University of California in pharmacy with the class of 1896. While attending the university he became a prominent athlete and was a member of the university baseball team and the handball team; later he became a member of the San Francisco Olympic Club and was active in athletics, taking part in cross country races, etc. As a boy he was apprenticed to learn the drug business with G. L. Carroll, a druggist of San Francisco, and after his graduation from the university he opened the Central Pharmacy on North Beach, conducting same suc- cessfully until the fire of 1906, when he was burned out. He then entered the Bank of Italy as a clerk and while there heard of an opening in the drug business in Stockton, and on November 23, 1906, formed a partnership with P. H. Denton, and pur- chased the Stockton Drug Company, where they built up a large and lucrative business. Mr. Campo- donico has great faith in the future of Stockton and owns valuable business property in the city.

At one time Mr. Campodonico was associated with others in the ownership of a large tract of land in the San Joaquin Delta district and successfully farmed the same. He is a large stockholder in the Bank of Italy and a member of the advisory board of the

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Stockton branch. Mr. Campodonico was elected a member of the board of freeholders to draft the new charter for the city of Stockton. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the State and National Pharmaceutical Associations, the Stockton Golf and Country Club, the Stockton Italian Club, the Elks No. 218, and Stanford Parlor N. S. G. W., No. 76, of San Francisco.

FRED J. McKAIN .- Coming to Stockton with his parents when but four years of age, Fred J. McKain has spent practically his entire life in this city, and he is well known in business circles as assistant manager of the Simpson-Gray Lumber Company, a position he is most capably filling. He was born at Rising Sun, Ind., June 17, 1871, of the union of James and Maria Rebecca (James) McKain, who were also natives of the Hoosier State, and both are now de- ceased. In 1851 the father came to California via Panama, locating at Stockton, where for a time he followed the plasterer's trade and then returned to the East, but in 1874 he again took up his residence in Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. McKain became the pa- rents of six children, four of whom grew up. Ed- ward was a banker in Merced for twenty-five years, then became a merchant in Berkeley, where he died at the age of fifty-five years; Kate, Mrs. W. R. Stone, resides in Stockton; Reuben died in Stockton, still a young man, and Fred J. is our subject.

Fred McKain attended school in Stockton till the age of eighteen years, when he started out in the world on his own account. He entered the Govern- ment mail service as letter carrier, filling that position for two years, and was general delivery clerk for one year. On resigning that position he became con- nected with the Stockton Ice & Fuel Company, with which he remained for six months, and on October 2, 1892, entered the employ of the Stockton Lumber Company, conducted by Joseph Fife, and for ten years was with that concern, during which period he gained a thorough knowledge of the lumber business. He next joined the Scott-Van Arsdale Lumber Com- pany, which was later purchased by the McCloud Lumber Company, and his identification with those two firms covered five years. On the expiration of that period, in association with W. F. Barnickol, F. L. Balkwill, Walter Vincent and R. A. Bacheller, he organized the Sterling Iron Works, but sold his inter- est in that undertaking in 1910 and became a clerk in the county treasurer's office under W. C. Neumiller, where he continued until January, 1913, when he was made assistant manager of the Simpson-Gray Lumber Company. He brought to the office broad experi- ence, a comprehensive knowledge of the lumber in- dustry and marked capability and is doing all in his power to promote the success of the enterprise. He has great faith in the future of his city and has made judicious investments in real estate.

Mr. McKain was married in Stockton to Miss Susie Plummer, who was born in Woodbridge, San Joaquin County. She acquired her education in the San Joaquin Valley College at Woodbridge and is a member of one of the pioneer families of this part of the state. Mr. McKain is prominent in club and fraternal circles, belonging to the Rotary Club and to the Hoo-Hoos, the latter organization being com- posed of lumbermen. He is a Mason in high stand- ing and is a member of San Joaquin lodge, No. 19, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master; is a

member of Stockton chapter, No. 82, R. A. M .; Stockton Commandery, No. 8, K. T., of which he is past commander; is also a Scottish Rite Mason and belongs to Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Oakland. He also belongs to Stockton lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand, and to Stock- ton lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. E.

SALMA SEAVER STROBRIDGE .- In any com- munity there is no project of greater importance to the prosperity of its citizens than the establish- ment and continuance of a well-managed bank. Such institutions require for the management men of mod- ern education, practical training and wide experience. These qualifications form a part of the endowment of Salma Seaver Strobridge, whose efficiency as cashier of the Lockeford branch of the Union Safe Deposit Bank of Stockton has been of distinct aid to the citizens of Lockeford. He was born at Good- land, Newton County, Ind., on May 26, 1882, a son of Alanson S. and Marietta (Morgan) Strobridge. The father, Alanson S. Strobridge, was a native of Vermont, and was the nephew of the late J. H. Stro- bridge, the great railroad builder, who drove the last utility spike on the Central Pacific at Corinne, near Ogden, Utah, in 1869, permanently linking the East and West. A. S. Strobridge came to California via the Isthmus in 1868; later he returned to Indi- ana and became the foreman of a large stock farm, where he remained eleven years. He then returned to California and settled at Fillmore, where he en- gaged in farming, more particularly fruit raising. There he remained until his removal to Bakersfield in 1899. At Bakersfield he engaged in the cattle business until 1904, when he removed to Wasco, Kern County, where he lived until a short time before he died. He then went to Berkeley, and there died in 1907. The mother passed away at Fillmore at the age of forty-five years. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Strobridge, our subject and N. R. Stro- bridge, who resides in Oakland.

Salma S. Strobridge began his education in the Fillmore grammar school and completed it with a course in the Stockton Business College, graduating in 1902. After leaving school his first position was with Bruml Bros. as delivery and warehouse boy at Lockeford, at which he worked for three years; he later became head clerk and cashier and remained with them until 1913, when he organized the Locke- ford Mercantile Company and served as secretary- treasurer of this company until it was dissolved in 1917. Mr. Strobridge then tock a pleasure trip throughout the East, visiting many of the largest cities. Returning to Lockeford he became foreman for J. W. Montgomery's warehouse and in February of 1919 succeeded J. J. Priestly as cashier of the Lockeford branch of the Union Safe Deposit Bank of Stockton.

This bank was burglarized in 1914, but the job was a failure owing to the fact that the explosion failed to blow the door of the vault open sufficiently to allow a man to enter. However, one of the burglars suc- ceeded in reaching in with his arm far enough to secure two $20 rolls of silver dollars. On another shelf ten inches below was a bag containing $1,500 in gold which he was unable to secure. No one was ever captured for this job. On the night of January 19, 1921, this bank was again burglarized. This time it was a huge success, the vault being blown entirely

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

open. The burglars gained access and not only availed themselves of about $2,000 in cash, but also jimmied twenty-one safe deposit boxes, securing from them about $8,000 in Liberty bonds. No one was ever captured for this job. The last robbery suffered by this bank was a daylight holdup by a lone unmasked bandit on December 29th of the same year. The ban- dit entered the bank shortly before 11 o'clock and, leveling a six-shooter at Mr. Strobridge, ordered him into the vault and locked him in; then after helping himself to the cash on the counter departed. He was observed by other men on the street who secured his automobile number and notified the sheriff. The bandit was located at Paradise Cut, between Stockton and Tracy, and in a battle which ensued was killed by Deputy Sheriff Jess Wheatly, who was also badly wounded. Mr. Strobridge had anticipated being held up, and had provided himself with a flashlight and a means of removing the screws from the combination. These he kept inside the vault, and as a result of this forethought he extricated himself from his uncom- fortable position in a few minutes and emerged from the vault unhurt.

On November 20, 1907 Mr. Strobridge was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Hurd Stacks, born near Lockeford, the daughter of Thomas J. and Mary J. (Hickey) Stacks, the former now deceased. There is one son in the Strobridge family, Gerald S. Stro- bridge. Mr. Strobridge is a Republican and in No- vember, 1922, was elected a member of the County Central Committee for his district of San Joaquin County. He has been a member and clerk of the Lockeford school since 1918 and takes an active inter- est in educational matters. Fraternally he is a mem- ber and past chancellor of Vesper Lodge No. 94, K. of P. of Lockeford; and belongs to the D. O. K. K. at Stockton, and Court Mokelumne No. 136, F. of A., at Lodi.

Mr. Strobridge is public spirited and enters heartily into all movements for the betterment of conditions in general in the county.

MRS. LUCY (LOVE) VOMBURG .- One who enters actively into fraternal and social life in San Joaquin County, being in thorough harmony with the growth and progress of Lodi and environs, is Mrs. Lucy (Love) Vomburg, who was born and reared in Kentucky, and comes from a very distinguished fam- ily. She is a daughter of Colonel S. P. and Jane (McConnell) Love, the former born in Lincoln County, Ky., May 10, 1826. In 1846, in Garrard County, Ky., S. P. Love enlisted as a private, Captain Dono- van commanding, and served in the Mexican War. He also served in the frontier trouble in Missouri, and later he was discharged at Buena Vista. In 1849 he moved to Muhlenberg County and married Miss Jane McConnell. In August of 1861, S. P. Love was commissioned lieutenant-colonel in the 11th Kentucky Infantry, under Colonel P. B. Hawkins. In May of 1863, Colonel Hawkins resigned and S. P. Love then became colonel of the regiment. He was engaged in the Battle of Shiloh and was in full pur- suit of General Bragg's army; he took part in the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., and served under General Burnside in eastern Tennessee; he was also with Sherman's army from Ringgold to Atlanta, and was discharged on December 16, 1864. In 1897 he was called upon to help compile the history of the 11th Kentucky Infantry for the "History of the Union

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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 168

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