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 175

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 175

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On November 16, 1898, Mr. Adams married Miss Florence L. Ogden, a native of Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa, and the daughter of Henry T. and Augusta (Smith) Ogden, natives of Ohio and Iowa, . respectively. Her father was a farmer, and lived to be seventy-eight years old, while the mother at- tained her sixty-first year. There were five children in the Ogden family: Addison, Elmer, Vernon, Flor- ence (Mrs Adams), and Leon. When Florence was nine years old her parents came to California and lived for a short time in Oakdale, Stanislaus County. Then they moved to Snelling, in Merced County, where her father bought a half-section of grain land; and she was sent to the Snelling schools. In 1894, her father traded his grain land for seventy acres of land on the Cherokee road, one mile north of Acampo, and this he set out to almonds and a vineyard. Mr. Adams bought ten acres from one of his brothers-in- law, and for the last six years he has also rented and operated the seventy acres, living on it at the same time. In April, 1920, his father-in-law died, and the estate was sold to W. C. Petsinger, who now lives in the old home. Then Mr. Adams re- purchased seventeen and one-fourth acres of the old Ogden estate adjoining his ten acres, making the present holdings of his ranch twenty-seven and one- fourth acres. He remodeled the home he now lives in, and in November, 1921, moved into it. He has an electric motor of ten-horsepower and a four-inch pump, and is able to command an abundant supply of good water. He has six children: Violet, at home; Elliott, a student at Reno, Nev .; Norma, a student in the State Teachers' College, San Jose; and Leon, Raymond and Harold, pupils in the Houston grammar school.

Mr. Adams has twenty acres of almonds, and is a member of the California Almond Growers' Exchange. He also has seven acres of Tokay grapes, and is a director of the Acampo Fruit Growers' Association. He is a stockholder in the Coast Tire & Rubber Company, and also in the Samson Tire Company of San Diego. Mr. Adams is a Republican in matters of national political import. Fraternally, he is a member of Woodbridge Lodge No. 131, F. & A. M. He has always been a hard-working man. When he came to California, for example, he worked from sunrise to sunset driving a six-mule team, and re- ceived only seventy-five cents for his labor. Recall- ing his own hard experiences, he tries to do the right thing by those who work for him.

FREDERICK KUCKUK .- An experienced, enter- prising and unusually successful rancher is Frederick Kuckuk, who is farming Delta land about thirteen miles southwest of Stockton, on Upper Roberts Island on Middle River. He was born in the principality of Lippe-Detmold, on October 25, 1857, a son of Fred- erick and Augusta (Peiper) Kuckuk, and was reared on a farm, enjoying the best of educational advan- tages as the son of well-to-do and affectionate parents. On November 18, 1884, he was married to Miss Lena Elbracht, a native of the nearby Westphalian Biele- feld, and the daughter of G. Henry and M. Elizabeth (Meyer zu Hadelager) Elbracht, sturdy farmer-folks. In 1886, Mr. and Mrs. Kuckuk came out to America and spent six months at Cairo, Ill., but they came out to California, and in the spring of 1887, arrived at Williams & Bixler ranch on Union Island.

Mr. Kuckuk commenced ranching on the lower reclamation of Union Island, establishing himself there with a partner, Will Schmidt, now the banker at Tracy; and in 1888 he plunged the first plow to disturb the soil of the newly-reclaimed lower divi- sion, and from the start met with fair success. The following year, the prospects were bright for a very good crop; but a break in the Grant Line levee caused a fatal loss. He then tried farming on the middle division, but gave it up to move to Roberts Island, at the same time that he rented a large farm in Napa Valley and farmed in both places until 1896.

In 1917, Mr. Kuckuk moved to his present home, where he has had almost phenomenal success in the operation of 300 acres devoted to the stock business- the raising of hogs, sheep and cattle, alfalfa and grain, and also some of the finest bronze turkeys ever seen in this section. He makes a specialty of the Poland- China hogs, crossing with pure-bred Berkshire, which mature for market in six months time upon his delta ranch; and he has established an enviable reputation for himself as an agriculturist. He enjoys the esteem of all who know him, and the devotion of a wide circle of friends. He has seen many remarkable changes in the Delta region, and has personally under- gone many hardships due to farming in such a district.

In Judge Smith's Court at Stockton, Mr. Kuckuk was made a citizen, and since then he has marched with the Republicans, as has also his wife. He has two children: Frederick, Jr, is now a prosperous rancher at Paradise, West Side, San Joaquin County; and Louise, who was the first white girl born on Union Island, is now the wife of H. Z. Bardin, whose life- story is elsewhere related in this volume.

Lena Kuchuk,

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

CAESAR GAIA .- A very interesting man of affairs who owes his development and success largely to his own, self-made efforts, is Caesar Gaia, a member of the well-known grocery firm of Gaia & Delucchi, of Stockton. He was born on a farm near Torino, Italy, on August 16, 1892, the son of a vineyardist; and he worked in the vineyards of his district and on the home farm until he was seventeen years of age, and then he set out alone for California, following his brother, Frank Gaia, who had come to California some time previously, and who passed away in 1914.

Caesar Gaia found his first employment on the Miller & Lux ranch at Gilroy, where he remained nine months, and after a short stay in Oakland and San Francisco, he arrived at Stockton on May 1, 1914. Here he formed a partnership with Ferdinand S. Del Monte, and for some thirty months conducted the Campa Restaurant. He then formed a partnership with Louis Delucchi and bought the Ravioli Factory of E. Fontana at 320 East Market Street, and founded the firm of Gaia & Delucchi, which has so grown and prospered that it is now one of the leading grocery establishments in Stockton. As their business ex- panded, they took over the next store and added a full line of staple groceries and imported goods. They also made ravioli on a large scale, and they manufac- tured the famous Italian salami, and met with such encouragement that they now wholesale these two products. When they started, they employed two assistants; now they keep twelve persons busy. They also maintain two delivery trucks, and they ship rav- ioli, Italian salami and other specialties to Lodi, Modesto and the mountain towns. Mr. Gaia, with his family, made a trip to Italy in the spring of 1922, remaining away on this visit to the scenes of his child- hood some nine months.

Mr. Gaia was married to Miss Rose Marengo in 1915, the gifted lady being a daughter of Peter L. Marengo, a prominent capitalist of Stockton; and they have one son, Caesar, Jr. Mr. Gaia is a charter member of the Stockton Italian Club, and a member of the Eagles, the Red Men and the Druids.

MINARD WALLACE .- A substantial citizen of San Joaquin County whose memory will long be honored is the late Minard Wallace, who was born in Hants County, Nova Scotia, on February 8, 1856, the son of Michael and Margaret Wallace. The father was a progressive and favorably known farm- er. In 1876 Minard Wallace came to California on the transcontinental immigrant train and settled at Lockeford, where he was employed in various ways. On December 19, 1878, in Lockeford, he married Miss Alice Mary Blois, the daughter of Oliver and Tryphen (Parker) Blois, who was born within three miles of Mr. Wallace's birthplace. Her father was also a farmer, and she attended the excellent district schools in Nova Scotia. She came to California in 1878 with her brother, who with a sister was already living in California, and she made her home with them until her marriage to Mr. Wallace. After their marriage they resided at Lockeford for five years and then located on a ranch in the vicinity of the present home, where Mr. Wallace began stock- raising and farming. He prospered, leasing range until he began purchasing land. Mr. Wallace im- proved the home-ranch with a fine house, built fences, and put up farm buildings; and together with his two sons he acquired additional land, until

they jointly owned 800 acres; then they engaged in a general farming and stock business. Mr. Wallace laid aside the cares of this world on April 5, 1920, leaving an enviable record for integrity and industry, and a family of four to inherit his good name and his fortune. Maude has become Mrs. Lane, of Oak- land; Walter is at home; Harriet is Mrs. Holmes, of Martinez; and Oliver is also at home.

The two sons, Walter and Oliver, have assisted in carrying on the stock business. While Oliver was away in the World War, the elder son ran the ranch; and as it was very hard to get help, he did three men's work. He produced much grain, but on account of the high prices of labor, he only broke even, despite the favoring high prices of the grain market. Oliver, the younger son, entered the United States service on September 21, 1917, and was sent to Camp Lewis, as a member of Company L, 363rd Infantry, 91st Division. In June, 1918, he went to New York and was sent overseas, where he participated with his famous division in all of the drives for which they were noted, in the Argonne and on the Belgian front. On his return to San Francisco he was discharged at the Presidio in April, 1919, as sergeant, and took up ranching again with his brother. He was married at Lockeford, on July 14, 1920, to Miss Alvine Ostermann, the daughter of Theodore and Lena Ostermann, a native of San Joaquin County; and their union has been blessed with the birth of twin sisters, June and Jean. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Wallace live on the old Wallace Rancho, with his mother and brother. The two brothers are Republicans.

JOHN RANDOLPH LOUTTIT .- A native son who takes much pride in the progress made by his home county is John Randolph Louttit, who was born in Stockton, November 9, 1874, the son of James A. and Ada A. (Cory) Louttit. His fa- ther became one of the most prominent attorneys in the state and served as a member of Congress, and his interesting biography appears on another page in this work.

The second oldest of a family of six children, John Randolph Louttit, was reared in Stockton, where he was educated in the grammar and high schools, being graduated from the high school there in 1893. After his graduation he spent one year at Hastings Law School in San Francisco. He gave up the study of law to accept the position as assist- ant postmaster at Stockton under the late T. A. Nel- son. After filling the position with credit and ability for three years Mr. Louttit resigned to engage in the hay and grain business in San Francisco under the firm name of Howell, Louttit and Company. Here he continued until he sold his interest to join his younger brother, J. A. Louttit, Jr., who was mining in Alaska. Mr. Louttit made the trip to Council, ninety miles inland from Nome, in 1908, and entered heartily into mining. The Louttit broth- ers acquired large interests on Melsing Creek, out of Council, and here they followed placer mining. Mr. Louttit remained in the northland until 1915, when he returned to Stockton. Unfortunately, his brother died in 1916. Mr. Louttit, having entered the em- ploy of the Union Ice Company and not wishing to return to Alaska, sold their mining properties. In 1917 he resigned his position with the Union Ice Company and accepted the position of cashier with the Yolland Ice Company, continuing with them un-

1220

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

til March, 1921, when, being elected secretary of the City Fuel and Ice Company at Lodi, he re- signed his place as cashier and immediately re- moved to Lodi. He has since given all of his time to advancing the business of the City Fuel and Ice Company, for which his years of experience well qualify him.

Mr. Louttit is a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. Elks; Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W .; and Lodi Rotary Club, and while in Alaska he was a member of Camp Council No. 11, Arctic Brotherhood.

GEORGE W. LUCAS .- A progressive land owner of San Joaquin County, who has done much to fur- ther the development of the resources of the state, is George W. Lucas, a native of Amador County, where he was born at Puts Bar, near Comanche, on May 15, 1862. His father, Ralph Lucas, came to California from Missouri in 1849, and mined on the Feather River. Later he settled down near Lancha Plana, where he acquired a small ranch, married Miss Rebecca Potter, and brought up a family of ten chil- dren: John L., still living at Amador; Andy, de- ceased; George, of this review; Ralph, of Clements; Robert, deceased; Sarah, of San Francisco; Ellen, now Mrs. Smallfield; James, living at Stockton; and William and Nels, both deceased.

George W. Lucas had the usual educational ad- vantages enjoyed by the boys of his day and also took up the study of bookkeeping. He remained at home until he was past twenty-one, helping to support the large family, and then, for three years, worked for wages in the service of a Mr. Van Zandt. He next worked in the sawmills, in the mountains, for about one year, and after that worked for four years in Butte County, helping to handle lumber at the mills, at a flume that carried eighty thousand feet of sawn lumber each day down to Chico. He then came to Clements, and in partnership with his brother, Ralph, pursued farming four miles northeast of Clements, on the river. They operated a part of the Kissell place, and at one time farmed about 600 acres of land. This partnership was continued for a number of years.

In 1897 George W. Lucas married Miss Jennie V. Howard, a native of San Joaquin County, where she was born on the old Howard ranch, and the daughter of Daniel and Clara L. (Flanders) Howard, well-known pioneers. She attended the Washington school and was a society favorite when she met Mr. Lucas. Twelve years ago he bought 326 acres on the Mokelumne River, about six miles to the north- east of Clements, and put in nine-acres of bottom land to alfalfa. He also has a family orchard, fortv head of cattle, and twelve head of horses. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas: Harvey Howard and Una Doris. Three years ago his home burned to the ground, and then he erected a fine new home, of one and one-half stories, on the site where the former residence stood. Mr. Lucas is a Democrat. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Washington district school, and for four years has been the director of the board. He belongs to the Odd Fellows of Clements, and has passed through all the chairs there; and he has also gone through all the chairs of the Clements Lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are members of the Rebekahs at Clem- ents and have passed through all the chairs.

ANTONE LOUIS LOPES .- An enterprising, suc- cessful dairyman whose progress has set the pace for other agriculturists in the same field, is Antone Louis Lopes, the proprietor of a first-class dairy herd of some 200 head of high-grade Holstein cattle, on a dairy farm with new modern and model barns situated about six miles southwest of Stockton, near Brandt's Ferry Bridge, on Upper Roberts Island. He has a senior and junior registered pure-bred sire from the Holstein herd of Morris & Son, at Woodland, and that speaks for itself.

Like many others who have made a success of dairying in California, Antone L. Lopes hails from the Azores, having been born on the Island of St. George, on December 15, 1881, the son of Daniel and Mary C. (Azevedo) Lopes, also natives of the Azores. The parents came out to America fourteen years ago, and now they are living in comfortable retirement at the home of our subject, where their daughter, Amelia, also resides, ardent admirers of California and her free and helpful institutions. Manuel Lopes, a brother, and Mrs. Adelaide Cotraia, of Benicia, a sister of Antone, are successful dairy ranchers of Solano County. A brother, Joseph, and a sister, Mrs. Sera- fina Machado, are extensive and successful dairy ranchers at. Gridley, and partners of our subject. An- other sister, the eldest, is Mrs. Mary Silva of San Jose.

After having passed the age of twenty-one, on July 1, 1903, Antone Lopes left home to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving in New Bedford, Mass., he immediately crossed the American continent to Cali- fornia and at Vallejo went to work on a dairy ranch for his brother, Manuel Lopes, and his uncle, Tony Dos Rios, who were partners, to earn money to pay $400 for three acres adjoining his father's farm. This he paid out of his wages in eighteen months and this property he still owns. With commendable courage he continued working steadily at thirty dollars per month, sixteen hours a day (two shifts) and no holi- days until he decided to go into business on his own account.

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He chose as a partner his brother, Manuel Lopes, of Benicia, and together they established a dairy, in 1906; but four years later, he sold his interest to his uncle, Tony Dos Rios, and removed to Butte County, and for eleven years he carried on dairying near Grid- ley, where he still has interests. At Gridley, he took up the study of English and went to night school, and the good fruits of this bit of enterprise, denoting in itself a promising ambition, were shown when he applied for United States citizenship and mastered the necessary examination.

December, 1921, Mr. Lopes came down to this county, having secured the lease on his present prop- erty known as the Laurence & Stephens rancho, and having much to offer, he was given a five-year lease, with very favorable terms. This farm is beautifully located, and consists of 240 acres, well irrigated, an ample supply of water being lifted from the San Joaquin River to canals, from which it is distributed by gravity, the flow covering the alfalfa fields so that the green feed is to be had the entire year around.

Since establishing himself in business here, Mr. Lopes, on account of his record for honesty and in- tegrity of purpose was not only offered the lease of his old ranch he left at Gridley, but they begged him to take it again, so with his brother Joseph as a

Cd. Je. Lopes

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

partner, they moved a dairy herd they had on one of the Stanford ranches at Vina to the Gridley ranch and now they are conducting a first class sanitary dairy there, having 300 head of dairy cattle. His dairy herds on both ranches are high grade Holsteins, as he has always had pure-bred sires at the head of his herd and is considered an authority on dairy cattle. Since April, 1922, Mr. Lopes has constructed his model farms, thoroughly scientific and sanitary in every respect, and there he carries on such a lively enterprise that he employs regularly at least six men. His products are shipped direct to the San Francisco market, where they find a ready sale at good prices, through the San Francisco Milk Producers, of which he is a member. So arranged is the outfitting of this model dairy that it is truly one of the show-places of San Joaquin County.

RALPH EMMETT MILLS .- Well-known in con- nection with agricultural interests, Ralph Emmett Mills makes his home at Lafayette Hall, four and a half miles west of Lodi on the Sargent road, where he owns twenty acres, one-half of which is in vineyard and the other half in alfalfa. During his residence on this property he has wrought a great transforma- tion in its appearance, making it one of the highly cultivated tracts in this portion of the county. He was born on the old Mills ranch south of Wood- bridge, April 23, 1880, a son of George A. and Mary (Bucher) Mills. The father was a native of Illinois. The grandparents, Freeman and Minerva (Grace) Mills, natives of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, respectively, crossed the plains to California in the early pioneer days. He engaged in mining in Sierra County and was then in business in Colusa County. In 1857 he located at Woodbridge, on eighty acres of land, and later added another eighty acres, which was thickly covered with timber. He became an extensive grain farmer in that section and was also very prominent in local politics and fraternal circles. When Ralph Emmett Mills was two years old, his parents removed to San Luis Obispo County and located on a 320-acre grain ranch near Paso Robles, which the father farmed to grain for twelve years; then he moved back to the old home place at Wood- bridge, where he spent his remaining years. There were six children in the family: Ralph Emmett, of this sketch; Estella, Mrs. Knight, of Los An- geles; Claude, of Acampo; Ethel, Mrs. McCann, of Stockton; Glennie, Mrs. Nelson, of Stockton; and Roy, of Lodi. The father lived to be sixty-five years old; the mother passing away at the age of fifty-two. .

Ralph Emmett Mills received his education in the public schools of San Luis Obispo County and was trained to the work of the farm from early childhood. Returning to Woodbridge when sixteen years old, he remained home until nineteen years of age, and then began making his own way in the world, at first working on ranches in different parts of San Joaquin County. He then rented the Don Ray ranch of 320 acres at Acampo; this was a grain farm, and during the five years that Mr. Mills leased it he set out eighty acres to vineyard, receiving forty-five acres of the vineyard for developing it. At the end of his lease he sold his portion and moved to Woodbridge, where he resided for a few years. Then he pur- chased sixty acres five miles west from Woodbridge. Twenty acres of this place was in vineyard, and 76

Mr. Mills planted thirty acres more. Within two years' time he sold it, and then purchased his present place of twenty acres, one-half of which is in vine- yard and the other half in alfalfa.

The marriage of Mr. Mills occurred on December 27, 1903, uniting him with Miss Inez Mayberry, born in San Joaquin County, a daughter of Wilcy W. and Joanna (Hunting) Mayberry, natives of Penn- sylvania and Iowa, respectively. Her parents came across the plains to California with their respective parents while they were yet young people. Subse- quent to their marriage, they settled in north San Joaquin County in the Telegraph school district. Her parents are living retired in Lodi. Mrs. Mills is one of five children: Rena, Mrs. Henley, of Lodi; Maude, Mrs. Elda Brown, of Lockeford; Edith, Mrs. George Harrison; Inez, Mrs. Mills; and Donald. Mrs. Mills received her education in the Telegraph district school. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are the parents of two children: Mervin and Emmett. While Mr. Mills' ranch is under the Stockton-Mokelumne irrigation district, he also has his own pumping plant, which consists of a six-inch pump driven by a fifteen-horse- power motor, which furnishes ample water for irri- gation. In politics he is a Republican; and fratern- ally he is a member of Lodi Camp of Modern Wood- men of America.

WALTER R. MORAN .- Among the recent acces- sions to the viticultural section of San Joaquin County is Walter R. Moran, the owner of a fifteen-acre vine- yard on the Alpine school road. He is a native of Crawford, Nebraska, and the son of Dennis and Sadie (Losee) Moran, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Indiana. Dennis Moran was only about one year old when his parents came to America and settled at Fitchburg, Mass., where he was reared and received his education. He was only eighteen years old when he started on his varied career as cowboy and stockman, and finally as a successful vineyardist of the San Joaquin Valley, where he resides today.

When Walter R. Moran was nine years old, his parents removed to Bellefourche, S. D., where they engaged in the stock business; later the family moved to British Columbia, and he followed ranching there. From early boyhood Walter Moran could ride a horse, and when he was twenty years old, he natur- ally took to the range, first going to Montana, where he stayed one year, and then to British Columbia, where for three years he rode the range for the Western Canadian Ranch Company, 150 miles north of the Canadian line. Next we find him back in Montana, at Billings, where he worked for four years for the Western Sugar Company. In September of 1917, he enlisted at Billings, Mont., and was sent to Fort George Wright, Wash., in the Quartermaster's Corps. After remaining there for a short time, he was sent to Camp Lewis in the 344th Baking Com- pany, and on June 25, 1918, was sent to France as a baker at Ish-Sur-Til. He was later returned to the United States, and on July 1, 1919, was discharged at Fort Russell, Wyo., and immediately returned to his parents' home in Lodi, Cal. After his return he purchased fifteen acres south of Kettleman Lane on the Alpine school road, which is devoted to the rais- ing of grapes; he also has twenty-five acres rented,

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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 175

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