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 177

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 177

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).

Mr. Van Vranken is past president of Stockton parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, Past Noble Grand of Truth Lodge, I. O. O. F., and a member of the Elks, Moose, American Legion and the Anteros Club. His marriage united him with Miss Colette Laumeister, who was born in Stockton and comes of a family of pioneers.

JOHN S. HARNEY .- Among the pioneer settlers of San Joaquin County is the late John S. Harney, who for close to half a century was identified with the upbuilding of the county. He was born on a Switzerland farm on November 10, 1842, where he remained until a young man, coming to the United States in 1865. He spent two years in Ohio and in Chicago, coming to Stockton in 1867, and there estab- lished himself in business as a carriagemaker, in which he was most proficient, continuing in this line for five years.

In 1872 Mr. Harney bought a ranch of 160 acres three and a half miles southeast of Lodi, at what is now Ampere Station, Harney's Lane, for which he paid $7,800 cash. Later Mr. Harney purchased an- other 160 acres from John Pope for $10,000. Mr. Harney many years ago divided up the first ranch he purchased, giving each of his children twenty acres, and retaining twenty acres for his home place. In 1902 they each planted ten acres to vineyard, and in 1920 the eldest daughter sold her twenty acres for $42,000 cash, showing the advance of property valua- tions in the Lodi district; another daughter received $14,000 in 1920 from her ten-acre vineyard.

Mr. Harney was married in 1869 to Miss Marie C. Miller, a native of Prussia, and they became the par- ents of seven children: Mrs. Mattic M. Stein, wife of John F: Stein, deceased, of Lodi, who for many years has been prominent in the Native Daughters of the Golden West and grand president of the order: Johanna, the wife of O. H. Wells of Lodi; Lena. Mrs. Harry Menkin, deceased; Lucy, the wife of Frank Lieginger of Stockton; Henry, residing on the home ranch; Marie, the wife of John Fagg, residing at

1232

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Stockton; Miss Minnie Harney, living in Lodi with her mother, who is now eighty-two years of age. Mr. Harney passed away on August 22, 1910, esteemed and honored for his long and useful life in the com- munity which he had done much to upbuild.

EDDIE L. HIBBS .- An enterprising, experienced and very successful vineyardist, with some original, progressive views on modern scientific methods of husbandry, is Eddie L. Hibbs, living on Cherokee Road, not far from the Houston School, where he has one of the trim ranches so representative of the indus- try of San Joaquin County farmers. He was born near Havana, Mason County, Ill., on September 22, 1876, and is proud of the fact that he saw the light just about the time when the elated American nation, having finished with the wonderful Centennial Ex- position at Philadelphia, was stepping forward on its second century in the paths of advanced civilization. His father was George Hibbs, and his mother, before her marriage, was Miss Mary E. Jackson; and on both sides his parents' families were early Illinois settlers. His father passed away in 1918, but his mother is still alive, making her home with the chil- dren, at the age of sixty-eight, hale and hearty. They had two children: Ida, Mrs. Closson, residing at Lodi, Calif., and our subject.

In 1878, Mr. and Mrs. George Hibbs removed to the vicinity of Lincoln, Neb., in Lancaster County, and leased farms on which they raised grain for the next eight years; but in 1886 Mr. Hibbs ventured into Cheyenne County, where he homesteaded one quarter section of land, afterward in the new Deuel County. In 1890, he proved up the land, and then moved back to Lancaster County, where he farmed until 1897. Thus it happened that Eddie Hibbs went to the dis- trict schools of both Lancaster and Deuel counties. When twenty-one years of age he began for himself and in 1897 he removed to York County, Neb., and farmed there for five years.

In York County, Neb., on November 29, 1899, Eddie L. Hibbs was married to Miss Florence Egel- hoff, a native of Indiana, where she was born near Lafayette, in Tippecanoe County. Her parents were William and Laura Egelhoff; the former a native of Ohio, and the latter a native of Indiana. Mrs. Hibbs was the third oldest of six children and was educated in the York County graded schools, and remained at home with her parents until her marriage.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs removed to Dawson County, and there they bought a fine ranch of 160 acres of farm land, on which they raised wheat and corn; but in 1906 they sold out and came further west to California. At first, they settled near Lodi, buying ten acres of vineyard southeast of town; but after one and a half years in California, they sold out and, in 1907, went to Dawson County, Neb. There they remained until 1915, when they came back to California, leaving a quarter-section which they had greatly improved. Once again in California, they bought ten acres in the vicinity of Acampo, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, near the Winery Road, between Cherokee Lane and the State Highway. This tract he operated for three years, and then traded it for a ranch in Yolo County, near Madison, where he had ninety-one acres of alfalfa and grain ranch. He lived there only three months, however, when he came back to Acampo; and then he bought eleven and one- half acres on the Cherokee Road, southeast of the

Acampo Road, the place he has now. He has his own fine irrigation plant capable of supplying a three- inch stream. In 1921, Mr. Hibbs bought an orchard of three acres in Woodbridge, which he has devoted to the raising of cherries and berries.

Four children have made up the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs. Alma married W. J. Pope of Lodi, who saw service in the late World War; he was in the 4th Division of Engineers, went to France, and braved all the dangers and hardships in the engage- ments participated in by his division. Leslie is a stu- dent in the Lodi high school, and lives at home. George and Bernice are pupils in the Houston gram- mar school. In politics, Mr. Hibbs is an independent thinker and votes regardless of partisan demands.

JAMES EDWARD JOHNSTON .- An enterpris- ing general contractor of wide-experience who has specialized on road construction and the building of highways, is James Edward Johnston. who was born at Tidaholm, Sweden, on July 8, 1880, the son of a building contractor with whom he learned the carpenter's trade, becoming very proficient. He also earned bricklaying, plastering and stonecutting. At the age of eighteen he set up for himself in busi- ness, and constructed a number of buildings for the Swedish government. On June 1, 1906, he arrived in New York City, and pushed westward to Chicago, where he worked for three months at bricklaying. Then he went to San Francisco, where he worked at brick-laying for nine months, returning to Chicago for half a year, and reached Turlock, Cal. in the spring of 1907, where he started contracting in a small way. He erected the State Bank Building, and laid sidewalks for the city of Turlock. He next removed to Tracy and found so much to do there that he remained for twelve years. He executed the brick work and plastering in the Schmidt Block, built the Tracy grammar school, put up the West Side Bank Building, the City Hall and other build- ing and street work, curbs and gutters for the city, built two schools in Fresno, did the concrete work on the Patterson high school and also for the Los Banos grammar school and the Gustine high school. He finished the brick work on the Chowchilla school, and erected a number of small business blocks in Stockton, and did the grading, excavation and con- crete work on forty miles of the West Side Irriga- gation district. He moved 200,000 yards of dirt in the Tranquility district, and installed the cement lining in ditches in the Nagley Work district, eight miles of street work in the North Crest and the Fisher additions, as well as the Sweitzer Addition, all in Stockton, and laid nine miles of macadam road for the county. He recently secured the contract for $80,000 worth of street work in Sonora. He is a member of the General Contractors' Association of San Francisco, which confines its activities to the problems of road construction.

At San Francisco Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Mildred Hitchcock, a native of Nebraska; and their union has been blessed with four children, Walter, Florence, James and Frederick. Mr. John- ston now makes his home in Stockton, and has offices in Stockton Savings & Loan Bank Build- ing. He belongs to Mount Osso Lodge, No. 460, F. and A. M., at Tracy, and he has progressed. through all the branches, including Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Oakland, and belongs to the Sciots of Stockton.

1235

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

REES HARRY .- A well-known Odd Fellow of many years' standing, who very faithfully did his duty in regard to the great question of temperance, was the late Rees Harry, who was born in Montgomery County, Pa., on January 27, 1822, and died at Stock- ton on September 30, 1884. Although he thus passed away many years ago, he is still affectionately remem- bered by the old-time residents of Stockton, where he made his home for sixteen years.

He was a descendant of good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having figured prominently in the conflict between the mother country and the Colo- nies, a fact in which he took considerable pride. He was educated in the public schools of his native state. He learned the trade of millwright and carpenter; and so it happened that when he arrived in Stockton in 1868, he readily found employment with the Pioneer Sash & Door Mill Co. Later, he took up building and contracting in Stockton, and followed that for a num- ber of years with marked success. He was one of the pioneer builders of Stockton, and contributed to its material expansion.

He was twice married, and had two children born of the first union-a daughter, later Mrs. Cecilia Humphreys, and a son, Joseph M. Harry, of Stockton. His second marriage took place in Philadelphia, in 1861, when he was united to Miss Sarah Condy; and of their four sons, two are still living-Dr. Charles R. Harry, the prominent physician of Stockton, and Syd- ney C. Harry. For thirty years or more Rees Harry was a well-known Odd Fellow, and as an honored and influential member of the Episcopal Church in excellent standing, he worked hard to bring about saner views in regard to temperance reform. The second Mrs. Harry, before her marriage, was a teacher; and of the fifteen years in which she taught school in San Joaquin County, eleven were spent in the schools of Stockton. Californians love to honor such pioneer patriots, and there is no doubt of the position which will always be accorded Mr. and Mrs. Rees Harry, whenever the annals of San Joaquin County are written and re-written.

ELMER A. HUMPHREY .- A wide-awake citizen of Lodi is found in Elmer A. Humphrey, the district manager for the Earl Fruit Company, pioneers of the fruit shipping industry of California. He was born in Winters, Yolo County, Cal., on September 6, 1877, a son of Elijah A. and Kate (Still) Humphrey. His father, a native of Virginia, came to California in 1859, crossing the plains in an ox-team train, a saddle and harness maker by trade, and conducted a shop at old Liberty in the northern part of San Joaquin County. He was offered one hundred sixty acres of land in exchange for the best saddle he had in his shop, by the late Senator Langford, but refused to make the trade, thinking the land was not worth the price of the saddle; the 160 acres of land located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley is worth $100,000 at the present time. His father was a charter member of Woodbridge Lodge No. 131, F. & A. M., one of the oldest lodges in the state, and was one of its first officers. His mother crossed the plains with her parents with an ox-team train in 1852, a native of Missouri, riding a horse all the way. She is the daughter of Joe Still, who first crossed the plains in 1849 to California, and returning, brought his fam- ily back with him in 1852 and was captain of the train on the second trip. Captain Still farmed on Dry Creek near Liberty. Kate Still taught school in the

Liberty district at the age of fifteen, and received her pay from the state. She married Elijah A. Humphrey when she was seventeen years old and they were the parents of nine children, all of whom are living. E. A. Humphrey removed from Liberty to Yolo County about 1870, and located at Winters, where he was in the saddle and harness business. He established a reputation for quality in the making of harness. The father passed away in 1890; the mother is residing in Winters at the age of eighty-one years.

Elmer A., seventh of the nine children, attended school at .Winters, Yolo County, but was not privi- leged to go very long before he was obliged to go to work, starting at the age of twelve years, when his father died, to make his own way. He has known much hard work through all the years, but his determ- ination to succeed was never lost sight of and his present success is the merited reward for his years of earnest toil. He owns 135 acres in full bearing fruit and vines in the Acampo district; and has recently purchased 320 acres in Kern County, which is being set to orchard and vineyard. Mr. Humphrey became manager of the Earl Fruit Company in 1902 and dur- ing the fruit season 250 cars were shipped from San Joaquin County and there were three companies in the fruit industry; in 1920, 8,000 carloads were shipped from the county and there are now forty-two compa- nies in the fruit shipping industry; in 1902, when Mr. Humphrey became manager of the company, thirty carloads of fruit were shipped from San Joaquin County by his company, and in 1920 the Earl Fruit Company shipped 1,200 carloads. It has been largely through Mr. Humphrey's efficient management and business ability that the business has grown to such proportions, and the company has shown in a sub- stantial way its appreciation of his worth. In 1922, with others, he was one of the founders of the Citi- zens National Bank and is one of its directors. He is a member of the Lodi Business Men's Association.

The marriage of Mr. Humphrey, in San Francisco, united him with Miss Marjorie Taggert of Arizona, and they are the parents of one son, Earl A. Mr. Humphrey's influence in San Joaquin County is felt far and wide and he has contributed in no small man- ner to the well being and upbuilding of the county.

GEORGE P. HENERY .- A native son, full of the genuine spirit of Americanism, and a capable and efficient employe, is George P. Henery, the secretary and treasurer of the Clark & Henery Construction Company of Stockton. He was born in Napa. Cal., on November 22, 1875, the son of William and Almira (Porter) Henery, both natives of Ohio. William Hen- ery located in Napa in 1874 and the following year he removed to Stockton and became the chief engineer on a river steamer for the California Navigation & Improvement Company, his period of service cover- ing some twenty-five years. The parents are both re- siding in Oakland, where Mr. Henery has retired.

George P. Henery attended the public schools of Stockton and was graduated from the Stockton High School with the class of '95. He then took a trip to Panama and for the next five years was engaged in the coffee and chocolate industry. Returning then to Stockton, Mr. Henery became purser in the employ of the California Navigation and Improvement Com- pany on steamers running between Stockton and San Francisco, remaining with that company until 1906. He then accepted a position as bookkeeper for the Clark & Henery Construction Company and has

1236

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

steadily and capably worked himself up until he is now the secretary and treasurer of the large concern which does business all over the western coast.

The marriage of George P. Henery united him with Miss Hazel Moore, a native daughter of Stock- ton and daughter of John Moore, well-known in polit- ical circles in San Joaquin County. Mr. and Mrs. Henery have two children, Susan and Billy. Mr. Hen- ery is a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218 B. P. O. Elks; San Joaquin Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M., and of the Yosemite Club. He is a man of strong and force- ful character, enterprising and public spirited, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact in business and social circles.

KLEIN BROTHERS .- Enterprisinig and ener- getic, Sol D. and Jack Klein, who constitute the firm of Klein Bros. of Stockton, have made a name for themselves through their successful operations as dealers in beans and grain. Sol D. Klein was born in New York on July 28, 1897, and Jack Klein, who is a native of San Francisco, was born there on June 28, 1901. The former came to San Francisco when four years of age with his parents, who both passed away when the boys were still children. They were reared in a children's home, and thus they deserve especial credit for the success they have made, since it has come about entirely through their own efforts.

Sol D. Klein worked for five years with the Gug- genheim Company, dried fruit packers of San Fran- cisco, continuing with them until 1917, when he came to Stockton and opened a commission and brokerage office on West Weber Avenue having as a partner his brother, George Klein, who not long after en- tered the U. S. service, when America cast in her lot with the Allies. His brother, Jack Klein, took his place in the firm in September, 1917, but the first two years their profits were very small. In 1919 they concluded several big deals and in 1922 they met with wonderful success as the following news item in a local paper will show: "The Klein brothers, with offices on the water front, have done exceptionally well this year in buying and selling beans this season and some of their friends figure their gains around $50,000. These young men went into business early, staked a lot of big renters on Delta lands and con- tracted with many growers for their crops at about four cents a pound. Several contracts at that figure were for lots of 10,000 to 15,000 bags of beans and the stocks bought at four cents were sold at a good profit. The Klein brothers are the principal buyers in the local market and sellers seek their offers before going around the produce section. Showing the magnitude of the business carried on by these young men who have crowded to the front this season, last week they shipped one lot of pink beans amounting to 35,000 bags." They are the biggest dealers in all varieties of beans raised in this district on the Stockton water- front. In 1922 their bean exhibit at the State Fair at Sacramento won for them the first premium on pink beans and red kidney beans, and the second prize for Mexican red and Los Angeles white beans. The firm is a member of the San Francisco Chamber of Com- merce and Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

Sol D. Klein, who served in the U. S. Navy during the war, is a member of Karl Ross Post, American Legion, and of Stockton Lodge of Odd Fellows, and both brothers are members of the B'nai B'rith.

JOHN WILKES PAYNE .- A native of Illinois, John Wilkes Payne was born at Belleville, St. Clair County, June 7, 1845. His father, Charles H. Payne, was born in Hartford, Conn., and came to Portage County, Ohio, with his parents when a boy of four years. His grandfather, Wilkes Payne, was born at East Windsor, Conn., June 29, 1792; he married Phebe Jarome, a daughter of William and Phebe Jarome of Bristol, Conn. In 1814 Mr. Payne moved to Ohio; he died in 1883, and his wife died in 1851.

Charles H. Payne was educated in Ohio. He learned the carpenter's trade, and after he came out. to Illinois he followed his trade there. He married Sarah Pulliam, who was born in North Carolina of an old Quaker family of English descent. They emigrated from North Carolina to Illinois to get away from slavery territory. In 1852 he brought his wife and one child, John Wilkes, then seven years old, across the plains with ox team and wagon to California. He mined at Coloma, and then at Kelsey; and afterwards he went to Elkhorn, Yolo County, on the Sacramento River. where he farmed for two years. Then he again went to the mines at Dutch Flat and mined until 1859. Coming then to San Joaquin County, he located at Elliott, where he en- gaged in farming. For a time he again followed prospecting in California and Nevada, but finally retired to Stockton, where he passed away at the age of eighty-eight years and two months. The mother died in El Dorado in 1855. This worthy couple had two children, of whom John Wilkes is the elder. His sister, Mrs. Lena Rogers, resides in Sonora.

John Wilkes Payne, as stated, crossed the plains with his parents to California when seven years of age. He attended the district school and helped his father on the ranch near Elliott until he volunteered his services to his country for the Civil War, enlisting November 15, 1863, in Company E, 7th California Infantry, and serving in Arizona until July, 1866, when he returned to San Francisco via the Gulf of California and then was mustered out of service July 22, 1866.

In 1867 Mr. Payne was married at Elliott to Miss Bettie Misenheimer, born in Sangamon County, Illi- nois. Her father came to California with his fam- ily across the plains in 1854, and became a farmer at Elliott. After his marriage, Mr. Payne followed farm- ing until 1869, and then moved to Stockton and there followed the building business until 1888, when he entered the employ of the Holt Manufacturing Com- pany as a machinist. As early as 1874 he had worked at building harvesters for Madison Williamson, and later for Dave Young and for Baker & Hamilton, and so had become adept in that line of work. From 1888 until 1920 he worked steadily and faithfully for the Holt Manufacturing Company, and then re- tired on a pension. With his second wife he now resides at their comfortable home on the corner of East Hazelton and Union streets, enjoying a well- earned competency. The union of Mr. Payne and his first wife was blessed with nine children: Jessie, now Mrs. Zugg, of Pacific Grove; Lucy, Mrs. Newmark, Tulsa, Okla .; Cecile, living in Stockton; John, in Ukiah; Walter, in the employ of the Holt Manufacturing Company; Sadie, Mrs. Shilling, of Oakland; Fred, a marine engineer with the Pacific Steamship Company; Harry, living in Los Angeles; and May, in Stockton.

John Wilkes Payno

1239

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Mr. Payne's first wife died in 1912, and he mar- ried a second time in November, 1915, when he was united with Mrs. Lucy (Elam) Miller, born in Livingston County, Mo., a daughter of William and Lucy Elam. The latter died when Lucy was a baby, leaving her the youngest of five motherless children. In 1861 Mr. Elam brought his children to California, crossing the plains in an ox-team train by the Green- horn route. Arriving in California after a six months' trip, he located on a farm at Linden, San Joaquin County. Later he removed to Fresno County, where he died.

Lucy Elam attended the local schools until her first marriage, to F. M. Miller, who was born in Missouri, and came to California. He was a wagonmaker, but after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller removed to Dinuba, and became pioneer farmers there. Mr. Miller passed away in 1911 at Berkeley. Of their marriage were born ten children: John W., who lives at Santa Cruz; Mrs. Hattie Kenner, living in Los Angeles; Mrs. Maude Thorp, of Dinuba; Charles, of Tulare County; Frank, living in San Francisco; Arthur, in Oakland; Clara, now Mrs. Regnald, of Walnut Creek; Mrs. Lucy Rogers, of Dinuba; Mrs. Josie Gard, of Hanford; and Elmer, of Dinnba.

Mr. Payne is a past commander of Rawlins Post, G. A. R., Department of Nevada and California. Mrs. Payne is an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps. Both are strong Republicans.

GEORGE A. GIBSON .- Among the public spir- ited business men of San Joaquin County, a promi- nent position is accorded George A. Gibson, who was born on his father's ranch near Eureka, Humboldt County, Cal., on July 15, 1883, a son of George H. and Rosa (Greenlaw) Gibson, the father a native of Hull, England, and the mother of St. Stephen, New Bruns- wick. In the early '50s the father went to Alaska and engaged in mining. These were trying times to the pioneers; for in addition to the hardships endured through extreme cold and scarcity of food and cloth- ing, they were attacked by hostile tribes of Indians. In the early '60s he located in Humboldt County, Cal., and bought 160 acres of land near Eureka, where he engaged in farming until his death. He was a prominent member of the Seventh Day Adven- tist Church.

The public schools of Humboldt County afforded George A. Gibson his education and his father's ranch gave him employment when not in school. He re- mained at home with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, when he came to San Francisco and took a year's course in Heald's Business College, where he was graduated in 1904. Returning home, he became bookkeeper for the Northern Redwood Lum- ber Company at Korbell, Humboldt County; later he entered the employ of G. M. Cormick & Co., whole- sale and retail grocers, in Eureka, as bookkeeper and remained there for three years, when he became head bookkeeper in the mercantile department of the Eel River Mercantile Company at Scotia, Humboldt County.

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 177

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