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 186

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 186

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In 1908, Mr. Jensen located in Lodi, and here he established a small store on West Pine Street, with a capital of only $250, and a horse and wagon, and he sold Schillings' goods in the country districts. As his business grew, he moved to his present location, and ever since coming here, he has been very suc- cessful. He has built up the largest cash business in Lodi, and his crockery department occupies a store by itself, and contains one of the largest and most complete stocks in the county. Plans are also being made to increase the' capacity of the establishment by an addition of fifty feet.

At Lodi, in 1899, Mr. Jensen married Miss Emma Gimbel, who was born three miles east of Lodi, on the ranch of her father, Henry Gimbel, a well- known early settler of San Joaquin County, and an extensive grain-grower. The family attend the Ger- man Lutheran Church, and Mr. Jensen is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Lodi. He has always contributed to forward any good movement designed to benefit the community, and during the war he was active in Liberty Loan work, being first, last and all the time an American citizen not only living in, but living for, America.

ADOLPH JOHNSON .- An active factor in the upbuilding of the city of Stockton and its environs, particularly as a subdivision specialist, and having an intimate knowledge of the real estate and investment fields of Central California, Adolph Johnson is well qualified to rank as a leader in investment circles. His thorough training in the dairy business has also made him an authority in this field, especially in the selection of dairy herds, his reputation having been gained through his practical experience. Maintaining an office at 44 South San Joaquin Street, Mr. Johnson

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does a general real estate, investment and insurance business, paying particular attention to the sub- division of suburban home property.

A native of Iowa, Mr. Johnson was born at Em- metsburg, Iowa, June 27, 1881, and was reared on the home farm there, attending the country schools. Coming to California in 1901, he located at Fresno, where he worked for Mr. Simon Easthouse, whom he had known in the East, and who had large dairy and stock interests in Fresno County; for three years he remained here, becoming familiar with all the de- tails of the dairy business. Ambitious to progress in the world, however, Mr. Johnson saved his money and in 1904 came to Stockton where he took a course in the Stockton Business College. Later he secured a teacher's certificate and for eight years taught school in San Joaquin County, and during this period spent in the rural districts he became interested in farming and land buying.

In 1917 Mr. Johnson entered the real estate busi- ness in Stockton and since that time he has met with unqualified success, selling many attractive home sites, improved and unimproved properties, and other fine holdings. Among his profitable transactions have been a number of dairy farms which he has built up and sold at splendid advances. One, a thirty-acre farm east of Stockton on the Linden Road, he im- proved and sold for $13,000. On a tract of sixty-five acres of bare land on the Calaveras River he planted twenty acres of alfalfa, installed a fine pumping plant, built a $9,000 dairy barn, stocked it with forty-five Holstein cows and sold it for $40,000 in April, 1920. This is one of the best-equipped dairy farms in the county, and has since been sold for $52,000. Mr. John- son is a member of the Milk Producers' Association of Central California, and is considered one of the best judges of dairy cows in this part of the state, and his expert knowledge is eagerly sought by farmers who plan to establish dairies; in fact, Mr. Johnson has bought a number of dairy herds for prospective dairy farmers, who knew they could place full confi- dence in his judgment.

Mr. Johnson has been very active in the subdivision of city and suburban property as follows: Iņ 1917 he put on the market City Park Terrace, surrounding Victory Park, Stockton. This consisted of 100 acres, costing $75,000, which he divided into 600 lots, all of the property being sold on easy terms and many homes have been erected there. Bungalow. Park, a tract of twenty acres north of the Grunsky school, is built up with 120 homes. Lakeside Terrace property also met with quick response, sixty-eight lots being sold in less than sixty days. He has also put the fol- lowing suburban property on the market: City Farms, on Cherokee Lane, forty acres divided into quarter-acre lots and sold to working men; sixty acres on the traction line on Cherokee Lane; a subdivision east of Stockton on the Linden Road divided into five and ten-acre farms; Sunny Slope Farms, 100 acres on the traction line subdivided into small farms; twenty acres on the Linden Road, called the Johnson Garden Farms. Thus Mr. Johnson has been active in attracting to this section hundreds of new settlers and adding to Stockton's reputation as a city of homes. Recognized as one of Stockton's most pro- gressive citizens, he was one of the committee that engineered the bond issue for the building of the new city hall and municipal auditorium.

Mr. Johnson was united in marriage at Stockton

May 22, 1907, to Miss Cleva Bacon, a daughter of Bedford Bacon, who for more than forty years has been a resident of San Joaquin County. Two chil- dren have come to bless their home: Robert Bacon and Alice May. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masons and the Stockton Ad Club.

LEVI M. TOAL .- Among the enterprising and public-spirited citizens of San Joaquin County is Levi M. Toal, who is serving as justice of the peace of O'Neal township since 1902 and who is also con- nected with agricultural interests, being accounted one of the active and successful business men of Stockton. He was born in Kansas in November, 1872 and was a small child of two years when he ac- compained his parents to California. His father, David Toal, was born in Scotland in 1831, and in 1844 came to America and settled in the forests of Northern Wisconsin, where he remained until the early '50s when he removed to Kansas and home- steaded a tract of land near Fort Scott. David Toal served the Government at Fort Scott for two years as a blacksmith and for his services he received no remuneration. He married Miss Jane Pitman, a native of Ohio, and they were the parents of six children, three of whom now survive, Levi M., Jennie J., and Cora.

David Toal brought his family to California in search of a milder climate and located at Stockton in 1874, where he was employed with John Rock at Main and Market Streets in a blacksmith shop; later on he was employed in the Phil Davis boat yard, following his trade until 1886, when he removed to Stanislaus County and there became foreman for Dr. Tynan, owner of the Empire ranch, where he continued for two years. He then returned to San Joaquin County and farmed the Delta ranch, raising large quantities of grain for several years; in 1892 he put the first plow into the soil on newly reclaimed land in the Capt. Moss tract and the Boggs tract adjoining Stockton. Meantime, he had purchased twenty acres of land on South American Street, Stockton, where he built a residence and where his family resided while he carried on his grain farming. David Toal reached the advanced age of nearly ninety years, passing away at the family home in Stockton in December, 1920, his wife having preceded him in 1918.

Levi M. Toal was reared and educated in Stockton and from an early age was associated with his father in ranch work. In 1902 he was elected justice of the peace of O'Neal township when there were 405 registered votes and in 1922 there were 5,868, an in- dication of the growth and development of this lo- cality .: In connection with his official duties, Mr. Toal was in the contract business for nine years, during which time he did much of the paving of the streets of Stockton. The twenty-acre ranch pur- chased by his father many years ago is fast becoming very valuable as a choice residential section of South Stockton. This locality has made a remarkable growth and Mr. Toal has had much to do with its advancement. Where farming and stock raising was once carried on, now stand school buildings and residences. He is a member of Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., is a past grand and has been a dele- gate to the Grand Lodge many times. Elected in 1902, he is now serving his sixth term as justice of the peace and has made a fine record.

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Levi en, Toal

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

ALBERT G. MYRAN .- Stockton has greatly ben- efited through the activities of its real estate opera- tors and among those who figure conspicuously in this connection is Albert G. Myran, who is well known in business circles of the city as sales mana- ger for the Adolph Johnson Realty Company. He was born at Ada, Minn., March 29, 1878. His father was Hon. O. H. Myran, ex-member of the state senate in Minnesota. A native of Nummedal, Nor- way, he migrated to northern Illinois but soon after- wards removed to Ada, Minn., where he became one of the most prominent and influential men in the Red River Valley. He was a successful agricultural im- plement dealer and hardware merchant, a man widely and favorably known. A very prominent Republican he was known as the Mark Hanna of the Red River Valley during the Mckinley administration. He took a leading part in making Knut Nelson governor of Minnesota and later United States senator. He mar- ried Miss Maria Haugen and they are now both deceased. They had three children, of whom Albert G. is the eldest. After completing his public school course, Albert Myran graduated from Carleton Col- lege, Northfield, Minn. He enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War, joining Company B, Twelfth Minnesota Infantry, serving until he received his dis- charge, then entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Minnesota. During his college career he served for three consecutive terms as chief clerk of the Minnesota senate but did not complete his university course, owing to his appointment as ad- ministrator of his father's estate, the father having passed away at Los Angeles, Cal., in 1905. Mr. Myran, Sr., had acquired a large amount of property, which the son sold to good advantage, and this led to his connection with the real estate business, which he has found both a congenial and profitable field for the development of his talents. He followed that business in Los Angeles for several years, afterward going to Oakland to accept a position with the Realty Syndicate Company.

In August, 1917, shortly after the United States entered the World War, Mr. Myran enlisted as a private and his previous military experience won him promotion to a clerkship at headquarters. After serving in that capacity for several months he was commissioned a lieutenant and placed in charge of the adjustment branch, personnel division, under Major-General Duval. On being furloughed to the Reserves he came to Stockton, arriving here in Jan- uary, 1919. He entered the employ of the Adolph Johnson Realty Company and his efficient work led to his advancement to the position of sales manager, in which capacity he is now acting. Broad experi- ence and close study have given him a comprehen- sive knowledge of the business and he has negotiated many important realty transfers, thereby greatly contributing to the success of the company which he represents.

Mr. Myran's life has never been a self-centered one and his well developed powers have been utilized in support of many worthy causes. is president of the county advisory board, which has charge of the annual campaign to raise funds for the promotion - of the Salvation Army's work. The campaign was inaugurated three years ago and has been very suc- cessful. He was active in the formation of the Serv- ice Club and was instrumental in securing a charter for Karl Ross Post of the American Legion. Shortly 81

after the Service Club became a part of the Legion he was elected commander of the local post, which he has made one of the leading organizations of this character in the state. Through untiring efforts he greatly increased its membership, which has now reached 1,000, and no worthy ex-service man has ever come to him in vain for assistance. He was an active participant in the convention of the American Legion held at San Diego, Cal., in 1920, serving on important committees and participating in many de- bates. He was recently appointed departmental speaker of the Legion for this district, his appoint- ment coming from the national headquarters at In- dianapolis, Ind., and it was his duty to visit the var- ious posts of his section for the purpose of arousing interest and enthusiasm in the measures promulgated by the organization, but not having the necessary time to devote to the position he resigned. He also served as chairman of the general convention com- mittee for the annual encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was held at Stockton, May 9-19, 1921 and it was largely through his efforts that the meeting was such a decided success. He is also a member of the Spanish-American War Veter- ans' Association, and Lions Club of Stockton; and his fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. E., and Stockton Lodge, F. & A. M.

Mr. Myran was united in marriage to Miss Roberta Roberts, a native of Nebraska, and they have many sincere friends in Stockton. He is alert, energetic and progressive, and his present success has been won through industry and ability. He is an enthusi- astic booster for Stockton, whose future he regards as a most promising one, and his efforts are of a most practical character, the sound judgment of an astute business man being manifest in all of his opin- ions concerning the best methods of developing and improving his city.

TRUMAN ALVIN STRONG .- A prosperous vineyardist and well-known citizen of San Joaquin County is Truman Alvin Strong who resides on his thirty-acre vineyard, five miles south of Lodi on Cherokee Lane. He was born in Union County, Ohio, on February 23, 1858, a son of Leighton and Lavina (Cahill) Strong, both natives of Ohio, and when our subject was six years old the family re- moved to Iowa County, Iowa. The father, Leighton Strong, served during the Civil War in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry and died from the effect of his wounds when Truman A. was a lad of six years. Subsequently his mother married again and lived to be seventy-five years old, spending her last days in California. There were three children in the family, Richard, Elpha and Truman A. the subject of this sketch. By her last marriage with Hiram Jones, there was one daughter, Bertha, wife of Edward Wilson of the Waterloo Road.

T. A. Strong received his education in the public schools of Iowa and then worked for wages on farms until he was twenty-two years old, when he decided to cast his lot in the West. On October 13, 1880, he arrived in Sacramento, Cal, and soon left for Stockton where he worked for wages for five years near that city. In 1885 he rented 320 acres of grain land eighteen miles from Stockton near Lone Tree; in 1888 be settled on the J. D. Peters

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place and there he farmed for twenty-two years. In 1907 he purchased his present ranch of thirty acres about eight and a half miles north of Stockton on Cherokee Lane. This land was a stubble field at the time of purchase and Mr. Strong has im- proved it with a modern residence and farm build- ings and has set out sixteen acres to vineyard, eleven now in full bearing.

The marriage of Mr. Strong occurred at Stockton on November 4, 1885, and united him with Miss Bena Wagner, a native of that city and a daughter of Jacob and Lena Wagner, her father a pioneer butcher of Stockton. Mrs. Strong was educated in the schools of Stockton and is one of ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Strong are the parents of two children: Fred, who, resides at Linden, married Nellie Bryson and they have one child, Ethel Jean Strong; and Wesley, who lives at Stockton, married Lorraine Wolfe. In politics Mr. Strong is a Republican. He is a member of Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., of Stockton, and he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs, Mrs. Strong being past noble grand of the lodge.

DOMENCINO BREGANTE .- A citizen of Stock- ton who has been identified with the growth and de- velopment of the city for several years is Domencino Bregante, a contractor and builder. His birthplace was Genoa, Italy and the date of his birth, April 1, 1888. At fourteen years of age he left his native land for a new world and upon his arrival in Stock- ton found work in a cannery, then in a fruit store. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which occu- pied him for a number of years; then he entered the employ of the Union Iron Works in San Francisco where he learned the machinist's trade and remained there for three years. In 1910 he removed to Stock- ton where he invested in a share in twenty-three acres near the city and engaged in vegetable raising; after this he was in the contracting business for one year. He then removed to Oakland and was employed in general contracting with M. E. Valenti for two and a half years. Again he took up con- tracting, this time in Oakland and an outstanding piece of work he did while there was the fine resi- dence of John Rossi. He then returned to Stockton where he has since been engaged in building work, erecting many fine homes and flat buildings. The residences of Messrs. Onetto, Penatto, Machino and Roselli are evidences of his fine workmanship. Since the first of January, 1922 he has turned his attention to the erection of business blocks and up to January 1, 1923, his contracting amounted to $100,000. He erected a three-story brick block on Lafayette Street between Hunter and Center streets for Peuma Bros. at a cost of $40,000 and a three-story brick building for Delucci & Luchetti at a cost of $30,000; he also did the work of remodeling for the California Pack- ing Corporation and the Franklin Garage.

While residing in Oakland, Mr. Bregante was united in marriage with Miss Virginia Delucci and they are the parents of three sons, Freddie, Julius and Tilio. Mr. Bregnate is one of the founders of the Oakland Owl Club and served as its first president. He is numbered among the thoroughly practical and successful building contractors of the city of Stockton, and commands the uniform con- fidence and respect of the business community in which he makes his home. He belongs to the Mas- ter Builders of Stockton.

ARTHUR THORNTON .- A worthy and promin- ent citizen of San Joaquin County, who passed to his reward in 1914, was Arthur Thornton, in whose honor the enterprising town of Thornton, Cal., was named. Service for the government brought him to the Pacific Coast during the early fifties, and thus he became interested in California and it was not long before he decided to take up his permanent residence here.' After working for various ranchers for a num- ber of years, he purchased property near New Hope, San Joaquin County, in 1863, and for the balance of his life contentedly followed the peaceful and inde- pendent life of the agriculturist. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, May 19, 1838, a son of William and Mary (Kennedy) Thornton, both natives of Scot- land, who came to America in 1852 and settled in Iowa. The mother passed away in Kansas and the father was buried on the plains in 1854.

Arthur Thornton was a lad of fourteen when his parents came to the United States. Although he had received a fair education in the schools of Ayrshire, he also attended school for a couple of years in Iowa, during this time also working on his father's farm as much as his school duties would permit. The spirit of adventure took him to Santa Fe, N. M., about this time, and there he joined the government service as a civilian under Colonel Steptow. The winter of 1854- 1855 was spent in Salt Lake City, and in the spring, May 5, 1855, the company took up the march for Cali- fornia. Before reaching their destination, however, they were ordered to Oregon instead, and finally, on July 2, reached Port Lane, on Rogue River, having in the meantime camped two nights in Surprise Val- ley. Considering their meager equipment, it was quite remarkable that they reached their destination as quickly and as safely as they did, with nothing but a compass to guide them. After resting a week they again took up the march, going first to Cow Creek and from there to Red Bluff, Cal., where they took a steamer for Sacramento, and from there, on a larger steamer, they were taken to Benicia. After re- ceiving his pay, Mr. Thornton entered the employ of the Pacific Steamship Company and went to Panama on the old "Oregon", the return trip being made on the steamer "Golden Gate" to San Francisco. A short experience in the mines proved to him that he could not make a success along that line, and he soon afterward gave it up and removed to Stockton. In May, 1858, he came to New Hope, where he worked as a vaquero until 1861, and afterward followed var- ious lines of employment for two years, when he pur- chased the ranch at New Hope. There he spent the remainder of his life. During his residence in the town he saw it grow from a mere hamlet, and made every effort to bring about better conditions. In 1877 New Hope was made a post-office, and for thirty years Mr. Thornton served efficiently as postmaster. For eight years he was a director of the State Hospi- tal at Stockton, and for four years was vice-president of the board.

On January 31, 1870, at Woodbridge, Mr. Thornton was married to Miss Emma Greives, a native of Steu- benville, Ohio, and their marriage resulted in the birth of six children: Mary Alvernia, Mrs. W. J. Bates; Clara B., Mrs. Lawton of Thornton; Maggie Florence, who died at the age of twenty-three; Geor- gia M., who died at the age of two and a half years; Jessie C., residing at Thornton; and Alice L., Mrs. William H. Koontz of Thornton. Mrs. Thornton came from old Plymouth, Mass., ancestry, one of

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A. Thornton

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

a family of thirteen children. She came to California via the Isthmus of Panama in 1868. Three of her brothers served in the Civil War, one dying in a Southern prison; and her other two brothers came to California. Her brother Charles met an accidental death at Lodi; and the other brother, Edward, died at the Soldiers' Home at Sawtelle, Cal.

Mr. Thornton first acquired a quarter-section of land in the New Hope district, subsequently adding to his holdings until he had 1,000 acres in this section. In 1888 he planted small pine trees in front of his house, and also a border around the field, and today they are mammoth trees. At the time of Mr. Thorn- ton's death, about 1,000 acres made up his estate, fourteen acres of which was set to various kinds of fruit trees and vines, and it is now one of the finest producing ranches in San Joaquin County. Orchards of from fifteen to twenty acres each are devoted to peaches, plums, apricots, almonds and pears, and twenty-five acres is in Zinfandel grapes, with six acres in alfalfa; and the orchards are outlined with a row of walnut trees. When the Western Pacific Railroad was built through his section, Mr. Thornton gave the right-of-way through his ranch free of charge and the station was named Thornton. Some years ago the post office was also changed to the name of Thornton. Fraternally, Mr. Thornton was a charter member of Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, and a charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Lodi. He was a very liberal and kind- hearted man and all of his charities were given in an unostentatious manner. He was a highly esteemed citi- zen of the community which his energy and optimism had helped to build. He was a friend to education and progress, and his sojourn in San Joaquin County, and especially in his home district, tended to the wid- ening of its prosperity and the developing of its op- portunities. He loved truth and justice, and repre- sented a high type of our American manhood.

MRS. CLARA B. LAWTON .- An honored resi- dent of Thornton, San Joaquin County, where she was born and reared, is Mrs. Clara B. Lawton, a daughter of that old and honored pioneer, Arthur Thornton, for whom the town of Thornton was named, and whose sketch also appears in this history. Clara B. Thornton attended the grammar school in the New Hope school district of the county, then was a student at the San Joaquin Valley College at Wood- bridge, and later attended Mills College in Oakland.

The first marriage of Clara B. Thornton occurred at Fairfield, Solano County, Cal., in November, 1889, and united her with Alec Thompson, a native of Vir- ginia, who came to California in an early day and engaged in farming. He first settled at Santa Cruz, and later removed to Dixon, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were the parents of two children: Emma Pauline, Mrs. Al T. Longton, of Los Angeles; and Henry Arthur.

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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 186

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