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 192

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 192

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Joseph N. Adams attended the public schools. At the age of twelve years he worked in the Virginia logging camps for the meager salary of six dollars a month, and later he farmed and ran a hotel. In 1905, he came out to Stockton and worked for three months for the Southern California Traction Company, and for six months for the St. Clair Dry Goods Company, owned by Mr. Shields. When he had been there only three weeks, Mr. Shields made a trip East and put him in full charge of the store. The old employees did not like a new man over them, so he was obliged to discharge a number of the help to restore the necessary spirit of loyalty and coopera- tion. When Mr. Adams arrived in Stockton his cash capital was $110, but his prosperity today tells a far different and more enviable story.

Some fifteen years ago, he started in the real estate, loan and insurance business, in which he has been phenomenally successful. He is the owner of seven apartment houses in Stockton, three of which he has himself erected, and others of which he has re- modeled. He also owns a ranch of 160 acres about nine miles southeast of Stockton, where he raises alfalfa and grain, and maintains a strictly sanitary dairy. He has been very successful in buying and sell- ing real estate in Stockton, was one of the organizers of the Stockton Apartment House Owners' Associa- tion, and now acts as vice-president of that excellent organization.

When Mr. Adams married, he took for his wife Miss Myrtle G. Darter, also a native of Virginia, and with her co-operation he has become prominent in many fields, being, for example, one of the influen- tial owners of the Stockton Home Investment Com- pany. He was made a Mason in San Joaquin Lodge No. 9, F. and A. M. He is a member of Truth Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand, and also a member of Parker Encampment, and Rainbow Lodge of the Rebekahs, at Stockton, and of the Stockton Kiwanis Club. His wife is a member of the O. E. S. and the Rebekahs. Mr. Adams while living in Virginia had the courage of his convictions and was an avowed Republican, voting and preach- ing the doctrines of Lincoln and taking part in all activities of the party. Since coming to Stockton, he continues an ardent Republican but does not find it necessary to take the same active stand in politics. He is an advocate of good roads and public improve- ments and ready at all times to give of his time and means toward any movement that has for its aim the improvement and building up of the city of Stockton, San Joaquin County, and the State of California.

All in all, the life-story of Mr. Adams and his dis- tinguished forbears presents much that may be inspir- ing to the American youth, and much that should steady and console those who fear, at times, for the future of social organizations long characteristic of our Republican country.

CHARLES M. LONG .- The family name of Long is well-known throughout San Joaquin County, where Charles M. Long has passed his entire life, and where his parents lived for many years. He was born on the old Charles C. Long ranch at Waterloo on No- vember 28, 1860. His father, Charles C. Long, was born October 20, 1835, in Schuylkill County, Pa., his parents being Michael and Barbara Long, both na- tives of Germany. They came to America in 1828 and settled in Pennsylvania, where Michael Long went to work in the coal mines, and afterward took up a coal claim from the government, but was unable to develop it because of a lack of funds. The mine afterwards became very valuable. He passed away in 1875. Charles C. Long was reared on a farm until eighteen years of age, when he learned the wagon- maker's trade. In 1855 he started for California via the Isthmus, and after forty days landed in San Fran- cisco. He went to Sacramento, and then to Stockton, where he worked at his trade about five months. He then went to the mines in Siskiyou County, remaining eighteen months, and then to Trinity County, where he mined for about two years. In 1859 he returned to Stockton and started a wagon shop, which he ran for one year. Selling out his shop, he then located 160 acres on the Calaveras River, about ten miles from Stockton. After four years he sold the place and located on 220 acres on the Waterloo road. It was then covered with timber and underbrush, but in time became one of the best-improved farms in the county. In the fall of 1859, Mr. Long married Miss Rachel Meyers, a native of New Orleans. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are now living: Charles M .; Barbara, now Mrs. Charles Lydecker; Lucy, wife of James Main; and Frank, Henry, Joseph and Rosa. The father passed away at the age of fifty-six, and the mother died dur- ing February, 1921, at the age of eighty.

Charles M. Long attended the Greenwood district school and the Stockton Business College, and grew up on his father's farm, remaining at home until he was twenty-nine years old. He then took up the machinist's trade, working for Houser & Haines of Stockton for thirteen years, after which he was for two years with the Sampson Iron Works, in the con- struction department. When his father died, he located in Lodi and built a house on a three-acre vineyard about one-half mile east of the city, and here his mother resided with him until her death. In 1901, Mr. Long started his business of well-boring, and since then has sunk wells all over the county. Of late years most of the wells bored have been twelve-inch holes, rarely over 200 feet deep.

At Stockton, on March 3, 1889, Mr. Long was mar- ried to Miss Letitia Williamson, a native of Stockton, and daughter of Philander and Anna (Ingwood) Williamson. Philander Williamson came from De- troit, Mich., across the plains to California in 1852, his wife following the next year via Panama; and they settled in Stockton. They had a family of four children: Charles, Dean, George, and Letitia, the

Can, Long,

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

wife of our subject. The mother passed away at the age of thirty years, and the father at eighty-two years. Mrs. Long attended the old Vineyard school in Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Long are the parents of three children: Rosa Bell, now Mrs. Bert Wakefield, a student of music in New York City; Ethel, now Mrs. Michelson, of Lodi; and Lowell Leland, at home. Mr. Long is a Democrat in national politics. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Foresters of America.

WALTER W. BEIDLEMAN. - An energetic, hard-working and successful young engineer, who as assistant superintendent of construction of pumps and pipe lines of the Shell Company of California is dem- onstrating his aptitude and capableness, is Walter W. Beidleman, a native of Oregon, born near La Grande. on March 4, 1886. His parents, Edward Thomas and Helen (Porter) Beidleman, were sturdy pioneers of the West; the father, a native of Illinois, emigrating to Oregon as early as 1850, accompanied by two brothers who, at that time, conducted a freighting business in Union County, Wyoming. Some years later, Edward Thomas Beidleman, the father, was appointed United States superintendent of the Indian reservation in Oregon. In 1892 the parents removed to southern California, where they now reside near Lemon Grove, San Diego County.

Removing to San Diego, Walter W. entered the San Diego high school and in 1900 he went to work for Braun & Company, of Los Angeles, to learn the machinist trade, spending four and one-half years in completing the apprenticeship; then he became assist- ant engineer of construction with the San Diego electric railway power house and was so occupied until 1906, when, on March 10, he enlisted as a second-class machinist in the U. S. Navy, serving until January 12, 1909, when he received his honor- able discharge with the rate of chief machinist, U.S.S. Preble. He immediately enlisted in the Mer- chant Marine service on board the Texan, a large freighter, as third engineer; soon after was trans- ferred to the Governor with rating of second engi- neer; and was then promoted to first engineer and on the next trip out to sea, was transferred to the Nebraska, bound for the Hawaiian Islands. After this trip he went aboard the Spokane as first engi- neer. His last sea service was on board the Ventura, which plied between Seattle and Sidney, Australia, and in 1912 he left the service to take up machinist work on the construction of the oil pipe line from Taft, Kern County, to San Pedro, in the employ of the General Construction Company, becoming station foreman and in charge of construction machinery, being thus occupied until 1914. During the next six months he took an interesting trip to Alaska.

Since early in 1915, with the exception of the time from May 8, 1918, to the time of his discharge, March 16, 1919, Mr. Beidleman has been connected with the Shell Company of California; and in Jan- uary, 1921, he was appointed to the position of assist- ant superintendent of construction of the pumps and pipe line under Fred B. Simms, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; he is a member of the Amer- ican Society of Mechanical Engineers.

The marriage of Mr. Beidleman occurred in Juneau, Alaska, on April 10, 1912, and united him with Miss Nina May Bethel, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Bethel, both deceased, who was living with a sister in that city; in 1914 Mrs. Beidleman again made a

visit to her sister there. Mr. Beidleman has been the participant of two trips around the world, one on the S.S. Texan and one on the U.S.S. Meade, the latter during the time of the World War in 1918; he also held the post of engineer with the rank of lieutenant, junior grade, on board U.S.S. Liberator in army transportation of the A. E. F., which earned for him his U. S. unlimited marine engineer license, of which he is justly proud. Fraternally, Mr. Beidleman is an active member of the Masonic order.

GUSTAV H. ALTENHOFF .- One of Stockton's successful merchants whose industry and application have enabled him to build up a prosperous business, is Gustav H. Altenhoff, the proprietor of the Central Bazaar at 17 South California Street. He was born in Essen, Germany, May 26, 1869, and from the age of fourteen worked in the coal mines there until he was twenty years old. The prospect of enlarged opportunities caused him to leave his native land in 1889, and in August of that year he arrived in Cali- fornia. The first year of his residence here he worked on a ranch east of Stockton for eight dollars a month, putting in long hours, from 5 o'clock in the morning to 11 o'clock at night. Next, he was employed as a cook at a restaurant at the San Joaquin County Fair Grounds and then was employed by his uncle, T. H. Eicholz, in his general merchandise store in the old Masonic Temple Building on North El Dorado Street.

On February 13, 1891, Mr. Altenhoff started in business for himself in a little store only eight by ten feet, on California and Market Streets, handling tinware and notions. From that small beginning he has advanced in his business to his present commo- dious store at 19 South California Street. It is one of the largest retail establishments in Stockton, occupy- ing three floors and a basement, dealing in household goods, toys, etc., and has been the firm's home since 1906. He has built up this business by dealing hon- estly with the people, giving good values and cour- teous treatment.

Mr. Altenhoff's marriage, which occurred at Tracy, August 23, 1893, united him with Miss Frances Gunder, a native of Silesia, Germany, and they have one son, Henry G., who is married and has a daugh- ter, Lillian Frances. In the summer of 1922, Mr. and Mrs. Altenhoff took a trip back to their native land, which Mr. Altenhoff had not seen for thirty-three years, and among the pleasant events of their journey was a banquet tendered by Mr. Altenhoff to sixty- eight of his boyhood friends. They also attended the Passion Play at Oberammergau, and many places of interest, but were glad to return to their California home. In fraternal life Mr. Altenhoff is a member of the Druids and Fidelity Lodge.

ALBERT G. JOHNSTON .- Prominent among the popular fraternal society men in San Joaquin County is Albert G. Johnston, the efficient secretary of the Loyal Order of Moose, No. 391, whose head- quarters are at the Moose Club, 538 East Market Street, Stockton. He was born at Half Moon Bay, in San Mateo County, on March 13, 1870, the son of John and Mary H. (Carter) Johnston, early settlers of California, born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Buffalo, N. Y., respectively, the father crossing the plains in an ox-team train in 1849. They followed agricultural pursuits and had a family of eight children: Wm. H. is in the lumber business in Cotati; Mrs. Belle M.

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O'Connor died in San Jose; John E. is with the Standard Oil Company in San Jose; James G. is with the San Jose Transfer Company; George F. is with the Standard Oil Company at Brentwood; Albert G. is the subject of this article; Frank B. died in San Jose in May, 1921; Elsie M. is Mrs. Charles Caple of Brentwood. It thus happened that while he en- joyed the advantages of a comfortable home, Albert commenced his schooling in attending the local school at Half Moon Bay.

Later, he continued his studies at San Jose, and then, in Fresno, he attended Fresno Commercial Col- lege, his father having removed to that city in the late '70s, to establish there a hardware and imple- ment business. From 1883 to 1890 he was with his father in the hardware trade, and in the latter year he and George H. Roundey bought the business and conducted the same under the firm name of Roundey & Johnston. In 1893 he sold his interest in the con- cern and took up farming in San Benito County, and later he removed to San Francisco, where he was connected with the San Francisco Laundry Associa- tion, in which business he remained until 1906. The same year he located in Stockton and built the New Method Laundry; and after running that for seven years he sold it and became associated with the Ex- clusive Laundry for three years as its foreman.

In June, 1917, he was appointed secretary of the Moose Lodge. He joined that organization five years before, so that he is now an honorary past dictator, and with experience, loyalty and enthusiasm, and a fortunate personality, he has been very success- ful in the administration of the lodge's affairs. He also belongs to the Stockton Knights of Pythias, the Pohono Red Men at Stockton, and Hesperian Parlor No. 137, N. S. G. W., at San Francisco.

E. GUY WILLIAMS, D. D. S .- Among the rising and successful professional men of the San Joaquin Valley, the name of E. Guy Williams, D. D. S., stands pre-eminent as a successful dentist of Lodi. He was born at Elliott, San Joaquin County, Cal., on December 1, 1879, a son of Ory E. and Emma (Swett) Williams. His father is a native of Oregon and his mother of Vermont. In the early seventies his father settled in San Joaquin County and raised grain for fifteen years in the vicinity of what is now Christian Colony; later he removed to Oakdale; then to Ukiah, Mendocino County, where he was proprietor of the Palace Hotel. He now resides in Colfax, Placer County, Cal., with his wife, where he is a successful merchant. His first exper- ience in farming in San Joaquin County was on the tule lands of the Sargent ranch, and he experienced many trying difficulties before the land was re- claimed. There are three children in the family: E. Guy, the subject of our review; Bernice; and Bertha, the wife of S. L. Price of Oakland, who has four children.

E. Guy Williams attended the Stockton gram- mar and high schools and afterward Ukiah high school, where he was graduated. After a course at Heald's Business College he decided to take up the study of dentistry and entered the dental depart- ment of the University of California and graduated in 1903 with the degree of D. D. S. For two years he practiced his profession in San Francisco, at the end of which time he removed to Lodi and began

his practice. Since 1907 he has been the secretary and treasurer of the Lodi Public Library and is the oldest library member on the board at the present time and helped to secure the Carnegie library building for the city. He is a member of the na- tional, state and county dental associations. Mrs. Williams was Mrs. Mabel (Tierney) Gregg, born in New York City, who presides gracefully over his home. By his former marriage he has two daughters, Elizabeth A. and Margaret.

Fraternally Dr. Williams is a member of the Lodi Lodge No. 267 of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Woodmen of the World, and an active member of the Lions Club. He has a large circle of warm friends throughout this part of the state, enjoying the high regard of all with whom he has associated.

MRS. THRESIE M. PLOTZ .- An interesting ex- ample of the American woman who is able to hold her own in the development and management of im- portant ranch property, is afforded by Mrs. Thresie M. Plotz, who lives on the Jack Tone Road, about eleven and one-half miles out of Stockton, where she has a dairy farm of seventy-four choice acres. An Austrian by birth, she was born in Landskron, the daughter of Frank and Thresie Plotz, hers being a curious instance of the perpetuation of the same family name, after marriage as before. Her father reached the age of sixty, and her mother rounded out her fifty-third year. There were four children in the family, her three brothers bearing the names of Frank, Peter and Joseph. She attended the ex- cellent schools in her locality in Austria until she was twelve years old, and then she came to the United States `with her parents, bringing with her some of those homely and much-prized virtues for which her countrymen for centuries have been noted. Her father was a stonemason, and he settled in Steele County, Minn., where she was able to finish her schooling.

In 1895, Miss Plotz came out to California and Stockton, and in May, 1896, she married John Plotz, who was born in a village neighboring her native place, and called Bomich-Trubau. He came out to Minnesota in 1880, and four years later to Califor- nia, but returned to Minnesota. In 1886, he came back to the Coast and settled at Stockton. In 1902, the home-place of 160 acres was purchased, eleven and one-half miles out of Stockton; and a portion of this ranch has since been devoted to general dairy- ing, and has been developed and improved under the wise administration of Mrs. Plotz. The ranch has been divided, Mrs. Plotz owning seventy-four acres, which she devotes to dairying and grain raising.

Six children have come to add to the happiness of this estimable lady, herself the center of a wide circle of devoted friends. Mary is Mrs. Raymond Moran, of San Francisco. John, a promising young man of nineteen years, passed to the great Beyond. Emma is Mrs. Chris Battalion, of Stockton. And the others are Frieda, Bertha, and John Plotz, Jr. Mrs. Moran has two children-Marie Ellen and Raymond, and Mrs. Battalion has one, named Norman Francis. Mrs. Plotz is a Republican; and in her civic relations she is public-spirited, and deeply interested in the great questions of the day.

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Mr & Mrs John Platz

حيبـ

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

REV. PAUL A. ANDERSON .- Among the devoted clergy of San Joaquin County who have done so much, through their unselfish labors and high ideals, is the Rev. Paul A. Anderson, the pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic Church at Tracy. He was born at Lagro, Ind., on February 12, 1879, the son of Philomen A. and Elizabeth Winifred (Dimond) Anderson, both natives of Ohio, but who emigrated to Indiana in the early 50's. His father passed away in the early 80's and the family came to California in 1888. Father Anderson refers to his ancestral record with just pride. His maternal ancestors were of Irish descent, while his paternal ancestors were Scotch and English, and he is of the fourth generation who have been born in America. His mother passed away while residing in Palo Alto in 1918, survived by three children: Paul A., Mrs. Beatrice C. Miller, and Wil- fred L. Anderson, and by two sisters, Mary F. and Margaret Dimond, residing at the parsonage in Tracy. His father's uncle, Rev. Peter A. Anderson, O.P., died at Sacramento on November 27, 1850, while attending the sick during a severe epidemic of that year, and it is recorded that he was the first priest to pass away in California after the territory had become a state. The late Dr. Zahm, of Washington, D. C., who for many years was active on the faculty board of Notre Dame University in Indiana, was a cousin of Father Anderson. Dr. Zahm was a close personal friend of the late Theodore Roosevelt and accom- panied him on his trip through South America. The late Janarius A. McGahan, who was a prominent writer for the London "Times," and the New York "World," and known as the liberator of Bulgaria, during the Crimean War, was Father Anderson's great uncle on his mother's side.

After arriving in California, the family located at Livermore for a few years, and there Paul attended the public schools and when out of school worked at odd jobs. The Anderson family lived in Livermore from 1888 to 1894, when they moved to San Jose. His schooling was interrupted for five years, during which time he worked in commercial lines, but he felt the call of the Church, so he went back to his studies. On August 1, 1899, he entered the collegiate depart- ment of St. Patrick's Seminary at Menlo Park, San Mateo County, and after the usual courses of study, covering a period of ten years, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 1909. He was then sent to St. John's at San Francisco, remaining there for several months, when he took up his work at St. Anthony's in East Oakland as assistant to Rev. Peter C. York, where for four years he labored in the discharge of his duties. Early in 1914, he was sent to St. Mary's at Stockton and assisted there for one and one-half years. In November of 1915 he returned to San Francisco and became the assistant pastor of St. Patrick's, where he remained for five years, and in March, 1920, received his first pastorate, St. Barnard's Church at Tracy. The history of this Church is com- paratively short, there having been but three resident pastors preceding Father Anderson, and each for but a short term, except Father Thomas Moran, who built the present church and was its pastor for eight years. During October of 1921 a general renovation of the church and parsonage was started, including new interior decorations.

Father Anderson by his affability, scholarly attain- ments and kindness has greatly endeared himself not only to the members of his congregation, but to all 84

who know him. Aside from his duties as pastor he has found time to accept and fill the position of director in the local Chamber of Commerce, a place he is filling with ability. The membership of the Church is constantly growing, and now that Father Anderson has put his hand to the helm, will be sure to increase in the healthiest manner.

DWIGHT E. BURGESS .- Not through time. place nor circumstances, but through concentrated effort, energy, perseverance and well applied busi- ness principles, Dwight E. Burgess has become the leading painting contractor of his native city of Stock- ton, where he was born January 13, 1887. He is the only son of Philip Henry and Sarah Emma (Preston) Burgess. The father was a native of Massachusetts and located in Stockton in 1883, an early settler on the south side; he was one of the first letter carriers in Stockton, and later retired from the service. For six years he was a reader in the Christian Science Church and was also a practitioner; he was also a member of Rawlins Post, G. A. R., No. 23. In 1882 he married Miss Sarah Emma Preston, born in the East, but reared in California, and they were the parents of two children, Dwight E. of this review. and Mrs. Lois E. Toal. The father passed away May 10, 1922, at his home in Stockton.

Dwight E. Burgess received his education in the Jackson and Grant schools of Stockton and then learned the trade of carriage painter; later he took up house painting. After completing his training, he worked with various contractors until his experience was sufficient to warrant establishing his own busi- ness, which he did about twelve years ago. He is thoroughly competent and up-to-date in his line, his contracts including a great number of the large jobs in Stockton and surrounding towns. Following is a list of the school buildings which show his handi- work: Mckinley, Fair Oaks, Burwood school near Escalon; Galt grammar school; August school. Waterloo Road; Isleton, Sacramento County; Wood- bridge grammar, Linden grammar, Florin grammar, the Garfield school at Lodi; also the auditorium ot the Stockton high school, Victory school; the new addition to the El Dorado school; also the new addi- tion to the Jefferson school, the Grant school, the gymnasium at Ripon school. Mr. Burgess has had the contract for more school buildings than any other contractor in Stockton. Besides having the contract for many fine residences in Stockton and the neigh- boring country, he has the following buildings to his credit: eight cottages for the Spreckels Sugar Com- pany at Manteca, also office building and club house for the same company; the Marion Hotel, Japanese Hotel, Coffee Club Building, Solari Building, the Waldemar Apartments, Kitt Garage, Fontana Hotel, Tannery buildings, the Parkview Crematory, the Hippodrome Theater, the Atkinson Apartments at Sacramento. He also repainted the exterior of San Joaquin County court house, Japanese Hospital, Manthy and Granich Apartments; also the Bridgeford dairy barns at Patterson. He also had the contract for painting the addition to the Stockton paper mills, and California Packers' Association building. He uses the compressed air system for painting roofs and large buildings, which has given general satisfaction. In 1919 he was awarded the contract by the county board of supervisors to paint the iron work on twenty-nine county bridges, his bid being the lowest

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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 192

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