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 202

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 202

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

June 10, 1904, was transferred to Stockton serving in the same capacity. On November 1, 1910, the Stock- ton division was established and Mr. Burgess was appointed supervisor of bridges and buildings, and many structures which bear evidence of his skill and ability are to be seen throughout the Stockton divi- sion. He has built approaches to numerous bridges in the division, including the approach to the San Joaquin bridge at Herndon; he also erected the concrete roundhouse at Tracy.

The marriage of Mr. Burgess in 1892 united him with Miss Clara V. Beguhl, a native of San Francisco, and they are the parents of five children: Howard .H., a student in the dental department of the Univer- sity of California; Edith M., the wife of Gordon C. Patterson of Stockton; Lloyd E., a student in the engineering department of the University of Califor- nia; Ruth A .; and Dorothy V. Fraternally Mr. Bur- gess is a member of San Joaquin Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M .; Stockton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M .; Stockton Council No. 10, R. & S. M., and the Independent Order of Foresters. He is a member of the Ameri- ican Railway Bridges and Building Association.

JASON HAMILTON DAVIS .- An expert in hor- ticultural matters, through a deep study of this inter- esting subject and many years of practical experience, Jason H. Davis has proved himself an authority on this subject through the results he has attained as superintendent of the large holdings of Frank H. Buck, comprising three ranches of nearly 1,200 acres at Acampo, San Joaquin County. Mr. Davis was born near Elk Grove, Sacramento County, February 13, 1871, the son of David L. and Eliza (Murray) Davis, the former a native of Ohio, while Mrs. Davis was born in Ireland. David L. Davis made his first trip to California via Cape Horn on a sailing vessel, coming across the plains the second time in the early fifties. For a time he mined at Diamond Springs and later bought considerable land near Elk Grove, where he farmed and raised cattle and sheep, being a pioneer settler there. Of the children of these early settlers the following are living: J. J. Davis of Boise, Idaho; Mrs. D. S. Watkins of Sacramento; Mrs. C. H. Cant- rell of Elk Grove; Mrs. E. A. Riley of Arno, Sacra- mento County; Thomas N. and Jason H., twins, and Charles D. David L. Davis died August 20, 1900, Mrs. Davis surviving until May 9, 1921, when she passed away at the age of eighty-nine.

Reared on the home farm in Sacramento County, Jason H. Davis attended the public schools there and the Atkinson Business College at Sacramento, after which he followed farming in that vicinity. In 1906 he entered the employ of Buck and Cory on their ranch near Acampo and his capability soon advanced him to the position of foreman, where he remained until he became superintendent of the three ranches of Frank H. Buck in the Acampo district, consisting of the old home ranch of 520 acres, Woodlake vine- yard, 426 acres, and the Keen ranch of 200 acres, devoted to orchard and vineyard. The Buck property is one of the most productive in the district, being rich river bottom soil, and under Mr. Davis' manage- ment it has been brought up to a high state of culti- vation. He has entire supervision over all the opera- tions of this great estate, employing hundreds of hands during the harvest season to take care of the

crops. For years deeply interested in horticulture, he has made an extensive study of this subject, and keeps abreast with the latest scientific pronouncements, and this, combined with his years of practical experience, has made him most successful. At one time Mr. Davis was inspector of the Lodi district under ap- pointment by F. W. Reed, specialist in standardiza- tion for the State of California, and his advice on matters pertaining to horticulture is frequently sought.

At Merced, on September 29, 1895, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Zoe Howell, a native daughter of Shasta County. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of two children: Nelson H., the foreman on the Acampo ranch, and Mrs. Thelma Girard of Acampo. The old home ranch of David L. Davis near Elk . Grove, Sacramento County, still remains in the family, Mr. Davis having an interest in the property. Mr. Davis resides in his own home at 216 West Locust Street, Lodi. A man of fine executive ability, he stands high in the community, which he has done much to upbuild.

F. STANLEY SIEGFRIED .- Among the more re- cent accessions to business circles of Lodi is F. Stan- ley Siegfried, a man of keen discrimination and good judgment, whose executive ability and excellent man- agement have, brought to his stationery and art busi- ness a large degree of success. The sterling policy which he inaugurated in his business career has se- cured a patronage which makes the volume of trade transacted of considerable magnitude. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., August 18, 1889, a son of A. W. and Emma (Aicher) Siegfried. The father is a whole- sale cigar salesman and both parents still reside in Pennsylvania. There are six children in the family: Katherine, Melvin, F. Stanley, the subject of this sketch, Raymond, Harold and Walter.

F. Stanley Siegfried attended grammar school in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., then entered high school and after graduation from high school went to the Ithaca Con- servatory of Music at Ithaca, N. Y., graduating with the class of 1911 in violin. For the succeeding seven years he followed his profession, teaching violin, and in concert work throughout the East. Since coming West he has continued his profession.

On April 29, 1913, at Philadelphia, Pa., Mr. Sieg- fried was married to Miss Josephine K. Babinger, a native of Gowanda, N. Y., a daughter of Blaise and Regina L. Babinger. Her father, Blaise Babinger, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and was an officer in the French army until he settled in the United States. He engaged in his trade of art moulder at Gowanda, N. Y. There are six children in the Babinger family: Joseph, Virginia, Mary, Kathryn, James and Josephine K., Mrs. Siegfried. Mrs. Sieg- fried is a graduate of the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, majoring in piano, and while a student there met Mr. Siegfried. He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians of Lodi, also the Wilkes- Barre, Pa., and Stockton locals of this order. In national politics he is a Democrat, but locally votes for the candidate best fitted to perform the duties of the office for which he is selected. Mr. and Mrs. Sieg- fried are members of the Catholic Church of Lodi and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Siegfried occupies his spare time teaching the violin and directing orchestras at the Lodi and Stockton theaters.

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of. Stanley Siegfried

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

GEORGE W. LEISTNER .- George W. Leistner, born February 22, 1878, at Boise Idaho; educated in Stockton schools, two years at Stanford University, admitted to bar but never practiced. Entered real estate business in 1904; member of firm of Grunsky, Dietrich & Leistner, later Dietrich & Leistner. Iden- tified with development of Stockton and San Joaquin County ; president of Stockton Chamber of Commerce in 1915; past president of the Stockton High School Alumni Association; Yosemite Club of Stockton, Stockton Golf and Country Club. Vice-president and one of the organizers of San Joaquin County Abstract Company; secretary and identified with organization of the Stockton Investment Company, builders and owners of the Hotel Stockton; secretary of the Stock- ton Realty Company, owners of Bours Park; secre- tary of the City Development Company, Mutual Development Company and Valley Colony Company, and at present vice-president of the Stockton Cham- ber of Commerce and president of Stockton Golf and Country Club, and director of Merchants, Manufac- turers and Employers Association; president of Land Settlement Board for graduates of the United States Rough and Ready Training Center.

Married Florence J. Ashley; two children, George W. and Mary Louise. Fraternal association: Mem- ber of Elks, Knights Templar, and Shrine.

GEORGE STEINMETZ .- At his farm home in Tulare Township, George Steinmetz breathed his last upon the 17th day of December, 1915, after a long and useful life, being then in his eighty-second year. Mr. Steinmetz belonged to that sturdy group of men whose force of character and strong determination enabled them to face and survive the many hardships incident to pioneer life, and helped lay the foundation for the present development of San Joaquin County, particularly the vicinity of Banta, where he owned his well-improved home farm of 590 acres and other valu- able lands. A native of Germany, Mr. Steinmetz was born August 4, 1834, of German ancestry. He was reared in the land of his nativity until eighteen, when, in 1852 he emigrated to the United States, taking pass- age on a west-bound sailing vessel at Bremer-Haven, and landing at New Orleans after a six-weeks' voy- age. After a year or two in Howard County, Mo., he braved the hot sandy plains and dangerous moun- tain passes, arriving in the Golden State in 1854. In common with thousands of others he was lured by gold and immediately went into the gold mines, but soon made up his mind that his fortune lay in agri- cultural pursuits and therefore made his way to San Joaquin County, during the latter part of 1854. He made no mistake in this. He went to work, and gained such success that he never thereafter moved away. He settled upon his farm near Banta in 1865, and made of it one of the finest country homes in southern San Joaquin County. He was a good busi- ness manager and an indefatigable worker, and was one of the foremost citizens in his community.

Mr. Steinmetz was twice married. His first wife was Miss Christiana Boysen, a native of Schleswig, Germany. To them were born the following five chil- dren: Henry, who died when six years old; Edward C., a leading citizen of Tulare Township, who has acceded to the Steinmetz home place, where he now resides (see his biography in this work); George A. is a stockraiser in Lone Tree Canyon, San Joaquin County; Lewis F., who married Miss Lena Krumer-

land of Byron, resides at Banta, and has three chil- dren; and Annie C., now the wife of Charles Bran- denman (a rancher near Carbona), is the mother of two girls.

After the death of his first wife, George Steinmetz wedded Geraldine Hahn, a native of Germany; and by her he had two children. Sene is now the wife of Henry Brandenman, who is an employee of the Chev- rolet automobile people, residing at San Leandro. They have an adopted daughter, but no children of their own. August is a farmer and lives at Banta, where he owns 170 acres, and farms 480 acres in all. He married the daughter of Benjamin Canale, mer- chant at Banta.

Mr. Steinmetz took a very active interest in educa- tional affairs, and was public-spirited in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the community in- which he lived. He served for many years on the board of trustees of the Valley school district, which was his home district and which he did much to establish and maintain. In national politics he was a consistent Democrat. In his dealings with his fellow- men he observed the Golden Rule. He saw the San Joaquin Valley develop from a primitive condition to a garden spot enjoying a highly advanced civilization. When he came here, wild animals were still numerous and roved over the desert-like country, while much of the land was still unclaimed and uncultivated. He manifested the keenest interest in the building of the railroads and state highways, the growth of the cities and towns, the introduction of all improvements, and the acquirement of the various accessories of modern life, and rejoiced at the advancement made. Gener- ous and public-spirited to a fault he did his full duty in the upbuilding of his home, county, state and nation.

EDWARD C. STEINMETZ .- Four and one-half miles east of Tracy lives Edward C. Steinmetz, who is the oldest living son and child of the late George Steinmetz, a well-known San Joaquin County pioneer, whose biography also appears in this historical work. He is a prominent citizen and well-to-do and successful farmer of Tulare Township, where he has acceded to and is happily domiciled upon that portion of the George Steinmetz farm which contains the old Steinmetz home residence. He was born on this place on October 26, 1872, and grew up here. Being the oldest son in a large family of children, he was called upon to do hard manual work while yet a lad of tender years. He received a good public school education in the district schools.

In 1898 he went to Buchanan County, Iowa, and there worked at the carpenter's trade for three and a half years, and then went to Alaska, where he was employed as carpenter for the "Alaska Packers" on the Nac Nic River, which empties into Bristol Bay.

Returning home, in partnership with his brother George he farmed the Steinmetz ranch for seven years, until the death of his father, December 17, 1915. The father's estate was then divided and Mr. Stein- metz obtained the quarter-section upon which the Steinmetz residence was located. To this he later added twenty-three acres by purchase; but sold about nine acres to the Western Pacific for a right-of-way, leaving him 174 acres in his present farm, which is in a high state of cultivation. It is farmed princi- pally to barley.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

In the year 1918, Mr. Steinmetz was married to Miss Lydia Engster, who was born in Canton Zurich, Switzerland, and came to California in 1916, accom- panied by her sister, who is now Mrs. Henry Himes. Mrs. Steinmetz is an accomplished woman, an excel- lent housekeeper, and a true helpmate to her husband, graciously presiding over the Steinmetz household, keeping up the famed hospitality of this pioneer ranch home. Mr. Steinmetz is a charter member of Tracy Parlor, N. S. G. W., and has twice been through the chairs. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Tracy, as well as of the Encamp- ment and the Rebekahs, of which order Mrs. Stein- metz is also a member. He is past grand and chief patriarch of the Encampment.

In national politics Mr .. Steinmetz is a Democrat. In local matters he gives his support to the candidate who in his estimation will best conserve the public interest. Like his father, he is industrious and ener- getic, and intelligently seeks the common good.

CHESTER W. CONKLIN .- A member of the firm of De Young & Conklin, undertakers, Chester W. Conklin is a capable representative of the younger business men who are at present guiding the progress of commercial life in Stockton. Mr. Conklin is a native son, born at Stockton, November 5, 1889, the son of Fred L. and Nettie (Eldred) Conklin, both natives of Michigan. The father came to California in 1876, and for a time had a market garden near Sacramento, then farmed at Santa Barbara. In 1883 he located at Stockton and entered the employ of the Sperry Flour Mills and was one of their valued employees until he retired on January 1, 1922, holding the position of head miller for many years. Mrs. F. L. Conklin passed away in September, 1917. Fred L. Conklin is the owner of a fine sixty-acre ranch near Acampo, which he developed from raw land into a prune orchard and a vineyard of Tokay grapes. It is now in full bearing and very productive. He is prominent in the ranks of the Odd Fellows, being a member of Truth Lodge No. 84, and of the Canton and Encampment.

Mr. and Mrs. Conklin were the parents of two sons, James E. and Chester W., of this sketch, who attended the grammar and high schools at Stockton and was for a time with the Sperry Flour Mills, and also in the real estate business. He took up the undertaking business, thoroughly learning all its de- tails, with Warren & Smith, of Stockton, and on May 1, 1917, he formed a partnership with C. C. DeYoung, under the firm name of DeYoung & Conklin, Under- takers. These partners are boyhood friends and schoolmates, growing up together, and so the closest spirit of co-operation and harmony is manifested in all their business relations. They bought out the pioneer firm of Ford & Brignoli, and have built up a fine business with all modern equipment.

On October 31, 1911, Mr. Conklin was married to Miss Elizabeth Owen, born in San Joaquin County, and a daughter has been born to them, Janis E. Mr. Conklin is a member of Elks Lodge, No. 218, Truth Lodge No. 84, I. O. O. F., and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a past president of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., and served as district deputy grand president of this order. Mrs. Conklin joins him in his fraternal affiliations, being a member of the Rebekahs and the Native Daughters.

JACKSON B. DEATON .- An expert in the line of automobile painting, who has also specialized in monogram and lettering work of the finest type, Jackson B. Deaton has built up a record business in Stockton since locating here in 1919. A native of Missouri, Mr. Deaton was born in Cass County, March 18, 1886, the son of William P. and Louisa E. (Daniels) Deaton. William P. was born in Ken- tucky and was a pioneer in Missouri and in look- ing for a location he traveled in the primitive way- with ox team-through Iowa in the early '50s when there were no railroads and the country was infested with Indians, and he had some interesting experi- ences on the frontier. Settling in Missouri he farmed and when the Civil War broke out he served over four years with the Union army. Once his horse was shot from under him and again a bullet shattered a watch he carried, but neither bullet penetrated his body. In 1887 he settled in Howell County, Mo., and there he answered the final roll call in 1896. In 1900 the mother and her five children removed to Des Moines, Iowa, and there she died in 1918.

Jackson B. Deaton, the only member of the family in California, received his education in the public schools of Missouri and Iowa, laying the founda- tion for his future usefulness and in 1901 he appren- ticed himself to learn the painter's trade with the Baker Carriage Company of Des Moines, receiving as a wage the sum of five cents an hour. Next he was with the Kratzer Carriage Company, remain- ing with them for more than ten years, then going into business for himself in Des Moines, opening up a carriage and auto painting shop, this being his first experience in the latter field. In 1914 Mr. Deaton entered the employ of the Matthews Carriage Com- pany at Des Moines and for five years was foreman of their painting department, and here he gained a valuable experience in lettering and fine monogram work. He was next with the Payne Motor Car Com- pany in charge of their painting department for a year, and spent the same length of time with the Packard Motor Company at Des Moines, remain- ing there until he came to California.

On November 1, 1919, Mr. Deaton opened up in business for himself in commodious quarters on the second floor of the Studebaker Garage building on Sutter Street and East Miner Avenue and on Feb- ruary 1, 1920, he bought the property and business established by John A. Merz at 732 East Lafayette Street. He started in to give his customers the best class of work and he attributes his splendid success to the fact that he has lived up to his motto, "Give every man dollar for dollar." He personally inspects all the work done and still does all the lettering and monogram work himself, every job being given the most painstaking care, so that it is easy to understand the large patronage he receives.

While a resident of Iowa Mr Deaton was married to Miss Emma Green, a native of that state, and they make their home in Stockton. As a member of the San Joaquin Auto Trades Association, Mr. Deaton takes an active interest in its programs and for some time was a member of the executive committee of that body. His membership in the Masons is in Lodge No. 370, Des Moines, Iowa, and he belongs to the Stockton Pyramid of the Sciots, to the Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Sons of Veterans.

heaton

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

While in Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Deaton was a mem- ber of the Y. M. C. A. preliminary officers training school, but the armistice came before he was called.

ISAAC P. DAVIDSON .- A very successful busi- ness man of Stockton, is the owner and proprietor of the Stockton Pipe Works, Isaac P. Davidson, who, from a small beginning is enjoying well-merited pros- perity. He was born in Russia, in the city of Minsk, in December, 1882, and is the son of Meyer and Hazel (Todresic) Davidson, both natives of Russia. His father came to San Joaquin County in 1890 and located on his brother's farm near Waterloo; later he established a business on Weber Avenue and was successful; he then erected a modern apartment house at 720-724 East Park Street, where his family reside, and passed away in 1919 after a busy and useful life. In 1893 Mrs. Davidson left Russia and joined her husband on the ranch.

Isaac was eleven years old when he accompanied the family to Stockton and his education was obtained at the Greenwood school in the Waterloo district; when quite a young man he worked on the ranch and peddled throughout the country; later he worked in his father's store in Stockton. When his brother, Morris, established the Stockton Pipe Works, he entered his employ and in 1913 bought the business. Under his management the business has greatly in- creased and new equipment has been added. He is now engaged in making the International pump, which finds a ready sale in the farming district adjacent to Stockton; he is also agent for the Wagner motor and carries a full line of pipe. He specializes in the in- stallation of pumping plants and is kept steadily em- ployed in this line of work. He has installed pump- ing plants on many of the leading ranches in San Joaquin County, and also installs gas engines. He is a member of the Jewish Orthodox Congregational Church of Stockton. Mr. Davidson is interested in all movements that have for their aim the betterment of the community and is rapidly building up a reputa- tion among the business men of the county.

DAVIS-HELLER-PEARCE COMPANY. - A strong Stockton organization devoted to architecture, construction and engineering is composed of H. Y. Davis, H. E. Heller, and J. W. Pearce-one of the firms which show that Stockton and the San Joaquin Valley have the brains and the man-power to take advantage of the present exceptional opportunities. This company has perfected a system for handling construction work and has developed an organization of men expert in every' line of the business which insures the company a permanent position in the affairs of this great and growing section. The com- pany has to its credit a record of achievements that is noteworthy, as its many clients will testify. While specializing in the building of industrial and commer- cial structures, this firm also constructs residences and is equipped to handle construction work of any nature, anywhere.

One of the interesting contracts handled by this company was the building of a great sawmill plant for the Apache Lumber Company at Cooley, Ariz., in the heart of the pine timber country, on the old Fort Apache Indian Reservation, 7,500 feet above sea level, where very few white men had ever visited. The lumber plant represents a $7,000,000 investment, and the Davis-Heller-Pearce Company erected forty- 89

two buildings there. It was necessary to send hun- dreds of men of all crafts from San Diego, San Fran- cisco, Sacramento and Stockton, to do the work. The Davis-Heller-Pearce Company are supervising archi- tects and engineers for the Stockton School District, directing a $1,275,000 school building program, and for the College of the Pacific, who are spending $750,000 for new buildings in Stockton. They are architects and engineers for the new $200,000 Union high school building at Manteca, and, in association with two other local firms, are architects and engin- eers for the new $600,000 Stockton City Hall. The high character, native ability and broad experience of the members of this organization account for its success.

H. Y. Davis, who is in charge of the architectural and engineering department of the firm, was educated at the University of Illinois, and has been in active practice of his profession since 1910. He is a man of talent and vision, and while constantly striving to perpetuate the best traditions of architecture, is in- tensely practical in meeting present day problems.

H. E. Heller, who is in charge of all construction work, has spent about twenty years in the business. He is a master of every detail of it, is full of energy and initiative, inspires confidence, and is a natural leader, resourceful and determined.

J. W. Pearce, who is in charge of the business and financial interests of the company, has had a wide and varied experience, having spent twenty years in the transportation and banking field. He is conservative and sound in his judgments, a far-seeing and broad- minded man who has the confidence and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Pearce made a splendid record as campaign manager of Liberty Loan and other activities during the late war, takes a leading part in all public affairs of the Stockton community, and is now an officer in many civic organizations. This firm should go far, and is certain to contribute no small part to the life of this district.

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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 202

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