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 205

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 205

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Nellie Morrison spent her childhood in Cherokee, · and there she received a good education in the public schools. Her first marriage took place in Sacramento, and united her with Samuel O. Hurlbut, who was born in New York State. He crossed the plains with his parents in an ox-team train in the early fifties, taking up his residence in Sacramento, and there he attended public school. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil War he responded to his country's call, enlisting on August 29, 1861, in Company F, 2nd Regular Cali- fornia Cavalry, and served until he was honorably discharged at San Francisco, September 24, 1864. He spent several years as a moulder in railroad shops, and thereafter as stationary engineer, until his death at Angels Camp, April 20, 1905. Fraternally, he was a member of the Red Men.

Soon after Mr. Hurlbut's passing, his widow re- moved to Stockton, where she made her home until her marriage with John Wehr, a native of Wisconsin and a mining man. Mr. Wehr was accidentally killed at the Shawmut mine, April 28, 1909. A son, Warren O., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wehr. He is a manu- facturer of radio instruments in San Francisco. Mrs. Wehr now makes her home in Stockton, surrounded by her many friends, who appreciate her for her many acts of kindness and hospitality.

CHARLES J. SWEEM .- A representative of an old pioneer family who is himself a native son, is Charles J. Sweem, born in Stockton, December 30, 1856, a son of J. B. and Nancy (Blankinship) Sweem, natives of Virginia, who came out in 1847 to Missouri, where they outfitted with ox-teams and wagons and in 1848 started across the plains. Arriving in Califor- nia, they settled near Stockton and engaged in ranch- ing until 1861, when they removed to Fresno County, and Mr. Sweem built the first flour mills and also took out the first ditch in the county, at Centerville, which was used for water power. He ran the mill until 1876, when he returned to Stockton; and here he and his wife both passed away. This pioneer cou- ple had thirteen children, twelve of whom are living: Franklin, of Merced; John, living in Chico; Charles, of this sketch; Thomas, who died in Arizona; George, a resident of Napa; Jeff, of Oroville; Lee, living in 90

Chico; Stirling and Mrs. Mary E. Riggins, twins, both residing in Stockton; Mrs. Jennie Brown, of Stock- ton; Edward, of Chico; Fred, of Stockton; and Mrs. Nellie Creason, residing in Richmond.

Charles Sweem remembers Stockton in the early days as a small hamlet, with its sloughs where wild cattle and antelope roamed at will. In 1861 he went to Centerville, Fresno County, with his parents; and there he attended school. He assisted his father in the mill and in time learned the miller's trade, even to dressing the burrs. His father surveyed and took out the first ditch in Fresno County, from three miles above Centerville, and brought it to a bluff sixty feet above the town; and people came from different places to see it, for it seemed he had brought the water up hill. Once the water got beyond control and flooded a large section of the county. Trees after- wards sprang up all over, and thus people's eyes were opened to what could be done by irrigation.

In 1876 Charles Sweem returned to Stockton. He followed farming for a while, and thereafter was em- ployed in various ways. For fifteen years he was with H. B. Riggins. He purchased a lot and built his home at 1725 South Stanislaus Street, where he still resides. Mr. Sweem is now in the employ of the city, having charge of McLeod Lake Park and Tux- edo Park.

He was married in Olympia, Wash., to Lulu Maud Couch, a native of Illinois, and they had seven chil- dren: Mary (Mrs. Jorgensen) and Mrs. Annie Pur- sish both died in Stockton of influenza; Emma and Lena are also deceased; Mrs. Goldie Gropner resides in Stockton; Nellie makes her home with her parents; and Charles is a musician and also lives here. Mr. Sweem is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

PHIL LANDMANN .- The proprietor of the Stockton Hat Works, Phil Landmann has been a resident of Stockton for the past twenty-eight years, and during that time has succeeded in building up a fine business. He was born in Tarnof, Austria, August 27, 1860, a son of Elias and Jennie (New- man) Landmann, both natives of that country. Elias Landmann was a tailor by trade and both par- ents lived and died in their native land. Three sons and two daughters were born to them.

Phil Landmann attended a private school in Vienna and at the age of fourteen began to learn the hatter's trade, spending four years as an ap- prentice; he then became stock clerk in a large hat factory in Vienna. In 1881 he left his home and after visiting relatives in Austria and Germany, he traveled through France, Belgium, Holland, and England; he then boarded a vessel bound for Amer- ica and on August 4, 1881, he arrived in New York, where, for the following eight years, he had charge of the block and shape department for George Brunson & Co., cap and hat works; he arrived in San Francisco twenty-eight years ago, where he went into business on Howard and Polk streets, and in the meantime established a store in Stock- ton, going back and forth to San Francisco by boat. His first location was at the corner of San Joaquin and Weber streets; then a few years later he re- moved to No. 12 North California street, and early in the fall of 1922 located at No. 119 North San Joaquin street, where he operates a modern hat

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

shop, which has been incorporated as the Stockton Hat Works.

Mr. Landmann's first marriage occurred in New York City in 1885, which united him with Miss Julia Ancker; she passed away in Stockton in 1914. In 1916, at San Francisco, Mr. Landmann was mar- ried to Mrs. Sarah Carssel, a native of Russia, but reared in England. Four children were born to Mr. Landmann by his first wife: Pauline is the wife of Dr. Catts of Stockton; Emile served in the U. S. Army during the World War and is a member of the American Legion; Jennie and Tillie are at home. Mr. Landmann received his U. S. citizenship thirty- six years ago in New York. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Eagles, Moose, W. O. W. and was treasurer for six years of the Ancient Order of Foresters; he is also a member of the local Chamber of Commerce and the Red Cross.

JACOB ENGELLANDT .- One to whom San Joaquin County is greatly indebted for the active and beneficial work he accomplished is Jacob Engellandt, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, August 6, 1851, and at the age of nineteen was drafted for service in the German army, serving until he came to New York City on August 14, 1871. The following year he spent in Washington County, Nebr .; then, on March 1, 1873, he came to Stockton, California. He found employment on the Feck, Rockendorf, Captain Moss, and Pat El- liott ranches, but in 1880 returned to his native country for a few months' visit.

In 1889 Mr. Engellandt removed to Woodbridge, where he farmed for six years, when he returned to Roberts Island and farmed the Levy tract. Twenty-one years ago he bought sixty acres from the George Hury estate, where he made his home until seven years ago, when he retired on account of ill health and removed to Stockton. He passed through the disastrous floods of 1884 and 1886, when the levees broke and the water covered the land, devastating the whole island. The flood of 1886 occurred in January, the storm being accompanied by high winds which almost carried away the small farm house, which consisted of two rooms. That year he had seeded to grain 600 acres, doing all the work himself with his eight-horse team, and all was a complete loss; glad enough were they to escape with their lives.

The marriage of Mr. Engellandt occurred in San Francisco, February 17, 1883, and united him with Miss Mary Elizabeth Mann, a native of London, England, and they were the parents of four daugh- ters: Ida, the wife of A. F. Ruhl, hardware mer- chant in Stockton; Mabel, wife of H. E. McClure, a dairyman here; Alice, the wife of J. C. McIntosh, proprietor of an electric planing mill here; and Miss Edna Engellandt, who assists her mother in presid- ing over the home. There are two grandchildren, Bernard Jacob Ruhl and Aileen McClure. Mary Elizabeth Mann was the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Jones) Mann, born in Scotland and Wales, respectively. Her father was a civil and mechanical engineer and brought his family to Erie, Pa., in 1872, and a year later to California, on an early transcontinental train, arriving in San Fran- cisco in the spring of 1873, where he followed civil and mechanical engineering. He died in San Fran- cisco in 1905, his wife having preceded him. He was

a prominent Mason for more than fifty years. This worthy couple had two children: Mrs. Mary Eliza- beth Engellandt and Mrs. Alice Rice of Oakland. Mrs. Engellandt was educated in the Lincoln school, San Francisco, Fifth and Market Streets, opposite the U. S. Mint, which was burned at the time of the fire in 1906. Mr. Engellandt died on March 16, 1922, his residence in San Joaquin County having covered a period of forty-nine years, during which time wonderful changes had occurred. He was well read and interesting and a faithful student of the Bible, being a member of the Lutheran Church. In 1879 he became an American citizen and no native- born son was more faithful to his allegiance to the Stars and Stripes.

ANTONIO L. SOLARI .- Since 1892 Antonio L. Solari has lived in San Joaquin County, and during that time has become a successful agriculturist. His homestead is situated on Waterloo Road just east of the city limits of Stockton. The land is devoted to an orchard of figs and peaches, interplanted with vegetables and he has gained a most gratifying suc- cess from his labors in that direction. He was born in Genoa, Italy, August 16, 1865, and was reared on his father's farm. His father, John Solari, lived to be 103 years old and his mother, Mary Solari, lived to be eighty-three, and during all the years that Mr. Solari has been away from home, he regularly sent his parents in Italy money to take care of them in their declining years up to the time of their passing.

At twenty-seven years of age he left his native land and came to America, borrowing money for his passage and upon arrival in Stockton had thirteen francs in his pocket. He found work on Bert Podes- to's ranch on Lower Sacramento Road where he worked for a while, and as soon as he had earned enough money he sent it back to the man from whom he borrowed funds to pay his way to California. Then he went to Calaveras County and worked for John Podesto, where he remained until 1896 when he returned to Stockton and began to work for Tom Gattorno on the Waterloo Road, where he has re- sided ever since. After three years' work for the latter party he leased land from his employer and followed vegetable gardening for many years and when Tom Gattorno died Mr. Solari took care of his widow until her death, when she willed Mr. Solari the ranch, as she had no heirs. The ranch of 63/4 acres was originally planted to cherries but the trees died and then Mr. Solari planted figs and peaches; then he bought twenty-one acres bare land on the Linden Road which he planted to cherries, peaches and vineyard. This he cultivated for ten years, then sold it at a good profit. From a financial standpoint, Mr. Solari has been very successful, but it has not been accomplished without close applica- tion to business. He also owns valuable real estate in Stockton, including a business block on South El Dorado Street which he erected; he has also bought and sold real estate and in this way has made good profits on his investments. In partnership with A. J. Munch, he bought eight acres on the Waterloo Road which they subdivided, and it is known as the Intervale Tract. This tract has all been sold and homes built on it.

The marriage of Mr. Solari united him with Miss Louisa Capello, a native of Genoa, Italy, and they are the parents of one son, Joseph J., a member of

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antonio Solari

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

the firm of Foppiano & Solari of Stockton. To the type of citizens such as Mr. Solari, the county owes much of its prosperity, for he. has done his part as a good citizen in all public enterprises.

PATRICK BRENNAN .- For many years Pat- rick Brennan was a foremost agriculturist of the Atlanta district of San Joaquin County, and his death on October 9, 1879, when in his fiftieth year, meant a personal loss to the citizenship of the local- ity. He was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1829, and there grew to young manhood. He was married in New London, Conn., to Miss Bridget Kelly, also a native of Ireland, born in 1834. Em- barking for America in 1852, Mr. Brennan arrived in the United States and located at New London, Conn., where he was married and where the young couple remained for four years; then, in 1856, they started for California, and on September 15 of that year ar- rived in Stockton, where they spent another five years. Deciding that agriculture was best suited to him, Patrick Brennan bought 320 acres of land eighteen miles southeast of Stockton on the French Camp Road, near Atlanta, where he successfully farmed until he died on October 10, 1879, survived by his wife and seven of their ' nine children: Frank J .; William J .; Joseph; George (died in youth); John (died in infancy); Henry; Mary Sul- livan; George W. and Stephen E, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this work. Following her husband's death, Mrs. Brennan managed the ranch and paid off the mortgage and reared and educated her chil- dren. This was not accomplished without hardship and privations incident to early day life in California, but her courage and determination to overcome all obstacles resulted in keeping the family home intact and giving all her children a workable education. Five children now survive the mother, who passed away on May 29, 1912, mourned by a large circle of friends, who were loud in their praises of her re- markable force of character and genial disposition After her death, the home place was divided among the surviving children, and they in turn subdivided their portion, until a number of farms have been made out of the original tract, and under the South San Joaquin Irrigation District have been made to blossom like the rose. Thus one by one the old pio- neers of the fifties are passing away, the younger generation assuming the responsibilities of the devel- opment and prosperity of the great state of Cali- fornia. Mrs. Brennan was an ardent supporter of St. Patrick's Catholic Church at Atlanta and so re- mained until her death.

EARL EDWARD BURLINGTON .- A represen- tative citizen, engaged in viticulture in San Joaquin County, is Earl Edward Burlington, who was born in Carson City, Nev., November 13, 1892, a son of Edward and Minnie (Cowing) Burlington. Edward Burlington was a native of Old Boston, England, while the mother was born in Carson City, Nev. Edward Burlington left his home in England and went first to Canada, afterwards to New York, and from there to Carson City, where he conducted a shoe store, and where he met and married Miss Minnie Cowing. Her father, George Cowing, was a native of London, England, and had come to the United States and across the plains to Carson City

in frontier days, where he was at one time a deputy sheriff. Earl Burlington is the youngest of a family of three children, the others being Arthur and Nell, now Mrs. Trimmer, residing at Oakland. The father passed away in Carson City, on April 12, 1907, while the mother now makes her home in Oakland.

Earl Burlington attended the Carson City public schools and at odd times assisted his father in the store .. After finishing grammar school he entered high school; and then in 1910, removed to Berkeley, Cal., and entered the Van der Nailen Engineering School at Oakland. During his engineering course he practiced engineering in the field, spending five years in the school and in the field in California and Nevada. In 1914 he was duly graduated, and thereafter spent another year at his profession in the two states. He then located at Lodi, where he rented two vineyards, one on Kettleman Lane and the other on Sargent Road, 120 acres in all, on which he had a three-year lease. At the outbreak of the World War he gave up his lease and enlisted in Company A of the 1st California Engineers, on June 8, 1917; later this company was transferred into the 42nd Division and was designated as Com- pany D, 117th Engineers, of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. This regiment was used in the construc- tion of Camp Fremont. It was then sent to Camp Mills, N. Y., was trained there until October, 1917, and then sailed for France, landing on French soil November 1, 1917, at St. Nazaire. Here his regi- ment was employed in building barracks, bath houses and other necessary buildings, preparatory to the coming of the American forces. He contin- ued in this work until February, 1918, when his regi- ment was sent into the Vosges sector near Luneville, to train for front-line duty. His regiment first worked in connection with the fifth French army, then was transferred to the American Army, and was in action at Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne No. 1 and No. 2; and at the time of the signing of the armistice the regiment was nearing Sedan. His regiment then marched into the occupation area and was stationed to the left of Coblenz, Germany. Mr. Burlington then returned to the United States, and was discharged on May 18, 1919, at the Presidio, San Francisco, as a ser- geant, first class. Returning to San Joaquin County, he rented a forty-acre vineyard about six miles from Woodbridge on the Thornton road, in the Ray school district, where he is still located. Mr. Bur- lington is a member of the Lodi Growers' and Ship- pers' League.

On January 4, 1921, in Lodi, Mr. Burlington was married to Miss Jennie Graffigna, a daughter of Andrew J. and Louise (Solari) Graffigna. Jennie Graffigna was born in Lodi, and was educated in the grammar and high school. She graduated in 1914, having majored in commercial work, and was then engaged for some time in bookkeeping. Mrs. Burlington is the fifth in a family of seven children: David; Ida, Mrs. J. D. Graffigna; Emil F .; Anthony J .; Jennie, Mrs. Burlington; Lena; and Julia. Her mother passed away on November 15, 1919; the father is still living in Lodi. Mr. and Mrs. Burling- ton have one son, Earl Edward, Jr. Mr. Burlington is a member of the Stockton Lodge, No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, and of the Lodi Aerie, No. 848, Eagles. He is also a member of Lodi Post, No. 22, American Legion; and a member, and at the present time state

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

president, of the California Chapter of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division Veterans. He belongs to the Mokelumne Club in Lodi. Mrs. Burlington is a member of the Lodi Women's Club; the Young Ladies' Institute of Lodi, No. 91; and the Woman's Auxiliary to the American Legion.

LEE R. BURROW .- A typical native son of Cal- ifornia, Lee R. Burrow was born at Murphy on Au- gust 30, 1880, a son of Thomas J. and Relefe (Dun- lap) Burrow, natives of Illinois and Wisconsin, respectively. Thomas J. Burrow was a surveyor and lumberman, who came to California as early as 1872. There were seven children in their family, as follows: Cecil; George, residing at Vallejo; Thomas, living at Jackson; Maude, Mrs. Bunch, of Lodi; Relefe and Lee R., twins, the former being deceased; and Roy, deceased. The father and mother still reside at Murphy, Cal.

Lee R. Burrow attended the grammar school at Murphy, and at the age of eighteen learned the car- penter's trade and worked at various mining camps throughout Calaveras County. He also worked at his trade in Carson Valley, Nev., and in Mason and Antelope Valleys, in California. He then removed to Stockton and spent thirteen years there, part of the time working for Davis, Heller & Pearce.

Mr. Burrow's first marriage occurred on August 26, 1906, at San Andreas, uniting him with Miss Christina Christy, a native of Oakdale, Cal., and a daughter of William Christy; and they were the parents of one son, Randal, now residing at Stock- ton. His second marriage occurred in Stockton on December 26, 1918, and united him with Mrs. Kath- erine (Koontz) Thisby, a daughter of that worthy pioneer couple, Henry and Clemence Arabella (Hay) Koontz, natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. Henry Koontz came from Illinois to California, and was an early settler in the New Hope section, where he resided until his death. Miss Katherine Koontz was first married to Leonard Thisby, a native son of California, born at Walnut Grove, a son of George and Rebecca Thisby, the former a native of England who came to California in the early days and settled at San Francisco, where his son Leonard was edu- cated. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Thisby made their home in Sacramento, where he was su- pervisor for one term for the fifth district of that county, and also served as under-sheriff of the county with Sheriff Donnley. Mr. Thisby was a Republican in politics. Fraternally, he was a Mason, Odd Fellow and Elk. He passed away on December 13, 1915. To them were born one son, William Henry Thisby, who married Miss Beatrice Baker; and they have two children, Leonard William and Marian Elizabeth. William Henry Thisby is the foreman on the Fred Villinger ranch at Lodi. Mrs. Burrow received twenty acres from her father's estate, which she improved to Bartlett pears, and two years ago she and her husband moved onto this place, which has since been their home. It is a full-bearing pear orchard, highly cultivated, and has become very valuable. It is irrigated by a ten- inch pump driven by a twenty-horsepower motor. Mr. Burrow is energetic, progressive and practical, and gives his undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he is prospering.

NICK YLARRAZ .- A thoroughly progressive and up-to-date hotel man is found in Nick Ylarraz, the genial proprietor of Hotel Central, located at 124 West Main Street, Stockton. He was born on his father's farm in the Pyrenees Mountains, Spain, July 5, 1883, and his education was obtained in the district schools of his neighborhood and his spare hours and vacation periods were spent in helping on the home farm. When he was twenty-two years old, in 1905, he came to the United States and located in Nevada, where he spent two years herding sheep; then the following six years he herded sheep in Oregon; then he located in Lassen County, Cal., where he worked in a saw mill of the Westwood Lumber Company for three years. He then removed to Reno, Nev., and spent three years in business there. About three years ago he located in Stockton and on November 14, 1919, entered into partnership with Vic Bodaya in conducting Hotel Central, which has proved to be a profitable and successful under- taking. From a business standpoint he has been successful, and at all times he has been straightfor- ward and honorable in all the relations of life.

The marriage of Mr. Ylarraz united him with Miss Felicia Zandeweta, a native of the same country as her husband and they are the parents of one daugh- ter. Theresa.

WALTER SCOTT BUCHANAN .- In 1907 Wal- ter Scott Buchanan took up his permanent residence in Manteca and has been active and progressive in the development of this locality. He is engaged in the real estate and insurance business and the steady progress and success which he has won indicate the persistence and energy of his character. He was born on May 1, 1869, near Shampoeg, Ore., the first capital of Oregon, settled by the French Canadians, and where the territorial legislature assembled be- fore Oregon became a state. His father, John C. Buchanan, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, August 1, 1827. At the age of twenty-one he was graduated from the Edinburgh University as a mining engineer. From Scotland he went to Australia where he fol- lowed his profession for five years, then returned to his native land and in 1857 came to America. For six years he was connected with mining in Western Idaho, but later gave it up and engaged in farming in the Willamette Valley, Ore. He married Miss Rosa A. Barnhart, a native of Canada and a niece of Colonel William Cody, known as Buffalo Bill. There are three sons in the family: Walter Scott, the subject of this sketch; John C., Jr., an exten- sive land owner in northwestern Oregon; and Charles B., who owns and operates the largest warehouse and lumber mill in Oregon, located at Hillsboro. The father passed away in 1898 while the family were residing in Oregon; the mother now makes her home with our subject near Manteca.

The education of Walter Scott Buchanan was ob- tained in Oregon and in 1884 he entered the Pacific University, where he attended two terms; then he entered the printing shop of Dana Thomas, editor of the Pacific Pharos, and there he spent eight years. On June 13, 1895, he enlisted in the U. S. Regulars, Fourth Infantry Headquarters Company, and was sent to Fort Sherman, Idaho. His regiment belonged to the Fifth Army Corps, the first to be transported to Cuba, and Walter Scott Buchanan was made a sergeant in his company. During his stay on the island he was employed in a printing

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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 205

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