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 207

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 207

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The marriage of Mr. Galassi occurred in Stockton November 10, 1907, which united him with Miss Mary Ann Riba, a daughter of Battista Riba. Three children have blessed their union: Francis, O. J., Jr., deceased; and Victor A. Mr. Galassi is a charter member of the Loyal Order of Moose, Stockton, and in politics is a Republican, and is a member of the Stockton Builders' Exchange.

MRS. J. S. GRAHAM .- An enterprising business woman who is the proprietor of the Budd Apartments in Stockton is Mrs. J. S. Graham, a native daughter of the state, born at Cherokee, Nevada County. Her father, Jeremiah Morrison, was an early pioneer of California, and is represented in the sketch of her sister, Mrs. Nellie Wehr.

Mrs. Graham was in maidenhood Hanora Morrison. She spent her childhood in Cherokee, Nevada County, receiving a good education in the local school. It was there her first marriage occurred, which united her with John Gaffette, a native of Belgium, who emi- grated with his parents to Iowa, where he lived until he was sixteen years of age. He then crossed the plains to California, and engaged in teaming in the Mother Lode country until his death in 1903. There were four children in their family: Kate, the wife of

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

T. P. Coughlan, of Stockton; John, who died at thirty- two years of age; Roy, deceased when eight years old; and Percy, who died at eighteen years of age.

Several years after Mr. Gaffette's death his widow married again, the ceremony taking place in Sacra- mento, when Hanora Gaffette became the wife of James S. Graham, a native son born in Nevada Coun- ty, a son of James and Alice Graham, California pio- neers who settled in Nevada County. Mr. Graham was a mining man in Nevada County. They moved to Stockton in 1906, and there engaged in the hotel business, first as proprietors of the Kansas House and later of the St. James Hotel; and after disposing of this, they became proprietors of the City Hotel, which they conducted until 1922, when it was sold. Soon afterwards Mrs. Graham purchased the Budd Apartments, a modern and popular apartment house, and there they now make their home. Mr. Graham is a popular member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

JAMES FREDERICK SWEEM .- A native son of California whose father came here prior to the days of '49, is James Frederick Sweem, born near Center- ville, Fresno County, March 10, 1874, but reared in Stockton. He is a son of J. B. and Nancy (Blanken- ship) Sweem, early and worthy pioneers also repre- sented in this volume in the sketch of Charles J. Sweem.

Fred Sweem, as he is usually called by his many friends, was brought up on the farm here and in Ore- gon, where he attended public school. Returning to Stockton when fourteen years old, he completed his education in the Stockton schools, and when eighteen years old he began teaming. As soon as he was able to purchase an outfit, he began contract teaming and hauling. Adding to his outfit, he branched out into general contracting and excavating, continuing for a number of years, until he sold out. He then spent three years with the Holt Manufacturing Company as a machinist. In 1918 he accepted a position in the park department in the city of Stockton, and is now in charge of Washington Park. He owns a comfort- able residence at the corner of Third and American streets, where he resides with his family.

In July, 1899, at Stockton, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sweem, uniting him with Miss Mamie Pulliam, a native of Missouri, who came to Stockton with her parents when a girl and was here reared and edu- cated. Their union has been blessed with five chil- dren: Everett, a druggist in Stockton; Leo, a book- keeper residing in Oakland; Otie, attending Stockton high school; and Alma and Earl, attending the gram- mar school. Enterprising and progressive, Mr. Sweem is interested in having good schools and good govern- ment, exercising his franchise as a Democrat. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Red Men.

JOHN A. DUPLISEA .- A farmer and vineyard- ist living at Lodi, San Joaquin County, is John A. Duplisea, who has been a public-spirited citizen of this section of the state since 1908. He was born in Princetown, Maine, on January 20, 1863, a son of A. J. and Hannah (Byers) Duplisea. The father was a carriagemaker by trade, and was the parent of eleven children, eight of whom are living, John A. being the only one residing in California. Their names are as follows: Tillie, Eileen, Elsie, John A. (of this sketch), Edward W., Frank, Anabelle, Ada, 91

Maude, June and Lou. The father is still living at the age of ninety years. The mother passed away at the age of sixty-eight.

John A. Duplisea received his education in the public schools of his native town, and when he was cighteen years old selected the painter's trade as an occupation. After following his trade at Princetown and various places in New England, he went to Montana and engaged in sheep raising in Dawson County, where he had as many as 5,000 head in one flock, ranging them on government and railroad land. The sheep business occupied him four years. Returning to his native state he again took up his trade and worked for four years. He then returned to Montana, and after living there eight years went to New Brunswick, Canada, where he spent one winter.

The marriage of Mr. Duplisea was solemnized in New Brunswick in 1905, when he was united with Miss Letitia Anderson, a native of that place and a daughter of Charles and Elenor Anderson. Her father was a millwright by trade. Mrs. Duplisea was educated in the schools of New Brunswick. There were five children in the family: Anna, Le- titia, Charles, George and Hannah. Her father lived to be seventy-six, and her mother seventy-two years old. In 1908 Mr. and Mrs. Duplisea left New Brunswick for California, and settled in Lodi, where they purchased ' fifteen acres, a Tokay vineyard, about one-half mile east of Lodi on the traction line. Among the improvements that Mr. Duplisea has put on his home place is an electric pumping plant for irrigating his ranch.

FRED DUTCHER .- Among the more recent accessions to the agricultural class in San Joaquin County is Fred Dutcher, who since 1919 has farmed successfully on his homestead of seventy-seven acres northwest of Woodbridge. He was born near War- ren, in Jo Daviess County, Ill., April 6, 1872, a son of John Henry and Margaret Elizabeth (Renwick) Dutcher. When Fred Dutcher was six weeks old his parents moved to Beloit, Kans., where the father homesteaded a quarter-section of land and engaged in general farming pursuits; later he sold his ranch and moved into the city of Beloit. Grandfather

Dutcher was an early settler of Illinois. Before the Civil War he settled among the Black Hawk Indians of northern Illinois, and served in the Black Hawk Indian wars. He acquired a section of land and engaged in farming. His farm was well improved; his barn cost about $50,000, and his house was built of black walnut lumber and was splendidly fur- nished.

Fred Dutcher received only a limited schooling, for he was only eight years old when he left home and became a jockey. He rode for many years for Ed Corrigan, riding in races throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the Southern and central Western states during a period of thirteen years. He was twenty-one years old when he decided to quit the tracks. Thereafter he did all kinds of work through the middle West, and covered a great deal of coun- try in his travels.

On May 20, 1902, at Salina, Kans., Mr. Dutcher was married to Miss Edith Armstrong, a native of Texas, a daughter of Robert and Lucinda (Snody) Armstrong. The young couple resided in Salina until 1909, when they removed to Morgan Hill, Cal.,

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and Mr. Dutcher found work in the prune orchards of that locality. Afterwards he moved to Coalinga, Cal., and worked on the rotary drilling machines in the oil fields for two years. Then for one year he drove tractors for the Kern Trading Oil Company. Later he was with the San Joaquin Valley Farm and Land Company; and then he moved to Corcoran, Cal., and worked for the El Rico Land Company. He was also employed by the David Jacks Company on their Monterey City ranch, where he remained until six years ago. Then he came to Lodi as fore- man for Judge De Vries on his ranch north of Woodbridge, and continued in that capacity for three years.

In 1919 Mr. Dutcher purchased forty-seven acres north of Woodbridge, twelve acres of which is in seventeen-year-old vines. Later he purchased an additional thirty acres near his other property, which was in alfalfa and unimproved land. He runs a dairy of thirty-three head. His ranch is equipped with a seven-inch pump driven by a fifteen-horse- power motor, for irrigation. Sound judgment, indus- try and strong purpose are salient features of Mr. Dutcher's business career, and these constitute the basis of his prosperity.

BRUCE R. DU VALL .- Classed among the suc- cessful business men of Ripon is Bruce R. Du Vall, the owner and proprietor of the Ripon Lumber Yard and mill, and in addition to furnishing lumber, his mill turns out the finished material for completed buildings. He was born and reared in the vicinity of Minto, N. D., and was fortunate in receiving a good education. His education began in the gram- mar schools of Minto, then three years in the high school of that place, and one year in high school in Chicago, then two years in Baltimore, Md. In 1908 he entered Cornell University, taking a course in mechanical engineering, where he remained for three years. At this time he was offered a good position with a manufacturing company at Roselake, Idaho, where he was employed for the next three years. In 1914 he came to California a's assistant manager of the Ripon Lumber Company, then owned by Mr. Steele, who resides in Modesto.

The first marriage of Mr. Du Vall occurred at Ripon which united him with Miss Rhoda Strome, also born at Minto, N. D. She was a graduate of Castle School for young women at Tarrytown, N. Y., and in 1908 accompanied her paraents to California. She passed away at the family home in Manteca in January, 1919. Mr. Du Vall removed to Manteca in 1916 where he purchased the Home Lumber Com- pany. The business grew from the time he acquired it and he erected a fine home and was well satisfied with the business outlook. During the influenza epidemic, Mr. Du Vall was taken ill and his life despaired of, and at this time his wife passed away with the dread disease. Recovering from his severe illness, Mr. Du Vall sold his business and home and returned to Ripon where he became employed with the Ripon Lumber Yard and in 1921 purchased a controlling interest in the company. In June, 1920, Mr. Du Vall was married to Mrs. Helen Gotshall, widow of Karl A. Gotshall, who passed away in 1919, survived by his widow and two sons, Robert and Paul Gotshall. Karl A. Gotshall was the pro- prietor of the lumber yards at Ripon and was also engaged in the stock business. Mr. Du Vall is a

member of the Masons at Manteca and the Mt. Horeb Lodge of I. O. O. F., and locally is a mem- ber of the Ripon Merchants' Association. Besides his lumber and mill business at Ripon, Mr. Du Vall owns a thirty-acre vineyard north of Manteca. As a public-spirited citizen, he has interested himself in community progress and welfare and is doing his full share in the work of industrial development in his locality.

VITTORIO LAGORIO .- An orchardist whose well-earned success has made him an influential citi- zen is Vittorio Lagorio, who was born in the prov- ince of Genoa, Italy, May 8, 1866. He was a son of Angelo and Teresa (Russio) Lagorio, farmers near Genoa. Of their eight children, Vittorio was the fourth in order of birth. He was raised on the home farm and was educated in the local schools. He was nineteen years old when he left his home in Italy for America, to join his brother, Louis, who had come seven years previously. Arriving in Stockton on April 4, 1885, he began to work at anything that would earn him a livelihood, then went to San Francisco, where he worked in a sugar refinery for one year. He then went to Washington, where he bought a team of horses and was engaged in construction work on the railroad building out of Pt. Townsend, receiving $50 a month for him- self and team. Returning to California, he came to Stockton in 1892 and purchased a fourteen-acre ranch in the Elmwood district on the Copperopolis road, which he developed into a profitable orchard and vineyard. Later he purchased thirty acres of the Charles Haas ranch on Bishop Lane, which he also set out to vineyard and orchard, later adding thir- teen and three-quarters acres, on which he has built a fine residence. The chief crops produced on his ranch are apricots, peaches, and cherries, while be- tween the trees he raises fine vegetables for the market in Stockton. He also owns a half-interest in a ranch of 196 acres near Peters, where they have planted a twenty-acre vineyard, and will rapidly set the whole acreage to vines. Mr. Lagorio has great faith in the future of San Joaquin County lands and Stockton real estate. He owns a business building on Washington Street, which he leases.

On October 5, 1896, Mr. Lagorio was married to Miss Annie Sanguinetti, born in Stockton, a daughter of Angelo Sanguinetti, an honored pioneer whose sketch also appears in this work. Mrs. La- gorio, a devoted wife and mother, passed away May 20, 1914, leaving him six children: Emily, a graduate of Heald's Business College, and now bookkeeper in the Commercial & Savings Bank of Stockton; Mary, who makes her home with her father; Angelo, edu- cated at Heald's Business College, and now a part- ner with his father in farming and fruit-raising; Lor- raine, a graduate of Heald's Business College, now employed as stenographer for C. H. Vance, attorney- at-law; Romildo attending Stockton high school; and Vittorio, Jr., still in grammar school.

In 1918, Mr. Lagorio made an extended trip to his old home in Italy, visiting his friends and the scenes of his boyhood days. While there he was married a second time, being united with Laura Camera, who was born in the vicinity of his old home. Returning to his Stockton ranch, he again took up farming. In 1923 he completed a residence at 2020 North Center Street, Stockton, where he now resides, having turned over the management of

V. Lagorio

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his ranches to his son Angelo. He rightly retains a love for the land of his birth but he is loyal to the institutions of his adopted country and his interests center in the land of the Stars and Stripes, and par- ticularly in California, where he has steadily worked his way upward.

THOMAS C. EVANS .- A worthy representative of the early California pioneers is Thomas C. Evans, a highly respected citizen of Stockton, who is now living retired at his beautiful home located at 145 Sperry Street, where he has resided for the past four- teen years. He was born in Carmarthenshire, Wales, May 24, 1849, and his father died when he was one year old. Subsequently his mother was married to Henry V. Moore, also a native of Wales, and in 1852 they came to America settling near Salt Lake City, having crossed the plains by ox-team thither. Mr. Moore was engaged in mining and pros- pecting for several years. In 1859 the family re- moved to Carson City, Nev., where Mr. Moore was employed on the construction of a tunnel through the mountains from Jacks Valley to Washoe Valley. In 1860, Thomas C. Evans came with his mother to California, settling in the Linden section of San Joaquin County, where they resided for two years, then were joined by Mr. Moore, and the family then removed to Contra Costa County to a ranch at the foot of Mt. Diablo, where Mr. Moore raised stock and successfully farmed for a number of years; later the family returned to San Joaquin County and in 1897 Mr. Moore passed away at Lockeford. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore, three daughters and three sons. After her husband's death Mrs. Moore removed to Stockton and later to Oakland, where she lived until she passed away in 1906.

At Stockton, October 11, 1874, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Katherine Hoerl, a native of New York City, a daughter of Frantz and Lona (Kramer) Hoerl, both natives of Germany, who came to Amer- ica in the late '50s. Mrs. Evans has three brothers; Joseph resides in Stockton, Henry resides near French Camp and John Hoerl at Lodi, all ranchers. The Hoerl family emigrated to California via Pan- ama in the early '50s, and both parents passed away many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the par- ents of three children: Gertrude died at the age of nine years, Gilbert died at the age of two years, and Thomas Herbert is married to Miss Mary Mc- Adams, and has seven children; he is a rancher and conducts the Ellisworth farm on shares with his father; he is a prominent member of the Eagles in Stockton.

In 1880 Mr. Evans removed to Stockton, where he built and conducted a hotel at Collar and Elbow, Roberts Island, in the early reclamation period of the Delta district; he also built several similar places, one at Holts on the middle division of the island and one on Waterloo Road just outside of Stockton, engaging in this business until 1887, when he entered the sheep business. He built and conducted the sheep dipping plant on the edge of Roberts Island near Stockton where during the first season more thạn 120,000 sheep were dipped; he also cared for large herds of sheep on shares, but after two severe winters when he suffered financial reverses he gave up the sheep business and turned his attention to farming in the Delta, where he made considerable

money. For ten years Mr. Evans conducted the club rooms of the Grand Central Hotel in Stockton and in 1896 built the Wallace Hotel at Wallace. Cala- veras County, at that time the terminus of the Si- erra Nevada Railroad, which he conducted for six years; he also built hotels at Dogtown, Ringer and Elliott, which he ran for a few years, then sold to good advantage. Meantime, Mr. Evans has carried on farming in which he is still active, owning a choice grain farm in the Ellisworth district, which is man- aged by his son, Thomas Herbert. Mr. Evans is affiliated with the Stockton Lodge of Red Men.

JULIUS E. ENGLANDER-A representative member of the agricultural class which has made the San Joaquin Valley one of the most prosperous farming districts in the state of California, is Julius E. Englander. He is a pioneer of Union Island, where he began his farming operations in 1880, forty- three years ago, and his long residence and experi- ence in Delta farming have made him prominent and influential in the development and advancement of this portion of the county, a citizen of more than ordinary degree of public spirit and personal worth. He is a native son of California, born in San Fran- cisco, June 7, 1856, the eldest of six children born to Aaron and Minnie (Pink) Englander, both natives of Germany. Aaron Englander left his native coun- try for America in 1849, arriving in San Francisco, then called Yerba Buena, the same year, having crossed the plains with ox-teams and wagons with two brothers, Leopold and Max. He opened the first con- fectionery store on Second Street, which he con- ducted for two years when he sold out and removed to Marysville, bought land and engaged in farming, producing large crops of broom corn, which he ex- hibited at a state fair in 1856, receiving therefor the first banner and medal ever given for this product. In 1858 he returned to San Francisco, where he opened a commission house on Battery Street, con- tinuing until his death in 1868, aged fifty years. Six children were born to this worthy pioneer couple of whom only two survive, Julius E., the subject of this review, and Samuel, superintendent of wharves in San Francisco. Aaron Englander was a prominent member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Red Men in San Francisco.

Julius E. Englander was reared and educated in San Francisco, and early in life learned lessons of industry and thrift and while still a young boy was employed in various stores and spent his evenings at home in study. He remained in San Francisco until 1873 when he removed to Livermore where he was employed on the Watts stock range for three years. In 1877 he was married to Mrs. Mary Phelps, widow of William Harrison Phelps. There were two children in the Phelps family, William and Ella May. Mr. and Mrs. Englander are the parents of four children: Arthur Garfield, Maude C., Mabel M., and Ethel L., all natives of San Joaquin County. In the fall of 1880 the family removed to Union Island where Mr. Englander engaged in general farming on the Pescadero grant, remaining there for seventeen years when he removed to Hanford and farmed for five years. With the exception of three years spent in San Francisco, Mr. Englander has been a continuous resident of San Joaquin County since 1907, when he entered the employ of the Bixler Farms and fourteen years ago he became foreman of the Canal ranch, where he carries on dairying, stock-

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raising and general farming. He makes his home on the historic Kidd ranch fifteen miles southwest of Stockton. He is active in the affairs of the Dem- ocratic party and serves on the election board.

H. W. EKHOLM .- An enterprising citizen who has been identified with the Escalon district of San Joaquin County since 1910, when he purchased a forty-six-acre tract, is H. W. Ekholm, who developed his place to fruit and alfalfa, and is now leasing it while he is engaged in carrying mail out of Escalon. He was born near Rock Island, Ill., January 16, 1876, a son of Peter Ekholm, whose mother was Annie (Petersen) Ekholm. Peter Axel Ekholm was born in Sweden, August 11, 1852, and by the time he was twelve was making shoes in his father's shop in Sweden, a trade he followed until he was twenty years old, when he left home and boarded a west bound vessel at Gottenburg, and on September 9, 1872, landed in Quebec, Canada; from there he went to Orion, Henry County, Ill., and soon thereafter he was married to Miss Julia B. Peterson, also a native of Sweden, who had come to America in 1872. From Illinois, Peter Ekholm removed to McPherson County, Kansas, in 1880, where for thirty-two years he engaged in farming and stockraising. In 1912 the family came to California settling at Escalon, and Mr. Ekholm lived retired until the time of his death on December 3, 1922. Here as in every other place where he had ever lived he gained the friend- ship and respect of all who knew him and his death brought deep sadness to the entire community.

H. W. Ekholm accompanied his parents to Kan- sas when he was a small boy and received a good education in the public schools of that state, then in 1908 completed a business course at Quincy, Ill. He then removed to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he entered the employ of a large machine and wagon factory, remaining with them about one year, when he took the civil service examination and received an appointment to a position at Vallejo, Cal., where he worked for two and a half years for the Govern- ment.

While residing in Salt Lake City Mr. Ekholm was married to Miss Amanda O. Edenburg, a native of Kansas, the daughter of Peter and Matilda (Lund- quist) Edenburg of Lindsborg, Kans. Mr. and Mrs. Ekholm are the parents of three children: Paul, Ruth and Carl, all students in the Escalon public school. In 1910 Mr. Ekholm bought forty-six and a half acres, partly improved, near Escalon, and two years later moved his family to the ranch and until 1916 was engaged in raising fruit and alfalfa. Again Mr. Ekholm entered the service of the Government and since 1916 has been employed in carrying the mail on a rural route out of Escalon. The family reside in a fine home at the corner of French Camp Road and Raymond Avenue and are active members of the Lutheran Church at Escalon, of which Mr. Ekholm is a trustee.

ESCALON UNION HIGH SCHOOL .- San Joaquin County owes much of its progress, especially the rapid increase of its population, to its excellent institutions of learning, for where there are good educational facilities there the homeseeker will set- tle. Among the more recent institutions of learning is the Escalon Union high school, which was com- pleted and opened for the second semester of the school year on March 15, 1922. Realizing the im-

portance of having a high school in Escalon, a num- ber of the prominent and progressive citizens started the movement for one in 1917. Two elections were held, at which it was voted down by the citizens of that section; however, a special election was called in the district and a board of trustees were selected as follows: W. L. Combs, as president of the board; H. H. Mckinney; H. Louis Morgenson, clerk; Otto Peterson and G. R. Smith. Five districts were represented in the general election, namely, Van Allen, Burwood, Enterprise, Lone Tree, and Four Tree, and in May, 1919, the high school was founded and the original officers comprising the board of trustees are still serving. On July 16, 1919, the board held their first meeting at Escalon and the following September high school was opened in the Jones residence, offering a two-year course in charge of two teachers, F. W. Denny serving as principal for two years. The other teacher during the first year was Miss Anna von Glahn, who resigned dur- ing that year and was succeeded by Miss Mildred Orr. During its second year the school had five teachers. Prof. Oliver Irons is now principal over six teachers. On May 5, 1921, an election was held to vote bonds for the erection of a suitable building and the bonds carried for $85,000. Bids were opened on August 2, 1921, and on August 30, 1921, the contract was let to John Madsen of Ripon who used every effort to hasten the completion of the building and the work progressed so well that on March 15, 1922, the services of dedication were held with F. W. Wurster of Stockton in charge of the program, the principal speaker of the occa- sion being Dr. Tully C. Knoles, president of the Col- lege of the Pacific. The standard four year high school course is maintained with .a corps of eight teachers and at the present time there are 100 stu- dents and as the Escalon section expands the build- ing will still be adequate to care for the students from the districts adjacent to Escalon. The board of trustees hold bi-monthly meetings and have the full confidence and cooperation of the entire public and Escalon is to be congratulated on the substan- tial and handsome high school building and for the students that traverse its halls and for the progres- sive and far-seeing citizens and friends that made possible such an institution.

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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 207

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