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 219

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 219

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CLARENCE VAN TIL .- Among the more re- cent acquisitions to the contracting and building in- dustry of the Ripon section of San Joaqun County, is Clarence Van Til, who located in this section of the county in 1919, where he purchased a ranch and other valuable real estate. He was born in Gronigen, Hol- land, June 18, 1891, a son of Ite Van Til, a native of the same place and a farmer all his lifetime. The family, consisting of father, mother, seven girls and two boys, left their native land in 1903 and arrived at Grand Rapids, Mich., April 15, the same year. In the fall of 1903 the father and two sons located on a farm near Ellsworth, Mich., where the family resided for a number of years. Clarence was denied the pri- vilege of attending school but a short time, but the knowledge gained by experience, has proved of in- estimable value to him in subsequent years. At eight- een. years of age he left home and became an appren- tice to learn the carpenter's trade at Holland, Mich., where he worked for one year; then he worked for a contractor for fifteen months, receiving for his work one dollar per day, but out of this saved enough money to return to his home on a visit. In 1911 he went to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he worked at his trade for two years. With the money that he was able to save from his two years work, he re- moved to Denver, Colo., but one year later returned to Grand Rapids, where he did his first contract work, erecting five residences for J. Van Polen, who later became his father-in-law. Our subject's mother passed away at the family home at Ellsworth, Mich., during February, 1905.

On April 5, 1917, at Denver, Colo., Mr. Van Til was married to Miss Sena Van Polen, born Sep-

tember 7, 1890, in Feerwerd, province of Gronigen, Holland, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Jongs- ma) Van Polen, both natives of Friesland, Holland. Jacob Van Polen was a successful merchant in Grand Rapids for twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Van Til are the parents of one daughter, Gertrude Nellie born at Ripon, July 16, 1920. Mr. Van Til continued his contract work in Colorado until his removal to Cali- fornia in 1919, working in Denver, Seibert and Cope, Colo., where he erected many residences and some business blocks. In Cope, Colo., he erected the bank building and a $10,000 residence for the president of the bank; he also improved a small ranch in the vicin- ity of Seibert, Colo. He then sold his property in Colorado and removed to California, locating at Ripon and during his three years residence in this section has been active in building. Some of the buildings which he has erected are the Calla district school building, costing $14,000; the Riverbank school costing $24,000; the New Hope and Thornton school buildings. In 1922, Mr. Van Til was awarded the contract for the San Joaquin County Fair Grounds Association, the construction work amounting to $64,- 000. Mr. Van Til's partner in his contracting work is L. Ubels, who has been doing contracting and building work in San Joaquin County for the past four years. Mr. Van Til has erected a fine residence in Ripon, where he resides with his wife and daughter, and the family are active members of the Christian Reform Church.

LAFE WARD .- A well-to-do rancher of the El- liott district of San Joaquin County, who has won his success entirely through his own industry and enter- prise, is Lafe Ward. He was born at Beverly, W. Va, on December 9, 1868, a son of Abraham and Lucinda Ward. Grandfather Ward was a plantation owner in Virginia, and an early settler. In 1874, the father, Abraham Ward, started across the plains by the southern route through Texas, and arriving in California settled at Collegeville, San Joaquin County, and there leased about 700 acres of land, which he farmed to grain. The father passed away in 1903, sixty-three years old, and the mother in 1921, at the age of eighty years.

For a number of years Mr. Ward rented various ranches, among them being the Northrup ranch, now conducted by John D. Sowles, whose sketch is found in this volume. He spent a few years a quarter of a mile east of the Elliott schoolhouse; and then rented the Henderson ranch, known as section seven, con- sisting of 420 acres of land, on which Mr. Ward raised grain and stock. He then purchased 480 acres one-half mile north of the Elliott school, and also farms forty acres belonging to his mother; besides he rents a half-section of land on Dry Creek, making a total of over 800 acres that he successfully farms. Mr. Ward is the father of three children, James B , Tyrell, and Bessie, residing at Sacramento. James B. and Tyrell are in partnership with their father in running the ranches, on which they maintain about 200 head of cattle and operate a dairy of sixty cows. Mr. Ward has made extensive improvements in the way of modern buildings and equipment for handling his business. He has twelve head of work horses, but does much of his plowing, harrowing, planting, etc., with a tractor.

James- B. Ward, the eldest son, was born in San Joaquin County on July 29, 1894, attended the district school, and finished his education with a business

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

course in Heald's Business College at Sacramento. On November 2, 1917, he entered the service of his country and was sent to Camp Lewis, where he re- mained but two days, when he was placed in the 116th Signal Corps of the 41st Division and sent to Camp Mills, and later to Camp Merritt, N. J. While at Camp Merritt, he was taken ill and could not go to France with the original outfit, but was placed in the 161st Ambulance Corps, and on January 11, 1918, was sent to France via Liverpool, Southampton and La Havre. During April of 1918 his company went to the front with the French at St. Die and served in the drive on Frappell on the Strassburg front. Later he was sent to Nancy and Point Mousson on the Mouselle River and was in the second Argonne of- fensive, being near Sedan, France, when the armis- tice was signed. He then returned to Verennes, and went thence to Mallory where he remained for one month; and then came to Montigny, where he was stationed for four months. Returning to the United States via Marseilles, he landed in New York City on May 9, 1919, after having been on the water twenty-one days. Coming immediately to San Fran- cisco, Cal., he was mustered out at the Presidio on May 29, 1919, honorably discharged, and returned to his home in San Joaquin 'County. The marriage of James B. Ward occurred in Stockton on April 14, 1920, and united him with Garnet Loker, a native of Nebraska, and a daughter of Victor and Sophie Loker. Her parents came to California while Garnet was a small girl, and her father was section boss for many years for the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany. Mr. and Mrs. James B. Ward have one son, James B., J.r., born on his father's birthday, July 29, 1922.

Tyrell Ward was also born in San Joaquin County, on November 25, 1896, and attended the district schools of the county, finishing with a commercial course at Heald's Business College in Sacramento. His marriage occurred in Sacramento on July 20, 1921, and united him with Miss Tina Daniels, a native of Elk Grove, Cal., a daughter of Robert and Mina (Noble) Daniels, her father a native of Ireland, who came to California many years ago, where he has since farmed to advantage. Mr. and Mrs. Tyrell Ward have one child, Robert La Fayette, born June 26, 1922. In politics, Mr. Ward and his two sons are Democrats. Fraternally, Mr. Ward belongs to the Elks; and he and his two sons belong to the Eagles of Lodi.

DAVID D. WERNER .- A progressive and suc- cessful vineyardist, who lives near Kenefick Station, on the traction line, about five miles northeast of Acampo, is David D. Werner, a native of Hutchin- son County, S. D., where he was born on January 12, 1884. His father, Fred Werner, was a native of Russia who came out to South Dakota, preempted and homesteaded land and raised grain, and married Miss Elizabeth Reiswig, also a native of Russia, who had likewise come to South Dakota. They had twelve children, of whom nine are living today: Mary, John, Abraham, David, Adam, Sarah, Emmett, Fred, (deceased), Fred (the ninth-born, also deceased), Katherine, Miriam, and Leona.

David Werner was educated in the grammar schools of Hutchinson County and remained at home until he was of age, when, in 1905, he came out to California. On February 9, 1906, he married Mi-

Katherine Baumbach, the daughter of finge and Charlotte (Delck) Baumbach, substantial farmer- folks, who took up homestead and preemption land. One of their daughters, Mrs. Werner's sister, mar- ried John Bechtold. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baumbach are living in Canada today. In 1906 Mr. Werner bought twenty acres on the traction line near Kene- fick Station, ten acres of which are in vineyard, and ten in open farmland, well irrigated by means of a six-horse-power motor and a three-inch pump. Mr. Werner farms according to the latest methods with excellent results. Mr. and Mrs. Werner have five children: Ernest, Fred, Clarence, Viola and Dorothy. Mr. Werner belongs to the Church of God at Lodi.

R. R. WILCOX .- Although twenty-three years have passed since the death of R. R. Wilcox, the memory of his long years of honorable, upright life and kindly nature is cherished by those who knew him, and his name is inscribed high on the roll of California's esteemed citizens. He was a native of Rhode Island and in that state was reared and edu- cated to young manhood, when he left his native state for Kansas where he homesteaded a tract of land and engaged in general farming.

Mr. Wilcox was married while residing in Kansas to Mrs. Julia (Summers) Titman, the widow of John Titman, a prominent and successful farmer and stock- man, who passed away in early life survived by his widow and five daughters. Mrs. Wilcox was born in Indiana in 1848 and accompanied her parents to Iowa, where she married Mr. Titman. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- cox were the parents of two children, Mrs. Mary Thoman Agien, whose sketch also appears in this history, and Mrs. Annie Morgan of Stockton. In 1880, the Wilcox family came to California and visited at the home of their relatives, Frederick by name, at Ripon; three years later Mr. Wilcox located on a ranch near Taylor's Ferry on the Stanislaus River, where he farmed successfully until his death in 1899. He was classed among the enterprising, progressive and influential citizens of his locality and could be relied upon to support any movement for the ad- vancement and development of county or state. Mrs. Wilcox survived her husband until 1914, when she passed away at Lathrop.

PETER ZORNIG .- A rancher and dairyman of the Lodi section of the San Joaquin Valley who is making a success of his undertaking by the labor of his hands is Peter Zornig, who like many successful men began with small capital. He was born in Ham- burg, Germany, May 14, 1882, a son of Michael and Katherine Zornig. The father, a brickmason, came to the United States when Peter was a child of four years and first settled in Clinton, Iowa, but remained there but a short time when he removed to California and settled at Franklin. He and his wife are the par- ents of two children, Peter, and Anna, Mrs. J. W. Wilson, living at Elk Grove, Cal.

Peter Zornig received a grammar school education in the schools of Franklin, Cal., and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years old. when he established a livery stable business in Sac- ramento which he conducted for five years, then sold it and removed to Placerville, where he was engaged in the lycra ma - 1 time when he returned to Sacramento County and took up dairying on the home place with his father.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

to Aliss Mota H. Lange, a daughter of John and Mary (Ahrents) Lange. She was born at Wood- bridge, Cal., and received her education at the Hen- derson school. Her parents were both natives of Germany, who came to California in 1881 and settled at Woodbridge where they reared a family of seven children: Emma, William, Herman, Meta H., Albert, John, and Marie, Mrs. Jacob Kurtz. Her father passed away at the age of forty-two and the mother at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Zornig inherited twenty-five acres from her father's estate, located on Kettleman Lane one mile south of Lodi and on this ranch the young married couple took up their abode. Mr. Zornig planted fifteen acres to al- falfa and has a ten-acre vineyard of Mission grapes. 'On this ranch, Mr. Zornig runs a dairy of twenty cows and has one of the most up-to-date dairy barns in the county, being well equipped with modern machinery and sanitary in every particular. In poli- tics, Mr. Zornig supports the best men and measures, that he considers best for all the people and the

county. Mr. and Mrs. Zornig are members of the German Lutheran Church of Lodi. Mr. Zornig has a strong attachment for the land of his adoption, and is thoroughly American in thought and spirit.

ANDREW SOLA .- An honored citizen of his community for many years, Andrew Sola is entitled to a place in the annals of San Joaquin County his- tory. The Sola home place consists of 312 acres ten miles east of Stockton on the Copperopolis Road, which is ably managed by Mrs. Sola since her hus- band's death assisted by her sons. He was born in Cuneo, Italy, November 30, 1849, a son of Andrew and Dominica (Aleman) Sola, natives of Italy, where they engaged in farming and where they reared twelve children. Andrew received a good education in the public schools of Italy and he was thirty years of age when he left that country in 1879. His brother Battista had come to California in 1875 and had lo- cated at Lodi, where he worked on a grain ranch. After several years Andrew was joined by his brothers, Peter and Louis, and the three located on Government land near Pixley, Tulare County.

In Stockton, on December 28, 1883, Mr. Sola was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Brondetta, born in Cuneo, Italy, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Cecardi) Brondetta. Mrs. Sola received a good edu- cation in the Sisters Convent in her native province. Before Andrew Sola had started for California he had obtained her promise to become his wife and it was planned that when he was settled and in better circumstances she should join him, so in 1883 she left home with a party of friends, among whom was her brother John, now deceased, and they arrived in Stockton, December 23, 1883. Mr. Sola was there to meet her and they were soon married. Nine children were born to them: Mary is the wife of John Panetto and they have seven children; An- drew, a rancher on the home place; Elizabeth, Mrs. James Panero, has two children; Josephine, Mrs. Samuel Casteline, residing in Stockton; Joseph is a partner in the home place; he married Miss Anna Sanguinetti, a daughter of Andrew Sanguinetti; Theresa is a graduate of the Western Normal School and follows her profession in the schools of San Joa- quin County, where for the past six years she has been principal of the Everett school; Anna is Mrs. Marion Galli of Stockton; Lucy died in infancy:

William is also a partner on the home ranch. Mr. Sola pioneered in grain farming in Tulare County, where he spent fourteen successful years. He then sold his grain ranch and moved to Kern County, near Bakersfield, where he rented land for one year. He took up his residence in San Joaquin County in 1899 and located on Roberts Island, where he en- gaged in grain farming for three years; then in 1902 he moved to a ranch near Peters and farmed for some years. After a long illness, he passed away, November 5, 1907, mourned by the entire community. Mrs. Sola took up the responsibility of the manage- ment of the estate left by her husband and has demon- strated her ability to do so, having had the coopera- tion of her children through all the years. Having sold their land in Tulare County in 1913, Mrs. Sola purchased the Swan ranch of 312 acres on the Cop- peropolis Road, ten miles east of Stockton, where fine crops of wheat are raised each season; Mrs. Sola also owns a twenty-acre vineyard ten miles from Stockton on the Sonora Road, which has been de- veloped by her sons.

JAMES M. STEVENSON .- Among the well known and respected citizens of the Escalon district of San Joaquin County i's James M. Stevenson, a man whose history furnishes a splendid example of what may be accomplished through well directed ef- fort. He was born at Metamora, Mich., April 27, 1873, and was only nine years old when he was thrown on his own resources; however, he got a chance to go to school until he was twelve years old and by so doing received a fair education. He learned the riveter's trade and found work in the ship- yards and also worked at his trade in the coal mines at Bay City, where he remained for eleven years.

On September 30, 1894, Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. Clark, a daughter of Samuel S. and Eliza (Lockwood) Clark, the former a native of Scotland, and the latter of Michigan. Sam- uel S. Clark came to Michigan from his native land in the early '60s, where he was married to Miss Lockwood. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are the parents of nine children, only three of whom now survive: Floyd L; Samuel Grant; and John Mortimer. The two latter are ranchers in San Joaquin County, while Floyd L. is a member of the firm of Maynard & Stevenson, paper hangers and painters, Stockton, Cal. When Mr. Stevenson came to California he located at Stockton, where he conducted a furniture business for three years. Disposing of it, he farmed in the Kingman district near Lodi, then located in Escalon in 1914. Mr. Stevenson encountered many discour- aging things in his agricultural activities, but with true western spirit he let nothing turn him aside from his purpose and in the end has won a place for him- self among the successful ranchers of his locality. He farmed seventy acres in the Irwin addition to Escalon besides conducting an alfalfa and dairy ranch. He has devoted much time to the San Joaquin County Fair Association and much credit is due him for the fine Escalon exhibits at the county fairs. Fraternally he is active in lodge circles, retaining his membership in Ivy Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Bay City, Mich. Since his location at Escalon Mr. Stevenson has made many warm personal friends, has established a reputation as an excellent agriculturist, and is a valued citizen.

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MRS. MARY SULLIVAN .- A native daughter of San Joaquin County who was born and reared on a farm and who is now engaged in raising grapes, is Mrs. Mary Sullivan. She was born August 11, 1863, a daughter of that old pioneer Patrick Brennan, a native of Ireland, who came to California and settled near Atlanta in the early '60s, where he engaged in grain farming on a large scale. Miss Brenann at- tended the public school in the Van Allen district of San Joaquin County and while still a young girl went to Hanford and lived with her brother, William J. Brennan who was, at that time, the proprietor of the Hanford Water Works.

On October 18, 1889, Miss Brennan was married in San Francisco to Daniel J. Sullivan, born at Mil- waukee, Wis., October 26, 1861, who when seven years of age was brought by his parents to California where they settled in San Francisco. Daniel J. Sul- livan grew up and received his education in the schools of Milwaukee and San Francisco. Twenty- nine years ago he became identified with the San Francisco Ice & Cold Storage Company and for some twenty-five years filled the position of foreman. Four years ago he resigned his position to engage in ranch- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan are the parents of two children: Margaret, born in San Francisco, is the widow of Edward Carter, a distinguished member of the San Francisco fire department who died of in- fluenza November 5, 1918; William was born in San Francisco in 1891 and resides at home with his par- ents, taking an active part in the ranching work. The forty-five-acre ranch has been planted to alfalfa and the vineyard planted in 1921 shows ninety-five per cent of live, healthy vines. The ranch is located four miles west of Escalon on the French Camp Road and has been brought to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Sullivan has been a member of the W. O. W. for the past twenty-two years. The success that has at- tended the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan is well merited, because they have labored conscientiously and at all times have been generous in their dealings with their fellowmen.

ALEX T. DARAK .- A native of far-off Turkey, Alex T. Darak has had a life filled with interest and adventure, especially in the days of his youth. He was born at Diarbekr, Turkey, on the River Tigris, on August 31, 1866, and was fortunate in attending Euphrates College at Kharput, an American College established there by the Congregational Church. Here he received the A. B. degree in 1885, and subsequent to his graduation he taught school in Kurdistan and in Trebizond, on the Black Sea, this covering a period of five years. He and his brother Joseph wrote a book dealing with Mohammedanism, and as this got them into trouble with the authorities, Mr. Darak was obliged to flee from the country to save his life. He took refuge on a French steamer and was hidden in the captain's cabin and taken to Marseilles. He reached New York February 29, 1892, and here started to work with an oriental rug concern, and in 1895 he became manager of the oriental rug depart- ment of the Bloomingdale Bros. Department Store, at Fifty-ninth Street and Third Avenue, dealing in oriental rugs, and two years later he opened a busi- ness of his own at Sixth Avenue and Eleventh Street. where he had a large clientele among the wealthy New Yorkers, as he carried an exclusive line of fine oriental rugs which he imported.

In 1900 Mr. Darak sold out hte De . and . ... spring of 1907 he came to Kingsburg, Fresno County, Cal., and bought a forty-acre vineyard and fruit ranch, which has since been the family home. In 1920 Mr. Darak opened up his place of business in Stockton at 314 Channel Street, handling oriental rugs and mak- ing fluff rugs and rag carpets, and in September, 1922, moved to his present quarters, 420 East Channel Street, where he manufactures fluff or rag rugs and repairs all makes of rugs and particularly oriental rugs. It was while in New York he found it neces- sary to master the repairing of oriental rugs, so as to please his artistic patrons; so he is today prepared to cater to the most artistic tastes of his Stockton cli- entele.

His marriage at Brooklyn, N. Y., October 12, 1895, united him with Miss Arousiag Shaljian, born in Con- stantinople and a graduate of the American College there. They have three daughters, all graduates of the Kingsburg high school. Elizabeth K. is the wife of Z. P. Malcon, a graduate of Stanford, and now man- ager of a 450 acre ranch and vineyard in Tulare County; Beatrice, who graduated at Pomona College in piano and pipe organ, is teaching music at Fresno and Kingsburg; Dora Susan is now attending Heald's Business College. Mr. Darak, who became a citizen of his adopted land soon after arriving here, is a thor- ough American and a wide reader and student. He was made a Mason in Roonie Lodge, No. 746, A. F. & A. M., afterwards demitting to Lodge 294 at Kings- burg.

ROLAND E. DOAN .- The pioneer families of the Golden State find a worthy representative in San Joaquin County in Roland E. Doan, a successful busi- ness man of the city of Stockton, who has done much to promote business activity and prosperity in this city, and in community affairs has been very influ- ential. He was born in Stockton, Cal., January 9, 1892, a son of Charles E. and Catherine (Maurer) Doan, both natives of California. Grandfather Latti- mar E. Doan, born in Michigan, came across the plains to California in an early day and engaged in the lum- ber business in El Dorado and Nevada counties. Charles E. Doan located in Stockton in 1881 and was associated with his brother, L. E. Doan, in several enterprises. Ten years later Charles E. Doan removed to Seattle, where he became a reporter in the U. S. land office and the Washington courts; later he re- turned to Stockton and with a partner established the Gas City Business College, which he operated until 1901, when the business was sold and Mr. Doan be- came reporter of the Superior Court. There are two children, Roland E., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Irma Parks. Mr. Doan is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Stockton.

Roland E. Doan attended the Washington and Fre- mont schools in Stockton and was graduated in 1910 from the Stockton high school. While attending high school he was secretary and treasurer of the student body and a member of the football team; then he entered the University of California in the College of Commerce department and during the year that he attended was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. .. 1. bile tire business with W. A. Walsh as partner, the his partner's interest and organized the Doan Auto

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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 219

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