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 220

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 220

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1514

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

WVar he sold his business and entered the service of his country, enlisting in the California National Guard in 1917 as a private, later being advanced to corporal; soon thereafter he was called into the regular army and joined the Coast Artillery at Fort Winfield Scott. He was sent to the officers' training camp at Fort Monroe, Va., where he received a commission as sec- ond lieutenant of artillery. He was then placed in charge of the work for the coast defenses in the per- sonnel department, there being 10,000 men under his supervision. While he was engaged in this work he was transferred to the adjutant general's depart- ment and advanced to the rank of first lieutenant and still later to the rank of captain. He was discharged at the close of the war and is now a member of the offic- ers' reserve corps, U.S.A., assigned as brigade adju- tant 188th Artillery 19th Corps, with headquarters at San Francisco. After his discharge, Mr. Doan became assistant to the general manager of the Lucey Manu- facturing Corporation at Pittsburg, Pa., where he re- mained eight months, then returned to Stockton and on March 12, 1921, established the R. E. Doan Com- pany, dealers in sporting goods, located in large and commodious quarters in the Elks Building at the cor- ner of Weber Avenue and Sutter Street. This com- pany carries one of the largest and most complete stocks of sporting equipment in the state and has built up a paying business which is steadily increasing. Mr. Doan is president and manager of the com- pany, L. E. Doan is vice-president and C. F. Kuhl is secretary and treasurer.

The marriage of Mr. Doan occurred January 18, 1919, which united him with Miss Norma M. Harri- son, a native of San Francisco, and they have one daughter, Barbara Jean. Before entering the war Mr. Doan was a director in the Stockton Chamber of Com- merce. He is a member of the Yosemite Club, the Stockton Golf and Country Club, and Elks, and a member of the executive committee of the Karl Ross Post of the American Legion and chairman of the finance commitee of same.

RUFINO ECHANDI .- A successful stock raiser of San Joaquin County is Rufino Echandi, who is a native of far away Spain, where he was born in Na- varro, November 16, 1890, a son of Francisco and Micaela Echandi, both natives of Navarro, where they are successful farmers and stockraisers. They were blessed with a family of eight children, of whom Ru- fino is the eldest. A sister and two brothers have also come to California and made their home here.

Rufino Echandi was reared to habits of industry and frugality and from a small lad helped his parents on the farm and with the stock. However, his educa- tion was not neglected and he regularly attended the local schools of his native district. When he arrived at the age of eighteen years he concluded to come to California and, following his decision, came immedi- ately to Stockton in the spring of 1909, being the first of his family to come to California. Arriving here, he went to work for Firmin Etcheverria, a sheep grower, and continued with him for three years, dur- ing which time he learned sheep raising as done in California. After this he went to Elko, Nev., where he spent a year working for a sheep grower, and then determined to start for himself. He had saved some money and in partnership with Pete Etundain pur- chased a flock of 1900 sheep and ranged them in Nevada for three years, increasing their band. They

then returned to San Joaquin and sold their flocks and dissolved partnership.

Taking his brother Thomas into partnership, he purchased 1500 head of sheep, ranging them in the valley and mountains; the band grew till he ran 3000 head. In 1921, however, he sold the flock and dis- solved partnership.

Mr. Echandi was married in Stockton, being united with Miss Modesta Olava, also a native of Spain, and they have been blessed with one child, Lucile. Mr. Echandi is very much interested in the great San Joaquin Valley and likes this country and does not regret that he decided to cast in his lot with the great and growing West. A Republican in politics, frater- nally he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

JULIUS EICHENBERGER. - A resident

of Stockton for more than a quarter of a century, Julius Eichenberger has done his part toward the building up of this thriving city, and as a partner in the deco- rating firm of Gibson & Eichenberger, he is well known in its business circles. A native of Switzer- land, he was born there March 28, 1873, the son of Emile and Anna (Berner) Eichenberger, both of whom have passed away, survived by five children. In 1886 the family came to the United States and settled at Selma, Fresno County, Cal., where the father en- gaged in farming, later removing to the Fowler neigh- borhood.

Julius Eichenberger attended the public schools of Fresno County, meanwhile helping with the farm work, and at the age of thirteen was following a plow on the home farm. In 1888 he started to learn the painter's trade with C. P. Finger of Selma and later was with George Slight of Hanford. For a year he worked in San Mateo and came to Stockton in 1895, where he was with Joe Badger and John Quinn, then formed a partnership with George Vincent, which was later dissolved. The next twelve years he spent as foreman for L. A. Danner and in 1914 he entered into partnership as Gibson & Eichenberger, and as painters and decorators they have taken a leading place in their line of work in Stockton.

In 1899, Mr. Eichenberger was married to Miss Caroline L. Peri, who came to California with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Peri, when she was three years old, her father being well known among Stock- ton's early residents. Mr. and Mrs. Eichenberger are the parents of four children: Juliet is the wife of Paul Rossi and they have two children; Theodore L. is with the American Carton Company at Stockton; Richard is a bookkeeper with the Sacramento and San Joaquin Bank; the youngest of the family is Car- roll Norman. Since 1900 Mr. Eichenberger has been a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood and he also belongs to the Fidelity Society.

C. C. EKENBERG .- Prominent among the pro- gressive and successful men of affairs in San Joaquin County is C. C. Ekenberg, the well-known contractor of Tracy, who was born at San Francisco on July 6, 1869, and in October of that same year was brought to this valley by his parents, William and Mary (Ferris) Ekenberg. William Ekenberg was a native of Sweden, who came to California in 1851 and be- came a longshoreman in the Bay district; and he also worked at carpentering until he came here, when he took up Government land near Mohr's Landing, and proved up on the same, while the home was main-

- -

- ..

- - 1

1515

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

tained near Bethany. Mrs. Ekenberg was born of Scotch parentage, in Belfast, Ireland, and came out to California, via Cape Horn, with her parents in 1849, when she was only twelve years old. She is now Mrs. Collins, and resides at 525 Clay Street, Stockton.

Our subject received a good common school edu- cation, and on reaching his majority, took up carpen- tering and building as a business at Tracy, and since 1892, with the exception of a period of eighteen months, he has made Tracy his headquarters, and so successful has he been that no small portion of the modern buildings in town have been erected under his supervision. He has always taken a live interest in the issues of the day; but while an active and an influ- ential Democrat, has never aspired to public office, and has refused proffers of nomination, when made from time to time.

In 1900, Mr. Ekenberg married Mrs. Daisy E. Shields, nee Lingenfeltzer, who already had one son, Edwin Shields; and they have had two children to gladden their wedded life. Walter Ekenberg is the elder, and Floyd the younger. Mr. Ekenberg is a charter member of Byron Parlor, N. S. G. W., and has been active. in the work of that lodge for the past thirty-two years.

MARK M. LEICHTER .- With a long and suc- cessful experience in connection with the theatrical · industry, Mark M. Leichter has demonstrated his executive ability as manager of the State Theater at Stockton, owned by Sam Harris and Irving C. Acker- man, long connected with the theatrical world in the West. In 1908 they started the Wigwam theater in San Francisco. Later they took over the Republic and following that the Hippodrome in Los Angeles. In a short time they annexed houses in Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Stockton, Oakland, Fresno, Long Beach, and Salt Lake. Their success has been noteworthy and it is a well-known fact that every theater they handled proved a big money maker. At present Ackerman & Harris are operating the Palace- Hip, Seattle; the Hippodrome, Portland; the State and Hippodrome, Sacramento; the State, Stockton; the Casino, Hippodrome and Century, San Francisco; the State, Oakland; the Hippodrome, Fresno; and the State, Salt Lake. They are booking their vaude- ville in several smaller houses in the West.

Mark M. Leichter was born on January 29, 1884, at San Francisco, and there he attended the public schools and the Humboldt high school. In company with his father he became connected with a moving picture theater at Third Avenue and Eighteenth Street, New York, and next they ran the Clinton Street Theater there. In 1907 they opened the Hippo- drome Theater in Jersey City with vaudeville and pictures, and from that they established a circuit throughout the state in the large cities. Returning to San Francisco, Mr. Leichter opened the Rex The- ater on Polk Street in that city.

In 1916 Mark M. Leichter opened the Strand The- ater on Market Street, San Francisco, for Sid Grau- man, as a picture house, and in 1917 he came to Stockton and opened the Hippodrome Theater for Ackerman & Harris. Under his efficient management the theater was a financial success and then Mr. Leich- ter retired from the theatrical business for two years. On November 17 he again entered the field in Stock- ton, opening Loew's State Theater, now the State

Theater, owned by Ackerman & Harris. This was formerly the Yosemite Theater and was remodeled at a large expenditure into a modern, up-to-date play- house, for pictures and vaudeville, and again Mr. Leichter's ability has made it a paying enterprise.

At San Francisco, on October 31, 1909, Mr. Leich- ter was married to Miss Sibyl Cohen, a native daugh- ter of that city, and they have two sons, Newton Sterling and Mortimer Elliott, both born in San Francisco. Mr. Leichter is a member of Doric Lodge No. 216, F. & A. M. of San Francisco; the Scottish Rite bodies there, and Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; he also belongs to the Yosemite Club, the Lions Club and the Sciots of Stockton. He is one of Stockton's ardent boosters, a live wire in every way. and when he returned to take over the management of the State Theater he received a hearty welcome from his many friends here.

GEORGE LE FEBER .- A successful viticulturist of the Lodi district is George Le Feber, who was born on January 6, 1866, in Milwaukee, Wis., where he was reared and educated. For many years he fol- lowed the dairy business near where he was born. During the year 1904 he came to California and set- tled first in Fresno, where he remained for two years; then, in the fall of 1906, he came to Lodi. His first real estate purchase was thirty acres, bought from Dr. S. R. Arthur; and one year later he added twenty-four acres, making a total of fifty-four acres. His ranch is about evenly divided between orchard and vineyard, his orchard being of assorted fruits, peaches, plums and almonds, and his vineyard being entirely devoted to the Tokay variety of grapes. He has improved his ranch with a modern system of irri- gation, with a fine pumping plant which produces an ample supply of water for all irrigation purposes. thus enabling him to bring his property to a high state of productiveness.

The marriage of Mr. Le Feber united him with Miss Daisy M. Dana, a native of Wisconsin, and they are the parents of four children: Georgia S. and H. Lucile, both graduates of the State Normal School located at San Jose, and both teaching in the public schools of Lodi; and Lloyd D. and Francis Elizabeth, students in the public schools of Lodi. Mr. Le Feber has been actively identified with the educational af- fairs of his community for many years, serving as a member of the Lodi grammar school board of trustees for six years and now serving his eighth year as a member of the Lodi public library board. Fratern- ally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

ALFONSE FARETTI .- Among the Sa s \n . ican residents of San Joaquin Count. . successful as farmers and stockraisers, is Alfonse Faretti, the owner of a fine 140-acre dairy ranch and young vineyard, four and a half miles southwest of Lodi on Kettleman Lane. He was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, October 3, 1871, a son of Jerome and Concordia Faretti, both native of the same coun- try. Jerome Faretti was a painter by trade, who plied his trade throughout the country and who made fre- quent visits to Paris, where he was engaged at his trade. There were three children in the family: John. who died at the age of forty-two; Mrs. Cornelia Ro- selli, who lives in Switzerland, and Alfonse. The

still living in her native land.

1516

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

At the age of nineteen Alfonse Faretti had finished his schooling and set out for the United States, com- ing direct to California, where he found employment on a dairy ranch at Guadalupe, where he remained for three years; then he went to Stockton and purchased cows and continued in the dairy business, supplying the residents of Stockton daily with milk for three years; he then removed his dairy to Ione, Cal., where he operated a dairy for twelve years, adding to his herd from time to time until he had forty cows. He then removed to the old Castle place on the French Camp Road, which he rented two years. He then came to the Lafayette district of San Joaquin County, where he bought 160 acres in 1917, twenty acres of which was in producing vineyard, sixty acres in un- improved land and the balance in alfalfa. In 1921 he sold the twenty-acre vineyard, leaving 140 acres, twenty-five acres of which he has set to young vine- yard and he also has seventy-five acres in alfalfa; his ranch is irrigated by two pumping plants. His polit- ical allegiance is given to the Republican party.

MALCOLM LEA .- Among the younger generation of vineyardists in San Joaquin County who are demonstrating their aptitude for viticulture is Mal- colm Lea, the owner of fifteen acres south of Victor. He is a native of Cleveland, Tenn., born July 27, 1898, a son of John G. and Mamie (Hunton) Lea. His father, John G. Lea, was a merchant of Cleveland and came out to California when Malcolm was a boy of nine years. The family settled in Lodi and re- mained there until a few years ago, when his parents removed to Sacramento, where the father conducts a mercantile business. Malcolm is the fifth of a fam- ily of six children, as follows: Ruth, Mary, Grace, Robert (deceased), Malcolm, and James.

Malcolm Lea attended the Lodi schools, which af- forded him a good working education; and at the age of nineteen he took his first job with the Superior Manufacturing Company of Lodi, where he worked for two years. Saving his money, he invested it in a five- acre tract of land south of Victor, and in the fall of 1921 purchased an additional ten acres. He is now improving this with buildings, and has set seven acres to grapes and seven acres to almonds, which within a few years will insure him a good income.

The marriage of Mr. Lea occurred in Lodi on October 1, 1921, and united him with Miss Martha Nies, a native of South Dakota, and a daughter of Henry and Christina Nies. Mrs. Lea accompanied her parents to Lodi when she was a small girl, and there received her education. Mr. Lea manifests a public-spirited interest in the well-being of his com- munity.

BERT LEWIS, SR .- "A man who contributed to the success of a wide variety of public activities and as one of the organizers and for several years the president of the Stockton Merchants Association, Bert Lewis not only aided in protecting and promot- ing the business interests of every merchant and manufacturer in Stockton, but he helped to build a greater Stockton." This was made public by one of the prominent men of Stockton at the time of the death of our subject and typifies the man in every detail. Bert Lewis was for many years among the leading merchants of Stockton and the name of his establishment is a familiar one to nearly the whole population of San Joaquin County, thousands being

familiar with the signs "Outfitter from Lad to Dad" posted all over the principal thoroughfares leading into Stockton. A native son of the Golden State, Bert Lewis was born at Cold Springs, near the historic town of Columbia, in Tuolumne County, on February 21, 1865, a son of Daniel J. and Mattie A. (Sawyer) Lewis, natives of Providence, R. I. and Maine, re- spectively. The elder Lewis came out to California in the late fifties, via the Isthmus of Panama, and located in Tuolumne County, where he followed min- ing and teaming; later he conducted a general store, in partnership with a brother. In 1870 he removed to Stockton and entered the employ of Gerlach & Hodgkins, butchers; and in time he conducted a shop of his own, known as the California Market, at the corner of California and Church streets. He was welcomed everywhere as "Honest Dan" and his word was as good as his bond. He died in Stockton in 1902. The mother is still living, in Oakland.

The oldest child in the family, Bert Lewis attended the public schools of Stockton, then began his mer- cantile career as a clerk in the dry goods store of Block & Company; next he was with the Hickman Dry Goods Company, and then with the George Chalmers Company, also dealers in dry goods. Mr. Lewis then went to Los Angeles to broaden his experi- ence and there learned the custom tailoring business with Poheim, the tailor. After five years in the southland he returned to Stockton to manage a branch tailor shop for Poheim, who conducted a chain of fourteen stores throughout the state. After a time Mr. Lewis bought the business and conducted it with a partner, under the name of Lewis & Heffernan. Selling out his interest later on, Mr. Lewis, with W. E. Johnson as a partner, purchased the clothing company of Walker & Keagle on East Main Street, in the store formerly occupied by Block & Company, where he had previously clerked, and where he found the same store fixtures he had used as a boy. He and his partner conducted the business as a men's clothing and furnishing store for sixteen years, and later he bought out his partner and carried on the business alone under the firm name of the Bert Lewis Clothing Company. In 1919 he moved to the present location of the store, where the floor space is more than doubled and where he built up one of the most reliable and successful clothing businesses in this part of the San Joaquin Valley. His trade here increased steadily in pace with the growth of the city and his prosperity was so marked that he was enabled to purchase the two-story brick block in which the business is located.

Mr. Lewis was twice married, his first wife being Miss Alice Bauer, by whom he had two sons: Bert Lewis, Jr., who was associated with his father in business and succeeded to it upon his death. He is the father of a son, Bert Lewis III. The second son, Sydney, died aged four years. His second wife was Miss Waneta Riley, and she survives him. Mr. Lewis was a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, and for several years was lecturing knight; he was also a member of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W .; and a member and past president of the Yosemite Club. In earlier years Mr. Lewis conducted the New Year's celebration, which was held in Stockton on New Year's Eve. Genial and of a social nature, Bert Lewis had a host of friends; by nature a fun-maker, he was always in demand as

- 1

1517

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

an interlocutor in amateur minstrel shows and at the time of Stockton's first big street fair, he officiated as King Pin of the carnival. He passed away Thurs- day, February 15, 1923, surrounded by his family and a number of intimate friends.

MRS. ONEY (KERRICK) MERCER .- The sub- ject of this sketch was born June 23, 1853, on the Platte River while her parents, Harrison and Oney (Stubblefield) Kerrick, were en route to California via the Sonora route. Harrison Kerrick was born in Kentucky and from there removed to Missouri. In 1851 he came to California and mined in Tuolumne County near Chinese Camp, returning to Missouri in 1852, and in 1853 brought his family to California; the paternal grandfather and grandmother of our sub- ject were also members of the party. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerrick: James, Mary Ann, now Mrs. Walrod, who resides in Stockton; and our subject. Mrs. Kerrick passed away at the birth of her youngest child, the subject of this sketch. Harrison Kerrick resided near Jamestown, Cal., and engaged in ranching and teaming from Sonora to Stockton; later he removed to San Joaquin County and farmed a quarter section of land near Stockton. He passed away at the age of seventy years. Af- ter the death of her mother, our subject was reared in the home of her grandparents. She received her education in the Collegeville district school, with a two years' course at the Catholic school in Stockton.

On March 20, 1876, Miss Kerrick was married to Charles Alexander Mercer, born at Greenville, Tenn. Charles Alexander Mercer came to California in 1874 and owned a ranch of a quarter section near College- ville, where he took his bride and there they resided for twelve years; they then removed to Tulare County, settling near Hanford, where they remained but a short time, then came back to San Joaquin County, where Mr. Mercer died in 1911. Five children were born to them: Frank H. is married and has three children-Frank, Jr., Dorothy, and John; Etta, Mrs. Bourland resides in Woodland and they are the par- ents of three children-Clarence, Alice and Percy; Mrs. Effie Walker resides in Sonora and has three children-Luella, Ruth, and Leslie; Mrs. Lulu Cowell resides in Oakland and has one son-Stanley Kerrick Cowell; Merle Leslie is a seafaring man. Mr. Mercer was a Democrat in politics; he was nineteen years old when he enlisted on January 27, 1863, in Company A, 4th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, being honorably discharged August 2, 1865. He was a member of the G. A. R., and his wife is a member of the Relief Corps and the auxiliary to the Pioneers of California.

W. H. MILLER .- A well-known citizen and suc- cessful merchant of Lathrop, W. H. Miller has ad- vanced step by step until he has built up a successful and lucrative business, and he may be called a self- made man in the best sense of that term. He was born at Eureka, Kans., January 17, 1871, a son of Eli and Mary M. (Gray) Miller. The father was born December 19, 1823, in Indiana, and at the out- break of the Civil War migrated to Kansas and there became an extensive landowner and farmed to grain and stock. He married Mary M. Gray, born May 2, 1845, in New York, who removed to Illinois in 1860. On July 3, 1873, Eli Miller was killed by lightning while going from his home to the village of Eureka. On October 12, 1876, the mother was married again,

to Jacob Curtis at Eureka, Kans., and she is now a resident of Truro, Iowa.

W. H. Miller had but little chance for an educa- tion for he was thrown on his own resources at the age of fourteen years. Being particularly fond of athletics he specialized in foot racing and for two years, 1891 and 1892, as a professional sprinter was second only to his chum, Jesse Russell, who held the Central States championship and in consequence toured the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas, attending fairs and celebrations and meeting all contestants and they succeeded in winning nearly every race. Another boyhood chum, Louis Ball, was the owner of two fast running horses, "Burnt Foot" and "Grasshopper." The three boys traveled from place to place, and they made much money and also spent it just as freely. Mr. Miller recalls two races, one at Winfield, Kans., and the other at Gray Horse, Indian Territory, both state fair celebrations, where they won in the foot races and the horse races. In 1893, Mr. Miller gave up his profession for a trip to San Francisco to attend the Midwinter Fair and on his way stopped off to visit his sister, Mrs. H. F. Wilcox. His finances being at a low ebb, he con- cluded to find employment on a ranch, and soon went to work for J. C. Gerlach, where he continued for one season, then he worked on the Hughes ranch, near Ripon, and the season of 1894 sowed grain on the lands where now stands the town of Ripon.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 220

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