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 222

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 222

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K. G. Baumbach spent his boyhood on his father's farm working during vacation periods and attending the public school in Hutchinson County during the winter months until he was twenty-two years old, when he started out for himself by buying a half- section of grain fand adjacent to his father's farm. His marriage occurred at Menno, in 1893, uniting him with Miss Margaret Maas, born at Krem, South Russia, the daughter of Gottlieb and Magda- lena Maas, both natives of South Russia who came to the United States and settled in South Dakota when their daughter was a young girl. In 1905 Mr. Baum- bach sold his property in South Dakota and came to

California, and began ranching. He has owned differ- ent places, some of which he improved to vineyard and then sold. He now owns an eight and three- fourths-acre vineyard in South Hutchins, where he re- sides with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Baumbach are the parents of eleven children: John, Ludvig, Magda- lena, Mathilda, Margaret, Martha, Fred, Ruby, Otto, Benjamin, and Phillip. In politics he is a Democrat, and the family are members of the Seventh Day Ad- ventist Church of Lodi.

AUSTIN HOWARD BEECHER .- A young man connected with the park department of Stockton, Aus- tin Howard Beecher was born near Stockton, No- vember 21, 1888. His father, John L. Beecher, is also a native son, being born in San Joaquin County about sixty-seven years ago. Grandfather John L. Beecher, a native of Connecticut, crossed the plains in the early gold rush. Following mining for a short time he later engaged in teaming and freighting, having his headquarters in Stockton. He hauled provisions to the mines on the Mother Lode and on the return trips came through Knight's Ferry. When he quit teaming he settled on his large ranch where he re- sided until he died.

His son, John L., was a successful rancher until he retired and now makes his home in Stockton. He served as a member of the California Legislature. In his younger days he had made several trips back to Massachusetts and on one of these he was married to Miss Cora Gibson, a native of that state who had spent his boyhood on the home ranch, attending the the full enjoyment of the delightful California climate.

Austin Howard, the youngest of their five children, spent his boyhood on the home ranch, attending the local public schools. When seventeen years old he struck out for himself and for a time followed ranch- ing, and then came to Stockton where he was em- ployed until 1920, when he was appointed to a position in the Park Department of Stockton, and now has charge of Fremont Park.

Mr. Beecher was married in Stockton to Miss Mar- garet Ida Sheehan, who was born near Stockton, a daughter of Timothy and Margaret Sheehan, early set- tlers of this county, her father being engaged in the hotel business. Mrs. Beecher is a graduate of St. Mary's Academy, where she majored in vocal music. Possessing a fine soprano voice she sings at churches and in concerts and has delighted audiences with her singing. Mr. Beecher is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

JOHN A. BENDER .- Since 1903 John A. Bender has been residing in the Lodi section of San Joaquin County and is the owner of a forty-acre vineyard five miles south of Lodi. He was born in Menno, S. D., August 11, 1885, a son of John K. and Christina (Bender) Bender. John K. Bender was a farmer in his native land of Russia, having been born near the city of Odessa. In 1903 the family came to California and located in the vicinity of Lodi where the father purchased a twenty-acre vineyard on Cherokee Lane; later he sold this ranch and removed to Lodi, where he passed away in 1916, and the mother passed away in 1906. They were the parents of four children: Charles C .; John A., our subject; Margaret, Mrs. Henry Bender; and Bertha, Mrs. Rudolph Rode, both living in the Henderson district.

John A. Bender received a grammar school educa-

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

tion in Menno, S. D., and assisted his father with the ranch work until he was twenty-one years old, when he bought 160 acres on the Elliott road north of Lockeford, where he engaged in farming for six or seven years; on this quarter section of land he set out a vineyard of twenty-five acres; later he sold his ranch and bought the place where he now resides, which is situated about four miles south of Lodi; this ranch contains forty acres, one-half of which is in alfalfa and the remaining half is set to vineyard; there are two irrigating plants on his ranch, one with a five-inch pump with a twelve-horsepower motor and the other with a six-inch pump with a fifteen-horsepower mo- tor; Mr. Bender has also remodeled the house into a comfortable and modern residence.

On October 28, 1906, in Lodi, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Bender, which united him with Miss Pauline Schenkenberger, a native of South Dakota, born near Scotland, a daughter of John and Louise (Barrett) Schenkenberger. Mrs. Bender received her education in her native state and accompanied her parents to California about twenty-five years ago and here her father engaged in farming in the vicinity of Lodi. Mr. and Mrs. Bender are the parents of nine children: Herbert, Thelma, John, Jr., Roberta, Roy, Robert, Alfred, Raymond, and Willard. Mr. Bender is a Republican in politics and the family are identified with the German Reformed Church.

THEODORE C. BENDER .- A thoroughly pro- gressive and up-to-date practitioner of dental surgery, Theodore C. Bender is also interested in viticulture, owning a fine twenty-acre vineyard. He was born near Menno, S. D., October 22, 1892, a son of Charles J. and Elizabeth (Ulmer) Bender, represented else- where in this history. Theodore C. attended grammar school two years in South Dakota, then the family removed to Lodi where they remained for about five months, then the father bought a 400-acre ranch north of Woodbridge, where he still resides.

Theodore C. Bender completed his grammar school- ing in the Woodbridge school; then attended the Lodi high school, from which he graduated with the class of 1913; then entered the University of California and was graduated from the Affiliated College in San Francisco with the class of 1916, with the degree of D. D. S. Returning to Lodi he opened an office in the Friedberger-Blodgett Building, where his offices are equipped for the most modern and most scientific methods known to dental surgery, and he has steadily built up a fine practice. During the late war Mr. Bender entered the service of his country and was sent to Vancouver Barracks, where he remained for three months and was honorably discharged.

On February 9, 1919, at Lodi, Dr. Bender was united in marriage with Miss Edna Jungeblut, a native of Nebraska and a daughter of F. J. and Marie (Stark) Jungeblut. About seventeen years ago Mrs. Bender accompanied her parents to Lodi and she attended the Salem school. Her father was a graduate of the Princeton Theological College at Princeton, N. J., and was a minister of the German Reformed Church. Dr. Bender's father deeded him a forty-acre tract of land, twenty acres of which has been set to grapes which are now a year old; the balance of twenty acres is grain land; he has installed a pumping plant with a five-inch pump driven by a fifteen-horsepower motor. Dr. and Mrs. Bender are the parents of one daughter, Elinor Bernice. They

make their home at 315 West Oak Street, Lodi, and they are members of the German Reformed Church. Dr. Bender is a member of the Masonic Lodge and also the Knights of Pythias of Lodi, and in politics is a Republican.

ALBERT BOYD .- Among the worthy men who have done what they could to make California more prosperous and a better place to abide in during his half century of residence within the confines of the state is Albert Boyd, who was born in St. Boyer, thirty miles from Montreal, Canada, November 4, 1854, being descended from one of the splendid old Canadian families who trace their lineage back to France and Scotland. He lived in a farming com- munity and learned the rudiments of agriculture while he attended the public schools. When fifteen years of age he migrated to Burlington, N. Y., where for two years he was employed on railroad construction work. When he reached the age of seventeen he resolved to come to California, so in 1872 we find him in Marin County, where he was employed in the woods near Fort Ross, continuing for a period of twenty-two months, when he removed to San Fran- cisco and began learning the blacksmith trade. He did not like the city so in a few years he removed to Hayward, where he worked at blacksmithing for one year, and thence to Doublin, where he completed his trade. It was in that town in 1879 that Mr. Boyd was married to Miss Mary Campbell, who was born in San Lorenzo, Cal., a daughter of William Campbell, a '49er and prominent pioneer in Alameda County.

After seven years at Doublin he purchased a black- smith shop at Greenfield, near Livermore, which he ran for three years; selling out in 1883 he came to Stockton where he worked as a blacksmith for Benja- min Holt for a period of ten years, and then moved to Jenny Lind, where he ran a blacksmith business of his own for three years. He then returned to Stockton and again worked for Benjamin Holt. This time he continued for eight years as a blacksmith, when he again went to Turlock and for two years ran a shop of his own, and then moved to Atlanta, San Joaquin County, and purchased a blacksmith shop, where he did a successful business for three years. Selling out, he came back to Stockton and again worked for the Holt Manufacturing Company, but only remained two months, and then went to Valley Springs, Cala- veras County, purchased a shop and engaged in gen- eral blacksmithing for eight months, when he disposed of it and again took his old place with Mr. Holt and continued steadily with them as a blacksmith for ten years, until he was retired on a pension, favorably known as one of their oldest and most trusted em- ployees. He knew the Holts personally and found them fine men, and on the other hand the Holts spoke of him as a valuable and reliable man.

Mr. Boyd was bereaved of his faithful wife in 1915, a woman deeply mourned by her family and friends, and her taking away left a void in the family. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd were the parents of eight children: William, deceased; Oliver is a blacksmith with the Holt Manufacturing Company; Arthur, Walter, Annie and Elmer, all deceased; Harold is a popular baseball player with the National League; and Lottie, who is a bookkeeper, also presides over her father's home.

Mrs. Boyd was a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, while Mr. Boyd is popular in the K. O. T. M., and politically is a strong Republican.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

FRANK BREITENBUCHER .- An industrious rancher is Frank Breitenbucher, now the owner of 740 acres of fine farm-land four miles to the south and two miles to the east of Clements. He is a native son, who first saw the light near Stockton, in San Joaquin County, on May 23, 1867. His father, Christopher Breitenbucher, came to California when he was twen- ty-two years old, and engaged in teaming out of Stockton. He later went to farming, and took up government land, but never proved up on it. He died at the age of fifty-nine years, while his devoted wife lived to be sixty-two. Their family, in the order of their birth, are as follows: C. A., J. C., and H. W. Breitenbucher, the elder brothers; Frank, our subject; Alex; Clara, Mrs. F. M. Rowe; and E. E. Breiten- bucher.

Frank grew up on the home farm about thirteen miles due east of Stockton, and attended the old En- terprise school. With his four brothers he farmed for years a ranch of 3,000 acres in the Grant school district, in San Joaquin County. About twenty years ago he started to farm by himself; and since then he has been cultivating from 1,600 to 1,800 acres of grain land. He bought 740 acres, and the balance he leased; and today he owns about 1,000 acres. On the farm of 740 acres, about seven miles southeast of Clements, he built a home and added other improvements in the shape of excellent farm buildings. This home was erected about six years after he had married, at Stock- ton, on April 22, 1902, Miss Harriet Cottrell, a native of San Joaquin County and the daughter of Isaac and Anna Cottrell. One son has blessed this union, War- ren Breitenbucher.

Frank Breitenbucher has engaged in the stock busi- ness in a small way, and he also has about 150 head of sheep. He is a patriot, through and through, and during the late World War served as one of the cap- tains in the Liberty Loan bond drive in the eastern section of the county. He is a Republican, but always and foremost a free American. He belongs to the Clements Lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past grand, and he is also a member of the Lodi Encampment of Odd Fellows, and with his wife a member of the Rebekahs.

FERNANDO CHRISTESEN .- A citizen of more than usual importance is Fernando Christesen, mar- shal and superintendent of streets of Lodi. His offi- cial service is always faithfully and promptly per- formed, and he is as loyal to the welfare of his com- munity as he is to his private business interests. He is a native of Franklin, Cal., where he was born March 30, 1874, a son of Robert and Lena Christesen. His father, Robert Christesen, was born in Schleswig-Hol- stein, Germany, and in 1868 arrived in California on a sailing vessel. He settled in Sacramento County and farmed a large acreage to grain. Mr. and Mrs. Chris- tesen had eight children: Louis A., of Galt; Mrs. Lena Walthers; Fernando; Mrs. Mary Meihl; Mrs. Tessie Krumb; Mrs. Emma Ehardt; Robert, of Bruce- ville; and Henry. The father died at the age of sixty- seven and the mother at seventy years of age, she passing away at Lodi.

Fernando Christesen attended the common school and the Sacramento Institute and worked with his father on the ranch until he was eighteen, then struck out for himself and was variously employed in differ- ent places until 1897, when he was employed on the ranch of Mrs. Anna Powers. The following year he

was in Eastern Oregon and in 1899 came back to Cal- ifornia and started to learn the trade of machinist with the Holt Manufacturing Company, but he did not stay long as he entered the employ of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad (now the Santa Fe). In 1901 he formed a partnership with Ed Powers to engage in the vineyard business near Lodi, where they also raised melons; later they extended their operations to Manteca where they continued the melon industry. This partnership continued until 1912. In the meantime Mr. Christesen had bought thirty acres of land, part of a stubble field, located on Terminus Road about three and one-half miles from Lodi, which he set to vines and where he erected a suitable home and installed a pumping plant. He made this his home until 1920, when he sold out and moved into Lodi. In 1904 he had purchased 240 acres of his father's ranch at Bruceville, leasing it for grain raising; later he sold off eighty acres and in 1920 dis- posed of the balance. On April 15, 1922, Mr. Chris- tesen was appointed city marshal and superintendent of streets of Lodi, and how well he has administered his official duties is well known to the citizens of that thriving city.

On August 28, 1902, at Lodi, occurred the marriage that united Mr. Christesen with Miss Estelle Powers, born in Lodi, daughter of John and Anna Powers, of Missouri and California, respectively. Of this union of Mr. and Mrs. Christesen three children have been born: Madeline Fern, Edna Mae and Leland Fer- nando. In politics Mr. Christesen supports the best men and measures that he believes will be best suited to the public good. He served as a trustee of the Henderson school while living on his ranch and was a deputy assessor under Cy Moreing four years. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Lodi Aerie of Eagles, No. 848.

GEORGE J. CHRISTY .- A representative ranch- er of San Joaquin County is George J. Christy, who resides on the hill to the south of Clements. He was born in San Joaquin County, on the old Christy ranch, one mile east of Clements, on January 22, 1870, the son of James Christy, who was born near Dublin, Ireland, and married Miss Mary Carroll, a native of Louth, also in Ireland.

James Christy left home at the age of fourteen, came out to America, and settled for a while in New Jersey. When the news of the discovery of gold in California electrified the world he was among the first to sail around the Horn to San Francisco, in 1849, and almost immediately went into Amador County, near Volcano, and later removed to Property Bar and Lancha Plana. He had odd and interesting associa- tions, and for a while was thrown in with James Fair, afterwards Senator, as a fellow-miner. In 1855 he came to the Clements district and bought 160 acres of land, and later he added to his holdings. He bought out Thomas Wylie, and in all had 560 acres, where he raised grain and stock. James Christy sent East for his fiancee, and they were married on her arrival at Lancha Plana. She and the wife of Captain Messen- ger were the only white women in the mines. With James Christy, Joseph and Thomas Burns came to California from Ireland; and they also left New York for California together. Mr. Christy died at the age of seventy-four, and Mrs. Christy in her fifty-fourth year. William, the eldest of their children, was born in Lancha Plana, and did imp

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

passed away when he was young; Eliza is a Sister at Notre Dame, in Iowa; Philip was named after Gen. Phil Sheridan, under whom two uncles, his father's and mother's brothers, fought in the Civil War; Mary died at the age of twelve; George J. is the subject of this review; Celia has become Mrs. Freidburger, of Madera; Martha died in 1920; she enlisted as a Red Cross nurse for service in the World War, was vacci- nated, and after four years of suffering died from the effect of the serum used.

George J. Christy farmed with his father on the 560-acre grain farm; they also leased 400 acres of grain and grazing land, for they used to have 100 head of cattle. At Lodi, on December 27, 1900, Mr. Christy was married to Miss Jennie Brandt, born at French Camp, the daughter of Louis R. Brandt, whose life- story is elsewhere given in this work. She had at- tended the Brandt school, so called in honor of her family. After their marriage they lived at Clements and helped to run the old Christy home farm. In 1902 they came into possession of 110 acres of the old Dougherty-Gillies ranch. There they built a fine home and otherwise improved the place, erecting the best of farm buildings. This property adjoins Clem- ents on the south and is a sightly place, located on a height of land known as Christy Hill. He also bought a quarter-section of road land, three miles south of Clements, where he engaged in farming and stock- raising. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Christy : Carroll E. and George Darroll.

EDWIN CHANDLER GOODRICH .- Possessed of the qualities that make for success in life, Edwin Chandler Goodrich had taken a place among the prosperous horticulturists of San Joaquin County. Mr. Goodrich was born near Volcano, Amador County, on May 30, 1871, the son of Chandler Baker and Jemima (Hill) Goodrich. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but after arriving in California he mined at Volcano for awhile, but soon took up his trade at the mines. There were two children in the family: Doney H. and Edwin Chandler, the sub- ject of this sketch. After his mother's death his father married Martha Whitehead, and they had two children: Melford P .; and Addie May, who married Jesse McCargar and is now deceased.

Edwin Chandler Goodrich began his schooling at Volcano, and when he was ten years old his parents removed to Geyserville, Sonoma County, where he completed his education. When he was eighteen years of age, he went to San Francisco and took up plumbing and sheet metal work under George H. Fay, remaining with him for three years; he then went into business for himself, but continued only one year, when he removed to Nevada and worked in the mines at Dayton, continuing for only a short time. Upon returning to California he entered into partnership with his brothers and together they con- ducted a planing mill at Healdsburg for seven years. Then the business was sold and for the next three years Mr. Goodrich turned his attention to ranching at Kenwood, Sonoma County; then he went to Vaca- ville and became foreman of the Frank H. Buck ranch of 2,000 acres. Mr. Goodrich was then sent to the Elliott district of San Joaquin County in the interests of the Buck Company, and later purchased a twenty-acre ranch from .W. Herrick; later buying ten acres adjoining, making a total of thirty acres, twenty acres of which is in orchard and alfalfa and the balance devoted to the raising of grain. At the

present time, Mr. Goodrich is the foreman of the Roberts ranch, a fifty-acre vineyard, on which he makes his home.

The marriage of Mr. Goodrich occurred in Santa Rosa, on July 3, 1898, and united him with Miss Elizabeth Cummings, born on a ranch about five miles from Geyserville, a daughter of Eli and Mary (Johns) Cummings, early pioneers of California who were engaged in sheep-raising, having from 1,500 to 2,000 head at one time. Her mother passed away in 1918 and her father in 1921, both in Sonoma County. She received her education in the Geyserville public schools. They are the parents of one son, Edwin Russell Goodrich. Mr. Goodrich is a Republican in politics and fraternally is a member of the W. O. W. of Santa Rosa.

JOSEPH LESLIE RODGERS .- Five and one- half miles east of the town of Acampo is the ranch owned by Joseph Leslie Rodgers, consisting of eighteen acres planted to vineyard interset with almond trees, which has been brought to a high state of cultivation. He was born at Jenny Lind, Calaveras County, Cal., on March 25, 1895, a son of Albert F. and- Sarah (Jourdan) Rodgers. Albert F. Rodgers is also a native of Jenny Lind, and was born on August 23, 1859, the son of Joseph A. and Margaret Ann (Milliken) Rodgers, both natives of Holland. Grand- father Rodgers came around the Horn to California in 1852, followed by Grandmother Rodgers two years later. Albert F. Rodgers preempted a quarter-section of land near Jenny Lind, which was sold in 1909; then he purchased a twenty-seven-acre vineyard near Dougherty Station, which he still owns and on which he resides a portion of the time. Albert F. Rodgers' first marriage occurred in the fall of 1884 and united him with Miss Lilly Dustin, who passed away two years later. His second marriage occurred in 1889, and united him with Miss Sarah Jourdan, a native of Williamson County, Ill., who came to California in 1887 with an aunt and uncle. They were the parents of four children: Bethel, deceased; Emile; Joseph Leslie, our subject; and Ross, deceased

Joseph Leslie Rodgers began his education in the schools of Jenny Lind and finished at the Lodi high school. After leaving school he accompanied his aunt to Illinois where he remained over two years working in the coal mines at Johnson City, Williamson County, doing all kinds of work, from driving mules to dig- ging coal; he then returned to California and went to work for the Earl Fruit Company and since that time has been employed by a number of fruit companies on the coast.

The marriage of Mr. Rodgers occurred on Febru- ary 14, 1917, and united him with Miss Erma Mae Smith, born in San Francisco, a daughter of Henry H. and Anna R. Smith. Miss Smith was taken by her parents to Nevada when a small child and the family remained there for six years; then they returned to California and were in Sacramento for a time, then in Napa, Cal., the daughter attending school in all the above cities. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers had one child, who died in infancy. In 1919 Mr. Rodgers became the owner of the beautiful vineyard interset with almond trees, which he expects to graft to plums. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally he is identified with the Eagles of Lodi. The present resi- dence of the family is near Youngstown on the Acampo-Lockeford highway.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JOHN J. STRIEFF .- A thoroughly wide-awake, progressive young dairyman, who is to be found in the front ranks of the successful California agricultur- ists, is John J. Strieff, who was born on Dry Creek, about four miles east of Galt, in San Joaquin County, on February 1, 1900, the son of Henry and Mary Ann Strieff, the former a native of the Canton Glaras, in Switzerland, while the latter came from Canton Urie. Mr. Strieff reached California some forty years ago, when he was about thirty years of age, but Mrs. Strieff first saw the Promised Land of the West in her eighteenth year. He bought forty acres near the Elliott schoolhouse, and their children attended the grammar school at Galt. The worthy Swiss couple had nine children in their family. Henry, the eldest, is now deceased; Jacob is at Oroville; Fred is in San Francisco; Peter is with his father on the ranch; John is the subject of this sketch; Harry C. is associated with John; Anna married David Gustafson of Hood City; and Edward and Elizabeth, the youngest in the order of birth, are both deceased. Mrs. Strieff died in September, 1921, but Mr. Strieff is still living, at the fine old age of seventy, honored of all men, as Mrs. Strieff was beloved by those who knew her.

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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 222

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