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 225

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 225

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AUGUST FRED DEGENER .- A practical farmer of the Lafayette Hall district of San Joaquin County is August Fred Degener who is the owner of a fine twenty-five acre ranch five miles west of Lodi. He was born in Bremen, Germany, December 21, 1880, a son of Fredrick and Caroline Degener, both born and reared in Germany. When our subject was a year old his parents came to America and settled at Balti- more, Md., where the father plied his trade of shoe- maker and ran a store. He passed away when August was six years old; then the mother moved to San Francisco, where she made her home and worked until she married John C. Blohm, and they moved to Stock- ton in 1892.

August Fred Degener received his education in the grammar schools of San Francisco, Redwood City and Stockton, and resided with his mother until he was fourteen years old when he concluded to quit school and go to work for himself. For five years he worked for wages on the ranches in the vicinity of Stockton. With his earnings he then bought fifteen acres on the lower Sacramento Road which he devel- oped, setting ten acres to vines, and he still owns that property; in 1905 he purchased twenty-five acres of stubble land one-half mile north of Lafayette Hall and immediately set about to improve it. Ten acres is set to vineyard, one acre to orchard, and the bal- ance is grain land; it is further improved with a good

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set of buildings. On one of his places he has a four- inch pump and a seven and a half-horsepower motor for irrigation and the other place is under the Wood- bridge-Mokelumne irrigation ditch.

On May 20, 1915, at Lodi, Mr. Degener was married to Miss Getha Mae Fowler, a daughter of Charles and Catherine Fowler; the father is a prominent mag- istrate of Kingman, Kans., and is serving as city com- missioner of that city; he also conducts a poultry farm in that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Degener are the par- ents of one daughter, Caroline Catherine. In politics Mr. Degener is a Republican and fraternally is a char- ter member of Hermann Sons of Lodi. During his long residence in San Joaquin County he has acquired a wide circle of acquaintances and by perseverance and determination has gained a place among the sub- stantial agriculturists of his community.

DAVID FINKBOHNER .- A farmer and stock- raiser, who is also a native son of San Joaquin County, is David Finkbohner, who for the past fifteen years has been in partnership with his brother in conducting a 260-acre grain and stock ranch situated seven miles northwest of Stockton on Telegraph Road. He was born in Stockton, July 10, 1873, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Kuhn) Finkbohner. His parents were born in Germany, married in the East, and crossed the plains to California. They were early settlers of San Joaquin County, and their nine children, six of whom are living, were as follows: George, residing in Stock- ton; Barbara, of Oakland; Charles, of Stockton; So- phia Estelle, of Santa Cruz; Frank and Benjamin, both deceased; Fred, in Oakland; William, deceased; and David, of this sketch.

David Finkbohner was a young lad when his parents died, and he was reared by an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kuhn, in Salt Springs Valley, Cala- veras County, where he attended school. At seven- teen years of age he began to make his own way, working for wages on various ranches throughout California until 1907, when he returned to San Joa- quin County and went into partnership with his brother in ranching. They are engaged in raising grain and stock, and also have a Tokay vineyard on the ranch.

On July 13, 1905, at Jamestown, Cal., Mr. Fink- bohner was married to Mrs. Ella (Gann) Hendsch, a native of Salt Spring Valley, Calaveras County, and a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Frances Ellen (Rountree) Gann, the former a native of Tennessee, who came across the plains with ox teams in 1860, and joined his two brothers, who had previously settled in California. Jack Gann, as he was known, first settled at Farmington, where he engaged in the stock business. He moved to Calaveras about 1874. Mrs. Finkbohner has one sister, Emma, now Mrs. August May, residing at Angels Camp. The mother was born in Wisconsin and passed away at the age of thirty-six. Subsequently, Mr. Gann was married to Miss Ida Bence, by whom he had four children: William, Edith, Bell (Mrs. Charles Pope, residing in Tur- lock), and May, deceased at the age of fifteen years. Jack Gann passed away at the age of sixty-two, while his widow is still living at 303 East Arcade Street, Stockton. By her former marriage, Mrs. Finkbohner had one son, Henry Hendsch, who resides in Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Finkbohner are the par- ents of two children, Frank Edmund and Doris. Mr.

Finkbohner, while residing in Calaveras County, was school trustee of the Hodson school for many years, and he is now serving as one of the directors of the Elkhorn school district.

HENRY A. FISCHER .- Born in New York City, August 14, 1855, Henry A. Fischer has been a resident of California since he was two years of age. He is a son of Gotlob and Margaret Fischer, natives of Bavaria, Germany, who emigrated to New York City. In 1857 Mr. Fischer brought his wife and little son Henry to California, coming via the Isthmus of Pan- ama route to San Francisco. He was a basketmaker by trade. In 1860, however, he located in Peach Tree Valley, sixty miles south of Gilroy, where he followed sheepraising until 1863; then he changed his range to Hunting Hollow and Gilroy Hot Springs. However, the dry season of 1864 caused him a very heavy loss and he moved back to San Francisco. He and his wife resided there until their death.

Henry, the eldest of their six children, received a good education in the public schools in San Francisco. When eighteen years old he quit school to go to work in a shoe factory and learning the manufacture of shoes he worked for different concerns. In 1879 he removed to Calaveras County and there followed mining and prospecting until 1889, when he located in Stockton, where he worked at the carpenter trade. He then spent eight years with the Street Railway Company in Stockton, after which he worked for his son, who was a member of the firm of The Fischer Marble and Tile Company, continuing with him for some years, until in 1920 he entered the employ of the park department of the street department of the city, and is now in charge of Liberty Park, a position he is filling acceptably and well.

Mr. Fischer owns a comfortable residence at 1314 East Sonora Street, where he resides with his family. He was married in Calaveras County, Cal., to Miss Mary R. Prince, a native of that county, a daughter of B. R. Prince, one of the early settlers of Calaveras County. Mr. Fischer was bereaved of his faithful wife in December, 1920, a woman who was much loved and deeply mourned by her family and friends. Their union had been blessed with two children, H. P. Fischer and Mrs. Ethel V. Wykoff, both residing in Stockton. Mr. Fischer is to all intents and pur- poses a native son, for California is the scene of his first recollections, as he came here a little child of two years, so practically all of his life has been passed within the borders of the Golden State. He is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood. His religious affiliation is with the Episcopal Church and politically he is a Democrat.

JOSEPH L. FOCACCI .- A well-known native son of San Joaquin County who is residing on the ranch where he was born is Joseph L. Focacci, a successful carpenter and farmer. He was born on his father's ranch at Lodi, Cal., March 17, 1885, a son of John and Mary Focacci, both natives of Northern Italy. In 1879 John Focacci left his native country and came to the United States and direct to California and worked for a year in San Francisco, then came to Lodi, where he purchased four and a half acres in the Ayers tract; later he purchased eleven acres across the road from his heng place and Fi. com

acima, Which we I - 1.1 the Finerson shaa 1

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

it. Six children were born to this pioneer couple: Columbia, Mrs. Chris Denevi, resides in Lodi; John lives in Galt, Cal .; Mathew is a merchant in Lodi; Joseph L. is the subject of this sketch; Louis and Charles. The father was an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Lodi and was fifty-five years old when he passed away in 1899. . The mother is now sixty-nine years old and resides on the ranch purchased by her husband in 1880.

Joseph L. Focacci received his education at the district school near his home and when young in years received valuable lessons in agriculture, assisting his father on the home place. He learned the trade of carpenter and has followed his trade for many years in Lodi, where he is well known for his reliability and industry. He is a Republican in politics and he makes his home with his mother at 429 West Lockeford Avenue, Lodi. The family is well known in the com- munity where the family home has so long been maintained and Mr. Focacci has contributed to the material development and substantial upbuilding of his portion of the state.

GEORGE R. GARRETSON .- An early settler who has seen much of California grow from a wilder- ness and who is, therefore, a natural lover of the Golden State, is George R. Garretson, a resident of San Joaquin County for the past thirty-seven years. He was born at Bedford, Pa., on April 28, 1845, a son of Aaron and Hannah (Miller) Garretson, both na- tives of Pennsylvania, whose ancestors were pioneers of that state, all engaged in farming pursuits. His father passed away in 1848 and George grew up on the home farm, the youngest in a family of ten chil- dren. The mother lived to be ninety-two years old.

George R. attended the district schools of the coun- ty and grew to young manhood on the farm. At the outbreak of the Civil War he volunteered for services in Company H, 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry; later he served in Company G, 101st Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was a member of the Army of the Potomac. He served under Generals Grant and Butler, and during April, 1862, was at York- town under General McClellan. On September 29, 1864, he was wounded at Chapin's Farm, near Rich- mond, and was sent to Fortress Monroe and then to New York; then was granted a furlough to go home to Iowa, whither his mother and family had removed and settled near Cedar Rapids. He left New York with twenty-five cents in his pocket for Iowa on fur- lough, during which time he had the great privilege of casting his first vote for Lincoln in 1864; he then returned to his regiment and was at Appomatox Court House when Lee surrendered; he was also in the Bat- tle of Williamsburg and the Seven Days' Battle. During September of 1865 he was discharged at Rich- mond and was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, Pa., where he had enlisted. Returning to his home in Iowa he remained there until December 28, 1869, when he was married to Miss Lavinia C. Lanning, a native of Ohio, a daughter of Martin Lanning, who had removed to Iowa when she was two years old. Martin Lanning became an extensive farmer of Iowa.

After their marriage the young people removed to Phillips County, Kans., and preempted a quarter-sec- tion of land; later he bought a section of school land, his entire farm holdings amounting to about 800 acres. Here he engaged in general farming and stockraising

for five years, during which time he conducted a butcher shop in Phillipsburg. In 1874 he made a trip to California, but it was not until 1885 that he brought his family to reside permanently in the Golden State. He first settled at Woodbridge, remaining there for one and a half years, when he settled in Lockeford, where he has continuously resided. He purchased a twenty-acre ranch about one mile from Lockeford on the Stockton road, on which he raises alfalfa and stock. Twenty-six years ago he was elected justice of the peace of Lockeford and has served is that capacity ever since to the entire satisfaction of the people of the community. During his tenure of office he has received eight notarial commissions from eight different California governors. His years of active service as an official have been the most enjoyable of his life and his duties have been performed with a faithfulness and thoroughness characteristic of all his actions. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Garretson: Elveda, Mrs. Hevey of Brentwood, has one son, Edward, a teacher at Stanford Univer- sity; Lulu is Mrs. Reynolds, of Los Angeles; Rolla Lee is principal of the Lafayette grammar school in Stockton. Mr. Garretson as a Republican has taken an active interest in national politics, and has always worked hard for civic improvements. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order of Lodi.

CLAUDE ELMO FORE .- A young and enterpris- ing farmer of the Lafayette district of San Joaquin County may be found in Claude Elmo Fore, who is successfully farming a forty-acre tract of land on the Sargent Road, four miles west of Lodi. He was born at Clements, September 18, 1890, a son of Millard Henry and Eliza Demoretta (Miner) Fore, both na- tives of Missouri, whose sketch will be found else- where in this history.

Claude Elmo Fore attended the Woodbridge school for one year; then his parents moved to Clements and he attended the Athearn school for two years; then the family removed to Butte County, where they farmed 2,250 acres of land near Biggs, and here he finished his education. In 1904 the family moved back to Woodbridge, where they have since resided. The father passed away in 1909, while the mother is still living on her ten-acre ranch two miles west of Lodi on the Kelly Road. At twenty-one years of age Claude Elmo Fore left home to make his own way, and for five years was employed in the shipping de- partment of the Holt Manufacturing Company at Stockton. He then returned to Lodi, and on June 6, 1916, was married to Miss Nellie Agnes Posey, a native of San Joaquin County, daughter of John M. Posey, also represented in this history. Mrs. Fore attended the Turner district school and was later graduated from the Lodi high school. Mr. and Mrs. Fore are the parents of three children: Claude Elmo, Jr., Burdette Marion, and Dorothy Lorraine.

Since his marriage Mr. Fore has had charge of the forty-acre vineyard belonging to his father-in-law, and since 1918 has resided on the ranch. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and fraternally is a member of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., and of Jefferson Lodge No. 98, I. O. O. F., Woodbridge. While in the employ of the Holt Company and resid- ing in Stockton, he became a charter member of Bat- tery C., National Guard of California, serving a term of three years, till mustered out. Public progress, as

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manifested in material, educational and social advance- ment, is a matter of deep interest to him and he gives earnest support to every measure which he believes will contribute to the general good.

JOHN W. FARSCHON .- For a third of a century John W. Farschon has been a resident of Ripon and for the past twenty-eight years has conducted a black- smith shop in this thriving town. In all his relations with his fellowmen he has been so straightforward and reliable that he commands in high degree their respect and confidence. He was born in Chicago, Ill., July 29, 1870, the youngest son of Sebastian and Cath- erine (Chambers) Farschon, natives of France and Ireland, respectively. Sebastian Farschon was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and in young manhood served in the French army until 1860, when he came to America and settled in Illinois. He married Miss Catherine Chambers, a native of County Mayo, Ire- land, who had preceded her future husband to Amer- ica, but who had at first settled in Canada, later re- moving to Illinois. They were the parents of five children and in 1877 the family removed to Kendall County, Texas. After a residence of ten years in Texas the father passed away and the mother brought her family to California, locating at Selma, and there John W., our subject, worked at the blacksmith's trade, which he had learned while living in Texas. In 1889 the family located in Ripon where the mother now resides, and where has been the family home for thirty-three years.

John W. Farschon first located in Westley and bought a half interest in a business there, but re- mained only a short time when he returned to Ripon and opened a blacksmith shop which he conducted for twenty-eight years. Through the years Mr. Far- schon has been an eyewitness to the wonderful devel- opment of the Ripon section of San Joaquin County and has taken no small part in its advancement. He has supported men and measures that, in his best judgment, would be most beneficial to the commun- ity's welfare. He has served as a school trustee and is a stanch friend of the best educational facilities and in politics is a Republican.

The marriage of Mr. Farschon occurred at Ripon and united him with Miss Blanche Irene Nutt, and they are the parents of two children: Alice F., who is now Mrs. Percy Buchanan, resides in Folsom, Sacramento County, and they have three sons: Stan- ley, Robert, and William. Orville Farschon, a machinist, also lives at Folsom.

ANDREW GOMES .- A well-known citizen of San Joaquin County, where he has lived for almost fifty years, is Andrew Gomes, who resides on his thirty- four-acre ranch eight miles southwest of Lodi, where he is engaged in raising alfalfa and stock. He was born in San Jose, Cal., November 27, 1862, a son of Joseph and Lillian Gomes. Joseph Gomes was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and came to California wher. a young man, settling at San Jose, where he engaged in farming pursuits; later the family removed to Val- lejo, Cal.

Andrew Gomes attended the grammar school in San Jose and left home when he was thirteen years old and came to Lodi, where he worked on various ranches in that vicinity for a number of years. His marriage on December 23, 1897, at Lodi, united him with Miss Charlotte Leetzow, born on her father's

ranch six miles west of Lodi, a daughter of the pio- neers Gottfried and Mary Leetzow. Gottfried Leet- zow came to the Turner district of San Joaquin County in an early day where he acquired valuable land and engaged in general farming. Mrs. Gomes is the eldest of a family of three children, the others being Bertha, Mrs. Spenker, residing in Lodi, and Max Leetzow, also residing in Lodi.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gomes removed to the Waterloo district of San Joaquin County, where Mr. Gomes bought two acres for a home place. He was in the employ of the Wagner Meat Company of Stockton, where he remained for twenty-one years. At the end of this time he purchased his present ranch of thirty-four acres eight miles southwest of Lodi, which is devoted to the raising of alfalfa and on which he runs about forty head of stock; he has also built a small house on his ranch where the family reside. Some years before he bought his home place he had acquired forty acres on the highway four miles south of Kingdon. Mr. and Mrs. Gomes are the par- ents of three children: Fred, Nora and Verna. In politics Mr. Gomes is a Republican and through his honorable business dealings he has won the entire confidence of his fellow-citizens.

JOSEPH HARA .- A native son of California, Jos- eph Hara was born at Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, March 19, 1871. His father, S. Hara, a native of Chile, was a pioneer of California, coming hither at the time of the great gold rush in 1850. For a time he followed mining and then located at Half Moon Bay. He married Josephine Garcia, who was born in Santa Clara County. The parents spent their last days in Stockton. They had a family of six children, of whom Joseph is the fourth. He was reared on the farm in San Mateo County, receiving his education in the local public schools.

In 1891 he accompanied his parents to San Joaquin County, leasing land on Union Island. They were reasonably successful at farming but they had three different floods on the island, so lost heavily each time. In 1907 Joseph Hara located in Stockton where he drove a team for Mr. Moran until 1910, when he en- tered the Department of Public Works of the city of Stockton under the superintendent of streets until 1914, when he was transferred to the park depart- ment. He has been in charge of Constitution Park since June, 1914, and takes great pride in its beautifi- cation and keeping it in clean and sanitary condition.

Mr. Hara was married in Stockton, being united with Miss Edith Wilson, who was born in San Fran- cisco, and they make their home on North Pilgrim Street, with their only child, Ramona. Mr. Hara is a member of the U. P. E. C. and the Red Men, while: politically he is a Democrat.

ALPHEUS M. HILL .- For the past quarter of a century Alpheus M. Hill has been a resident of Cali- fornia and for the past thirteen years has lived on his home place on South School Street just outside of the city limits of Lodi, which consists of two acres. 1Ie was born in Kent County, Mich., on June 22, 1862, a son of Albert C. Hill, a general farmer in Michigan. Our subject had the misfortune to lose his mother when he was two weeks old and he was one of children, the others being, Herbert Henry, Ada, de- ceased, Ida May and Mattie D. The family finally settled in Shiawassee Count .. M.b. and chp ....

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

education our subject received was obtained in the winter months in the district schools of that county. He assisted his father in the cultivation and develop- ment of his farm until he was twenty-five years old, when in 1888 he came to California. He settled in San Luis Obispo County about twenty miles 'east of Paso Robles, where he took up a homestead and a preemption, proving up on a half-section of Govern- ment land. Here he engaged in stockraising and farming for eight years, when he sold out and removed to San Joaquin County. About thirteen years ago he purchased his present home place of two acres on South School Street, on which he built a good resi- dence. About the same time he and a partner bought thirty acres of bare land on Walnut Avenue one and a half miles southwest of Lodi, and this they set to vineyard; one year later his partner sold his interest and Mr. Hill became owner of the entire tract but he now has eight acres, which is in twenty-two-year- old Tokay grapes, there also being a good irrigating plant on the place, which insures a good crop of fine fruit each season.

On December 19, 1900, at Lodi, Mr. Hill was mar- ried to Miss Jessie Ray Chappell, a native daughter, born in Lodi, and a daughter of Henry and Salinda A. Chappell. Henry Chappell came to California in 1852 and for a short time engaged in mining, then farmed in the Lodi section, and Mrs. Hill received her education in the Salem school at Lodi and spent one year in the Lodi high school. Fraternally Mr. Hill is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World of Lodi, and in politics is a Republican. When he located here there were but two places on the street, grain fields surrounded the town and South School Street had just been opened.

RAY L. JACOBS .- When Ray L. Jacobs was a lad of twelve years he came with his parents to Lodi, Cal., where he has since continuously resided and since 1911 has been successfully engaged in viticulture on his well-improved ten-acre ranch west of Woodbridge. He was born in Sauk County, Wis., July 21, 1888, a son of G. C. and E. E. (Post) Jacobs. The father was a veterinary surgeon, and after his removal to Lodi he successfully practiced his profession for many years and was a familiar figure in Lodi and vicinity. . There were three chil- dren in the family, Ray L. being the eldest; the others are Etta, and a third child who died in infancy.

Ray L. Jacobs continued his education in the Lodi grammar school and remained at home with his parents until 1911, when he was married to Miss Ida Boucha, on January 29. She is the daugh- ter of Lewis and Melvina Boucha, and she first saw the light of day on her father's ranch, about two miles west of Woodbridge, in the same house where she and her husband now reside. She is one of seven children and received her education in the Woodbridge grammar school. Mr. Jacobs' home place consists of ten acres, most of which is in bear- ing Tokay vineyard, with about one acre in wine grapes. There are also a number of Royal Ann cherry trees on the place, for family use. Mr. Ja- cobs is fortunate in owning a property that does not have to be irrigated, for the water level is but six feet below the surface; thus the moisture reaches the roots of the vines and makes them large, healthy and very productive. Politically he is an advocate

of Republican principles, believing the platform of the party contains the best elements of good gov- ernment; and fraternally he is connected with the Eagle Aerie No. 848, of Lodi. There has been nothing sensational in his life record, but his entire career has been marked by steady progress that has resulted from diligence and perseverance.

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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 225

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