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 230

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 230

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).

Mr. and Mrs. Cutts are the parents of four children: Veva G., a graduate of the Stockton High School, the wife of Joe M. Davis, of Lodi, and the mother of one child; Ora Mae, also a graduate of the Stockton High School, and now the stenographer for the R. E. Doan Company; Cecil R., attending the Stockton High School; and Robert O., in grammar school. In 1922, Mr. Cutts moved into Stockton, in order to provide better educational facilities for his children. He has always been a strong advocate of farming by irriga- tion, and spends most of his time looking after his ranch.

A Republican in respect to his preference for party standards, Mr. Cutts heartily supported all the Lib- erty Loans and Red Cross work. As a member of Charity Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Stockton, he helps along its benevolent work in whatever way he can. He takes a very live interest in the cause of education, and has been clerk of the board of trustees of Fairchild School for the past twenty years, interesting himself particu- larly in child-welfare work.

JOSEPH F. MERRILL .- Among the younger generation of ranchers in San Joaquin County is Joseph F. Merrill, a native son, who is a prosperous and enterprising agriculturist and vineyardist residing about three miles southeast of Lodi on Harney Lane. He was born at Lodi, California, on January 11, 1895, a son of Eugene and Anna Virginia (Whitaker) Mer- rill, the former a native of New York and the latter of California. The father came to California in an early day and was a building contractor and farmer and built many homes in Lodi and vicinity. The mother is the daughter of F. M. and M. J. Whitaker, natives of Kentucky and Arkansas, respectively. Grandmother Whitaker came to California with her parents in 1861, and they purchased a home in San Joaquin County. In 1865 Grandmother Whitaker purchased property and in order to obtain a clear title had to pay for it twice. Grandfather Whitaker came to California in 1854 and was a blacksmith by occupation, but followed farming later in life. He passed away in 1876 at the age of forty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Ingen, Megll had tai chi-

1552

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Mamie Adaline, Mrs. C. C. Wright of Chowchilla; Nellie, Mrs. Howard Gillespie; Henry F. of Lodi and Joseph F. The mother inherited fifty acres of the old Whitaker homestead and from time to time por- tions have been sold off until she now owns twenty acres, which her son Joseph F. leases and on which he resides.

Joseph F. Merrill received his education in the Live Oak and Alpine district schools of San Joaquin County and became well versed in agricultural pur- suits in his youth. On September 1, 1917, he entered the U. S. Army and was sent to Camp Lewis in the 363rd Infantry, where he trained for one year; then was transferred to Camp Fremont and while there was taken ill and was placed in a casual camp of convalescent soldiers, where he remained for six months and was then discharged November 30, 1918.

At Stockton on October 7, 1919, Mr. Merrill was married to Miss Florence Margaret Bucknell, also a native of California, a daughter of Frank and Georgia Bucknell, both natives of the Golden State whose families were early pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill are the parents of three children: Margaret Virginia, Joseph Eugene, and Helen Elaine. Mr. Merrill owns ten acres on Harney Lane near where he resides, two acres of which is in peaches and a'monds and five acres in young vines, and it is Mr. Merrill's inten- tion to build a modern house on this place. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the American Legion of Lodi.

JOHN MARTIN MILLER .- John M. Miller was born in the province of Würtemberg, Germany, near Tübingen, on June 13, 1861, a son of John and Judith (Foell) Miller. His father, John Miller, was an expert locksmith who lived and died in his native country of Germany. The mother also died there. Of their four- teen children John M. was the seventh. He received a good education in the schoo's of Germany, and when he was fourteen years old learned the baker's trade in the town of Moessingen. He followed his trade for two years in his home city. In February, 1879, he came to Hoboken, N. J., but soon made his way to Albany, N. Y., where he was employed at the butcher trade until 1881, when he came to California. He was employed on the Dos Palos ranch of Miller & Lux, beginning as a general farm laborer; later. for nearly ten years, he was a sub-foreman on the large ranch. He then went to San Francisco for a short time, and then to Madera, Madera County, Cal., where he bought and conducted a bakery busi- ness. At the end of one year he disposed of his business and went to Brazil, South America, in 1893, where he spent the next two years. In 1896 he re- turned to California and leased a ranch near Bellota, engaging in dairying and farming. In 1904 he pur- chased his ranch of eighty-seven acres, four and one- half miles east of Lodi, which he improved in part to vineyard and orchard. In April, 1922, he sold the ranch and located in Lodi, where he resides with his family. He also owns a ten-acre vineyard near Wood- bridge which he cares for and operates.

On June 15, 1898, at The Dalles, Oregon, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Emma Mack, also a native of Germany, born near Heilbronn, Würtem- berg, a daughter of Theodore and Lena (K'ooz) Mack. Her father, Theodore Mack, died when she was a small girl, and her mother married again, and Mrs. Miller was reared by her grandparents. She came to America and to The Dal'es, Ore., when she

was sixteen years old, and lived there for seven years, or until she was married. There were five chil- dren in her family, of whom she is the oldest, the others being Anna, Josephine, Bertha and Otto. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of three children. Lena is a graduate nurse from St. Joseph's Hospital at Stockton; Grace, a graduate of Heald's Business College, is a stenographer and resides in Stockton; Otto is at home. Since their marriage they have re- sided continuously in San Joaquin County. Improve- ments made by Mr. Miller include a fine irrigating system, pumping the water from a small lake on his ranch to irrigate his vineyard. As soon as possible, after arriving in California, Mr. Miller took out his citizenship papers in Fresno County, and his loyalty as an American citizen has never been questioned. In national politics he is a Republican. He was trustee of Victor School District, and with his wife is a member of St. Peter's German Lutheran Church in Lodi.

EUGENE F. NICKEL .- An enterprising citizen of Lodi Eugene F. Nickel is the owner of an apart- ment house located at 171/2 West Elm Street. He was born at Frankfort on the Oder in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, August 8, 1868, a son of Rudolph and Augusta (Beiga) Nickel, both natives of Germany. There were six children in the family. Richard resides at Acton, Cal .; Olga, deceased; Hed- wig, Mrs. Hilpert, resides in Leavenworth, Kans .; Eliza, Mrs. Julius Woock, resides in Lodi; Bruno, deceased; Eugene F. is the subject of this sketch. The father passed away at the age of fifty-five, the mother surviving until she was seventy-one years old.

Eugene F. Nickel received his education in the schools of Germany, and in 1885 accompanied his parents to the United States and settled in Leaven- worth, Kans., where he worked for his brother-in- law, Theodore Hilpert, in his grocery store, for two years. In 1887, with his mother and brother Richard, he moved to California and settled at Acton. Here he homesteaded a tract of land, but was later forced to relinquish his claim to it. His residence at Acton covered a period of seventeen years, during which time he engaged in mining and was road supervisor and mine recorder of the Cedar mining district. In 1904 Mr. Nickel came to Lodi, where he found em- ployment with the Lodi Wine Company. He then established a wholesale and retail wine business of his own in Lodi, which he successfully conducted, shipping to the East until 1912, when he sold out and opened a dry goods store at 17 and 19 West Elm Street, which he conducted for two years.

On January 4, 1909, at Los Angeles, Mr. Nickel was married to Miss Anna Schulte, a native of Wil- mington, Cal., a daughter of August and Dorothy (Lembke) Schulte, the former a native of West- phalia and the latter of Mason County, Iowa. Mrs. Nickel's maternal grandfather, Jacob Lembke, a native of Germany, came to California in an early day and settled at Wilmington, where he acquired valuable property holdings. Mrs. Nickel is the eldest of a family of seven children, the others being Fred, John, Mrs. Ida Gallagher, Mrs. Irene Scheen and Wilford, all residents of Lodi, and George, deceased at the age of six months. Her father is deceased, but the mother is still living in Lodi. Mr. and Mrs. Nickel are the parents of four children, Theodore, Carl, Eugene and Herbert, and an adopted daughter, Agnes. After Mr. Nickel sold his dry goods business

1553

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

he erected the Nickel Block, a two-story brick and reinforced concrete building, 40 x 170 feet, at 17 and 19 West Elm Street, with stores below and apart- ments above. In politics Mr. Nickel is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the Sons of Hermann Lodge of Lodi, and is a past president and trustee of the Grand Lodge of California. Mrs. Nickel is a member of the Parent-Teachers Association. The family are members of the Lutheran Church of Lodi.

THOMPSON MARION MOORE .- A native son of California, Thompson Marion Moore has been identified in a practical manner with agricultural pur- suits during all his active career, and resides four miles west of Lodi on a portion of his father's ranch. He was born near Escalon, San Joaquin County, on his father's ranch, October 15, 1893, a son of James L. and Ora (Carmichael) Moore, both natives of Geor- gia, whose forbears were plantation owners in early days. James L. Moore came to California thirty-two years ago and first settled near Oakdale, where he remained for a year, then came to San Joaquin County and farmed near Escalon for two years. He then removed to the Lafayette district of San Joaquin County, where he bought a ranch three miles west of Lodi on the Sargent Road, where he still resides. This ranch was unimproved at the time of purchase and Mr. Moore has developed the entire forty acres to orchard and vineyard, which is now producing abundant crops each season.

Thompson Marion Moore received his education at the Lafayette grammar school, meanwhile receiving practical lessons in viticulture and horticulture, which have proved of lasting benefit. He worked on his father's ranch until he was twenty years old, then started out for himself and worked on different ranches until 1921, when he purchased twenty acres four miles southwest of Lodi on Kettleman Lane, which he has set to Tokay grapes. He has also in- stalled a pumping plant which furnishes ample water for irrigation.

On March 18, 1916, Mr. Moore was married in Stockton to Miss Martha Peightal, born in Johns- town, Pa., a daughter of Samuel A. and Minnie (Hunter) Peightal. In 1910 her family removed to Lodi, and since 1914 her father has been identified with the Henderson Hardware Company of Lodi. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are the parents of three children: Marion, Ralph, who died July 5, 1922, aged three years, and Ruth. Mr. Moore built his residence south of his father's house on a portion of the latter's ranch, and there the family resides. Mr. Moore is a Democrat in politics.

MRS. ELLA THEW OWENS .- For the past twenty years Mrs. Ella Thew Owens has been an esteemed resident of San Joaquin County, and has borne her full share of the duties and responsibili- ties that have been the lot of successful Californians from the early days to the present. She was born in Marion County, Ohio, and is the daughter of Joseph and Mary S. (Shepherd) Thew, natives of Lincoln- shire and Somersetshire, England, respectively. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and when our sub- ject was six years old her parents moved to Logan County, Ind., and there her father conducted a shoe store for a number of years, then engaged in farming. In the spring of 1876 the family moved to Oxford, Kans., and here the father passed away in 1883 at the age of sixty-three years, the mother surviving him

until she was eighty-one, when she passed away while on a visit in California. They were the parents of eight children: Mary Ellen and Charles, deceased; Olive Ann resides in Wellington, Kans .; John Wesley, deceased; Francis Henry of Sawtelle, Cal .; Mrs. Ella Owens; Elizabeth lives at Decatur, Mich., and Wil- liam Arthur at Conway Springs, Kans.

At Belle Plaine, Kans., on March 10, 1884, Miss Ella Thew was married to David Fletcher Owens, a native of Currensville, Pa., born on April 4, 1860, a son of Moses Spencer Owens. His mother passed away when he was born, while the father was en- gaged in mining in Pennsylvania. Mr. Owens was the Methodist minister at Belle Plaine, Kans., and also ministered to two other charges in the neighbor- hood. He took an active part in Sunday school affairs and religious and educational matters in general, and was a force for good and uplift in every community where he worked. On account of failing health and the loss of his voice, he was obliged to give up the

ministry. He went into the real estate business, but later opened a grocery store at Kingman, Kans., and here Mrs. Owens proved herself to be a woman of great business acumen. In 1893 they removed to the Cherokee strip in Oklahoma, and there homesteaded a quarter-section of land near Lahoma, where they lived for eight years. In 1902 they sold the place and moved to Lodi, Cal., where they purchased the sixteen-acre ranch on which our subject now resides. This place is located on Louie Avenue, just outside the city limits of Lodi. At the time of purchase the land was in an orchard, but this was soon pulled out and a vineyard of Tokay grapes planted.

Mr. and Mrs. Owens were the parents of two chil- dren: Mabel Thew, Mrs. Froehnert, with whom her mother makes her home; William Thew, who married Miss Bessie May Fish; they have two children-Alice and Donald-and he is in the fruit business at Lodi. In November, 1918, Mr. Froehnert, Mrs. Owens' son- in-law, built a modern residence on her place and there Mr. and Mrs. Owens made their home. For five years Mr. Owens was superintendent of the Congregational Sunday school at Lodi, and by his diligence and geniality built up the school and during the five years never missed being in his place as superintendent. He passed away on February 10, 1919, mourned by his family and a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a Mason, and a Republican in politics, as is also Mrs. Owens, who carries on the good work and influence of her late husband. Mrs. Owens is a member of the Congrega- tional Church at Lodi.

CHARLES E. PERRYMAN .- A native son who has great faith in the fruit industry and agricultural development of San Joaquin County is Charles E. Perryman, who is now engaged in horticulture and viticulture in San Joaquin County and is aiding in making this great valley one of the most prosperous farming districts in the State of California. He was born at Linden, Cal., September 19, 1876, a son of John and Nancy F. (Potter) Perryman, natives of Ohio and Missouri, respectively. old settlers of San Joaquin County, where the father engaged in farm- ing and stockraising. There were three children in the family: Laura, who resides at home; Charles, our subject, and Walter John. The father met a vio- lent death, by being kicked is a horse. . thirty-five years, while the mother resides in Stockton at the present time, aged seventy-two years.

1554

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

When Charles E. was seven years old, the family moved to Stockton and his early education was re- ceived in the grammar and high schools of that city; later he attended the York College. He followed the mercantile business until he became owner and editor of the Lodi Herald, for five years. Next he was the proprietor of a wholesale and retail cigar and tobacco store in Lodi. Afterwards he became a traveling salesman for a Louisville, Ky., distillery, his territory being the State of California. In 1917 he bought a fifteen-acre ranch about one and three- quarters miles west of Woodbridge on the Thornton Road. Eight and one-half acres is in vineyard and the balance in orchard, and the irrigating is done by a four-inch pump driven by a seven horsepower motor.

Mr. Perryman's first marriage in Lodi united him with Miss Eva Dougherty, a native of San Joaquin County, daughter of John and Jennie Dougherty, and they were the parents of one daughter, Dorothy Lucile, attending Mills College at Oakland. The union proved unhappy and they were divorced. On June 3, 1913, occurred the second marriage of Mr. Perryman, uniting him with Miss Nellie Helen Nich- ols, born at Oakland, Cal., daughter of W. W. and Julia (Lemp) Nichols. The father was a native of Ohio and came to California in 1847. He was a stockman, and ran a hotel and teamed in the early days from Elko and Reno, Nev., to Oakland. He had a horse ranch, raising draft and standard horses, which were sold from his headquarters in Oakland, on San Pablo and Twenty-second Streets. He set- tled at the mines and ran a restaurant, which proved very successful. Later he purchased a residence in Oakland, where he made his home. He acquired 11,000 acres of land at Eureka, Nev., and teamed to and from the mines in that state, and dealt extensively in cattle and grain. He met a violent death, when in falling from a load he was kicked by a horse, on his Nevada ranch in 1892, after which the property was sold. In 1880 Mr. Nichols had bought an acre of land on Twenty-third and San Pablo Streets, Oakland, which his heirs still own. His widow now resides at Albany, Cal: There were eight children in the fam- ily: Louis, deceased; Jennie, Mrs. O. M. Robinson of San Francisco; Mary, Mrs. Frank Agello of Santa Cruz; Nellie, Mrs. Perryman; Florence, residing at Oakland; Julia, Mrs. R. Duttke of San Francisco; Sarah, deceased; and William of Oakland. Mrs. Perryman attended the Durant school and later the Field Seminary at Oakland. Mr. and Mrs. Perryman had one son, Charles, Jr., who died at the age of two years and four months. In his political views Mr. Perryman is an earnest Republican, doing all in his power to promote the interests of his party and keep- ing well informed on the questions and issues of the day. For the past twenty-five years he has been a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E.

LOUIS M. FIRPO .- An enterprising young busi- ness man of Stockton, whose genial manner has wonl for him a host of friends in business and social circles, is Louis M. Firpo, the capable manager of the New York Hotel in Stockton. He was born in the Prov- ince of Genoa, Italy, March 23, 1892, a son of August and Carrie (Firpo) Firpo, both natives of the same country. August Firpo came to Stockton about thirty years ago and first found employment in the vegetable gardens around Stockton; later, with L. Bacigalupi

he engaged in the hotel business on South Eldorado Street, which he followed for a number of years with marked success, and during those years built the Mar- coni Hotel at the corner of Lafayette and Eldorado streets. Besides Louis M., our subject, there is a daughter Mary, in the family.

The education of Louis M. Firpo was obtained in the public schools of Stockton and his business train- ing began as a clerk in a clothing store, then for a time he clerked in a cigar store. He entered the serv- ice of his country during the World War and was sent to Washington, D. C., for training, and in July, 1918, went overseas as a member of replacement squad attached to the 80th Division in France, 305th Engineers, and saw active service in France until the signing of the armistice, his overseas service covering a period of eleven months.

Mr. Firpo's marriage united him with Miss Louise Leonardini, a native daughter of Stockton, Cal. In June, 1922, August Firpo purchased the New York Hotel, located at 44 South Aurora Street, which was refurnished and refitted in every detail, so that it now ranks among the best appointed hotels in the city. This hostelry consists of ninety rooms and is well equipped and modern, and father and son are equally interested and responsible for its management. Fra- ternally August M. Firpo is a member of the For- esters, the Druids and the Stockton Italian Club, while the son, Louis M., is a member of the Druids, the Karl Ross Post of the American Legion and the Stockton Italian Club.

FORTY-NINE DRUG COMPANY, INC .- For over seventy-three years, dating back to the "days of '49," the corner of East Main and El Dorado streets, Stockton, has been the site of a drug store, hence the historical appropriateness of the name of the phar- macy now located there, linking the past with the present. It was founded in the year of the great gold rush by E. S. Holden, and was the first drug store in Northern California, if not in the state. A small, two-story building occupied the site at that time, which in later years was replaced by the present structure. The business later came into the posses- sion of I. D. Holden, a son of the founder, and his old safe, with a picture of the store painted on the front, still stands in the rear of the store, having been in use for fifty years. The present proprietors of the drug store, Charles R. Chase and Arthur C. Brown, both came into the store as delivery boys and on November 1, 1919, they entered into partnership and purchased the business, which has prospered greatly under their expert management.

Charles Robert Chase was born at San Francisco, June 2, 1887, and when three years of age was brought to Stockton by his parents. Here he attended the public schools and when about fifteen years old he started to work for the Holden Drug Company as a delivery boy, and was later a registered pharmacist with the company. During the World War he en- listed in the Medical Corps, U. S. A., serving for eleven months in the United States and a year in France. His marriage united him with Miss Clara Miner, a native daughter of Porterville, Cal., and they are the parents of a son, Charles Robert Chase, Jr. Mr. Chase is a member of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., and of Karl Ross Post, American Legion.

A native of Seattle, Wash., Arthur C. Brown was born there on May 11, 1891, but since he was four

- ---

- -

1555

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

years old he has been a resident of Stockton. About fifteen years ago he went to work for the Holden Drug Company as a delivery boy, then became a reg- istered pharmacist, continuing in this position until he became one of the proprietors of the business. He married Miss Maud Twitchings, who was born in New York City, and they have a son, Arthur C. Brown, Jr. In fraternal life Mr. Brown is a member of Delta Lodge, F. & A. M., the Sciots, and the Ki- wanis Club.

JOHN J. GAMBETTA .- A pioneer of 1855, the late John J. Gambetta was a far-seeing and enterpris- ing citizen of Stockton until his death in 1899. He was born in the suburbs of Genoa, Italy, March 5, 1847, his parents being Joseph and Marianna (Croza) Gambetta. In 1855 the family came to the United States, their route being an unusual one, and taking them via Gibraltar, Carthegena, Acapulco, across the Isthmus of Panama, and thence to San Francisco on the steamer Golden Gate. He was reared and edu- cated in Stockton and worked in various stores in that city; later he worked for Captain Weber selling his real estate and followed that business for many years. Mr. Gambetta established a general store at the corner of Market and Eldorado streets and as business increased he established four more similar stores throughout the city. He owned and platted the first subdivision put on the market in Stockton, located on East Street between Lafayette and Market streets; he also had the Northern addition and the Fair Oaks subdivision. Mr. Gambetta was a firm be- liever in the great future of Stockton and from early days believed that Stockton would eventually become a great city. He was an advocate and a supporter of the deep water to the sea project many years ago, realizing the importance of the best shipping facili- ties to be had. Mr. Gambetta was an inventor of marked ability, being the inventor of the first motor- cycle, which was under construction at the time of his death; he also invented a motor-boat engine and a self-locking nut for carriages and wagons.

On April 10, 1872, in Stockton, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Gambetta, which united him with Miss Carmelitta Capurro, a native of Stockton, and they were the parents of five children: Blendina is Mrs. A. C. White, John Francis, Mrs. Eugenia Sievers, Adella, the wife of Harry D. White, and Pauline Gambetta, all residing in Stockton except John F. Mr. Gambetta was elected coroner of San Joaquin County, and served one term. In 1886 he was elected public administrator of the county and was re-elected to that office again in 1888. Fraternally he was a member of Stockton Lodge, I. O. O. F. and Charter Oak Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and he held a promi- nent place in the councils of the Democratic party.

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 230

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