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 246

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 246

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feet, and upon this site he erected a modern three- story brick block, known as the Muzio Block, the first floor occupied by stores and the two upper stories devoted to the Hotel Glenn. During 1921 Mr. Muzio made another trip to Italy to visit his mother. He is a member of the Stockton Italian Club and the Druids; he has also been a member of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce for a number of years and has done his share assisting all movements for the better- ment and advancement of Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Muzio are the parents of three children: John J. is married and conducts a bakery business in Sonora, Antoinette and Antonio are students at St. Mary's College in Oakland.

GIOVANNI NELLI .- A prominent member of the Italian-American residents of Stockton, Giovanni Nelli is the senior member of the men's furnishing store of Nelli & Mazza. He was born near Florence, Italy, on December 27, 1880, where he attended the public schools, and afterwards took a commercial course. Upon reaching eighteen years of age he entered the Italian army, where he served for twenty- two months; at one time being stationed at Napoli and Salerno, where he served as a clerk in the com- missary department; he then went to South America as a commercial traveler throughout Brazil and other South American countries and in 1903 arrived in the United States and located in Seattle, remaining there only six months when he located in Stockton. He entered the employ of Alfred Santini as a clerk and upon receiving word that his mother was very ill in Italy, he left and went back to his old home, where he spent eight months, after which he returned to Stock- ton and assumed his old position. During 1910 he formed a partnership with D. Mazza and purchased the haberdashery of R. Marguetti, located at 226 South Center Street, where a fine business has been built up; the store has been enlarged, new fixtures installed, and a complete and up-to-date line of goods is carried.

The marriage of Mr. Nelli united him with Miss Adella Peirano, a native of Sonora, Tuolumne County, Cal. Mr. Nelli has made a number of valuable real estate purchases, including an apartment house on Poplar and San Joaquin streets, his new residence at 20 East Ash Street, and another fine residence on South Sutter Street. He is a prominent member of the Italian colony of Stockton and has been the sec- retary and treasurer of the Stockton Italian Club since its organization. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Con- cordia Club, of which he has been secretary for ten years, and the Italian branch of the Foresters of America, serving as secretary for ten years. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Italy. In the spring of 1921 he and his wife took a trip covering five months, to his old home in Italy, visiting the principal cities of his native country.

ABRAHAM NASMAN .- Since 1907 Abraham Nasman has been identified with agriculture in San Joaquin County, having owned an orchard and vine- yard previous to the purchase of his present well- cultivated vineyard located on the corner of Central Avenue and Kettleman Lane. He was born in Harn- osand, Sweden, November 11, 1862, a son of Jonas and Anna Nasman. Jonas Nasman engaged in farm- ing in his younger days and later in hte breathe

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carpenter. There were twelve children in the family, seven of whom grew up: Carrie, Peter, Jonas (died in South America of yellow fever), Erick (died in Chicago), Abraham, the subject of this sketch; Isaac (died in Sweden), and Jacob. The father lived to be seventy-two years old, the mother died when Abra- ham was a lad of five years. When nine years of age he became errand boy for a tailor, and remained in his native country until 1888 when, in company with his brother Erick, he came to the United States and spent the next two years working in Philadelphia, Pa., after which the brothers went to Chicago and Abraham found work in the iron works and then learned the carpenter trade and was employed in Chicago for fourteen years. .

In the fall of 1893, in Chicago, Mr. Nasman was first married to Miss Lena Roberg, also a native of Sweden. She passed away in Chicago in 1895, leaving one daughter, Florence, Mrs. Schulte, residing in Lodi. In 1899 Mr. Nasman was married to Miss Augusta Lundaberg, born in Falun, Sweden, who came to Chicago in 1884, and for many years was a nurse at the Battle Creek (Mich.) Sanitarium. For a number of years Mr. Nasman traveled for John S. Metcalf & Company of Chicago. He was a foreman in the installation of grain elevator machinery for this company and spent three years on one job at Port- land, Maine; he was also at Newport News, Va., and twice was sent to Montreal, Canada. In 1904 he came to San Francisco, Cal., and engaged in carpenter work and was there at the time of the great earthquake and fire. In 1907 the family removed to San Joaquin County, where he bought an eight-acre orchard three- quarters of a mile west of Woodbridge on the New Hope Road, and here they spent nine years, when he sold out and in 1916 purchased a ranch of ten acres on the Lincoln Highway three miles southwest of Lodi; this latter ranch was in vineyard and in 1920 Mr. Nasman sold it. He then purchased 2.08 acres set to vineyard and trees on the corner of Central Avenue and Kettleman Lane, where he also raises fine chickens. Mr. Nasman is a Republican in politics and with Mrs. Nasman is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In 1913 Mr. and Mrs: Nas- man adopted an eight-year-old boy, Fritz.

RICHARD AUGUSTUS HAWLEY .- After an interesting life, many years of which were spent in political activity, Richard Augustus Hawley is now living retired from active business cares at his home at 1211 Vernal Way, Stockton, but is ever alert to the events of the day and times. A native of England, he was born in Kent County on February 17, 1837. When he was twelve years old he came to America and settled in Rochester, N. Y., where he was reared and educated; later he removed to Delevan, Wis., where he studied dentistry; later he practiced his pro- fession in Janesville, Wis., and remained there until the beginning of the Civil War. Near the close of the war he enlisted in the 33rd Wisconsin Infantry and served one year. In 1867 he removed to Ne- braska, the same year that that state was admitted to the Union. Here to took up a homestead of 160 acres, proved up on it and engaged in farming; later he bought and shipped grain with headquarters at Brownsville, Neb., and was thus engaged for ten years; he also served as justice of the peace. Dur- ing this time he became an ardent advocate of prohi- bition; he established prohibition headquarters for the

state of Nebraska in Lincoln; he was twice nomi- nated for the governor of Nebraska on the Prohibi- tion ticket and once for congressman in the Bryan district. He lived near and was a personal friend of William Jennings Bryan. In 1884 he was mayor of Tecumseh, Neb. He traveled throughout the state speaking for the Prohibition movement. He is proud of the fact that all the movements he worked for and advocated have been adopted and he has lived to see them all become laws, among them being prohibition, the open ballot, equal suffrage and the initiative and referendum. After the close of the Civil War he was sergeant-major at Camp Randall, Neb., and became a member of the Union League, before the Grand Army of the Republic was formed. He has been a member of G. A. R. Posts in Nebraska and is past- commander of Rawlins Post, Stockton, and at the present time is patriotic instructor. While a resident of Nebraska he took up the study of law in the State University, but did not complete the course. He removed to Stockton in 1908 and for six years en- gaged in the manufacture of potato chips.

The marriage of Mr. Hawley occurred in Wisconsin in 1859 and united him with Miss Elizabeth J. War- ner and they are the parents of six children: Will W. is the general manager of a 52,000-acre farm in Ne- braska; Mrs. Rodie H. Clark resides at Venice, Cal .; Mrs. Weltha Fawcett resides at Galt, Calif .; Frank L. is manager for the Loman, Hanford Company of Seattle; Mrs. Maude H. Porter resides at Seattle, Wash .; and Harry H. is an engineer, residing in Fresno. Mr. Hawley has been identified with the Christian Church since 1859 and he is an elder of the church in Stockton. Since 1867 he has been affil- iated with the Masonic order; he is an honorary member of the Redmen; also an honorary member of the Spanish War Veterans. In 1916 Mr. Hawley was a candidate for mayor of Stockton. He has wit- nessed much of the development of Stockton and vic- inity, and is a man of forceful personality, and his mental and moral characteristics have won him the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

CHARLES E. HENCMANN .- Among the ener- getic business men of Stockton Charles E. Hencmann occupies a position well to the front in commercial circles, and as cashier of the Sperry Flour Company is showing his ability and efficiency. He was born in Stockton on July 3, 1880. His father Charles was born in Texas and came to Stockton with his parents when he was one year of age. His paternal grand- father, William Hencmann, was one of the first blacksmiths in Stockton and carried on the business for many years there, being succeeded by his son

Charles. The father, Charles Hencmann, mar- ried Miss Mary Fitzgerald, a native of Tuolumne County, Cal., a descendant of a pioneer family, and there are six living children in the family: Charles E ; John; Mrs. Margaret Allegretti; Mrs. Edith Nunley; Harold, and Mrs. Bernice Smith. The father, who died in 1920, was a member of the Knights of Pythias of Stockton, and the Exempt Firemen; his widow is still living.

Charles E. attended the Washington, Fremont and Jefferson schools and at the age of eighteen entered the employ of the Stockton Lumber Company as out- side man and during this time attended night school where he took a course in accounting. Later when he entered the Sperry Flour Company he started in the germea department; then in the cereal department;

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

next he entered the general office as shipping clerk, then was advanced to billing clerk, then to the grain desk and then to his present position of cashier, which he is filling with satisfaction to his employers.

Mr. Hencmann's marriage united him with Miss Della Schultze, a native of Stockton, and they are the parents of one son, Evan Charles. Fraternally Mr. Hencmann is a member of the Stockton Lodge of Red Men, in which he is past sachem. A young man of admirable qualities, he contributes his support to general progress and improvement as well as to individual success.

JOHN W. HERZOG .- A native of the Duchy of Baden, Germany, where he was born on January 16, 1870, John W. Herzog has become, through his fore- sight, progressive enterprise and enviable industry, one of the successful, influential and desirable citizens of Acampo. His father, Frederick Herzog, was a shoemaker by trade, and the father of three children -our subject, Mary and Felix; he and his wife, who was Amelia Stephom before her marriage, did the best they could for the education of their small fam- ily, and John was able to attend school in Germany.

In 1888 he came to the United States and Califor- nia, and settled at Franklin, in Sacramento County; and for about twelve years he worked for wages as a farm-laborer. He then leased about 125 acres near this place and ran a dairy; and removing to Arno, in Sacramento County, he conducted a dairy on about 700 acres under a lease. He farmed successfully there, using only the most modern of appliances and up-to-date methods, until he came to his present loca- tion, a -portion of the old Fawcett ranch, the his- tory of which is given in the Fawcett story, in an- other part of this historical work. Eventually, he bought sixty acres of the Fawcett Ranch, fourteen of which he has in alfalfa; and there he conducts a small dairy.

At Sacramento, in December, 1900, Mr. Herzog was married to Miss Cynthia Lauchert, who was born in Germany near the scene of Mr. Herzog's birth, and came to the United States with her parents when she was five years old. Her parents were August and Cynthia Lauchert, and her father was also a dairy farmer. Growing up in the Golden State, she attended the schools of Sacramento County, and so early imbibed the American spirit. Mr. Herzog, who is a Republican, and his good wife are enthusiastic Americans, their admiration of things in the Old World in no wise interfering with their appreciation of the land of their adoption. Mr. Herzog belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, being affiliated with Franklin lodge.

JOSEPH H. HILL .- A representative viticulturist of the Ripon section of San Joaquin County, among the most prosperous farming districts in California, is Joseph H. Hill, the general manager of the Hilldale Vineyard, located near Ripon. He was born at Honey Grove, Texas, July 24, 1884, a son of Jesse W. and Mary (Gunter) Hill, both natives of Tennessee, who migrated to Texas in 1880. Jesse W. Hill became an extensive land owner in Texas and was a citizen of more than ordinary degree of public spirit and per- sonal worth. He and his good wife reared six sons and one daughter who, with the husband and father, survive Mrs. Hill, who passed away in Melrose, Texas, in 1908. After spending about fifteen years riding the range, Joseph H. Hill engaged in rice rais-

ing and met with fine success in this new industry, for four successive years. In 1908 he left his father's ranch and went to Fort Worth, Texas, and was em- ployed in the Armour packing plant there and was soon promoted to division superintendent of the plant, where he remained until 1918, when he resigned his position to come to California.

On October 9, 1909, at Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Hill was married to Miss Evelyn Stegall, also a na- tive of Honey Grove, a daughter of J. Q. and Virginia (Moore) Stegall, of Scotch-Irish descent, but born and reared in Tennessee. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hill, Harold, Austin and Carl. Jesse W. Hill, the father of our subject, preceded his son to California where he purchased 171 acres of grain land; later 121 acres was sold to Chas. H. Seger- strom who is developing it to vineyard known as the Hilldale Vineyard of which Mr. Hill is the manager and where the most modern methods and equipment are used. In politics Mr. Hill is a Republican and fraternally is a member of the Ripon Mt. Horeb Lodge of Odd Fellows No. 58, and the Encampment of Modesto. He is numbered among the thoroughly practical and successful fruit-growers of San Joaquin County, and commands the uniform confidence and respect of the business community in which he makes his home and he can be counted upon to support all measures for the advancement of the Ripon district.

F. JULIUS HOLM .- The proprietor of a general merchandise store at Avena Station, San Joaquin County, F. Julius Holm is also postmaster at Ellis- worth, Cal., and ticket agent for the Santa Fe Rail- road Company at the same place since 1898 and he has filled all three positions creditably and efficiently. He was born at Hasle on the Island of Bornholm, Denmark, February 14, 1858, and received his educa- tion in the public schools of his native place. Early in life he began to earn his own living and entered a larger store at Rona, Denmark, as a clerk where he worked in the daytime and attended commercial school at night for five years. At the age of twenty- one years he entered the army of his country where he served for eighteen months. Returning to civilian life he became the manager of the store where he had formerly clerked, remaining until he was twenty-five years old. He then returned to Hasle to be with his parents and there established a general merchandise store which he conducted for the following eight years and during this time his parents both passed away. In 1891 Mr. Holm came to California with the intention of returning to his native land, but after a visit to his uncle, Esper H. Due, who was living near Atlanta on a large farm, he liked the country and the people and decided to make California his per- manent home and so engaged in farm work near At- lanta for seven years. He received his citizenship papers in 1896. In 1898 he purchased the first building erected in Avena from W. B. Buckman where he es- tablished his store, and his business has so increased that he supplies the ranchers for a radius of six miles. Mr. Holm petitioned for a postoffice at Ellis- worth and on April 1, 1901, received the appointment as postmaster from Postmaster General Smith under President McKinley, and is postmaster still. In Oc- tober, 1897, the first Santa Fe train passed through Avena and this station was among the first to receive shipments of grapes and hay in car lots; for ten years Mr. Holm conducted a shipping station for the San Joaquin and Stockton creameries. Mr. Holm is

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an ardent advocate of good roads and the splendid roads of the locality are, in a great measure, due to his untiring efforts.

JOHN HOLMAN .- The success achieved by John Holman has been the result entirely of his own ef- forts, for he came to California with nothing but courage, energy and determination as the foundation for the competency he hoped to win. A native of Illinois, he was born at Bloomington on July 4, 1873, a son of David and Anna (Langevin) Holman. His parents were both born in Alsace, coming from Mill- hausen on the Rhine, where the father was engaged in the cabinetmaking business. Coming to America when a young man, David Holman enlisted in the Eighth Ohio Volunteers and served throughout the Civil War. After the close of the war he settled in Illinois and engaged in farming on a quarter section of land he had purchased. There were three children in the family, John, the subject of this review, Dor- othy, and Minnie.

John Holman attended the public school at Bloom- ington, Ill., and when he was fourteen years old went to Vandalia, Ill., and there learned the harness trade which occupied him for three years. In 1894 he de- cided to change his environment from the East to the West and upon his arrival in California located in Santa Cruz County where he was employed for the next twelve years.

On December 24, 1904, Mr. Holman was married to Miss Margaret Krauter, born near Strasbourg at Balbron in Alsace, a daughter of Michael and Selina Krauter, both parents natives of Alsace, where they engaged in farming. Mrs. Holman came to Santa Cruz when she was eighteen years old and there her marriage' occurred. They are the parents of one son, John Jr., at home with his parents. In 1913 the family came to San Joaquin County where they purchased fifteen acres five and a half miles east of Lodi, which has recently been set to vineyard and a pumping plant has been installed. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally a member of the W. O. W. of Lodi and the Loyal Order of Moose of Lodi.

BENJAMIN F. HOWELL .- At the age of four years Benjamin F. Howell accompanied his parents to California, where his education was received in the public schools of Oakland and there took his first job when he was sixteen years old with the Great Amer- ican Tea Company. He was born in Nevada, Mo., June 22, 1871, the eldest son of William J. and Nar- cissa (Moore) Howell, both natives of Missouri. Wil- liam J. Howell was a butcher by trade, who came to California in 1875 and settled in Mono County where he conducted a wholesale and retail butcher business. He spent fourteen years in California, then returned to Nevada, Mo., where he passed away at the age of sixty-six years; his wife still lives there. Five children were born to them: Benjamin F .; Respino died in 1922; William J. resides in Pueblo, Col .; May E. is Mrs. Wm. Bailey, residing at Lees Summit, Mo .; Georgia is deceased. Benjamin F. Howell ac- companied his parents to Missouri in 1889 and while there learned the butcher and the carpenter trades, both of which he followed.

On May 1, 1892, in Nevada, Mo., Mr. Howell was first married to Miss Iva Murray, born in Nev- ada, Mo., a daughter of Joseph Murray. Two children were born of this union, Vivian and Wanda. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Howell was married to

Mrs. Emma Clyne, the widow of Charles Clyne and the daughter of J. B. Adams. She had two sons by her first marriage, Ralph and Earl Clyne. In 1913 Mr. Howell brought his family to California and lo- cated at Stockton where he has since resided and where he has followed both the butcher and car- penter trades. In 1918 the family home at 1727 South Stanislaus Avenue was purchased. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally belongs to the Moose and Yeoman lodges of Stockton.

FRED LEVY .- A man of varied talents, Fred Levy has won success in the mining fields of Alaska and in business circles of Stockton he is well known as the proprietor of Barker's Bakery, located at 325 South San Joaquin Street. A native of England, he was born in Liverpool, August 13, 1878, and as a young man made his way to Alaska, where he spent sixteen years in mining, operating from Dawson to Fairbanks and Ophir, and also continuing his activi- ties along that line in the Caribou country of British Columbia. His labors were rewarded with success and he is still the owner of valuable mining claims in Alaska. While in that country he invented and pat- ented a new style of tractor with square wheels, es- pecially adapted for soft ground, to be used in culti- vating rice fields and boggy lands. This can be manu- factured in any size and his brother-in-law, Charles A. Murdock, assisted Mr. Levy in perfecting the inven- tion, which is a most practicable and valuable one.

On May 25, 1917, Mr. Levy arrived in Stockton and has since made his home in this city. He purchased the Barker Bakery, an old established concern, and has greatly improved the plant, installing the most modern equipment, and is conducting one of the lead- ing shops of the city. He sells bread and pastry of various kinds, keeping everything about his establish- ment scrupulously neat and clean, and the purity and wholesomeness of his products have created for them a large demand.

Mr. Levy married Miss Frances Holman, a native of Wallace, Calaveras County, Cal., and a member of one of the pioneer families of the state. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants & Manufacturers Association and frater- nally he is identified with the San Joaquin Lodge of Masons and the Loyal Order of Moose. Since com- ing to Stockton he has thoroughly identified his in- terests with those of the city, which has greatly bene- fited through his activities, and he is enthusiastic in his exploitation of its resources and attractions.

THOMAS DAVID LEWIS .- Widely and favor- ably known among successful contractors through- out San Joaquin County, Thomas David Lewis, now one of the oldest in his line of business, is kept steadily busy as a builder, never wanting for the next commission in up-to-date constructing and design- ing work. He was born in Bachellor Valley, Stanis- laus County, on November 23, 1864, the son of Will- iam Lewis, a native of Ireland who came around the Horn in pioneer , days and located in Stanislaus County, where he took up farming. He married Lucy Peachey, born in England, who came to Cali- fornia via Panama. When a boy, Thomas Lewis attended the district schools, starting to work on the home ranch when he was a lad of thirteen.

In 1883, at the age of nineteen, he came to Stock- ton, and the following year he became an apprentice to the carpenter's trade under the pioneer contractor,

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R. R. Reibenstein. In 1896, he established himself as a contractor in building and this line of work he is still following with success. His product has al- ways been of the highest order, and in recent years he has specialized in the installation of new store- fronts in the business districts. Among notable under- takings, for example, he erected the Elks Building, the Ruhl-Goodell Block, the Branch Block, the Flat- Iron Building, and the Gummer Building, as well as the first Fair Oaks School, the Wilhoit Block, the Wonder Store, the Philson Hotel, and other edifices which have helped to enrich and to adorn the city. He has also built many fine private residences, in- cluding the homes of George F. Hudson, Harry King, A. E. Gianelli, George Dickerson, Albert Morath, and two for Carl Ortman.

Mr. Lewis married Miss Carrie Case, at Stockton, in 1885, and they have been blessed in the birth of five children. Lottie, Mrs. Vilhauer of Stockton, is the eldest: William is a clerk in the Stockton Sav- ing & Loan Bank; Annie is the third-born; Olive is the wife of N. Stockwell, and they have one child, Thomas; and Everett is with Humphreys & Mathews. For over twenty years Mr. Lewis lived at No. 1320 South San Joaquin Street, but has just completed a new residence on the corner of Acacia and Edison streets, where he resides with his family.

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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 246

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