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 250

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 250

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).

Henry Thiessen grew up and attended the public schools, and at the age of fourteen he began working in the coal mines, working for the following sixteen years, with the exception of two years spent as a member of the infantry in the Imperial German army. At about thirty years of age he went into the hog

and horse-trading business at Lutgen, Dortmund, Germany, where he also conducted a butcher shop, continuing there for ten years; then he came to the United States and settled at Taylorville, Ill., where he worked for two years in the coal mines, when in 1904 he came to California. He first located at Galt, Cal., but remained only one month; then he began work on the Thornton ranch at one dollar and twen- ty-five cents per day and remained six months; then rented 100 acres at Sycamore Slough, where he farmed for a year; then came to San Joaquin County and rented the old John Keller ranch of 160 acres on the Kelly Road, six miles west of Lodi. He operated this ranch and ran a dairy for eight years, when he bought the ranch on which he lives, located four and a half miles northwest of Woodbridge, containing 320 acres. Of this ranch forty-eight acres are in produc- ing vineyard; eighty acres are in alfalfa, and the bal- ance devoted to general farming. He also owns 188 acres on the Brack tract in the tules; he also main- tains a dairy of sixty cows; ten head of horses and a forty-five-horse-power Holt tractor are used in the cultivation and development of this ranch and it is irrigated from the Stockton-Mokelumne ditch. In- terested with Mr. Thiessen in this ranch and farming operations are his three sons, Henry, William and Martin.

On March 28, 1887, in Westphalia, Germany, Mr. Thiessen was married to Miss Fredericka Sprien- kemper, a native of Germany and a daughter of Henry and Fredericka (Kranefeldt) Sprienkemper. Her father was also a miner and there were four children in the family: Henry, Fredericka, Wilhel- mina, and Lena. Her father lived to be fifty years old, while the mother passed away at the age of forty-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Thiessen have had twelve children, nine of whom are living: Henry; William; Mrs. Annie Schultz; Martin; Lena, the wife of August Wiggett; Lizzetta, Mrs. William Wiggett; Karl; Minnie, Mrs. Fred Wiggett, and Emma. In politics he is a Republican and he and his family are members of the Lutheran Church.

RALPH C. JEANNELLE .- A wide-awake, high- ly-progressive business man whose important indus- try may well be accepted as indicative of the general prosperity of Stockton, in which it is fortunately lo- cated, is Ralph C. Jeannelle, secretary and treasurer of the Peerless Milling Company, of 1040 East Church Street. A typical Hoosier, proud of his early associations, he was born at Elwood, Ind., on Octo- ber 31, 1895, the son of A. N. and Marie (Phillipp) Jeannelle, both natives of France. His father was a glassmaker by trade, and followed it in Indiana; and having removed to Stockton in 1907, he was for a number of years one of the expert employees of the Stockton Glass Works. Two children sprang from the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Jeannelle: the daughter became Mrs. Ed. Hess of Stockton, while the youngest child is Ralph C. Jeannelle.

Having finished his schooling in the public institu- tions of Stockton, Ralph entered the employ of the Peerless Milling Company, where he was given the job of patching grain sacks and sweeping out the mill; and in time he was advanced, first to be ship- ping clerk, and then bookkeeper. Later he bought a fourth-interest in the business and was made secre- tary and treasurer; and now he owns a one-half in- terest.

1627

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

In the year 1918, and at Stockton, Mr. Jeannelle was united in marriage with Miss Dorothy Waltz, a native of California, who shares with him his social popularity. He belongs to Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, and he is also a live wire in the An- teros Club.

RENALDO J. JEFFRY .- A well-trained, exper- ienced and conscientious attorney, who has steadily risen to prominence among the most distinguished representatives of the Bar in San Joaquin County, is Renaldo J. Jeffry, who was born at San Francisco on July 16, 1890. He was reared at Healdsburg, in Sonoma County, and attended the schools there; and in 1913 he was graduated from the University of Cal- ifornia, with the B. L. degree, two years later receiv- ing the degree of J. D. The same year, he was ad- mitted to the Bar. In 1916 he began his practice in Stockton, and from the first was fortunate in making an equally favorable impression with the Bench and his numerous clients. His studious habits, leading to the fullest possible knowledge of the law; his love of justice, and high ideals; and his personal, disinterested interest in the welfare of those who come to him for advice and assistance, have contributed to his firmly establishing himself in the confidence of his clients.

At Petaluma, September 25, 1919, Mr. Jeffry was married to Miss Gladys V. Gould, a native of Stock- ton and the daughter of Frank Gould, a prominent Stockton attorney of early days, who later practiced law for a number of years at San Francisco, was a leader in Democratic political circles, speaker of the California House of Representatives, and also U. S. surveyor-general. He died in 1918, widely esteemed and also widely lamented. Renaldo Jeffry belongs to both the Druids and the Foresters, and he enjoys an enviable popularity in each fraternal order, and is a member of the San Joaquin County Bar Association.

FERDINAND JESCH .- A citizen of San Joaquin County who is well and favorably known is Ferdi- nand Jesch, a stock-buyer who travels throughout the county and purchases direct from the farmers, cattle, sheep and hogs for the markets of Stockton and other cities of the county. He is a native of East Prussia, Germany, born May 6, 1877, one of a family of nine children, seven boys and two girls. He was born and reared on a farm in his native country, and at the age of fourteen began learning the trade of butcher, which required three years of compulsory training; he followed his trade for three years and at the age of twenty was required to enter the army, where he served for two years. At twen- ty-five he came to the United States, and first lived at Rochester, N. Y., then in Michigan City, Ind., then at Vancouver, Wash., and Bandon, Ore., following his trade in all of these places until 1911, when, on July 6, he arrived in Stockton. He was favorably im- pressed with the business outlook, so established a meat business at Center and Jackson streets, called the Fulton Market; however, he soon became dissat- isfied with inside work and engaged in buying and selling livestock, in which he has made a success. He has his regular customers among the ranchers of the county, from whom he purchases all kinds of live- stock, which is taken to the slaughter pens at French Camp and prepared for the markets of Stockton.

The marriage of Mr. Jesch united him with Miss Margaret Eckelmann, born in Jersey City, N. J., and they are the parents of two children; Fritz A., born

in Michigan City, Ind., and Charlotta, born in Van- couver. Wash., and both are students in the Stock- ton high school. Mr. Jesch became a United States citizen August 10, 1907, at Vancouver, Wash., and his loyalty to his adopted country has been a matter of great pride to him. Fraternally he belongs to Court Shilla Foresters; Loyal Order of Moose and Fidelity Lodge.

HARRY E. KAPLAN, M. D .- A physician of ex- perience, ability and thorough equipment, Dr. Harry E. Kaplan has a well deserved reputation throughout San Joaquin County. He is one of the progressive members of his profession, and besides attending to his private practice is also interested in movements to advance the standard of excellence and efficiency of his fellow practitioners throughout the state.

Dr. Kaplan was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 17, 1893, and received his preliminary education in the grammar and high schools of New York City; later he entered the University of New York and the Bellevue Medical College of New York City, and in 1917 received his M. D. degree from Fordham Uni- versity. He then entered the emergency service of the Knickerbocker Hospital in New York City; then became house surgeon at the Long Island College Hospital. During the World War he was commis- sioned a lieutenant of the junior grade in the medical corps of the U. S. Navy and after eleven months of service was made lieutenant of senior grade and was attached to the Naval Hospital at Brooklyn, N. Y., where he remained for another eleven months; then was at the naval training station at Pelham Bay, N. Y. He also served on the U. S. transport Troy, one of the largest transports in the navy, carrying 6,000 troops, and Dr. Kaplan made three round trips to France; later he was attached to the naval air sta- tion at Rockaway Beach, Long Island, receiving his honorable discharge on September 18, 1919.

Dr. Kaplan then came to California and was in the U. S. Public Health Service in the Marine Hospital at San Francisco, and on January 1, 1922, came to Stockton to take charge of the practice of Dr. S. F. Priestley while he was absent from the city. He is now in practice for himself, with offices in the Farm- ers and Merchants Bank Building, and is a member of the state and county medical societies, a member of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States; a member of Karl Ross Post of the American Legion, and Lunetta Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He joined the Arcana Blue Lodge of Ma- sons, No. 246, in New York City, of which he is. still a member, and is also a member of the Sciots. He also belongs to the Iroquois Tribe, Independent Or- der of Red Men of Stockton, and the B'nai B'rith Lodge of Stockton.

HAMPTON JONES .- An enterprising business man, whose success and prosperity are evidenced in a modern and very attractive store located at Califor- nia and Channel streets, Stockton, is Hampton Jones, the owner and proprietor of the Jones Tent and Awning Company. He was born at New Orleans, La., November 9, 1895, and his education was ob- tained in his native and other Southern cities. His residence in California dates from 1914, when he came to San Francisco, and after receiving his dis- charge from the army at the close of the World War he located in San Jose and was employed with the San Jose Awning and Tent Company, having hall

1628

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

previous experience in this line of work in the South. It was not until 1920 that he became a resident of Stockton, where he established a tent and awning business in a small store on North Hunter street. His business grew from the start and within six months he was obliged to seek larger quarters and moved to 522 East Washington street; then lately he removed to his present store at California and Chan- nel streets, where he has ample quarters, utilizing about 8,000 square feet. He is associated with S. L. Learner, a man of many years' experience in interior decorating, which is also a branch of this business. Mr. Jones carries a full line of canvas goods of all descriptions, fancy and patent awnings and all kinds of camp equipment, which he manufactures himself. His business is not alone confined to San Joaquin County, but extends all over the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. He suffered a heavy loss by fire, but with no thought of discouragement he re- newed his stock and continued his business. He is a member of the Merchants Association and the Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Jones enlisted in the service of his country early in the World War, and was sent to the first officers' training camp at Manila, P. I., and was the fourth to graduate from the school; he did not accept a commission at that time, but returned to the United States to join the regular army, and was commis- sioned second lieutenant in charge of the bayonet in- structions at the Presidio, San Francisco; then he was transferred to Camp Fremont as assistant divi- sion bayonet instructor, where he remained for two years; after the armistice was signed he was post athletic officer.

The marriage of Mr. Jones in San Jose united him with, Miss Estella Crow, a native of California and a descendant of the pioneer Crow family after whom Crows Landing, Stanislaus County, was named. His fraternal affiliations are with the Santa Rosa Amer- ican Legion Post, San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., Eastern Star and Sciots Club of Stockton.

WILLIAM JOSEPH JONES .- A well-known and enterprising citizen of Lodi, William Joseph Jones has for the past fifteen years been in the plumbing contracting business. He was born on his father's ranch on West Lane, Stockton, August 12, 1864, a son of William and Mary Ellen (McKenna) Jones, the former a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and the latter of New York City. In 1850 the father, William Jones, crossed the plains to California, where he worked in the mines. In 1854 he was married to a Miss Johnson in Stockton, who lived only three months after her marriage. In 1858 he returned to Philadelphia, where he was married to Miss Mary Ellen McKenna, and then came to California via Panama and settled at Stockton. The father was a wheelwright by trade; and was in business with Charles Christian on Market street until 1863, when he bought a thirteen-acre home place on West Lane. William Joseph was the eldest of a family of seven children, the others being Charles Lincoln, residing at Newman, Cal .; Bernardina, a sister at the Rio Vista Convent; Rosa, deceased at the age of two years; Rebecca Jane, Mrs. T. C. Flynn, of Stockton; Frank M., of Alameda; and a seventh child, an in- fant, deceased.

William Joseph Jones attended the old North, the Weber, and the Lafayette district schools. After his

father bought a quarter-section of land three and a half miles southeast of Lockeford, William had charge of it until 1890, when the ranch was divided among the members of the family. From 1890 to 1907 he was employed in the general merchandise store of Mr. Bruml in Lockeford. Then he took a course in the Coyne Plumbing School in San Fran- cisco, and afterwards was with the Putnam Hard- ware Company, and then with the successor, John H. Davies, seven years in all. For the past eight years he has been in the employ of Henderson Bros. Hardware Company at Lodi.

On September 27, 1892, in Lockeford, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Katherine B. Ryan, a native of Australia, and a daughter of John and Mary Ryan, both natives of Ireland, who soon after their mar- riage went to Australia and in 1868 came to Califor- nia and settled at Lockeford, where they purchased 143 acres of grain land. There are four children in her parents' family: Katherine B., Mrs. Jones; Mag- gie, residing at Lockeford; Mary; and John. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of. eight children: Ber- nard; Agnes; Irene, now Mrs. Leo Bender, of Oak- land; Theresa, Mrs. Clarence Bauer, of Stockton; and Doris, Lawrence, Raphael, and Walter. Mr. Jones is fraternally affiliated with the Woodmen of the World, and is the present banker of Lodi Camp; and he also belongs to the Knights of Columbus.

ALEXANDER A. KELS .- An apt and energetic young business man of Lodi, whose success is due in part to his very thorough knowledge of the meat business, is Alexander A. Kels, the founder and pro- prietor of the Pacific Meat Market located at No. 200 North Sacramento street, as well as the Tokay Meat Market, No. 25 South School street. A native of Germany, he was born near Cologne, on October 3, 1884, and on October 5, 1885, he was brought by his parents to Platte County, Neb. He is a son of Peter and Charlotta (Altgeldt) Kels. They were farmers in Nebraska until 1895. Peter Kels came to Fresno, where he engaged in ranching until his death. His widow resides in Santa Rosa. Of their eight children, Alexander A. is next to the youngest, and he attended the public schools in Fresno County. After finishing the grammar school, he entered the butcher shop of Mr. Bracker to learn the butcher's trade, where he remained until 1906, when he re- moved to Lodi and entered the employ of Guggolz & Meehle as cutter and butcher. The following year he purchased the interest of J. C. Guggolz and the business was continued under the firm name of Meehle and Kels, which continued the Pacific Market until the death of Mr. Meehle, at which time Mr. Kels purchased his interest in the business from his widow. During 1917 he built the modern brick block, 50x125 feet, on his lot at the corner of Sacramento and Locust streets and located at No. 200 North Sacramento street. Since then his plant has become one of the most modern, up-to-date and sanitary markets in northern California; recently two cold storage rooms have been installed where meat is hung for curing; the sales room is modern, with tile floors, white enamel walls and the most modern fix- tures obtainable. In 1923 he established the Tokay Market, No. 25 South School street, with a cold stor- age plant. They employ competent and experienced cutters and carry only the best quality of meat, and conduct both a retail and wholesale business. His abattoir is located 114 miles northeast of Lodi and

1629

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

he uses five delivery trucks in his business. He is also interested in ranching and stockraising. He owns a 50-acre vineyard, which he has improved from a stubblefield. He also owns a ranch of 160 acres on Telegraph Road and leases a thousand acres more. On his ranches he raises about 200 head of cattle. He also buys and ships cattle.

The marriage of Mr. Kels, in Lodi, united him with Miss Annie T. Handlin, a native of San Jose, Cal., and they have one daughter, Mary Laverne. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Foresters of America, the Modern Wood- men, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 848, the Knights of Columbus, and the Lodi Merchants Asso- ciation. He is a dependable citizen in every sense of the word and can be counted upon to do his share toward the upbuilding of his locality.

CHARLES E. KELLY .- Among the enterprising stock and dairy farmers of the Ripon district of San Joaquin County is Charles E. Kelly, who has made a success of his undertaking which places him among the substantial citizens of his locality. His ranch of 200 acres, which he has developed from a stubblefield, is located twelve miles south of Stock- ton on the French Camp Road. A native son, he was born in Gonzales, December 10, 1888, a son of Martin P. Kelly, an old-time resident of Monterey County. Charles E. Kelly received a good education in the public schools of San Jose and finished with a business course in Heald's Business College of that city. In 1908 he took a trip through the East which consumed about eighteen months, and on returning to this state located in San Francisco, where he was in the employ of the Union Hardware Company for a year and a half. He then went to Humboldt County, where he entered the employ of the Pacific Lumber Mills as a logger, and within a year's time he was ad- vanced to tallyman.

Returning to his native county of Monterey, he became a range rider on his father's ranch for one year; then became a clerk for the Western Meat Packers at San Francisco, and at the end of two years, in 1912, he returned to the home ranch, which he farmed on shares for one year. He next leased land from the David Jacks estate near Soledad, and ran a dairy, selling his product to the Alpine Con- densed Milk Company at Gonzales, and during the three years he was there he raised and sold several herds of Durham cattle; Mr. Kelly then purchased a ranch near Soledad, where he maintained a dairy until 1917, when he sold his property to the David Jacks estate and removed to San Joaquin County. Locating twelve miles south of Stockton on the French Camp Road, he purchased 200 acres which he has developed into a modern dairy ranch; he has planted twenty acres to vineyard and sixty acres are seeded to alfalfa.

The marriage of Mr. Kelly on June 29, 1920, united him with Miss Hattie Helen Ober, a daughter of John Ober, a pioneer of Soledad. Miss Ober was reared and educated in Monterey County and is a graduate of the Salinas high school, class of 1914. Besides his home place, which requires a great deal of attention, Mr. Kelly is interested in sheep-raising in San Benito County. Fraternally he is a member of the Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. Mr. Kelly is progressive in all things and by practical experience and self-reliance in gaining a most credit- able success.

WILLIAM S. KEITH .- A representative Califor- nian whose interesting life story is most instructive is William S. Keith, who was born at San Francisco on December 9, 1895, the son of Maynard F. and Isa (Showers) Keith, the former a native of Massachu- setts and a well-known contractor in Stockton, still taking a leading part in the development of that pro- gressive city. Mrs. Keith is a daughter of Alabama, and brought with her to the Golden State the grace- ful gifts for which Southern women have always been known. William S. Keith is their only child.

William was fortunate in attending the schools for which Stockton has long been eminent, for when a mere child, his parents removed to that city; and when eighteen years of age, he was well-equipped to go into the tire business. In 1918 he established a partnership with D. W. Russell, and now they have one of the recognized headquarters in a well-con- ducted business at the corner of Channel and San Joaquin streets, in Stockton. They handle the Good- rich tires, and they are the authorized wholesalers for all San Joaquin County of Federal tires. A business man devoted to the best interests of the district in which he is active and prospers, Mr. Keith is also a citizen most loyal to his native land. He served in the late war, entering the service of the U. S. Army on September 1, 1918, when he was sent to Angel Is- land as a member of the Medical Corps. He trained there for four months, and was discharged, with hon- orable credentials, on December 13, 1918, on account of physical exemption.

Mr. Keith has been twice married. At Stockton on June 20, 1918, he was united with Miss Lali Tackett, who was born in Iowa, her mother being Caroline Warner before her marriage. Mrs. Keith died on November 14, 1921, leaving a son, named James Franklin, to the care of her husband. On July 29, 1922, at Oakland, he took for his second wife Miss Clare Williams, who was born at Murphys, in Calaveras County, the daughter of George and Har- riet Williams; her father was a prominent stockman, and resides at 209 West Magnolia Street, Stockton. Mr. Keith belongs to Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., and to the Stockton Parlor No. 7, Native Sons of the Golden West, in both of which organizations he enjoys an enviable popularity. He is also a devoted member of the Christian Church of Stockton.

THEODORE KNECHT .- Numbered among the vineyardists of San Joaquin County is Theodore Knecht, who resides on his ten-acre vineyard on Al- mond avenue, south of Lodi. He is a native of South Russia, his birth occurring on September 12, 1872. His parents, Ferdinand and Katherine (Malke) Knecht, both natives of Russia, engaged in farming in their native country. On June 12. 1885, when our subject was twelve years old, the family arrived in the United States and settled in Edmunds County, S. D. There were five children in the family when they arrived in Dakota as follows: Theodore, Eman- uel, Lydia, Mollie, and John. Two boys, Frank and Adolph, were born in Edmunds County. At the time of their arrival in South Dakota there was little chance of making a living and they were obliged to gather straw to burn for fuel, and our subject helped his father gather the dried cattle bones on the prairie to sell so as to buy food for the family. Later the father filed on a homestead, a timber claim and a pre- umption, and there he lived unul 1917, when the

1630

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

came to Lodi, where the parents both live.

Theodore Knecht knew nothing but hard work from the time he was old enough to handle farm tools, and his schooling in the United States covered a period of two months, but this has been greatly sup- plemented in later years by reading and experience. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, then he homesteaded a quar- ter section of land in the same county as his father's property, which he devoted to the raising of grain.

The marriage of Mr. Knecht occurred at Milltown, S. D., on February 14, 1896, and united him with Miss Katherine Boerge, a native of Krem, South Russia, who came to the United States when she was about sixteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht lived on their homestead until 1918, meantime adding another quarter-section of land, which is still owned by Mr. Knecht. In 1918 Mr. Knecht and children removed to Lodi, his wife having died on March 3, 1918. He bought his present ten-acre vineyard on Almond avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht had five living chil- dren: Emma, Mrs. Judith of Sacramento; Mary, John, Elsie and Samuel are at home. Mrs. Knecht was a devoted wife and mother. In politics Mr. Knecht is a Republican and he attends the Seventh Day Advent- ist Church of Lodi.

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 250

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