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 251

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 251

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MISS MARGARET KNOTT .- The founder and proprietor of the Royal Cleaning & Dyeing Com- pany, organized seventeen years ago, is Miss Mar- garet Knott. Business was first started in a small way at the corner of Oak and Eldorado streets, and in a few months a lot was purchased on West Fre- mont street, where a building was erected and where the present business was established. Miss Knott was born in Germany, but had been brought to the United States by her parents, who had settled in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, and in that state Miss Knott was reared and educated. Twenty-three years ago she came to California and located in Stockton. Seeing an opening in this city for a modern cleaning and dyeing establishment, and being skilled in that line, she determined to launch an enterprise in that line of business endeavor. So in partnership with her brother-in-law, Henry Bertolas, the present busi- ness was established in April, 1906. This company has the latest equipment in modern machinery and their work is first-class in every particular, and they have built up a large, profitable business, which is

growing year by year. Henry Bertolas was a native of Austria-Hungary and came to America at the age of eighteen years, locating in Michigan; for a number of years he resided in Norway, Mich., and was post- master of Vulcan, Mich .; he was also engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business there. In Mich- igan he married Miss Elizabeth Knott, and they had eight children, six of whom are living: Henry, who served overseas at Base Hospital No. 47 in France in the World War; he is now assisting in the busi- ness; Louise is bookkeeper for the establishment; Mrs. Katherine Rohde, Mrs. Henrietta Manders, and Mrs. Mary Morse reside in San Francisco, while Karl is attending school in Stockton. Twenty-four years ago the Bertolas family located in Stockton. Mr. Bertolas died May 14, 1918, and his widow sur- vived him until April 3, 1920. Fraternally Mr. Ber- tolas belonged to the Eagles and I. O. O. F. Miss Knott is a pioneer in the cleaning and dyeing busi- ness in Stockton and her capabilities as a keen busi-

ness woman have been demonstrated in the manage- ment of her affairs.

FRED T. KIRSCHENMANN .- On the roll of successful vineyardists of San Joaquin County will be found the name of Fred T. Kirschenmann, his home place lying about one mile north of Victor. His birthplace is in South Russia, near the city of Odessa, and the date of his birth is August 11, 1892. He is a son of Theobold and Magdalena (Schreiber) Kir- schenmann, farmers of their native country of Rus- sia, who were the parents of five children: Christ, Christina, Magdalena, Theobold, and Fred T.

Fred T. Kirschenmann received his education in Russia. When he was sixteen years old, he came to the United States, and to Lodi, Cal., arriving here on December 11, 1907. He worked for different farmers, mostly at viticulture, and was thus occupied until 1915, when he decided there was little to be gained by working for others. Accordingly he purchased ten acres one mile north of Victor, which is in full- bearing vines, and here he has met with gratifying success.

The marriage of Mr. Kirschenmann occurred in Lodi on November 19, 1915, and united him with Miss Emma Preszler, a daughter of George Preszler, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this work. She was born at Menno, S. D., and came to Victor when eight years of age. She received her education in the Lockeford schools. Mr. and Mrs. Kirschen- mann are the parents of one son, Leon Adam. In 1923, Mr. Kirschenmann purchased a ten-acre vine- yard one mile west of his place, and Mrs. Kirschen- mann received a ten-acre vineyard from her father, making them thirty acres of highly improved land. He is also leasing twenty-five acres of vines, which he also operates. A fine, modern bungalow has just been completed on their home place. Mr. Kirschen- mann has brought his ranch to a high state of culti- vation, and the productivity of their vineyards is enhanced by a fine irrigation system. Mr. Kirschen- mann is a Republican. He and his family are mem- bers of Salem Reformed Church, of Lodi. Without special advantages at the outset of his career he has worked his way steadily upward, with determined purpose and untiring efforts.

JOHN KIRSCHENMANN .- Among the additions to the ranks of the agriculturalists of San Joaquin County is John Kirschenmann, who resides on his 160-acre ranch, four miles southwest of Lodi. He was born in Yankton County, S. D., August 24, 1875, a son of Jacob and Eva (Bender) Kirschenmann, both natives of Southern Russia who settled in South Dakota in 1873. Jacob Kirschenmann acquired 480 acres under the homestead, timber claim and pre- emption acts and besides this he also purchased additional farm land. The mother died in young womanhood, leaving the husband and father with five children: Ludwig resides at Shafter, Cal .; Chris- tina, Mrs. George Schaffer, is deceased; Jacob resides at Yankton, S. D .; John, the subject of this sketch; Eva, Mrs. Nuss, resides in South Dakota. Subse- quently the father married again and reared ten children by his second wife: Christian, Karl, Magda- line, Theopold, Edward, Emma, Eugene, Emil, Man- uel, and Benjamin.

John received a grammar school education in the district schools of his native county and grew up on

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

his father's farm, and there received a practical knowledge of agriculture. At the age of twenty-two he began farming for himself and was soon afterward, in November, 1897, married to Miss Christina Ben- der, a daughter of Phillip Bender, who was also a farmer in South Dakota. Mr. Kirschenmann pur- chased 160 acres in South Dakota, where the family lived until 1904, when he sold his property and came to California and settled on his present ranch of 160 acres. This ranch is situated on the Stockton High- way some four miles southwest of Lodi, on which there is a producing vineyard of twelve acres and the balance is used for grain and pasture. He also bought eighteen and one-half acres opposite his home ranch and thirty acres near Hawes Sta- tion and eighteen and one-half acres in vines on Cherokee Lane, near Lodi. Mr. and Mrs. Kirschen- mann are the parents of seven children: Henry, Theo- dore, Pauline, Lydia, Ella, Arthur, and Edwin; and the family are members of the German Reformed Church of Lodi. During Mr. Kirschenmann's resi- dence in South Dakota he served as a school trustee of his district and also as a trustee in his church. He is a Republican in politics.

THOMAS F. KNUTZEN .- Prominent among the successful grocerymen who have contributed largely to making Stockton one of the very desirable home- cities of the Golden State, is Thomas F. Knutzen, of the well-known Wilkes-Pearson-Knutzen Company, of 715 East Weber avenue. He was born in Schles- wig-Holstein, Germany, on May 21, 1870, and after attending the fine public schools there, he left his native land and came across the great pond to the United States. He was seventeen years of age when, in 1887, he arrived in Stockton, and he was fortunate in soon securing employment in a grocery store con- ducted by L. Mollenhauer, at the corner of Weber and American avenues. This was one of the oldest groceries in the city, founded in 1864 by John Ducker, who carried on the business there until 1878; and from that year until 1892 it was owned and operated by Mr. Mollenhauer. The latter became especially interested in the youth, after hearing his story and learning how he had come to turn his face toward the New World. Jens Knutzen, the father, was a seafarer, who sailed around the Horn to California in his own ship; and he stayed here long enough to mine in Mariposa County, and to live some time in Stockton. Then, although he had become an Ameri- can citizen, he returned to Germany, married there and never came back to California; but he advised his son to come out here, deeming California truly the Land of Promise, and so it happened that Thomas F. Knutzen also became an American citizen.

In 1892 he purchased Mr. Mollenhauer's business, which he conducted for fifteen years, when he sold out and formed a partnership with J. B. Wilkes and C. B. Pearson, styling the new firm the Wilkes-Pear- son-Knutzen Company. This firm occupy a modern, two-story brick block at the corner of Stanislaus and Weber avenues, and they do both a wholesale and a retail grocery trade, being widely regarded as decid- edly one of the leading grocery establishments, their growth having been rapid. By his own unaided ef- forts Mr. Knutzen has risen to his present enviable position, in which he is able to exert a powerful in- fluence for the benefit of local commercial affairs.

At Stockton, in 1895, Mr. Knutzen was married to Miss Emma Siesbuettel, a native of Germany, and

they have been favored with three children, all born in Stockton: William F. Knutzen is a clerk with the Standard Oil Company at Stockton; Miss Elsie is employed in the Stockton Public Library; while Ella is in school. Mr. Knutzen is a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Zion Church at Stockton.

FRED F. KOLB .- Since 1904 a resident of San Joaquin County, Fred F. Kolb was born in Saxony, Germany, September 21, 1855, the son of T. and Auralia Kolb, both natives of Germany, who came to the United States when Fred F. was a lad of four- teen, settling in Webster County, Iowa, where they purchased eighty acres and engaged in farming. There were eight children in the family, of whom Fred is the sixth. He received a good education in his native land, and after coming to Iowa with his parents, remained with them until his marriage in the spring of 1877, when he was united with Miss Augusta Will, also a native of Saxony, Germany, the daughter of Christian and Frederica Will. Her parents came to Iowa about the same time as her husband's parents and engaged in farming in the same vicinity. She is the third-born of four chil- dren. After his marriage, Mr. Kolb purchased a quarter-section of land in Webster County, Iowa, and farmed it for thirty years, and during that time was a supervisor in his township for many years and also served on the local school board. Eighteen years ago, the family came to California and purchased the six-acre home place, which is devoted to table and wine grapes, irrigated by a pumping plant. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb were the parents of six children, five of whom are living: Herman resides in Iowa; Rose, Mrs. Kugesberg; and Anna, Mrs. Kirchhof, of Iowa; Otto resides at Tracy; Leonard, at home. Mr. Kolb and his wife belong to the Lodi Lutheran Church.

THOMAS SANGUINETTI. - When Thomas Sanguinetti was twenty years old he left his native country of Italy and came direct to Stockton, Cal., where he has since continuously resided. He is the owner of 100 acres of fine land northeast of Stockton about five miles, a portion of which is in full bearing fruit trees, the balance unimproved. He was born in Genoa, Italy, December 21, 1868, his parents being Nicholas and Julia (Lenato) Sanguinetti. The father was a gardener by occupation and lived and died in Italy. At the age of eighteen, Thomas Sanguinetti left his home and came to California. Arriving in San Joaquin County he found work in the vegetable gardens on the Stefano Sanguinetti ranch; he then rented thirteen acres with two other men about five miles out from Stockton and raised vegetables; then with his brother Pete he purchased forty acres which they farmed until 1902 when a division was made. each brother taking twenty acres which was devel- oped to an orchard of cherries, peaches and plums.

The marriage of Mr. Sanguinetti occurred Febru- ary 22. 1898, in Stockton, which united him with Miss Rose Lanata, born in Italy, a daughter of Guiseppe and Theresa (Sanguinetti) Lanata. Guiseppe Lanata was a farmer in Italy and is still living at the age of eighty-five; the mother passed away at the age of seventy-seven. There were four chil- dren in the family: Rose, Virginia, Giacomo and Maria. Mrs. Sanguinetti received a grammar school education in Italy and about twenty-six years ago came to California and in Stockton met her future husband. Mr. and Mrs. Sanguinetti are the parents

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of three children: Julia, Mrs. Pauletti, resides in Linden; Joseph and Dave are on the home place. Mr. Sanguinetti improved his twenty-acre ranch with a good house and farm buildings and irrigation plant. Recently Mr. Sanguinetti added to his holdings eighty-three acres on the Eight-Mile Road, which is unimproved land but which he intends to develop to orchard. Mr. Sanguinetti deserves much praise for his success, for his possessions have all been acquired through his own well-directed efforts.

GEORGE E. KOSTA .- A successful hotel pro- prietor in the city of Stockton is found in George E. Kosta, the lessee of Hotel Glenn, located at 315 East Market street, which he conducts in a first-class man- ner. His birth occurred near Athens, Greece, April 15, 1880, and he is the second son of a family of nine children born to Efthimios and Helen (Papos) Kosta, well-to-do farmers and merchants in their native land of Greece. Both are now deceased. In 1908, George E. Kosta arrived in San Francisco, where he joined his brother, John, who had preceded him to the Bay City by two years. John Kosta is now a prosperous rancher near Stockton. In 1915 George E. Kosta located in Stockton and became a waiter in the Hunter Square Cafe; two years later he bought a two-thirds interest in the business, and in 1919 bought the remaining third interest; three months ago he leased this business to his nephews, George and Zacharos Kosta, and purchased a five-year lease on Hotel Glenn.

The marriage of Mr. Kosta occurred in Greece and united him with Miss Catherina Sedaris, who joined her husband in San Francisco in 1912. They are the parents of one son, Efthimios, a student in the Stockton high school. Mr. Kosta is secretary of the Greek-American Lodge of Stockton Moose, and is a liberal contributor to its benevolent work.

PROF. GEORGE E. SCHILLING .- With a rep- utation as an expert in agricultural and horticultural lines well established even before coming to the United States, Prof. George E. Schilling has con- tributed much to scientific development along these lines in California, and was formerly organizer and general manager of the Farmers Fruit Exchange of Lodi. He was born in the agricultural district of Germany on July 13, 1884, and was fortunate in an excellent education in the best schools and univer- sities of that country. He specialized along the lines of agriculture, becoming a consulting agricultural expert.

Coming to the United States in 1911, Mr. Schilling accepted the post of teacher of agriculture in the Los Angeles, Cal. schools, and in 1916 located at Lodi, where he was manager for the Setchel Fruit Company. He is well known throughout the country as a consulting engineer in agriculture, horticulture, irrigation problems and soil fertilization, his services being frequently sought as an authority along all these lines. He was consulting engineer in irriga- tion and drainage projects in the Delta district of San Joaquin County. In the spring of 1921, Mr. Schilling founded the Farmers Fruit Exchange, a fruit and grape packing and shipping company, and a modern packing house was erected on North Sacramento Street, Lodi. This plant, which is 80 by 100 feet, is modern in every respect. The Farmers Fruit Exchange makes contracts with the growers, and it is the aim of the organization to thoroughly co-operate with the

grower, rendering them assistance in every way to help them increase the output of their orchards and vineyards, an arrangement that should bring most profitable results to the orchardists. Mr. Schilling sold out his interests in this concern and now devotes his entire time to his profession.

Mr. Schilling's marriage united him with Miss Clara Voss, a native of Germany, her brother, Wil- liam Voss, being a well known resident of Salinas, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Schilling are active members of the German Lutheran Church, and have made many friends throughout the community since making their residence here, where Mr. Schilling's exceptional capabilities have brought him recognition.

FRED G. SCHNEIDER .- Among California's native sons who have gained success and prominence along artistic lines is numbered Fred G. Schneider, proprietor of the Logan Studio of Stockton and recognized as one of the leading photographers of this part of the state. He was born in San Fran- cisco, June 17, 1880, and when very young started out to earn a livelihood, learning the lithographing busi- ness with the Union Lithograph Company of San Francisco, while he acquired a knowledge of the art of photography with the firm of Boye & Haberich, who conducted one of the leading studios in San Francisco, and Mr. Schneider remained with them for a number of years. In 1900 he came to Stockton, becoming connected with the Logan Studio, which was established in 1896 and is one of the oldest en- terprises of the kind in the city. Later Mr. Schneider was made manager of the studio and in 1913 he pur- chased the business, which he has since successfully conducted. His portrait work is of the highest order and he also devotes considerable attention to com- mercial photography, being official photographer for the Sampson Tractor Company, the California Delta Farms Company and the National Paper Products Company. He did a considerable amount of work for the Holt Manufacturing Company at the time their plant was being utilized for Government pur- poses and for the past few years he has done all of the illustrating for the special annual edition pub- lished by the Byron Times. He copied and repro- duced in exact dimensions, from the records in the office of the county recorder, all of the plates and maps for the Stockton Abstract & Title Company and does all branches of copy work. He operates a moving picture camera and is under special contract to furnish news items for Pathé and Gaumont, while he has also taken special motion pictures to illus- trate activities in the business world. He has taken bird's-eye views from airplanes and in the summer of 1920 ascended to a height of 5,750 feet with Mr. Ferris, the well known aviator. He is constantly striving to bring his work to a higher degree of per- fection and is meeting with well-deserved success from both a commercial and artistic viewpoint.

Mr. Schneider married Miss Lulu Ernst, a native of Alameda, Cal., and a granddaughter of Fritz Boeh- mer, a prominent pioneer, who crossed the plains with ox-teams, arriving in California in 1849, at the time of the gold excitement. He engaged in freight- ing from Stockton to the mines in the south, and later conducted a general store at Columbia, in Tuolumne County. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider have become the parents of two sons, Fred R. and George. The former is associated with his father in business and when twenty-one years of age he joined the

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Delta Lodge of Masons at Stockton, of which he is serving as master, being the youngest incumbent in that office in the entire state. Mrs. Schneider is an active member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West and Mr. Schneider is identified with Stockton Parlor No. 7. Native Sons of the Golden West. He is also connected with the Improved Order of Red Men, with Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E., and is chief ranger of Stockton Court, No. 56, of the Foresters.

JOSEPH E. FREITAS .- Among the more recent acquisitions to the business circles of Tracy is Joseph E. Freitas, who is also a native son and a successful merchant in this thriving town. He is the senior member of the firm of Freitas & Leal, dealers in men's furnishings, shoes and general shoe repairing, with their place of business located at 135 Central Avenue. He was born in Siskiyou County, Novem- ber 5, 1888, and grew up on his father's stock farm in that county, receiving his education in the public schools and by practical experience on the home farm. At twenty-two years of age he rented a ranch of 160 acres in Siskiyou County and went into the dairy busi- ness on his own account, which he operated for five years. Entering the service of his country during the war, he served in the infantry of the 26th Division; he was sent overseas and in the battle of Chateau. Theirry was severely wounded in the left leg so that he was removed to a hospital in France and later brought back to the United States and placed in the Letterman Hospital in San Francisco, from which he received his honorable discharge, March 13, 1920. He then went to Salinas and established a shoe repairing business, which he operated until his removal to Tracy. In May, 1922, he formed a partnership with Joe Leal and the business has steadily increased since its inception.

The marriage of Mr. Freitas occurred at Yreka, Siskiyou County, in October, 1920, which united him with Miss Mary Silva, also a native of Siskiyou County. Mr. and Mrs. Freitas are the parents of one child, Edward Le Roy and the family are members of the Catholic Church. Fraternally he is a member of the I. D. E. S. and the Woodmen of the World, as well as the American Legion.

VICTOR JOHN FOPPIANO .- A native son of San Joaquin County who has made the best of his opportunities and today is counted among the suc- cessful farmers and fruit raisers of the county is Vic- tor John Foppiano. He was born on the Foppiano home ranch on the Upper Sacramento Road, on Sep- tember 18, 1885, a son of John and Katherine (Rossi) Foppiano, both natives of Genoa, Italy. John Fop- piano was a young man when he came to California via Panama and before settling here permanently he made three trips back to his native land. He first settled at Angels Camp, where he mined for a few years; then he came to San Joaquin County and bought twenty-two acres of land seven miles north- east of Stockton; later he sold ten acres of it, retaining twelve acres, which was developed to an orchard of all kinds of fruit. He and Mrs. Foppiano were mar- ried in Stockton and nine children were born to them: Columbus, deceased; Jennie, Mrs. Oneto, lives in Stockton; Louis. Eugene, Victor, our subject, Henry, Edith, Amelia and Clorinda. The father lived to be eighty-nine years old and the mother, who lives in

Stockton, is now past eighty years of age. Victor Foppiano was educated in the Greenwood district school and was of great assistance to his father in the development and cultivation of the home place.

On May 25, 1911, in Stockton, Mr. Foppiano was married to Miss Jennie Lavagnino, a native of Galt, Cal., and a daughter of John and Mary Lavagnino, both natives of Genoa, Italy. John Lavagnino came to California over forty years ago and settled on Dry Creek near the town of Galt, where he engaged in dairying and farming. He was married at Galt and there both parents are still living on the eighty-acre dairy ranch. There are five children in their family: Anna, Jennie, now Mrs. Foppiano; Stephen, Mayme and Elena. Mr. and Mrs. Foppiano are the parents of four children: Adaline, Ethel. Victor, Jr., and Ernest. In April, 1911, Mr. Foppiano purchased thirty-four acres from Julia Weber, a part of the old Weber grant, in Morado precinct, about six miles northeast of Stockton, and this he has improved to a bearing orchard of cherries, peaches,, plums and grapes. It has a good irrigation system, thus insur- ing good crops and a fine quality of fruit. He is a Republican in politics and with his family is a mem- ber of St. Michael's Catholic Church. In 1915 he built a beautiful modern bungalow on his ranch, where he resides with his family.

FULLER LUMBER COMPANY .- One of the leading factors in the lumber and building material trade of Lodi is the Fuller Lumber Company, oper- ated under the personal direction of Horace S. Fuller, president and manager, a lumber specialist of twenty- eight years experience, who is familiar with every de- tail and requirement of the trade. Extensive vards, offices and mills, the latter known as the Lodi Mill & Manufacturing Company, are maintained, where every modern convenience is offered customers. The com- pany handles everything in lumber, rough and dressed products; building materials, shingles, mouldings, etc., in small or carload lots. Contractors and builders are offered every aid consistent with modern business methods, plans are carefully gone over and checked up, and courteous treatment is given all wants. Horace S. Fuller, president and manager of the Fuller Lumber Company, is a wide-awake booster for the upbuilding and development of Lodi and the country surrounding. He was born in Crete, Neb., June 18, 1874, a son of Horace S. and Louisa Fuller, both na- tives of Ohio. The father moved to Nebraska in an early day, where he engaged in the lumber business and in time owned and operated sixteen lumber yards throughout the state. In 1890 the father came to Cal- ifornia, where he purchased a twenty-acre vineyard at Martinez, but was not content to remain in the West. He returned to Nebraska, where he had spent so many active years of his life, and lived to be seventy- one years old; the mother is still living in the Neb- raska home. There were five children in their fam- ily: Emma, Mrs. Dean, resides in Chicago; Robert S. died in Lodi, January 5, 1920; Horace S. of this sketch; Jess P. resides in Wyoming and George B. resides at Santa Rosa, Cal.

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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 251

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