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 58

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 58

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It was not until 1916, says Prof. Oliver E. Irons, that the citizens realized the necessity of a high school. The Escalon Commercial Club took the matter in hand and carried on an active bonding campaign. Although they put in plenty of hard work the proposition was defeated by just three votes. In 1919 the club was more successful and at the bond elec- tion, May 16, the bonds for a high school car- ried by a large majority. Immediately a school board of five members were elected, namely, W. L. Cooms, C. A. Smith, H. L. Morgansen, Otto Peterson and H. H. McKin- ney, and they have held their offices elected time and again up to the present date.

The Jones club house was secured and school was started in September with Mr. F. W. Denny and Mrs. A. Cowan as instruc- tors. Mrs. Cowan resigned in mid-year and her place was taken by Miss Orr. The total enrollment the first year was thirty-five. In the second year the enrollment of seventy-five pupils overtaxed the seating capacity of the club house and the citizens of the district voted a bond of $85,000 for suitable high school rooms. The building was completed early this year with the following teachers in charge: Oliver E. Irons, principal; Paul B. Boehnecke, Miss Nydia Jensen, Miss Minnie Smith, Miss Ruth Williams, and Miss Stella Barnett, under whose able instructions all classes are progressing rapidly.

The Methodist Church has the distinction and honor of being the first church in Escalon. All other churches now found in Escalon have branched out of this church, so declared the Rev. C. G. Zierk. The church was organized in the Lone Tree section in 1893, during the pastorate of the Rev. John Stevens, later for five years pastor of the Central Methodist church of Stockton. While the church was at Lone Tree Corners, it was on a circuit with Farmington, Atlanta, Riverbank and Oakdale.

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It remained at Lone Tree Corners until Sep- tember 1908, when the building was moved to Escalon. This building stood on the site of the present church until it was torn down to make room for the new structure, which was completed and dedicated on Sunday, April 10, 1921. Since it has become a separate charge the following pastors have been appointed here: U. L. Walker, L. H. Sanborn, Luther Speers, Smith, McWilliams, A. Z. Bose, S. L. Lee, G. W. Grannis, L. H. Jenkins and C. G. Zierk.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church was or- ganized November 15, 1909, by the Rev. Phil- lip Andreen of San Francisco, assisted by David Magunson of Stockton. Subscriptions were obtained in November, 1911 and a build- ing was erected, just west of the old school house in 1913. It was dedicated in the sum- mer of the following year, 1914. The follow- ing pastors have been in charge, the Rev. W. X. Magnuson, 1912, Dr. P. E. Berg, .1913; Rev. C. Anderson, 1916; Rev. N. P. Anseen, 1921: Rev. O. W. Westling. 1922.

The Presbyterian Church was organized November 10, 1913, with the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Campbell, Miss Margaret Campbell, Miss Helen Campbell, Mr. S. H. Irwin, Mrs. Minerva H. Erwin, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Bidwell, Mrs. O. A. Fisk, Miss Leona Kelley, Miss Hazel Delley, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Clough, Mrs. J. G. Voorhies. Of the original members, ten remain and are living in and around Escalon, three have moved away, and one is deceased. Services were first held in the Community hall, but in 1915 the trustees purchased the pioneer gram- mar school building and fitted it up for church purposes. The first pastor, Rev. E. B. David- son, served until October 1, 1915, and during the succeeding two month the pulpit was oc- cupied by the Rev. A. M. Wood, then the Rev. I. B. Surface was pastor until December 1, 1916. In March, 1917, the Rev. A. L. Bone took charge and installed the following year. He is the present pastor.

The Swedish Mission congregation have the prettiest little house of worship in Escalon. It was erected in 1921 through the hard work of the congregation and dedicated October 9 of that year. For many years they held services in the home of one of their members, J. W. Rydquist, with William Anderson as their leader. Most of the congregation and mem- ber are farmers and they come from a long distance to worship.

Several years ago a few people interested in Christian Science met in private homes to read the Lesson Sermons together. Some moved away and these meetings were discon- tinued. On February 1, 1919, new interest was added by Scientists who had moved in,

and it was decided to hold regular Sunday services. These services were held in the Jones club house until it was leased to the high school, then the Community Hall was rented. Continual growth ensued and incorporation papers were filed with the Secretary of State on November 17, 1920. A Sunday school was organized in February, 1921. In December, 1921, an architect was engaged to draw up plans for a bungalow style of church. His plan was accepted and the Scientists now have a pretty little house of worship on the Jones tract, on the corner of the French Camp Road and the Boulevard.

The Catholics of Escalon have no local church building, but they attend mass in the Atlanta Church some four miles west of Esca- lon. Atlanta was founded soon after the Civil War and so named after the famous war song describing General Sherman's march "From Atlanta to the Sea." A number of Irish fami- lies had settled in that vicinity and occasion- ally Father Wm. B. O'Connor of St. Mary's Church would visit Atlanta and celebrate mass in the homes of the parishioners. In the spring of 1878 land for a church and cemetery was donated by John O'Malley, and a small church known as St. Patrick's was dedicated June 23, 1878, by Archbishop Alemany, who the same day dedicated the church at Modesto. Among the contributors to the church were: John O'Malley, Michael Carrol, Peter Vinct, Cor- nelius Lamasney, Patrick Brennan, Daniel Brennan, Thomas Brennan, Wm. March, Mi- chael McCormack, Laurence Hearty, Dennis O'Neil, John Murphy, Henry Sharky, Vincent Brignolia, Michael Donnelly, Patrick Sexton, John Gannon, Esper Due and others. Atlanta was in the Stockton parish in charge of Father O'Connor, but in the early '80s it was trans- ferred to the Modesto parish. Years later Father O'Connor had Atlanta again under his charge, and he was succeeded after his death by Father Wm. McGough. During his ad- ministration the old edifice was repainted and remodeled, and some handsome stained glass windows put in that had been in the St. Agnes chapel, Stockton. In 1918 the Atlanta church was transferred to the Manteca parish, which included the two places named and Lathrop. Father Marchisio is in charge, with headquar- ters at Manteca.

A little town like Escalon is fortunate in having a progressive paper like the Escalon Tribune, now owned and edited by Oscar H. Neil, who published an excellent historical edition of Escalon in December, 1921. The paper was started by F. S. Thornton in 1912; later his brother purchased a half interest and they conducted it until 1915. Then they sold the plant to S. L. Morgensen, who in turn sold it to Louis Mayers. He engaged Oscar

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S. Neil as manager of the paper and in De- cember, 1917, he took charge. The Tribune at this time was badly run down. Mr. Neil in giving the history of the paper frankly stated, "In September, 1918, the farmers bought the Tribune for us. In September, 1921, we be- came sole owner, proprietor, giving the farm- ers a chattel mortgage on the plant. In Jan- uary, 1920, we installed a six-column quarto press that can be geared up to print 1,800 pa- pers an hour. In June, 1920, we installed a 30-inch paper cutter and in September, the same year, a Mergenthaler linotype. The local circulation has doubled."

The Escalon Water Company is the result of a small body of men who formed and joined together for the purpose of supplying the town with water. The company sold stock at ten dollars per share and none could obtain the water unless they were shareholders. Later the shares were bought up by capital- ists and the company incorported under the name of the Escalon Water and Light Com- pany. They installed an electric motor, ran water pipes through the main portion of the town and erected a high steel tank. In 1919 they installed a new motor of twenty-five horsepower with an automatic switch, the pump delivering 350 gallons a minute.

The town has an excellent body of about thirty volunteer firemen, organized in 1913, but a very poor apparatus for extinguishing fires. In December, 1920, the volunteers were reorganized and at that time they elected Frank Sieglekoff chief and Barney Berlinken and Harry Carlson, first and second engineers. Perl Waltz was elected captain of the hose company and George Nelson captain of the chemical tank. The fire alarm for many years was bell set on a tower in Escalon park. Re- cently they made a big improvement by in- stalling a siren, operated automatically by an electric motor.

The Escalon Women's Improvement Club was organized in November, 1911, in the Ath- letic club house now called the Community hall. At that time about sixty women assem- bled and organized under the name suggested. They held their meetings in the Woodmen, Leighton and other halls until January, 1915, when Miss Alice Jones deed them the old two- story brick home together with two and a half acres of land surrounding it. Several hundred dollars were expended in fitting up the place and they now have fine headquarters. Their first work was in the building of an engine house on the corner of a lot owned by Mrs. Martha Pickens. In 1914, by permission of the Santa Fe Railroad, they filled up the unsightly hole on their property near the depot, and planting trees and rose bushes made a pretty park. They were among the

first to suggest the building of good roads and every year they inaugurated a clean-up day. They saw that the child labor laws were en- forced and installed public drinking fountains, and after the town became dry pressure was brought to bear for the removal of the large liquor signs that had long disgraced the town.

Gustafson-Thompson Post, American Le- gion, was organized April 27, 1921, with thir- ty-two charter members. Over sixty ex-ser- vice men were present from Ripon, Modesto, Lodi and Stockton. The following are the charter members: Frank Swass, Dayton C. Flagg, B. Berlingen, F. P. Feliz, H. N. Dau- benbis, H. M. Carlson, O. H. Bergen, J. T. Boone, Z. W. Ridley, S. E. Bixler, Louis Betti, Charles Schneider, Alfred W. Adams, Galen L. Albertson, Roy B. Light, Jacob L. Monk, Grover Mahon, John M. McLean, Henry Dug- hi, Ray Drew, Ernest Kiffe, Claude V. Biggs, John Westgate, Gunner Wiotti, Lloyd Liesy, Edgar Littlefield, Otis C. Powell, R. J. Hard- er, Otis Lease, C. E. Burnett, Hugh S. Lit- zenberg and Delmar Von Glahn.

Ellis

Somewhere in this history I state that rail- roads can build up or ruin a town. Ellis, which gave Tracy its initial growth, is an il- lustration. Today you can scarcely see where stood the town, but it is a part of country his- tory and briefly we will notice it. Ellis re- ceived its beginning from a place clled Wick- land. It was a small settlement founded in 1861 on Old River, and was the point where vessels came to load with coal, and the inhab- itants of Wickland believing that Ellis would soon be a prosperous town moved to that point. The town grew quite rapidly and in November, 1870, it contained some forty-five or fifty buildings of all descriptions, including two hotels, a store, blacksmith shop, ware- house, saloon and livery stable, but ten years later it was practically deserted.

Tracy

Along about 1878 the Southern Pacific Rail- road built a branch road to San Francisco, by the way of Martinez, and extended the road along the West Side of Fresno, making a junc- tion at Tracy. They made this a terminal railroad point and the "laying off" place of hundreds of their employees. This gave the town a permanent foundation, and nearly all of the inhabitants of Ellis moved their busi- ness houses and homes to Tracy. Among the first hotels were the Tracy Hotel, conducted by Edward Waschuth, the Castle Hotel moved up from Ellis and the San Joaquin Hotel, managed by Charles Ludwig. The town be- gan to build up slowly, but sure, and in 1888 Front Street was almost solidly lined with

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business houses for nearly a half mile. A fire swept through June 19 of that year and de- stroyed entirely the business part of the city. Starting in Mrs. Mary Mannis' restaurant near the corner of North D and Front streets, it destroyed four buildings belonging to Mrs. Anna Fairchild, the Mann restaurant, Mrs. Kepler's vegetable stand, D. Silverstein, dry goods, Edward Curran, Commercial Hotel, Peter Kalni, saloon, C. A. D. Burschke, four stores, Lydia Cox, millinery, C. A. Deglisy, grocery store, and postoffice, Charles A. Slack, Arlington hotel, Fabian & Co., general mer- chandise, Henry Ludwig, saloon, Odd Fellows' building, Henry Statemeon, saloon, Grant Wilson, dry goods, Dr. J. L. Murrell's office, F. O. Housken's office and law library, Cun- ale Bros., general store, Mrs. Maurice Byrne's bakery, Ernest Gieseke, livery stable.

The buildings were all of wooden construc- tion except the Odd Fellows' three-story brick. It was believed that this building would check the fire but the wind was so strong it carried the flames over and around the building and it was soon on fire in the upper stories. The Odd Fellows were among the heaviest losers as they lost all of their par- aphernalia and furniture entailing a loss of over $15,000.

In 1910 the city was surveyed and laid off by City Engineer Robb and the plan was ap- proved July 22 by the trustees. The town covered considerable ground, 6,600 feet north and south, and 4,500 feet, east and west. It was incorporated in 1910 as a city of the sixth class with a population of 2,000. The first city election took place in April and the fol- lowing officers were elected: Abe Grunauer, mayor; Dave R. Payne, Wm. Schmidt, Charles Canole and James Lamb, trustees. In the second election, April 8, 1912, the women voted for the first time and the entire set of officers were re-elected. The officers elected in 1914 were: D. R. Payne, Nelson S. Dwelly, W. G. Lang, Thomas Garner, Fred Penny, O. E. Lee and W. J. McArdle, trustees ; J. D. Van Ormer, treasurer ; and Ben R. Clark, who later resigning, Geo. Frerichs was appointed clerk. The present officers are Nelson S. Dwelly, D. R. Payne, W. G. Lang, Thomas Garner, nd Sullivan, trustees ; Geo. L. Frerichs, clerk ; and J. H. Canale, treasurer. The city hall, a very pretty two-story brick, was erected in 1917 at a cost of $15,000. In the rear of the city hall is housed the fire apparatus, a $6,000 La France chemical and motor pump, together with a large steam engine purchased from the San Francisco fire department for $150. It is held as a reserved engine and will play five heavy streams of water. They have a volun- teer department, a fire alarm system and a siren run by motor power.

In 1868 a few of the families of Ellis met one day, says Thomas Garner, and organized the Willows district school, and by subscrip- tions built a small schoolhouse. In 1878 the school had an enrollment of thirty-six schol- ars. At that time the exodus from Ellis to Tracy took place and the inhabitants in mov- ing took the schoolhouse with them. It was moved to a lot then owned by Dr. Luce. Some- time later the Pacific Improvement Company deeded the school trustees two lots for school purposes. The school was moved to those lots and in time an additional room was built. Still the cry was more room and it became necessary to rent outside rooms. In 1910 the trustees decided to call for bonds for an up- to-date building to cost in the neighborhood of $35,000. The bonds were voted by the citi- zens at a special bond election and carried by a big majority. On October 27, 1911, the cor- nerstone was laid by the Odd Fellows under the auspices of Summer Lodge No. 177.

The Tracy Carnival

The three days carnival in October, 1910, was only one of the many joyful events of the progressive city. The citizens had voted Ves- ta Ludwig as queen of the carnival, and she appointed Ruth Groinmett, Ella Miller and Lila Hart as her maids of honor. On arrival at the throne the Queen was welcomed to the city by the Rev. W. L. Fredrich and after the coronation C. G. Goodwin as chairman of the executive committee presented the Queen and her attendants purses of money as the gifts of the people. Mayor Abe Grunauer then ten- dered her the keys of the city and she then read her proclamation to the people bidding them have a good time during her reign as Queen, the fun ending Saturday with a masquerade ball.

The Presbyterians were the first religious denomination in Tracy, dating back to 1878, when the worshippers assembled in the homes of their members. In the fall of 1886 they erected a small wooden edifice at a cost of $2,000, and it was used as a union church for several years. Last year they erected a neat little brick edifice, the brick being obtained from the old brick pottery at Carnegie. The members and other persons assisted in the good work, and the building was erected at no great cost. The Methodists, either the Ger- man or English, held services in that district long before the founding of Tracy. After the Presbyterians erected their edifice of wood, the German and English Methodists united and held religious services in the Presbyterian Church.

The Catholics also had their services. Fath- er O'Connor of St. Mary's parish visited Tracy once a month, and mass was celebrated in the

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railroad section house. In 1888 James Egan, Dennis Looney and Edward Kern, interesting themselves in the erection of a church, ob- tained subscriptions for that purpose and pur- chasing a lot a pretty little building was erect- ed. St. Bernard's Church was erected on the site of the old building in 1911, Father Moran being in charge of the parish.

The Lutherans were holding services in Tracy twenty-two years ago, Rev. Koenig from San Francisco visiting the town month- ly. They erected a small edifice, which was much too small for their use in 1921. In that year they erected a concrete house of worship at a total cost of $7,600, the building costing $6,000. It was dedicated in March, 1922, by the Rev. George C. Jacobson of Stockton, who was the pastor from 1908 to 1918.

A building of which the Tracyites may well be proud is their Union high school, erected in 1917. A union high school district was formed, namely, the Tracy, Carnegie, Naglee, .Jefferson and Lammersville districts and cheerfully voted bonds of $100,000 for a high school. The building, the fourth of its kind in the county, is located on a twelve-acre tract east of the town and faces the State Highway. Built in the mission style of architecture it contains eighteen classrooms together with a large auditorium seating nearly 1,000 people and a meeting place for the Farm Bureau and any public and civic event. It was dedicated May 1, 1917, Dr. J. S. West, "the father of the West Side high school," receiving much praise for his untiring efforts for a broader and high- er education. After a parade all marched to the new building and entered the auditorium. The president of the board of trustees, Wil- liam Schlossman, as chairman of the meeting, called upon the Odd Fellows to dedicate the building. After the performance of the beau- tiful ceremony, Grand Master Clinton H. Mc- Cormick delivered an address appropriate to the occasion. On December 7, 1922, there was another interesting educational event, the dedication of Tracy's second fine grammar school building. Located in the western part of town, it is of brick construction finished in stucco and occupies an acre and a half of ground. It is designed in the unit system with a handsome assembly hall, class room, gym- nasium and all other rooms in the latest im- provement.

Sumner lodge No. 177, I. O. O. F. was in- stituted in Ellis September, 1870, by Grand Master C. W. Dannals, assisted by Past Grands Dean Woolf and Levinsky. It was in- stituted with five charter members, each one elected to office except John C. Bonney. The first officers were: H. L. Atherton, noble grand; Martin Lammers, vice grand; E. Wacksmuth, secretary, and E. B. Stiles, treas-

urer. That evening they initiated Phillip Fa- bian, R. A. Murphy, Jr., Olaf Nelson, William S. Law, and Charles Herring. September 1, 1921, they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the lodge with a street parade, some seventy members in line, led by the Tracy band, fol- lowed by a program in their hall.

Few Odd Fellows have had the trials of Sumner lodge, their building destroyed by fire not once but twice, in 1875, and in the big fire of 1898. Their first home in Ellis was in a small wooden structure owned by Herring, the lodge renting the second story. This building was burned in 1875. The lodge then erected a two-story building and moved it to Tracy in 1878. The lodge increased in membership and wealth, and in 1896 they erected on Front Street a handsome three-story brick, one of the prettiest buildings in the county. In the fire of '98 their building was completely gut- ted with a loss of $15,000 and only $7,500 in- surance. As they had not paid in full for the building it was a severe loss, but with un- daunted hearts they resolved to rebuild, and in time erected the present handsome struc- ture. It was mortgaged in part to John Gar- wood of Stockton, but as soon as the crops of 1900 were harvested, Martin Lammers took over the mortgage, which was cancelled April 30, 1921, when the lodge celebrated the 102nd anniversary of American Odd Fellowship, the mortgage being burned with great ceremony.

The name of Samaria Rebekah lodge No. 193, was one of several names suggested by Past Grand Rudolph Gnekow, a very active Stockton Odd Fellow. While attending the installation of the officers of Sumner lodge in January, 1891, he observed that quite a num- ber of the women of Tracy were the wives and daughters of the Odd Fellows. He sug- gested that they institute a Rebekah lodge in the county. It was instituted April 29, 1891, by Deputy District Grand Master George Schuler, assisted by Hoyle Greenwood as grand marshal and S. M. Spurrier, grand sec- retary. The following officers were elected and installed : Mrs. Mary Castle, noble grand ; Ella McNeil, vice grand; Caroline J. Buschke, recording secretary ; James C. Allen, financial secretary, and James Martin, treasurer. The officers were installed by District Deputy Grand President Mrs. Marion Greenwood, as- sisted by Etta Tinkham as grand marshal, both from Lebanon lodge, Stockton.

Tracy Parlor No. 1866, N. S. G. W., was instituted on Thursday evening, September 29, 1922, with the following officers: George L. Frerichs, past president ; James E. Shields, president; Henry Brink, recording secretary ; W. M. Lewis, financial secretary ; W. S. Peck, treasurer ; John Fredericks, marshal. A ban- quet was given at the San Joaquin Hotel, after the installation. Among the toasts offered

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as "Our State," W. B. Nutter, of Stockton, "Tracy Parlor, No. 186," J. E. Shields of Tracy ; "Stockton Parlor," E. M. Bransford of Stockton; "How a Successful Parlor Should Be Conducted," Ewald M. Grunsky; "The La- dies," George Housken of Stockton.

West Side Lodge No. 118, K. P., was insti- tuted March 10, 1885, with about twenty-five members. The first officers elected and in- stalled were Martin Loomis, past chief chan- cellor; Charles Ludwig, chancellor; J. S. Moulton, vice-chancellor; Wm. Schult, pre- late; Wm. Pruser, treasurer ; J. S. Moulton.

The West Side Irrigation District began op- erations in 1918. The total cost of construc- tion was $495,000. It has a bonded indebted- ness of $42.26 an acre. Its source of supply is Old River, really the San Joaquin. The in- take canal is 550 feet in length, 25 feet wide on the bottom and carries a depth of 6 feet at low tide. The upper canal pumps, four in number! each throws 10,000 gallons an hour, with a combined capacity of approximately 125 acre feet every 24 hours. This canal is seven miles long, 10 feet wide on the bottom and has 14.41 miles of laterals. At the lower canal are three

more huge pumps with a capacity of 96 acre feet every 24 hours. This canal is nine miles long, with a six-foot bottom and has 10.71 miles of laterals. The water from these canals will irrigte over 30,000 acres of land in what is known as the West Side, Naglee, Burk and the Banta Carbona districts. To celebrate the event the Tracy Chamber of Commerce sent out invitations to all the country round about and to the leading irrigationists of the state. It was a great May 22, 1921, and after the vis- itors had been taken over the thirty-five miles drive in viewing the canals they assembled at the high school building, where the following program was given: Selection by high school orchestra; address of welcome, Assemblyman B. S. Crittenden; address, A. L. Cowell of Stockton; selection, high school orchestra; address, R. T. Evans, treasurer Federal Land Bank of California; address, Dr. Elwood Meade, chairman land settlement board of Cal- ifornia; selection, high school orchestra; ad- dress, C. E. West, appraiser Federal Land Bank; address, Frank Adams, irrigation man- ager of Department of Agriculture.

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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 58

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