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 59

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 59

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CHAPTER XXIV

LODI, THE TOKAY CITY

T WELVE miles north of Stockton lies Lodi, the Queen City of the San Joaquin Valley. It excels all other cities not so much in the number of its population, about 7,000, nor in its area, about one mile square ; but it excels in its progress, government, civil pride, splendid churches and schools, hand- some residences and social qualities. It owns its own lighting and water plant, sixteen miles of fine asphalt streets, sewerage system, hand- some little theater, and fine hotel. And during the past year it has expended over $1,638,000 in municipal improvements, public service utilities, business houses and private dwellings.

Soon after the Civil War J. C. Layman ar- rived overland and obtained from a man named Spencer his claim to 160 acres of land where now stands Lodi. He got the land for a span of horses. The land was so thickly covered with brush in many places that it was almost impossible to force one's way through. He bought several acres from R. L. Wardrobe, whose land was adjoining Layman's on the east side, at $2.50 an acre. He then owned some 240 acres of land on what is now north of Lodi Avenue and west of the Central Pa- cific Railroad. Layman with his family lived in a rudely constructed house on what is now

West Walnut Street between Sacramento and School Streets. In 1867 he sold the entire tract to R. L. Wardrobe and Allen C. Ayers for $6.50 an acre and moved to Merced.

When the engineers of the Central Pacific Railroad Company started to find the best and cheapest route from Sacramento to Stockton they made three preliminary surveys over northern San Joaquin County. One of these surveys was through Woodbridge straight into El Dorado Street, Stockton, a second survey about a mile east of Woodbridge, and a third survey over the route where now lies Lodi. Woodbridge was their choice of routes, but it is said the owners of the land refused to give them the right-of-way and asked for dam- . ages far in excess of the value of the land. Others say that the engineers were advised to locate their track farther east on the high land, as the Woodbridge route was frequently flooded from the high waters of the Moke- lumne River. Woodbridge was a thriving town with a farming community surrounding it, and on tidewater with river communication to the ocean, while the Lodi section appeared to be a waste of sand, forest, trees, sage brush and jackrabbits.

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After the survey had been made through Lodi, A. T. Ayers, John U. Magley, R. L. Wardrobe and E. Lawrence petitioned the railroad company to locate a station on their land. As a bonus the three owners first named agreed if a station was there built and a town laid off to give the railroad every odd lot in the proposed town and a railroad reservation of twelve acres in the center of the town. Although the land at that time was of no great value, worth only the Government price $2.50 an acre, it was a good proposition and the company quickly accepted it. The survey was made in the spring of 1869, by the company's surveyor, Isaac C. Smith. He laid off the new town about one-half mile square, true to the points of the compass. It was a tract of 166 acres and included twenty-four acres of Mag- ley's land, twenty-five acres of the Ayres tract and fifty-five acres of the Wardrobe property. A railroad reservation unfortunately was plot- ted in the center of the town. And now it is a great detriment to the city and getting worse every year. The streets were named running from east to west, Cherokee, Stock- ton, Main, Sacramento, School, and Church; from the north to south, Locust, Elm, Pine, Oak, and Walnut. Cherokee Lane, now the State Highway, was the eastern boundary of the town. The town plat from which this record is taken was filed in the county clerk's office August 25,- 1869, by Dr. E. S. Holden of Stockton. The town was named Mokelumne City, but as it caused a confusion with Moke- lumne station and Mokelumne Hill the citi- zens petitioned the legislature and in 1874 the name was changed to Lodi. Why the four- lettered name of Lodi? Nobody knows. Some say, among them George E. Lawrence, that the name was suggested "by the historic event of Napoleon at the Bridge of Lodi." Others say that in jest, it was named Lodi because of a famous four mile running stallion by that name stabled in the town, Lodi at that time being known as "the sporting center."

Pioneer Building

The first building was the house erected by J. U. Magley in 1868 on the corner of what is now Pine and School Streets. After the laying off of the town the first building was a dwell- ing erected in August, 1869, by I. N. Stretch on the corner of Pine and Sacramento Streets. He also built a store for J. M. Burt & Ivory, who had come up from Woodbridge. The next building in the town was the famous Hooker House, so named after General Hooker, a famous Civil War general. The house was built for a hotel at Lancha Plana. Later it was removed to Campo Seco. In 1869 "Uncle Dan" Crist bought it intending to remove it to Dover on the San Joaquin River. It was moved to Lockeford, loaded 20

on the steamer Pert, which sailed to Wood- bridge. Then the future Lodi was founded and Crist then moved the old-timer to the new town. A postoffice was established and Crist was the first appointed postmaster. In the spring of that year, 1869, J. R. Allison built a stable and he and W. Jacobs established a stage line from Mokelumne City to Moke- lumne Hill, the line making connections with the railroad. About the same time Thompson & Folger, from Woodbridge, opened a butcher shop, and Byron D. Beckwith opened a drug store. In September, 1870, John E. Spencer and John Flanigan built the Spencer House and it was opened in February, 1871, by Ed- ward Olwell and J. A. Barry. The following year Spencer himself became the proprietor. In October, 1870, a correspondent wrote : "Our town is growing quite rapidly. Last spring we boasted of having eighteen houses, now we have fifty-six. Rev. Dr. Bryant is preparing to erect a church. R. Lefler & Co. are putting up a large hotel fronting 128 feet on two streets. W. B. Arnold has erected a substantial brick building. Charles O. Ivory of Stockton is putting up a two-story buildin for his bride, and R. C. Bosworth, James Elli- son, C. M. Boalt, Isaac N. Stretch and Samuel Gray are erecting new homes. Woodbridge is contributing quite liberally towards building up the town, moving their houses to the rail- road city. Liberty is sending her citizens, so also is Galt. George Crist, formerly the Wood- bridge postmaster, is making improvements in his hotel, and has a big run of custom. Peck & Company are running a daily line of stages to Mokelumne Hill, and strangers are here looking for investments." Ten years later an- other writer declared. "Lodi owes its exist- ence to the caprice of the railroad magnates. Had the railroad been built through Wood- bridge, as at first mapped out, the site of Lodi would today have been a. stubblefield. The population is about 800, and the various trades are well represented. Cluff & Smith are deal- ers in agricultural implements ; J. E. Spencer has the only hotel, W. J. Rixon, restaurant and bakery; Ellison & Bunke, livery stable: Mrs. Herrington, millinery; Byron D. Beckwith, postoffice; Ralph Ellis, Lodi flour mill; A. Levinsky, dry goods; Ivory & Greene, general merchandise, and Dr. Williamson is the lead- ing physician."

The Big Fire of 1887

One of the most disastrous fires of Lodi was that of October 11, 1887. It broke out on the roof of the Novelty planing mill and with- in an hour the principal business blocks bounded by Sacramento, Pine, School and Elm Streets were a smoldering mass of ashes. The only buildings left were the Grangers two- story brick and two dwellings in the north-

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ern corner of the block. The fire was first seen by the engineer of the mill, Len Williams, as he came from dinner. He instantly gave the alarm and the whistle of the Lodi flour mill was blown. There was no fire department nor fire apparatus, and the citizens' efforts to check the progress of the flames with buckets of water was a hopeless task. The loss was esti- mated at $70,000 and among the losers was Martin & Rolland, planing mill; Mrs. A. Prie- ter, blacksmith shop; C. A. Rich, dwelling ; G. W. Hill, jewelry store; J. J. Collins, hard- ware; H. Marker, saloon; A. C. Chalmers, restaurant; W. D. Smith & Son, butchers ; Dougherty & Duffy's saloon; George F. Cluff, real estate; Hanson & Co., druggists; Lee & Juline, saloon ; Thompson & Flogers, butchers ; Richard Cope, harness and saddle shop ; A. J. Larson, restaurant, and John Mundell, butcher.

The Lodi Hall Association

The Grangers general merchandising store was erected in 1876 by the Lodi Hall Associa- tion at a cost of $9,750, the contract being let September 2, 1876, to Matthew McCarty, the Stockton contractor of St. Agnes' Academy. The association was incorporatd April 8, 1876, with a capital stock of $20,000, with shares at $25 per share. The directors were Byron D. Beckwith, Amos W. Gove, John Hutch- ings, Henry Witte, C. C. Stoddard, N. S. Mis- ener and B. F. Langford. The building is the two-story brick now on the corner of Sacra- mento and Elm streets. and the men who built were the forerunners of the enterprising citizens of Lodi of today. Not satisfied with erecting a fine building for that day they made further improvements in October, '76, by lay- ing a twelve-foot asphalt sidewalk around the entire building.

Lodi Lodge, I. O. O. F.

The fire was a great loss to the Odd Fellows, as they had just gone into the hall the pre- vious year. Lodi lodge No. 259 was organized May 22, 1877, with fifteen charter members. The first officers were: John Rutan, noble grand ; Henry Witte, vice grand ; Thomas Rus- sell, recording secretary ; Allen T. Ayers, finan- cial secretary, and Ezekiel Lawrence, treas- urer. The additional charter members were: Past Grands C. V. Williamson, Morgan Craw- ford, Howard M. Craig, Samuel Ferdun, Reu- ben Pixley and John Hutchins. Where the lodge was organized or their place of meeting I know not. Probably in the same place they meet today, the hall being dedicated June 16, 1886. The hall was dedicated by Grand Mas- ter C. T. Eachran, assisted by brothers from the Stockton lodges. The ceremony was fol- lowed by a splendid program of musical and literary exercises. Then followed a fine sup- per at the Sargent House given by the Daugh-

ters of Rebekah, and the receipts of the supper went towards fitting up the new hall.

Flora Rebekah Lodge No. 162

This lodge, with a splendid membership of 154, including fifty-one Odd Fellows, was in- stituted October 21, 1890. The first officers were Mrs. E. Hunting, noble grand; Mrs. W. B. White, vice grand; Mrs. John Hunting, chaplain; Mrs. W. C. Green, secretary ; Mrs. Reuben Pixley, treasurer ; Mrs. H. Witte, con- ductor; Reuben Pixley, inside guard; Henry Witte, right support noble grand; Mrs. Sam- uel Ferdun, left support noble grand; Mrs. B. Jory, right support vice grand; Mrs. George Hogan, left support vice grand: A few weeks after the instituting of the lodge the staff of Lebanon went to Lodi and conferred the beautiful Rebekah degree on twenty-one can- didates. The team was composed of May Neu- miller, Mrs. R. Roeblin, Mrs. Hoyle Green- wood, Alice Kafitz, Ida Confer, Amanda Gri- der, Mrs. C. H. Keagle, Mrs. Sol Confer, Agnes Steiny, George Hornage, Allie Fyfe, Mamie Oldham, Mrs. Harry Hornage, May Woodhull, Grace Farrington, Emma Waters and Jennie Fyfe.

Knights of Pythias

Lodi lodge No. 41, Knights of Pythias is the outgrowth of Pythagoras lodge No. 41, instituted February 18, 1877, by Charles S. Eichelberger, past grand chancellor, assisted by members from the Stockton Knights. The lodge was instituted with a charter member- ship of fourteen Knights. The following offi- cers were elected and installed : Henry Witte, past chancellor; E. B. Sherman, chancellor commander ; H. C. Gillingham, vice chancellor ; H. M. Craig, prelate; John Rutan, keeper of records and seals; Frank Davis, master of finance; M. Bruml, master of exchequer; George Kirkland, master at arms; E. W. S. Woods, inside guardian ; W. D. Smith, outside guardian. In the spring of 1883 a new lodge was organized by the former members of Pythagoras lodge. The new lodge was hailed as Salem lodge No. 105. The two lodges were united in January, 1887, under the present name Lodi No. 41. Since 1901 the Knights have met in the Odd Fellows hall.

Chosen Friends

At one time, 1882, the Chosen Friends was a popular organization and a council of the order was instituted in Lodi, December 8, with twenty-five members. The following were the elected officers: P. C. C., W. R. Ellis; C. C., J. A. Wilson ; O. C., Henry Kinard ; pre- late, T. A. Wilson; secretary, C. J. Waldren ; treasurer, E. R. Pease; W. M., F. N. Cope- land; sentinel, S. H. Turndell; medical exam- iner, Dr. E. A. Burchard.

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The 4th of July, 1885

Lodi has always been famed for its celebra- tions, and their first celebration of America's Natal day is a well-remembered event. Her enterprise in having a free barbecue as the chief feature of the celebration resulted in crowding the town with visitors. Senator B. F. Langford was president of the day, and A. J. Larson, grand marshal. About 10 o'clock in the morning a procession, including a ma- jority of the visitors, was formed at the corner' of Sacramento and Elm streets and the march was taken up to Lodi park. The Lodi silver cornet band and the Lodi glee club furnished excellent music. Senator Langford made a short speech of welcome and F. B. Mills read the Declaration of Independence, Charles Ferdun gave a declamation, and Joel A. Snell supplied the original poetry. The opening prayer was delivered by Rev. W. R. Gober, and the benediction was pronounced by Rev. Dr. N. W. Lane. The oration was delivered by Judge Van R. Patterson, who did himself and Stockton credit. Foot races, base ball, other games and dancing supplied all the en- joyment that was needed after the general at- tack on the roasted ox, until 4 o'clock, when the horrible organization of Calethumpians paraded and then indulged in literary exer- cises.

Hartford Post, G. A. R.

The Grand Army of the Republic is fast be- ing mowed down by the scythe of Old Father Time, and in a few more years their record will be complete. In 1890 there were quite a number of the old guard living in Lodi, and on a Saturday evening, May 12, 1890, thirty- three of them assembled and organized a Grand Army Post. They selected the name of Admiral Farragut's famous flagship Hartford as the name of their post. The following offi- cers were elected: T. F. Tracy, captain ; John Archer, post commander ; Reuben Pixley, sen- ior vice-commander; J. W. Horton, junior vice-commander ; B. M. Vichey, adjutant; Eli Dayton, quartermaster; J. J. Robinson, sur- geon ; Lemon Williams, chaplain; A. A. Mc- Clelland, officer of the day. They were mus- tered in a few days later by Judge Buckley, the newly elected commander.

The Moquelemos Grant Celebration

Probably the most heart-felt celebration ever held in Lodi was that of May 19, 1876, when the settlers in that section celebrated their victory over the Central Pacific Railroad which claimed a large section of their lands. The contest between the settlers and the rail- road was in the courts for many years and finally reaching the Supreme Court of the United States, May 8, 1876, the following joy-

ful news was received by Henry S. Sargent of Stockton by telegraph from Congressman Horace F. Page: "Case of Newhall versus Sanger decided for the settlers, sustained in every point." The settlers were so happy over the fact that they would not be dispossessed of their homes that they resolved to celebrate the event with a big barbecue, a monster pa- rade, an oration, games, baseball, and other amusements. Stockton had been invited and an excursion train of twenty-two cars attend- ed the celebration. The crowd of over 2,000 citizens, including the Stockton Guards and firemen both in full uniform, the Knights of Pythias and the San Joaquin band. There was a short parade, an oration by Joseph H. Budd and then the barbecue, in the Lodi park. An immense crowd for that day were in attend- ance, from 10,000 to 15,000 people from all parts of the county.

The Salem District School

James A. Sollinger, then county superintend- ent, said in an address in 1883, that at first the school districts were designated by numbers and the children few in number and the school houses far apart. The section around Lodi was known as school district No. 2. The school commissioners were J. H. Woods, D. J. McNeil and Otis Newton. The district in- cluded both sides of the Mokelumne River. In 1858 the districts were given names and the Lodi district was known as Henderson, named after Thomas J. Henderson, the first school census marshal. In 1859 the district was divided and that portion south of the river was known as Salem district. In that year the county superintendent, L. C. Van Allen, appointed John Coldwell and George D. Comp- ton as the school trustees of the new district. The first teacher of the school was J. P. Carle- ton, later a teacher in the Stockton schools. He was succeeded by Hamilton Wermouth, in the spring of 1860. The teacher first named was paid his salary from a subscription fund donated by the farmers. Wermouth was paid from the state and county fund, it amounting to the magnificent sum of $86.85. There was not a dollar in the Salem school fund, and when the trustees gave the teacher the order for his salary, they "fired him" and refused to permit him to continue teaching. Wermouth was determined to continue his school work. Going to a Mr. Willhelm near the ferry he rented the second story of his home and con- tinued his school teaching. The third teacher was a pedagogue who liked his toddy. He would try to conduct his school while under the influence of liquor and one day a trustee gave him a severe caning, and he was dis- charged. The fourth teacher, Mr. Foster, was very successful in his school work.

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The first schoolhouse in the Salem district was built in 1858 on the south side of the Mokelumne River on the land owned by Eze- kiel Lawrence. The money for the building was subscribed by the settlers, and the lumber obtained in the mountains was brought to the site by Victor and Peter Jahant. The doors, windows, sash and furniture for the building were made by Mr. Lawrence, who was a car- penter. After the division of the district the little schoolhouse was removed to a point about a mile and a half further south on what is now known as the Barnhart tract. After the railroad came through, the building was again moved this time to the present location of the Salem school. It was again moved to make way for a larger building, and for sev- eral years it was the home of James Hutchins. Lucille Lefeber in a newspaper article pub- lished some years ago gives a different ac- count of the first school, which consisted of one room and was located on the northwest corner of Pine and School tSreets, hence the name of the street. She wrote: "The first schoolhouse on the present Salem school grounds was built in 1872. It was 30x40 feet, two stories high, and cost $2,160. In 1881 a one-room addition was added and the next year another room was added in the yard." The "Lodi Sentinel" published at that time speaks of one building as "the kitchen" and of the other as "the woodshed". Before the last room was added, the extra pupils were housed in Stoddard's hall, which is now the Cosmo- politan hotel, at the corner of East Oak and Main streets. The enrollment at that time was 193. Professor Russell was the principal when the present Salem school was erected. The old building was moved to West Pine Street, where it was used for the dining room of the old Lodi Hotel for years. A pupil in this school was Laura DeForce Gordon, one of the first advocates for woman suffrage and the second woman in the state admitted to the practice of law.

The present Salem school, a wooden two story structure, was built in 1883 at a cost of $12,000, some say $15,000. It is located on Stockton near Walnut street and was quite a school building in its day. The county super- intendent in speaking of it said "This mag- nificent school building with its mighty dome to the heavens is a monument to the enter prise and energy of the citizens of Lodi and Salem district." It was dedicated October 13. 1883, with the following invocation by the Rev. T. B. Palmer ; solo "The Old Stone Mill", Lizzie Richardson ; opening address, J. A. Sol- linger, quintette, "Twilight on the Beach" Lizzie Richardson, Mary Wright, Florence Russell, W. C. Green and D. L. Spotts ; char- acter recitation, "The Black Horse and His

Rider," Cyrus Newton; solo, "When the Rob- ins Nest Again" Lizzie Richardson, closing remarks Professor O. E. Swain; benediction by the Rev. E. B. Palmer. At the close of the exercises those present enoyed a dance to the music of Boswell's orchestra, comprising Messrs. Boswell, Brattan, Andy Ware and George E. Lawrence. A few years later it was decided to form a high school to include the following districts : Salem, Harmony, Live Oak and Alpine district. An election for school trustees was held in the districts named July 11, 1891, and the following trustees elected : James A. Anderson from Salem, T. P. Heath, Harmony; George Hazen, Live Oak, and M. C. Dow, Alpine. In organizing as a school board John A. Anderson was elected president and George Goodcell, clerk. A part of the grammar school was given over to the high school which was known as the Lodi High School.

The following teachers were the principals of the school up to 1907. O. E. Swain, Free- man B. Mills, Wm. Piper, Edward McCourt, Mr. Somers, C. Adams; 1891, E. B. Wright, Eugene Hogan, M. C. Dow, F. B. Wooten, 1902, George M. Steele, 1904, John Anderson, John Williams, 1911, William Inch.

The Emerson School

The Salem school in 1904 was more than crowded with pupils and as more school room was necessary the trustees called for a bond issue of $25,000 for the purpose of purchas- ing land and erecting a large wooden build- ing. The bonds were voted and the trustees purchased a block of land just four blocks from Sacramento street between Elm and Pine streets. They named it Emerson after the fa- mous essayist, and it was dedicated in 1907, the last of the fire-trap school buildings.

The Union High School

A mass meeting was held May 18, 1911, for the purpose of discussing the question of a Union high school for the northern part of the county. George E. Lawrence was elected chairman of the meeting and L. V. Peterson secretary. It was resolved to organize a high school to include the Lodi, Lockeford, Vic- tor, Henderson, Woodbridge, Alpine, La Fay- ette and Houston districts. It was proposed to bond these districts for $150,000, the bond election to take place December 14, 1911. The night before the election there was an im- mense mass meeting in the opera house which was addressed by Hillard E. Welch, George M. Steele, the Rev. E. B. Winning of the Methodist church, Wm. Inch, principal of the high school, and Hugh McNoble. On the morning of the election there was a parade of over 1000 school children, carrying flags and

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banners. The vote for the bonds was 931 for and only 366 against. The bonds were sold at a premium of $12,000. The trustees selected as the high school site the twelve-acre tract of Thomas Hutchings just west of the limits of Lodi. There was as usual in every progres- sive movement, considerable opposition to this site. And at the election for trustees, April 5, 1912, the knockers tried unsuccessfully to-elect a new board of trustees, but the old board were re-elected, by a handsome majority. In 1919 the trustees erected a splendid high school in honor of the American Legion and named it Clyde Needham, in honor of the first Lodi boy to die on the battlefields of France. It is built of hollow tile and cost $110,000. Contractors declare it the final work in school construction and equipment. It has ten rooms, including the study room, which has a seating capacity of 400. The school will accommodate 200 pupils. The study hall is fitted with a stage and dressing rooms. There is also a projection room for moving pictures. The social science department is equipped with gas ranges, modern kitchen, dining room and other appliances. There is also a fine man- ual training shop. The school was opened to students on March 1st. The board of trus- tees follows: J. C. Kellar, William H. Faust, George A. Keagle.

The school was dedicated February 22, 1921, with very impressive ceremonies including a parade of the American Legion, Woman's Re- lief Corps, Boy Scouts, Golden Star mothers who lost their sons, and school children led by the Tokay band with Mayor John S. Mont- gomery as grand marshal, assisted by Walter Jahant, Harry T. Bailey, E. A. Thompson and H. L. Emerson. On arrival at the front of the school building the following program was given, singing of "America" by Mrs. Mary MacAdam Yerbury; prayer, Rev. Charles Price; address, Maj. W. P. Garrison ; address, Governor W. D. Stephens ; presentation of flag to school by Mrs. Belle Wright for Hartford Corps No. 49, W. R. C .; solo, "Flanders Requiem," Mrs. Yerbury ; address, Maj. W. A. Mason, commander of Needham's corps; "Star Spangled Banner," Tokay band. During the afternoon Governor Stephens was given a lunch in the Hotel Lodi as the guest of Maj. W. E. Garrison, Mayor John S. Montgomery, H. E. Welch, John B. Cory, J. M. Blodgett, Dr. J. P. Sargent, J. V. Bauer, V. R. Larson, George H. Moore, T. G. Elwert and Marshall Dement. That evening there was an enter- tainment in the Lodi theater for the benefit of the Tokay band, the proceeds to go towards paying for their new uniforms.

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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 59

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