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 60

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 60

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).

A second fine school building was erected in March, 1922, at a cost approximately of $65,- 000, in the southern part of the city on what

is known as the Sturla tract. The building, 125x210 feet, is of concrete and hollow tile with a composition roof. The structure which contains six class rooms, including a manual training department, domestic science room, model dining room, large assembly hall cap- able of seating 400 people, library and board room, with offices for the superintendent and principal. The assembly hall will be fitted with a large stage with all the necessary equipment. The class rooms will be arranged around a patio, with covered walks connecting with each room.

The Methodist Episcopal Church

Approaching Lodi on a Sunday evening the traveler's attention is called to an unusual light in the horizon. Coming near he sees that it is a brilliantly electrically lighted re- volving cross, some eighty feet in the air, sur- mounting the tower of the Methodist Episco- pal church. It is a beautiful temple of wor- ship of brick and red sandstone, erected in 1919 at a cost of $50,000, the outgrowth of the evangelistic work of the Rev. Colin Anderson, a Methodist circuit preacher, who held serv- ices in that vicinity in the winter of 1861 and '62. His circuit included the Live Oak and Woodbridge churches. Several years later the Rev. J. H. Bryant located in the Woodbridge region and he found forty-six Methodists in that vicinity. After the founding of Moke- lumne city quite a number of Methodists set- tled in the town, and services were held in their homes with the Rev. J. W. Bryant as pastor.

The Burning of the Church

In 1870 the Christians of the town conclud- ed to erect a house of worship. It was planned to erect a chapel at a cost of $1,500, a Union church in which all denominations could hold services except the Mormons. Unfortunately the building caught fire by some unknown means about 2 o'clock in the morning of Feb- ruary 7, 1878, when nearly completed and was entirely destroyed. With the characteristic energy that has always animated the people of Lodi the citizens held a meeting that even- ing and resolved to immediately rebuild the church and pay the debt on the destroyed building amount to $600. Subscriptions were called for and some $700 subscribed on the spot. The Methodists of the town having a complete organization, now 'took up the work and erected a church on the same lot as the destroyed structure, corner of Oak and School streets. One of the charter members of the church was George .W. Hill, and in the fare- well meeting in the pioneer building Febru- ary 20, 1920, he said that they occupied the church for forty-five years. During that time

310

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

and later the following pastors have been in charge: Revs. J. W. Bryant, 1870; E. K. Bel- knap, '73; E. P. Walker, '75; Hazen White, '77 ; Charles Haswell, '79; Thomas B. Palmer, '82; W. R. Gober, '84; Edward E. Dodge, '85; Seneca Jones, '86; J. L. Mann, '91; H. Cope- land, 1902; Hindson, '04; E. B. Winning, '07; \V. P. Grant, '20; J. H. Troxell, '22; the pres- ent pastor is H. B. Beers.

The Congregational Church

It is. on record that the Congregational Church was organized March 6, 1862, and that "their first services were held in a barn." Proof of their organization at this time was given in March, 1912, when they held their Golden anniversary. In March, 1872, says an- other account, a Congregational Church of nine members was formed, with the Rev. O. A. Ross of Lockeford as their acting pastor. Mrs. Gertie DeForce Cluff said in the Valley Review in December, 1878, that the church was organized with the following members : Mrs. Crounch, Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie, Mr. Black, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Elliott, and Mrs. Collins. The first pastor was Rèv. W. C. Stew- art, who rode ten miles to attend services in all kinds of weather. In 1878 the member- ship had increased to twenty, the organiza- tion took a new start and the idea of building a church was determined upon and the fol- lowing officers elected: Edward Elliott, Sr., and Charles Elliott, deasons, and Charles El- liott, secretary and treasurer, with Dr. John- son, O. Gillespie, Edward Elliott, Sr., Thomas Farchilds, Charles Elliott, Allen T. Ayers, and L. S. Morse, trustees.

In September of that year the first Congre- gational society was organized with Mrs. W. C. Stewart as president; Mrs. Scott, vice-presi- dent; Mrs. Collins, secretary and treasurer ; Mrs. L. M. Morse, Mrs. A. T. Ayers, Mrs. Thomas Fairchilds, Mrs. Merwin and Mrs. S. P. Sabic, directors.

A lot was obtained on School Street near Lockeford and a small wooden church erected at a cost, building and furniture, of $3,200. As the congregation increased in numbers ad- ditions were made to the building. During the pastorate of the Rev. F. M. Washburn, from 1904-11, the present large structure was erect- ed. The following are some of the pastors during the past years: Rev. W. C. Stewart, C. C. Corwin, N. W. Lane, George B. Allen, John W. Brier, Jr., George H. DeKay, M. Washburn, who resigned in December, 1911, because of ill health, W. L. Schwimley and Charles S. Price.

The Episcopalians

Although few in number the Episcopalians are an enthusiastic body of Christians. Or- ganized early in the year 1900 they held serv-

ices in a public hall, and T. C. Hawley acted as lay reader of the service of worship. Along about 1909 although with only a few hundred dollars in the treasury the vestrymen began making plans for a chapel and a church home. The following year they obtained a site for a church, corner of Lee and Locust streets, and at a cost of $3,000 erected a very pretty edifice, which was completed in September of that year. For a time the Rev. D. O. Kelley of San Francisco was the missionary in charge, conducting the services once a month. The remaining Sundays T. C. Hawley conducted the services. Rev. John Morgan conducted services along about 1893 and in 1911 they had a permanent rector, Rev. W. H. Hawkins, who preached his first sermon May 7 of that year. In 1919 the vestrymen called the Rev. George B. D. Stewart, who had supplied the pulpit of St. John's Church, Stockton, while the rector was in France. Rev. Stewart died in 1922.

The Incorporation of Lodi

The incorporation of Lodi as a city of the sixth class was under discussion as early as 1903, but the opposition to an incorporation at that time, prevented its attainment. Accord- ing to the law governing cities of the sixth class it was necessary for a majority of the citizens within the limits of the proposed city to petition the board of supervisors to call an election for the citizens to vote upon the question of incorporation. The opposition of the saloon keepers to the movement naturally increased the desire of the better class of citi- zens for incorporation, and in October, 1906, a petition was presented to the board for su- pervisors by W. A. Young, Max Elwert, W. A. Spooner and George M. Steele, petitioning the board to call an election for the incorporation of the city of Lodi. As there was a large ex- cess of names the petition was granted and the election called.

The business men were the leaders in the movement, and as they were desirous of hear- ing a business man's opinion upon the quest- tion, they sent an invitation to J. R. Brough- ton to address them. Mr. Broughton was a banker of Modesto, a business man and one of the leading movers in the incorporation of that city twenty years previous. A mass meet- ing was held in the Lodi Opera House No- vember 20, 1906. At the conclusion of the address the business men nominated a ticket comprising a board of five trustees and other officers. The trustees were to hold office for four years, two or three, as the case might be, to be elected every two years. The charter also called for the election of a clerk, treas- urer and marshal. The Business Men's ticket contained the following names for trustees:

- -

311

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

George E. Lawrence, A. W. Keeney, J. M. Blodgett, F. O. Hale, and S. W. Beckman; for clerk, Henry E. Ellis ; for treasurer, W. H. Lorentz, and for marshal, A. B. Krutz. Keeney and Beckman declined to serve and Leon Vil- linger and A. C. Rich were appointed. H. E. Ellis declined the nomination of clerk and J. A. McMahon was appointed.

The election was held November 27, 1906, and the incorporation of the city was hotly opposed by the saloon element. The vote for incorporation was two to one for it. The church bells rang out their joyous peals over the victory, and the Stockton Record, con- gratulating the citizens, said: "When the church bells of the town are rung in honor of the result of an election it is safe to pre- sume that it has been no ordinary political contest. It would be a great thing for Lodi to be able to print on its stationery as in River- side and other southern towns: 'No saloons in Lodi.'

First City Officers

The following officers were elected together with their vote for trustees: J. M. Blodgett, 350; F. O. Hale, 362; George E. Lawrence, 290; C. A. Rich, 181; Leon Villinger, 186. For clerk : J. A. McMahon, 269; his opponent, 124. For treasurer, no opposition, W. H. Lo- ·rentz, 391. For marshal, H. B. Coleman, no opposition, 374. A few evenings after the elec- tion the citizens held a grand ratification meeting in the opera house. The meeting was addressed by Mayor M. J. Gardner and Judge Wm. B. Nutter of Stockton and by local speak- ers. The meeting was enlivened by the Lodi band and local vocalists. The first meeting of the trustees was held December 7 in the "new city hall on North Sacramento Street." They had no money in the treasury, no fix- tures, books or papers of any kind with which to conduct business, and it was suggested that the trustees dig down in their pockets or hold themselves personally responsible for books, furniture, etc.

The following is the official roster of Lodi up to the present time :

Board of trustees-November 27, 1906, pres- ident, George E. Lawrence; J. M. Blodgett, C. A. Rich, F. O. Hale, Leon Villinger. April 15, 1912, president, George E. Lawrence; M. J. Blodgett, C. A. Rich, F. O. Hale, C. A. Black. April 20, 1914, president, F. O. Hale ; Max Foldendorf, E. M. Keeney, E. E. Deever, C. A. Black. April 15, 1918, president, C. A. Black; Joseph D. Crose, E. M. Keeney, F. O. Hale, John S. Montgomery. April 19, 1920, president, J. S. Montgomery ; Joseph D. Crose, C. A. Rich, F. O. Hale, A. D. Hickok. April 17, 1922, president, J. W. Shattuck; John Met- tler, Jr., C. A. Rich, F. O. Hale. A. D. Hickok.

. Clerk-November 27, '06, J. M. McMahon ; March 9, '14. C. A. Rich ; April 20, '14, Harvey S. Clark; February 1, '21, John F. Blakely.

Marshal-April 20, '08, H. B. Coleman; August 8, '20, R. B. McClure; April 17, '22, F. Christensen.

Assessor-Nov. 27, '06, J. M. McMahon; March 9, '14, C. A. Rich; April 20, '14, H. S. Clark, Jr .; February 1, '21, John F. Blakely.

Treasurer-April 15, '12, W. H. Lorentz; April 17, '22, W. H. Lorentz.

Tax Collector-April 20, '08, H. B. Coleman ; April 15, '18, W. H. Lorentz.

The Water Works and City Hall

Lodi was supplied with water by a corpora- tion as early as 1891 by the Bay City Gas, Water and Electric Works; G. G. Buckland was the president and J. H. Fish the secre- tary with offices on Pine and Sacramento streets. They sold the plant to the Carey Brothers, who it appears supplied the citizens as did the Bay City company with water and gas. In November, 1901, the proposition was discussed by the citizens of having electric lights in the town. The Carey Brothers took the matter in hand and agreed to establish a lighting plant in Lodi within two months, and putting a very low rate, asked for a two year guarantee. The guarantee was given and the electric lighting plant was installed with a capacity of 500 lights, sufficient at that time to light the town. The lights were turned off at midnight.

After the incorporation of the city the board of trustees, Messrs. Lawrence, Blodgett, Hale, Rich and Villinger, thought it would be a paying proposition for the city to own its own water works. They made a proposition to the Carey Brothers to purchase the plan. They were also running an electric plant, and asked for the whole thing $55,000. It was certainly some hold-up, for in the spring of 1919 the trustees obtained the entire water and power plant for $30,000. The city at the time was bonded for some $130,000 for the plant, a sewer system, public utilities, etc. The trus- tees took out the old second-hand wrought- iron water pipes used by the old company and put in steel pipes. Then at the water works they erected on iron stanchions 138 feet in height, a 100,000 gallon steel tank; and with it a first class pumping plant. This plant more than paid for itself in a few years, and at pres- ent there is a profit sufficient to pay the over- head expenses of the city.

You remember that when the city was in- corporated the city office was in a building on North Sacramento Street rented from the county. With the progressive enterprise that has always been characteristic of the board of trustees they concluded in 1912 to have a city hall owned by the city and stop paying rent.

312

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

They could not agree as to its location, as some of them wanted to purchase the Gealey lot on North Sacramento Street as the city hall site. The majority of the trustees voted on placing the building next to the pumping station on North Main Street. A two-story brick building was there erected and at a con- tract price of $3,995. The building was com- pleted and ready for occupation in July, 1912.

Lodi Fire Department

Lodi's first department was composed of vol- unteers with H. E. Welch the first chief engi- neer. The department at this time, May, 1911, consisted of two combined chemical and hose wagons drawn by horses. In November, 1911, there was a reorganization of the department comprising some eight men, and E. H. Stark, who had formerly been the fire department chief in Fergus Falls, Minn., was induced to take the chiefship of the Lodi Fire Depart- ment. Stark divided the city into four sec- tions, the division lines being Pine Street and the Southern Pacific Railroad track. At the annual election in May, 1920, E. H. Stark was again elected chief. L. H. Rinn was elected vice-president ; H. E. Welch, treasurer ; Wm. H. Faust, secretary ; M. R. Channell, first as- sistant chief; J. W. Landback, second assist- ant chief; T. R. Leeck, foreman of Wide- Awake hose company and M. Roracker assist- ant; Fred Spiekerman, foreman of Alert hose company and Henry Gimbell assistant; John Schaefer, foreman of hook and ladder com- pany and P. W. Lehman assistant; the chem- ical engine company has George Olenberger for foreman and Wm. Schnabel for assistant.

The city trustees in September, 1920, pur- chased a Seagrave triple combined fire pump at a cost of $13,000. It is capable of playing three streams of water and one stream will deliver 750 gallons of water per minute, and. from three 50-foot lengths of hose a stream of water was thrown from a two-inch nozzle more than 50 feet in the air and a distance of 200 feet. The machine was pumping 1050 gal- lons a minute at the time.

Lodi's first Board of Trade was organized February 28, 1887, and was known as the Northern San Joaquin County Board of Trade. The board organized by electing W. C. Childs president-recording secretary ; J. B. Ruffman, corresponding secretary ; T. C. Riggs, treas- urer, and C. A. Rich, director, Lodi district. In 1901, April 9, Lodi's Chamber of Commerce was organized to develop the resources of northern San Joaquin County ; to include im- migration, foster trade and aid and encourage commercial intercourse throughout the county. The board of directors for the first year were C. M. Ferdun, W. W. Henderson, F. W. Beck- man, Ed. Hutchings, George Hogan, C. L. Newton, Al. Breitenbucher, A. T. Cowell, J. B.

Cory, M. Van Gelder and C. P. Garrison. There are now about 150 members.

The Lodi Press

Lodi's first newspaper, the Valley Review, was published July 20, 1878, by Mrs. Gertie De Force Cluff. It was a small seven-column folio, published weekly. Mrs. Cluff conducted the paper for six years, then sold the plant to Walcott & Cheney. They sold the paper a year later, 1885, to Bloomer & Moore, who failed to make good, and it was attached bý the sheriff and sold.

In 1885 Mrs. Cluff started an opposition paper to the Review. It was a five-column eight-page sheet, and a year later she sold to Howell & Matteson. Hoping to make the paper a success by changing the name, they called it the Lodi News. The office was de- stroyed by fire July 7, 1887, and was not again republished. A second Valley Review was is- sued August 16, 1888, by Frank Cluff, who had formerly acted as manager for his sister's paper, the Cyclone.

The Lodi Sentinel, still in existence, was first issued July 19, 1881, by W. R. Ellis and J. W. McQuaid. Both men later sold out and took charge of other county papers. Frank E. Ellis and his brother, H. F. Ellis, bought the paper in 1887.

Post Office

Lodi today has one of the prettiest and most convenient postoffices in the county, far and away ahead of the little dark corner it occu- pied in 1869 when Daniel Crist was the post- master. This was a wooden building liable to be destroyed at any time, and when the Grangers erected their two-story brick build- ing, northwest corner of Sacramento and Elm Street, Byron Beckwith leased the corner store and was appointed postmaster. About that time there was a young man named Robert L. Graham clerking for Beckwith. He learned the druggist trade and in time bought out the drugstore. The office of postmaster went with it and in 1881 Mr. Graham was appointed to the office and was postmaster through two presidential terms, that of Garfield and Harri- son. He might have continued as postmaster, but the postoffice department demanded more room, so fast had the business grown, and the office was removed to Elm Street near Sacra- mento, with Harvey S. Clark, Jr., as post- master. Clark held the office through 1902-04- 06-11, and was succeeded February 9, 1914, by J. M. McMahon. About this time the office was moved to North Sacramento Street near Locust. McMahon was succeeded by John Blakely, and he by Claude Keagle. The pres- ent acting postmaster is Emerson E. Herrick, who enjoys the neat new postoffice leased by the Government of the City Improvement

313

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Company. The building is a two-story brick structure, 65x85 feet floor space, and is equipped in accordance with the plans fur- nished by the government. This includes a Government-owned cancelling machine, which is given only to offices handling 3,000 pieces of mail per day. The office employs five clerks and four city letter carriers, besides several rural carriers.

Lodi's Progressive Banks

It is of record that a bank was established in Lodi January 21, 1884, with a capital stock of $375,000. The officers were Andrew Sink, president ; and John Nevin, manager. The di- rectors and stockholders were C. A. Rick, Au- gustus Thiel, Andrew Sink, Samuel Ferdun, John Nevin, W. D. Smith, David Kettleman, L. O. Gillespie, J. J. Hubbard, E. R. Pease, Dr. S. P. Hopkins, Dr. C. V. Williamson and E. D. McGreen.

The Bank of Lodi was incorporated June 7, 1888, with a capital stock of $25,000. It was organized by Ex-Senator Ben F. Langford, one of San Joaquin County's progressive citi- zens, with the following stockholders. T. C. Shaw, O. O. Norton, M. W. Shidy, John B. Cory, E. E. Moran, C. W. Norton, H. B. Back- man, Owen Lacey, George McNoble, Gottleibe Doering, W. D. Sturdevant, Otto Spenker, Reuben Fixley, W. H. Lorentz, C. Fathering- ham, Max Elwert, J. M. Blodgett, George E. Wilhoit, Ezra Fiske, R. T. Ogden, J. R. Mitch- ell, George W. Le Moin, F. W. Beckwith, Charles Sollars, Clara E. Love, Harriett D. Shaw, Mary E. Sargent, Mary B. Shidy and Hedwig Lorentz.

The First National Bank was organized March 1, 1905, with a capital stock of $25,000. Fitting up a neat bank in a brick building at 14 Pine Street, they were ready for business September 12. The officers were John B. Cory, president ; M. W. Shidy, vice-president ; W. H. Lorentz, cashier ; J. P. Shaw, assistan cashier, and C. W. Norton, attorney. The officers, to- gether with H. C. Beckman and O. O. Norton, constituted the directors. The bank immedi- ately became so popular that in May, 1909, they increased their stock to $80,000. Again it was increased February, 1911, to $100,000, and in January, 1922, it was increased to $200,000, with a surplus of $120,000.

On April 9, 1907, the directors of the First National Bank organized the Central Savings Bank with the same officers and directors. The stock was $25,000. It was increased to $80,000 in 1909 and to $100,000, February 10, 1911. In June, 1915, these two banks were moved into the corner of the Hotel Lodi building, a handsome three-story pressed brick building erected by the bank. John E. Cory, who had been president of the bank since its organization, resigned December 3, 1921, and W. H. Lorentz was elected president.

In 1916, May 24, the Farmers & Merchants Bank was incorporated, capital stock $25.000. The first officers were Chris Allbright, presi- dent ; Lot Lund, vice-president ; E. B. Doering, secretary, cashier; H. B. Nelson, treasurer, with John Mettler, Jr., Gottlieb Doering, H. C. Large and Peter Joens, directors. Their capital stock in 1923 was increased to $90.000.

The Citizens Bank of Lodi, the fourth bank in the progressive city, was organized in De- cember, 1921, with the following officers and board of directors: John B. Cory, president ; Wilson H. - Thompson, vice-president; Fred- erick Spoerke, cashier, and F. M. Mills, D. D. Smith, Henry Pope, G. L. Meisener, H. A. Fairbanks, M. V. Bare, John S. Montgomery, E. H. Humphrey and Burton A. Towne, di- rectors. They began business in the Beckman Thompson building on School Street with a capital of $250,000. Shortly after this time they purchased a lot on the northwest corner of School and Oak Streets and began the con- struction of a handsome steel reinforced con- crete building, at a cost complete of $90,000.

The Tokay Carnival

What was the idea of a Tokay grape carni- val? To show and to advertise to the world the beauty and the value of the flaming Tokay grape, so named because of its beautiful color- ing when ripe, like a dark red flame of fire. It grows to perfection in no other section of the land and shipped east in New York it brings fancy prices. The Lodi section in its earlier history was known as the watermelon center and in a single month, August, 1881. they shipped twenty-one cars of melons. Later the growers learned that it was a wonderful grape growing district, and there was three times the amount of money in grapes. As to the amount grown and their value, we have only the report of 1920-21. In the year first named a total of 8071 carloads of grapes were shipped from the Lodi section. At the same time the dehydrators and wineries handled approximately 18,000 tons. In 1921 the Lodi district shipped out 9,133 carloads or 127.962 tons. These are S. C. Beane's figures, the Stockton freight agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Last year the crop in that section was estimated at $10,000,000 and yet they lost over $2,000,000 because of the car shortage. This was a prologue to the Tokay carnival, which was considered as a festival of far reach- ing importance. The idea of the carnival was first thought out by Charles Rey, a business man of Lodi. He interested Henry F. Ellis of the Lodi Sentinel, Joseph Friedberger, W. W. Henderson and Frank Christman. The car- nival took place in September, 1907, the month when the Tokay grape begins to ripen into beauty. In commemoration of the event, they erected the Tokay arch, over spanning

314

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Pine Street junction of Sacramento. It is of purely mission style of architecture and erected at a cost of $500 obtained by subscription, and is today one of the most attractive features of the city. The carnival continued for three days, the principal feature being the parade and the crowning of the Queen, Bertha De Almado, on the first day. The parade formed with J. W. Dougherty as grand marshal. Then came the Lodi band, John Bauer leader, pre- ceding Queen Zinfandel and her pages, Merle Lillie, and Mildred Stannard. Behind the Queen rode her maids-of-honor in a tally-ho, Minnie Harney, Nina Wilson, Myrtle Mc- Clung, Inez Smith, Tillie Doering, Florence Snedigar, Gladys Graham and Grace Free- man. Then followed a float representing a gunboat manned by young ladies, who had been drilled by Mrs. C. E. Pickering. A sec- ond float, that of the Rebekahs, represented a swan-appearing boat handsomely decorated in the colors of the order, pink and green. On arrival at the Arch the Queen was escorted to the throne on the platform by C. M. Ferdun, who presented the Queen her scepter as Queen of the Carnival. George E. Lawrence, as chair- man of the board of trade, in a short address, presented her the keys of the city. At that hour the artillery band from the Presidio, San Francisco, had arrived, and the Coronation ode was sung by twenty-five young ladies, under the direction of May Ferrell, accompanied by the band. At this time Governor Gillett and J. H. Filcher arrived and made a short address. The carnival ended Saturday with dancing and a confetti battle.

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 60

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