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 67

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 67

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Mr. Woods, popularly known as "Smithy" Woods, was born in Missouri in May, 1849, in the humble home of his parents who had journeyed from their childhood homes in Indiana to pioneer in the new west. His father was engaged in selling Missouri mules to Southern planters, and his partner, Ezekiel Williamson Smith, asked that his name be given to the new arrival in the Woods family. Mr. Woods always felt that it was an honor to have borne the name of this sturdy frontiersman, who was an uncle of the late James C. Smith, father of Charles B. and Dow Smith, well-known farmers here. Mr. Woods' father came to California in 1850, lured to the land of gold by the stories that reached even the back- woods hamlets, leaving his little family at the home place and planning to have them join him at the mines. He landed in Placerville and went on to Mariposa, where he was killed in a mining trouble. His brother, Jerry Woods, came to California the next year to look up the pioneer, and settled on the land where Woodbridge is located, the village being given his name. He conducted the first ferry over the Mokelumne at that point and was killed there in June, 1864.

Here the interesting California careers of the Woods brothers, John N., and E. W. S., start. John N., who became one of the best-known citizens of San Joaquin County, and a trusted public official, came out from Missouri in 1857 to join his uncle, Jerry Woods, at Woodbridge, and his first letter, sent to his mother urging her to come to California, was one of the first carried east by the pony express. The Civil War came on and in January, 1863, the mother and her boys, one of them the subject of this sketch,' left for California, sailing on the steamer Northern Light from New York in February. The steamer made a long detour to avoid the privateer Alabama, then feared on the high seas, and reached the Isthmus safely. They came up to San Francisco on the Sonora, arriving in Stockton March 14, 1863. They went direct to Woodbridge, near where John N. had taken up homesteads for himself and his mother

on the present site of Acampo. That section was heavily timbered and covered with chaparral, but the boys soon cleared the land. The next year, 1864, was dry and cattle died on every hand, food becoming scarce and very high. In 1869 the railroad was built through that section and the boys sold their wood to the company. They also chopped out the right of way for two and a half miles north of the river, for which they were paid $125, which to them was big money. In 1869 the boys started with their four- horse team over the Sierras to the White Pine min- ing section in Nevada, and here they made as much as fifty dollars a day, hauling rich ore to mills or shipping points, but the life was not to their liking, so after a few months they returned to California.

E. W. S. Woods later went to Butte County, hear- ing that the lands there offered good chances, and there his honesty and integrity won for him the back- ing of a bank president in Chico, who advanced him money for his farming operations, trusting him be- cause he was known to be honest and capable. "He's honest and will make his way in the world," this far- seeing banker declared, and he later made Mr. Woods his confidential agent to handle big business. The year 1876 brought bumper crops and Mr. Woods pros- pered, selling a section of good land for fifty dollars an acre. He then returned to Stockton, where his brother, John N. Woods, was well started on his way to wealth, being connected with the Farmers' Union there. The brothers then started their investments in lands. Among their purchases they bought a sec- tion of the Mitchell ranch near Modesto, picked up a half section east of Farmington, and were directed to Tulare County by George Crossmore, a wealthy local capitalist, who financed them in their purchase of 9,000 acres near the present city of Tulare, for $45,000.

In 1880 Mr. Woods moved to the Tulare lands with his family and there began the hard struggle that brought the brothers great wealth. There was then but one house between their place and Tulare Lake, but the plucky young farmer and his helpful wife made the best of their surroundings and brought the tract into marketable condition by the introduction of water, drilling some of the first artesian flowing wells in that county and used for irrigation. Six years later they had 1,000 acres. in alfalfa, a large herd of cattle and had enlarged their acreage to 14,000. Selling out to a Los Angeles syndicate, they paid back Mr. Crossmore his $45,000 and cleaned up $375,000, also selling their Modesto ranch for forty dollars an acre, just double what it had cost them.

In 1887 the Glasgow California Company owned the upper and middle divisions of Roberts Island, and after it was leveed Easton & Eldridge got an option on the 20,000 acres for thirty dollars an acre. The Woods brothers were promised a third of it, but were crowded out and finally had to buy separate tracts, securing 12,000 acres at forty-five dollars an acre. Later they bought the Gersbacher tract of 1,100 acres with the growing crops, and when harvested, the land cost them twenty-seven dollars an acre; they also then got 3,000 acres from the option holders, which, after the crops were sold, cost them eighteen dollars an acre, now easily worth $500 an acre. On March 22, 1893, the levees broke and the Woods brothers were broke but not discouraged, though they owed $120,000 on the property. When some bankers wanted to close them out, J. D. Peters of Stockton stood up in a

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bankers' conference and announced that he would give his check for any amount needed to carry John and "Smithy" Woods, and their credit was again established. Balfour Guthrie advanced them $40,000 and they bought the dredger Roberts Island and re- built the levees. They got no crops in 1893 nor in 1894, but in 1896 they sold their crops to Balfour Guthrie for $165,000 and the next year they received $130,000, thus making money fast, though they were paying $18,000 a year interest. That their judgment was well founded was shown by the fact that when Mr. Woods' will was filed, one tract of land on Rob- erts Island was appraised at $912,027.

After this life ran along smoothly for the plucky farmers, who were undaunted by disaster, and they amassed large fortunes through their foresight and industry. In December, 1900, when John N. Woods died, the brothers owned over 8,000 acres of farming lands in fine shape, a vineyard of 800 acres at Acampo, worth at least $500 an acre, besides other valuable properties, which were amicably divided between the heirs of John N. Woods and the surviving brother, E. W. S. Woods. .

Mr. Woods' first marriage united with him Miss Lydia Downing, who passed away in Acampo, and in Elliott, Cal., May 8, 1878, he was married to Alice M. Markle, born in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, a daughter of George and Sophronia (Springer) Markle, who were born respectively in Holland and Indiana. Coming to Pennsylvania as a young man the father later moved to Iowa where he met and married Miss Springer and engaged in the mercan- tile business in Keokuk until his death. Afterwards the mother and the children came to California via Panama, arriving in San Francisco in July, 1867. Mrs. Woods survives her husband making her home at 1109 North El Dorado Street, Stockton, surrounded by a large circle of friends, who hold her in high esteem for her many gracious qualities and her gen- erous spirit. Mr. Woods was also survived by a brother, A. J. Woods, of Stockton, and three sons, Lloyd H., Armand and Marcy Woods, the two former of Stockton, and the latter at Monterey. He also left two granddaughters, Mrs. Maria Park Grunsky and Alice Armand Woods, and a grandson, Lloyd Henry Woods.

Mr. Woods was a Knight Templar and 32nd de- gree Scottish Rite Mason as well as a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., in San Francisco, and a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. He was deeply interested in the cause of edu- cation and served as a member of the board of educa- tion for twelve years, being president of the board for six years of the time. He was president of the board of trustees of the Stockton high school while the building was being built and took a strong stand for the present location of the high school instead of close in where they would soon be crowded for room. Looking into the future they now have by his fore- sight four blocks of ground for the high school site. Mr. Woods, with his brother John N. Woods, was also largely interested in mining. Since his death Mrs. Woods, ably assisted by her sons, is looking after their large interests, the sons having the man- agement of the large ranches and vineyards. Through all the varied experiences of his interesting career, Mr. Woods had the confidence and respect of every one with whom he dealt and the universal commenda- tion as a man who had never done any one injury

nor ever taken advantage of a man in a trade, rather taking the worst in any deal in which he was con- cerned. Never sacrificing principle to personal expe- diency, he ever showed signal integrity of purpose, placing true valuations on men and affairs, and well deserving the high place he held in the community's esteem.

DENNIS BURNS .- The enviable distinction of being the oldest building contractor in point of serv- ice in Stockton is due Dennis Burns of 921 South California Street, who was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, on May 4, 1854, and came to this country in 1859 when his father brought his family, including the mother and two sons, to America. He was thus reared and educated in Greenwich, Conn., and in that town was apprenticed to the carpenter trade. He served under an experienced contractor, and he himself became an expert carpenter. In 1873, at the age of nineteen, he left home, and for two years he worked at his trade in Erie, Penn. Late in 1874, however, he pushed on West to San Francisco, and in the Bay city found work on the Grand Opera House, and later he was given employment in a planing mill there. After that he did contracting for himself, beginning in a small way; but finding things rather dull in San Francisco during the Centennial Year, he went inland to Stockton and took charge of the building of a house for L. Henderson, near Acampo; and since that time, he has been continu- ously active hereabouts, operating, always more and more extensively, not only in San Joaquin County, but erecting many building in Amador, Stanislaus, and Contra Costa counties.

In Stockton, Mr. Burns built the United States Hotel, the El Dorado School, the Weber Hall, St. Joseph's Home, (all save the last hospital) and re- modeled St. Mary's Church and added to it the spire. He also put up Dr. Asa Clark's residence in the State Hospital grounds, the Jackson school, the first City Pavilion, the Hickinbotham Block on East Market Street, and also the Hickinbotham residence, and many fine homes in the northern part of the city. He constructed the buildings for the Tesla Mines in Contra Costa County. He laid the timber in the Court House erected in 1890, and erected the County Jail on North San Joaquin Street, and was for two years superintendent of building of the San Joaquin County Jail, and built the San Joaquin County Pa- vilion. His work has always been first class, and it is not surprising that such has been his prosperity here that he now owns valuable real estate in Stock- ton, including four houses on the South side, which he himself built. He put up one of the finest resi- dences erected on the South side, having bought the lot from the late Captain Weber.

Mr. Burns was married at San Francisco in 1880 to Miss Mary Elizabeth Kelly, a native of Maine, and they have had ten children, seven of whom are still living. Catherine has become Mrs. Kerblow, and the mother of four children. Ana is Mrs. Murl. and the mother of two children. Maude is Mrs. Richmond, and she has one child. Georgie is Mrs. Springer, and she has one child, a son Sydney. The sons are: Edward; Robert, who was in the World War serving as a member of the Ninety-first Divi- sion, and he saw active service on the battlefields of France; Harry married Miss Clara Anderson, of San Francisco.

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MARTIN J. LUND .- With the wonderful trans- formation that has taken place in the Delta district of San Joaquin County the name of Martin J. Lund will ever be prominently associated, for he has been identified with this section for forty-seven years and no one has taken a more active interest in bringing it to its present high state of development. He was one of the first men to build levees in the Island district for the protection from floods of the rich peat lands which are today the most valuable and fertile farms in California.

A native of Sweden, Mr. Lund was born at Skane, November 9, 1851; his father was an educator as well as an attorney at law, so that Martin naturally received a good education. Later he apprenticed himself to learn the bricklayer's trade, working in this line until he was twenty-one. In 1873 he left his native land and came to Boston and after spend- ing some time in Michigan and Indiana he made his way to California in 1875 and was first employed on a farm in Contra Costa County, near Concord. In 1877 he came to Union Island, San Joaquin County, and since that time the history of this now fertile spot has been a part of his history, for he has been a leader in every step of its development. He also helped to develop Roberts Island, building the levees from the first shovelful, and assisted in making them higher and higher each year.

In 1883 Mr. Lund began farming on his own ac- count, leasing 500 acres which he devoted to wheat, using a header and stationary thresher; in 1888 he began using a steam thresher, enlarging his opera- tions from year to year until he was cultivating 6,000 acres on Union and Roberts islands, raising more than 100,000 sacks of wheat and barley a year. Form- erly he used 100 horses and mules in operating his large holdings but he has always been among the first to use any improved machinery and methods. He began using a combined harvester in 1892 and when the tractor came into use he had one of the first in California. His ranches are all equipped with the most modern machinery and all details of the ranch work are carried on in the most systematic manner, 75 to 100 practical harvest hands being em- ployed during the busy season. Mr. Lund is a man of original ideas which he puts into practice with gratifying results; he has had years of experience which has taught him that each season is different because of varied conditions and so he is always pre- pared to meet emergencies. His achievements have set a good example to others and his plans and ideas have been followed by many landowners because he has demonstrated practical results. Especially is this true of the levees, canals and irrigation ditches he has built which are modern in every respect. In 1896 Mr. Lund purchased 870 acres on Union Island and he has added to this until he now has 1,560 acres of rich land devoted to barley, wheat, potatoes, beans and many other staple products. During his long career as a rancher he has not always been on the winning side as a producer as he had many setbacks in the way of losses amounting to thousands of dol- lars, particularly from the heavy floods which broke through the levees a number of years. He showed his true stamina and courage at these times by as- sisting in rebuilding the levees higher and recuperat- ing his losses by raising larger crops. Besides his grain raising Mr. Lund devoted much time to raising

fine draft horses, having a number of splendid thor- oughbred Percherons.

On September 26, 1888, at Stockton, Mr. Lund was married to Miss Mary Moran, born at Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, the daughter of William and Han- nah Moran, worthy pioneer settlers of San Joaquin County, whose histories are found on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Lund have one son, John William Martin, who was educated in the public schools, St. Mary's College, and Heald's Business College, Stockton, and he is now associated with his father on the farm. He married Miss Anna Char- lotte Van Horn and they have two children, Martin Stanley and John William. For fourteen years Mr. Lund resided on Roberts Island, during most of which time he was associated with the Woods brothers in large farming operations, and he served as school trus- tee there. He was one of the organizers of the school district on Union Island and always a leader in mat- ters of education. Aside from being an eminently successful farmer Mr. Lund is a wide-awake booster for good roads. He has been an active worker for the proposed highway across Union Island and has given a sixty-foot right-of-way through his holdings to Old River, where a bridge connecting Clifton and Coney Islands is planned. In all matters that tend toward the upbuilding of this section he shows the same public-spirited interest and is one of the best- known men in the vicinity of Stockton. With his son he is a member of the Stockton Elks and in poli- tics he is a stanch Republican.

Mr. Lund aside from his country residence main- tains a home in Stockton from which place he super- intends his large affiars. He gives no small degree of credit for his remarkable success to his estimable wife who has always nobly encouraged and spurred him on in his ambition and aided him in every way to accomplish success. She is a woman of much culture and presides gracefully over their home, and both being liberal and kind-hearted take great delight in dispensing the good, true old-time Californian hos- pitality, so it is indeed a pleasure to have the privi- lege of visiting at their home.

GEORGE H. TINKHAM .- "I am what I am; what I might have been I know not," said Mr. Tink- ham to the writer when asked for a short sketch of his life. "My ancestors on my father's side were Scotch-English, and on my mother's side were Dutch. The Tinkhams were leading actors in the Revolu- tionary War and in the War of 1812. My mother and her parents were born in Boston, Mass., and there I was born, within sight of the Charleston bridge, in March, 1849." Mr. Tinkham says many a time has he played on Bunker Hill, and listened to the chimes of the historic Tremont Street Church. His father emigrated to California in May, 1849, and four years later, his wife, Mrs. Frances Baxter Tink- ham, with her two children, Francis Isadore and George H., joined him at Stockton, having come via Panama.

George H. attended the Stockton schools, A. H. Randall the teacher, until he was seventeen; there were no high schools at that time, and he later at- tended the San Jose State Normal for one term. He worked for his father in the City Market on Main Street, where now stands the Wonder. After some years spent in the market he says, "My brother Edgar took my place and I went roaming. During. the

A.J. Lund

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intervening years, up to a certain date I engaged in various occupations, among them ranching, sheep- herding, clerking in a grocery and a drug store, drove a street car, water sprinkling wagon, was editor of the Weekly Record, and occasionally a news-item writer for the Stockton Independent." While working in the butcher shop Mr. Tinkham says he became a member of the brass band, thirteen in number, he playing third E-flat tenor. It was the only brass band in the county and he declares he "had the time of his life playing at theatres, picnics, political meetings, serenades, celebrations, etc." While a member of the band and only eighteen years old, he voted for U. S. Grant for president, the Republican party let no votes get by then. He sang baritone from time to time in the Presbyterian, Congregational and Baptist churches. In November, 1876, he joined Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., of which his father was a charter member; fortunately he has never drawn a dollar in sick benefits; he joined Rainbow Lodge, No. 97, Daughters of Rebekah, in November, · 1895; and in 1915 was made a member of Stockton Lodge No. 391, Loyal Order of Moose. He was a member of the Stockton Guard, Capt. L. E. Lyon, and honorably discharged; was a member of the volunteer fire department, Eureka No. 2, until the arrival of the steam engine.

In giving his book-canvassing experience which led to his becoming a writer, Mr. Tinkham said, "In 1878 I was canvassing for a book, the 'Life of Bismarck,' entering a saloon one day, Barney Killion, a rollicking young Irishman who had known me since boyhood, was standing at the bar, lightly tap- ping me on the back, he exclaimed, 'Say, Tinkham, why don't you write the history of Stockton?' Like a streak of fire the same question flashed in my brain and after fourteen years of roaming I had found my occupation. I wrote the history and enjoyed every hour of its compilation, but it was a labor of love without any remuneration. In getting subscribers enough to pay the printer I obtained a paying posi- tion; this was the janitorship of the Weber School building. I had read one morning in the news items in the paper of the sudden death, by heart disease, of George Lemon, the janitor. Letting no grass grow under my feet I went to John Yardley, the grocer, on Weber Avenue, and one of the school trus- tees and said, 'I see that Mr. Lemon died last night and I would like the job.' 'Well, George, I guess you can have it.' 'Going upstairs to Mr. Lemon's bedroom, where that departed Christian soul lay upon the bed, Mr. Lemon took the schoolhouse keys from his pocket, and as usual, at nine o'clock that morning the schoolbell rang out. During the leisure hours of my school work and at various times later I com- piled the book, 'California Men and Events.'

"In 1907, while cleaning books in the public library, dressed in overalls and a checkered blouse, a pre- possessing young gentleman approached me and asked: 'Are you George Tinkham?' 'That's what they call me," I replied. 'I have been told that you would be a good person to write the history of San Joaquin County for our company.'" Mr. Tinkham answered with a good deal of hesitancy, and, making numerous excuses, tried to decline. Nevertheless he took on the job and completed a very satisfactory edition. In his own words, "I wrote that history; it was easy, as I had written historical sketches off and on for years for the Mail and Record. For the

Record, daily for the past six years I have been writ- ing, 'Twenty Years Ago Today' stuff. Since 1907, that same gentleman, H. A. Preston, has returned at various times and requested me to compile several histories for his company. During the many years I have worked at these tasks I have enjoyed my work; it not only has been a pleasure to me but to thousands who read my articles.

Then scatter the flowers where'er you go,

That friends and strangers all may know

The blessings of well-doing.' "

The following histories, all but the first two, were compiled for the Historic Record Company by Mr. Tinkham:

History of Stockton, 1880; The Half Century of Odd Fellowship, 1906; History of San Joaquin County, 1908; History of Monterey and San Benito County, 1910; History of Stanislaus County, 1921; History and Progress of San Joaquin County, 1923.

Mr. Tinkham states, "I have seen five deaths in the family group, but in the words of Jean Ingelow: 'We are all, all here, Father, mother, sister, brother, Each who hold the other dear, We are all, all here.'

We are not spiritists-my Grandmother Tinkham was a Spiritualist-but the remembrance of the loved one is deeply graven, on the tablet of memory. ‘We are all, all here.' "

MRS. AGNES STEINY FINKBOHNER .- A na- tive daughter of Stockton whose father was a '49er, is Mrs. Agnes Steiny Finkbohner; she is the daughter of Julius and Amelia (Seiffert) Steiny, natives of St. Petersburg, Russia, and Saxony, Germany, re- spectively. Julius Steiny came to the United States in 1845 and lived in Baltimore, Maryland; he served on the American ship Congress during the Mexican War under Commodore Stockton of the U. S. Navy. He was discharged at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1848, and came around the Horn to California in December. 1849; he engaged in the shipping business with Henry Fiske on the San Joaquin River until 1853; in 1856 Miss Amelia Seiffert came via the Horn to California and in 1861 she was married to Julius Steiny in Stockton. Two children were born to them, Theodore died December 25, 1922, leaving two sons, Homer Julius .Steiny of San Francisco, and Loomis F. of Stockton; and Agnes, the subject of this sketch. Julius Steiny became an influential citizen of Stock- ton and for seven years was county assessor and later city clerk of Stockton; he died at the age of sixty-three, honored by all who knew him; his wife passed away at the age of seventy-three.

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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 67

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