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 68

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 68

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Agnes Steiny received her education in the gram- mar and high schools of Stockton. On August 31. 1892, in Stockton, she was united in marriage with George Finkbohner, also a native son of California, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Kuhn) Finkbohner, early settlers of California, arriving about 1853. Jacob Finkbohner engaged in business in Stockton and his son George was reared and educated in that city and today is one of Stockton's influential business men. Three sons have been born to them; Theodore is chief clerk of the Southern Pacific Railroad division office of the Stockton division; George is assistant cashier of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Bank; Otto is a farmer.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

HON. CHARLES WILLIS NORTON .- In the enumeration of the men of the present generation who have won honor for themselves and at the same time have honored the state to which they belonged, distinct recognition is accorded Hon. Charles Willis Norton, for he was one of the distinguished citizens of California and figured prominently in the affairs of state and county. He was a native son of Cali- fornia and among those who knew him from his youth up, he won the recognition which is only ac- corded to sterling worth and upright American man- hood. He was born on his father's ranch near Lodi, San Joaquin County, July 18, 1861, a son of Oscar O. and Maria Julia (Elliott) Norton, born in New York and New Hampshire, respectively. The American branch of the Norton family was represented by Thomas Norton, who came from Ackley, County Surrey, England, in 1639, and settled at Guilford, Conn. Ebenezer Norton, an ancestor of our subject, was a colonel in the Revolutionary War and was a member of the general assembly of Connecticut, and Medad Norton, a brother of Mr. Norton's paternal great-grandfather, was a soldier and fifer in the Rev- olutionary War.

The father, Oscar O. Norton, was reared in his native county of Schuyler, N. Y., receiving his educa- tion in the public schools and at Starkey Academy. In his twenty-third year, he went to Illinois, where he remained until 1859 when he started for Califor- nia, coming via the Isthmus of Panama and arriving in San Francisco on July 15, and that same year he settled in San Joaquin County, where he followed carpentering until 1864, when he went to farming about ten miles from Stockton. He farmed this place for many years, then the ranch was purchased by our subject and in 1881, the father purchased an- other ranch, where he made his home until 1903 when he located in Stockton. By his own efforts and able management this ranch was brought to a high state of cultivation and was regarded as one of the best in the country. On October 4, 1860, Oscar O. Norton was married to Miss Maria J. Elliott, who, with her parents crossed the plains to California in 1858 and settled near the ranch later owned by Mr. Norton. They were the parents of three children: Charles Willis, Mrs. Alice E. Hurd, and Arthur L.

Charles Willis Norton grew to manhood on the farm and attended the public schools of the county and was graduated from the Stockton high school; later he took up the study of law in Mr. Minor's office in Stockton, and in 1896 was admitted to the bar. While studying law he was elected public ad- ministrator of San Joaquin County. From 1899 to 1902 he was deputy district attorney for the county and from 1906 to 1916 he was district attorney, his most famous case being the trunk murder mystery known as the Le Deux case, and it is the consensus of opinion that Judge Norton was the leading crimi- nal lawyer in the county. Elected Judge of the Su- perior Court, he served until he resigned on account of ill health. In his twenty-sixth year, Judge Norton planted a vineyard on the home place near Lodi and as the years went by he became one of the leading viticulturists of that section, owning and operating one of the largest vineyards of the district. In part- nership with Mr. Angier, under the firm name of Norton & Angier, he conducted a general fruit ship- ping business.

Near Lodi, on January 1, 1885, Judge Norton was married to Miss Nellie F. Staples, also a native of San Joaquin County, the only child of Capt. John F. and Mary Emma (Simpson) Staples, natives of Mary- land and Missouri, respectively, who crossed the plains to California in early days. Captain Staples located at Staples Ferry, established by his brother, D. J. Staples, and there he was married to Miss Mary Emma Simpson. He was a captain in the Civil War and came of Mayflower stock. Some years after Mr. Staples' death, his widow married Dr. J. L. Sar- gent, a prominent physician, and later a successful cattleman in this county. Dr. Sargent has passed away, but Mrs. Sargent makes her home with Mrs. Norton. Judge and Mrs. Norton were the parents of four children: Oscar Sargent served in the tank corps in France during the World War, now in charge of his mother's ranches; Lillian is Mrs. Eric Brandstad, wife of a successful rancher; Sylvia is the wife of Brace R. Davis of San Francisco; and Willis S. is deceased. Judge Norton gave no small degree of credit for his success to his faithful wife who so bravely encouraged him in his ambition to reach the highest place in his profession, as well as aiding him in his business enterprises by her able co-operation and counsel. Judge Norton rose to the highest office in the gift of the people of the county, that of Judge of the Superior Court, and all of his decisions, while on the bench, were fair and he was faithful to every case committed to his charge. He spent his whole life in San Joaquin County and was well known and highly esteemed throughout the state.

Judge Norton was very prominent in fraternal or- ders, being a member of Lodi Lodge No. 250, F. & A. M .; Stockton Chapter, No. 28, R. A. M .; Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T .; Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco; Lodi Chapter No. 150, O. E. S .; Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E .; and Stock- ton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W. He was the recipient of many honors in fraternal circles, having served one year as illustrious master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters and one term ås grand high priest of the Grand Chapter, R. A. M., of the state of California. In politics he was a stanch adhe- rent of the Republican party platform and his reli- gious views were that of the Congregational Church. He was the founder of the First National Bank of Lodi and served as a director; he was also a director in the Lodi Investment Company, owners and build- ers of Hotel Lodi and the Lodi theater building. Judge Norton passed away on July 11, 1918, and since his death, Mrs. Norton has planted more land to grapes, so that there is now 360 acres under culti- vation. Well known throughout California, where his entire life was spent, Judge Norton took great pride in the achievements of the state, in its marked and rapid progress, and he was numbered among those who always upheld its professional status.

The remarks of George F. McNoble speaking for the court out of respect to the memory of the late Judge C. W. Norton are as follows: "If the court please, it is with deep regret and genuine sorrow that we are called upon this day to learn of the passing of our late distinguished brother, Judge C. W. Nor- ton. Although his death has been daily expected, his departure is none the less keenly deplored. Few men of his time, in our midst, have been more univer- sally respected, honored and admired than he. High

b.H. Notons

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

honors and public favors fell to his lot and more than this, was the great personal respect in which he was held by all the people. He won and held the esteem of all classes of men by his probity of character, his even-handed fairness and his uniform courtesy. It was his good fortune not only to be honest in all his dealings with men, but also to have all men believe in his sense of justice and honor. As an advocate and public prosecutor, he showed great poise and absolute fairness and often won by the very faith that men had in him, without waiting to scan too closely the complex details of the case. As a judge, he went on the bench in middle life with a mind ripened and broadened by varied experiences and from the very beginning he won and held the esteem and admiration of the bench, bar and litigants gener- ally, by the calmness and fairness with which he dis- posed of the business of the court. While not quick to make new acquaintances, or to ingratiate himself into the favor of men, yet he had the quiet faculty of earning the respect of all whom he met and of re- taining that respect untarnished throughout his life- time. In early life he had the practical experience of . the field and farm. He served one term as public administrator, one term as an assistant in the district attorney's office, one term as head of that office and the last ten years of his active life were spent on the bench. Scarcely has it fallen the good lot of any man to have gone through as much of combat and of struggle in times of strenuous opposition, both professionally and politically and to have come out of the fight with a character unassailed and a reputa- tion unblemished. His sympathies were many sided. He enjoyed athletics even until late in life and par- ticipated in many helpful games. As a traveler, he spent his vacations in tramping through the high Sierras and was very familiar indeed with the beau- ties of California's mountains and valleys. As a farmer and grape grower he was a success and the products of his vineyard sold with his name on the outside of the boxes without interior inspection, in foreign markets. In a fraternal way, he was unusu- ally honored and if his life had not been cut short, it is clearly within the line of truth to say that no man in the state scarcely would have held more fra- ternal honors. However, it was a jurist and arbiter of the disputes of men, that he won his most signal honors. It is safe to say that no man within our memory had a better all-round equipment for judging and deciding the disputes of mankind coming into court, more fairly than he. He had the friendship of all the members of the bar and more than that he had the respect based upon the appreciation of his genuine merits." He was an honored member of the American, State, and San Joaquin County Bar asso- ciations.

ROLEY E. WILHOIT .- The genealogy of the Wilhoit family is traced to Germany, but its first representative in America crossed the ocean during the colonial history of our country and settled in Vir- ginia, where several generations lived and labored with a fair degree of success. Following the trend of emigration toward the unsettled wilderness of the West, the family pushed across the mountains to Kentucky in an early day and aided in the agricultural development of that commonwealth. Julius and Lucy (Ewell) Wilhoit, parents of Roley E., were born, reared and married in Virginia, but while still young

they became pioneers of Kentucky and from there moved to Illinois, settling in Edgar County. By dint of the utmost frugality and indefatigable energy they accumulated large holdings and acquired the title to about 800 acres of farm land. Among their eight children was a son, J. Y., who enlisted in the Union army at the opening of the Civil War and took part in various engagements until he fell into the hands of the enemy, later dying in Andersonville prison.

While still quite young, Roley E. Wilhoit accom- panied his parents from Jefferson County, Ky., where he was born March 1, 1830, to Edgar County, Ill., where he attended a country school and an academy. After leaving the home farm he clerked in a drug store for a time. On hearing of the discovery of gold he determined to emigrate to California and began to make plans for that purpose. With nearly one hundred young men from various parts of the coun- try, in 1850, he outfitted for the trip across the plains, and in May started from St. Joseph, Mo., arriving at Hangtown, Calif., on August 8. After mining there for a short time, Mr. Wilhoit proceeded to Moke- lumne Hill, where he worked in the mines during the winter, and in the spring went to Jackson, Amador County, later to Folsom, mining at Willow Springs for a time.

Arriving at Stockton May 8, 1852, Mr. Wilhoit se- cured employment on a ranch and in the fall began to haul freight to the southern mines. On account of the high water he was forced to convey his goods to French Camp by boat and there he loaded them on wagons for the remainder of the trip. For nine years he was engaged in freighting and teaming. During the last six years he had a partner and the firm of Bostwick & Wilhoit conducted a large business in their line. During 1861 Mr. Wilhoit was elected county recorder and this position he filled by suc- cessive elections until March, 1868, when he embarked in the abstract, conveyancing and real estate business. From small proportions the business has grown until it ranks with the largest of its kind in this part of the state. The business was conducted alone by Mr. Wilhoit for eighteen years, when he took his two sons into partnership; still later the Wilhoit Abstract & Title Company was incorporated, with the three mem- bers of the family and Messrs. Taylor and Comstock. It is now known as the San Joaquin County Ab- stract Company.

Mr. Wilhoit was one of the organizers of the Stockton Savings & Loan Society, now the Stockton Savings & Loan Bank, was a member of its original board of directors and many years ago was elected its president, serving for six years, when he resigned on account of his health, and his son, E. L. Wilhoit, succeeded him. Mr. Wilhoit, however, continued as a director and a member of the finance committee and it was while attending a meeting of this committee in the bank that he was stricken by death.

Interested in all movements for the welfare of the city and county, Mr. Wilhoit was one of the organ- izers and a prominent member of the Pioneers' Society; from 1872 to 1878 he served as a member of the county board of supervisors, being chairman of the board for two years, and from 1870 to 1873 was a councilman, and chairman of that board for two years. After his election to the board of education of Stockton he was chosen president of that body and filled the post with efficiency and fidelity to the inter- ests of the schools. As early as 1859 he became iden-

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tified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in 1869 was made a Mason and was one of the oldest members of the Knights of Pythias. He was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church and vestryman for many years, and he was the oldest in point of service of any senior warden in California.

Mr. Wilhoit's first marriage took place in Stockton October 7, 1861, uniting him with Miss Delia Dwelly, who was born in Maine in 1844 and died in Stockton January 14, 1872. Three sons and a daughter sur- vived her: George E., deceased; Eugene L., and Arthur and Alice, twins. The latter was the wife of Judge George Buck and she is now deceased. The second marriage of Mr. Wilhoit took place in Stock- ton December 11, 1873, and united him with Miss Janet French Tilton, who was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, in 1849. She passed away July 21, 1911. Three children were born of this union, a son who died at the age of six years, and two daughters, Mary Wilhoit Hodgkins and Elsie Wilhoit Hodgkins, both of Stockton. Mr. Wilhoit passed away June 21, 1922, having reached the age of ninety-two years and four months, his death closing an eventful career full of accomplishment, his labors playing no small part in the progress brought about through the span of his residence of seventy years in Stockton.

GEORGE EWELL WILHOIT .- A native-born son of Stockton who spent almost his entire life there, George Ewell Wilhoit occupied a high place among the leading business and professional men of the city of his birth. A stanch supporter of all move- ments for the community's good and intelligently interested in public affairs, he was of the type of citi- zenship valuable in the progress of any city and nec- essary to the rise of any commonwealth. He was the eldest son of Roley E. Wilhoit, whose parents, Julius and Lucy (Ewell) Wilhoit, were born, reared and married in Virginia, where forebears of the fam- ily had settled in the early Colonial days. Soon after their marriage, Julius Wilhoit and his wife became pioneers of Kentucky and from there moved to Illinois, settling in Edgar County, where they ac- cumulated large land holdings.

Roley E. Wilhoit, who was born in Jefferson County, Ky., March 1, 1830, when quite young ac- companied his parents to Edgar County, Ill., where he attended the country schools and an academy. On hearing of the discovery of gold in California, with nearly a hundred young men he started across the plains in May, 1850, and on August 8, they reached Hangtown. After spending some time in the mines at various localities, he arrived at Stockton May 8, 1852, and in the fall began to haul freight to the Southern mines, continuing in this business for nine years. In 1861 he was elected county recorder and this position he filled until 1868, when he embarked in the abstract, conveyancing and real estate busi- ness, which grew until it ranked with the largest in this part of the state. This he eventually incorpor- ated as the Wilhoit Abstract and Title Company. Always a leader, Mr. Wilhoit was prominent in pub- lic affairs and served as a member of the board of supervisors and as president of the board of educa- tion. He was probably the best informed man on land values in San Joaquin County. He passed away June 21, 1922, at the age of ninety-two years and four months.

The eldest son of R. E. and Delia (Dwelly) Wil- hoit, the latter a native of Machias, Maine, George

Ewell Wilhoit was born at Stockton March 17, 1863, and after attending the grammar and high schools, took a course in the Stockton Business College. In 1881, on account of impaired health, he went to the Hawaiian Islands and while there was with the bank- ing house of Bishop & Company. After two years he returned to Stockton restored to health and be- came associated with his father in business. The abstract and real estate business of R. E. Wilhoit was founded in 1868, and on May 1, 1886, his sons, George E. and Eugene L., were admitted as partners, the firm becoming R. E. Wilhoit & Sons, continuing under that title until the incorporation of the business at the Wilhoit Abstract and Title Company. Him- self an expert in perfecting titles, Mr. Wilhoit be- came vice-president of the company and displayed unusual ability in guiding the policies of its responsi- ble activities.

On October 2, 1890, Mr. Wilhoit was married to Miss Jessie Lee Woods, the daughter of one of San Joaquin County's honored pioneers, John Newton Woods, and one son was born to them, John Newton Wilhoit. Prominent in the life of the community, Mr. Wilhoit was associated with the Pioneer Society, Native Sons of the Golden West, the Elks and the Odd Fellows. While still in the prime of life he was taken from the scene of earthly activities, passing away at Long Beach, where he had gone for a rest from business cares, on March 15, 1921. All who knew him held him in the highest regard for the sterling worth of his character and his death was deeply felt in his native city, where he had been a leader for many years.

MRS. JESSIE LEE WILHOIT .- Belonging to the third generation of California pioneer forebears, Mrs. Jessie Lee Wilhoit is a representative of the Woods family who were prominently identified with the upbuilding and development of San Joaquin County and who left to their descendants not only a rich legacy of lands and material wealth but those sturdy and noble traits of character that are the foundation of all true development. Her parents were John Newton and Annie Victoria (Farmer) Woods, the former a native of Indiana who came to California via Panama in 1857, while .Mrs. Woods, who was born in Missouri, made the journey across the plains with her parents in 1859. Both parents are now deceased and a detailed sketch of their lives will be found on another page of this history.

Mrs. Wilhoit was born at Acampo, San Joaquin County, the site of this town being part of the 320 acre ranch which her father purchased in 1858, the year following his arrival in California, and this with additional land which he purchased, remained the family home until 1877. Since she was about ten years of age, Mrs. Wilhoit has been a resident of Stockton and here she received her early education, later attending Mills Seminary at Oakland, where she graduated in 1887. On October 2, 1890, she was united in marriage with George Ewell Wilhoit, whose father, R. E. Wilhoit, was one of Stockton's prominent pioneer business men. George E .- Wilhoit rose to a high place in Stockton's business and pro- fessional circles but his successful career was cut short by his demise on March 15, 1921, while taking a much-needed rest at Long Beach, Cal. Mr. and - Mrs. Wilhoit were the parents of one son, John Newton Wilhoit, who since discharging his patriotic

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duties in the service of his country during the World War has become a successful bond broker at San Francisco.

On the death of her father, John Newton Woods, Mrs. Wilhoit and her sister took charge of his large estate and has devoted much of her time to looking after the large interests left her. She finds time, however, to take an active part in civic and social affairs, and is a member of the board of managers of the Children's Home, a director of the Day Nur- sery and the Philomathean Club, a member of the Eastern Star, president of the Mills Club of Stockton, and she also belongs to the Civic Center Club in San Francisco which numbers 2500 women as its members.

In point of the number of years of membership she is the oldest member of Grace Methodist Epis- copal Church of Stockton. In his will John Newton Woods left a legacy for a new building for this church and Mrs. Wilhoit with her sister added liber- ally to this and carried out the provisions faithfully and with much capability, following in the footsteps of her esteemed father in demonstrating her ability to handle large affairs.

Aside from having traveled extensively throughout the United States Mrs. Wilhoit has traveled much in Europe. In 1908, with her husband and son, she spent two months on a Mediterranean cruise, taking in Egypt, Algeria, the Holy Land, Malta, Sicily, Greece, the Canal Zone and Panama, and also a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Cultured and talented, Mrs. Wilhoit is a well traveled and well read woman and is indeed an interesting conversationalist.

JOHN NEWTON WILHOIT .- Representing the fourth generation of California pioneers on the maternal side and the third on the paternal, John Newton Wilhoit can well look back with pride on the achievements of his forebears in the part they played in the early days in the upbuilding and devel- opment that has transformed San Joaquin County from a wilderness to a garden spot. Born on August 12, 1892, he is the son of George Ewell and Jessie Lee (Woods) Wilhoit, and the grandson of Roley E. Wilhoit and John Newton Woods, more extensive life histories of these pioneer families being found elsewhere in this volume.

Reared in his native city of Stockton, Mr. Wilhoit attended the public schools there, supplemented with a course at Belmont Military Academy. When the United States entered the world conflict, he enlisted with the American Ambulance Corps and went over- seas, serving with his unit until ill-health forced him to return to California. After his recovery he again enlisted and was stationed at Camp Lewis until his health again became impaired, when he entered the secret service of his country, serving in this depart- ment of activity until the close of the war. He then gave his attention to looking after his vineyard near Lodi and his city property, being half owner of the Douglass-Wilhoit Building. Later he established himself in the bond brokerage business at San Fran- cisco, where he has met with splendid success in handling high grade bonds and securities.

Mr. Wilhoit's first marriage was to Miss Merle R. Gossett and to them was born a son, Douglass Woods Wilhoit. His second marriage united him with Mrs. Ethel Nixon of San Francisco and they are now trav- eling in Europe. Mr. Wilhoit is a member of Grace

Methodist Church, Stockton; he is also a member of the Anteros Club and on account of his pioneer an- cestors is a member of the San Joaquin County Pio- neers. He is a well-traveled young man having been with his parents on their Mediterannean cruise as well as their trip to Continental Europe and Eng- land. He also made a trip around the world and has visited the West Indies besides traveling extensively over the Western Hemisphere.

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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 68

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