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 69

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 69

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J. M. KILE .- A successful practicing lawyer of Stockton and a Californian by birth, J. M. Kile was born on his father's ranch near Thornton, San Joa- quin County, on February 16, 1865, and is the son of Joseph and Katherine (Hardesty) Kile, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. In 1849 Joseph Kile crossed the plains to California and after a short stay in the mines in the year of 1850 took up a Government claim near Thornton which was devoted to cattle raising and grain farming. In 1873 he removed to Stockton where he spent the remainder of his days. He was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and was a mem- ber of the San Joaquin Pioneer Society, and was also a Mexican War veteran. During the early days of his residence on the ranch he erected a house which was considered in those days very fine, and it is still standing. This old home place is still in the posses- sion of the family and is probably the oldest ranch in the county, founded over seventy years ago, to remain in the possession of the descendants of its original owner. This ranch consists of 750 acres, about 700 acres of which is owned by our subject and the remaining portion by Joseph Horton, his son.

J. M. Kile was educated in the Stockton grammar and high schools; then entered Vanderbilt Uni- versity at Nashville, Tenn., graduating in law with the class of 1886. Returning to Stockton he began the practice of his profession and is now one of the pioneer attorneys of Stockton.

The marriage of Mr. Kile in Tennessee united him with Miss Rachel Horton, a native of that state and a granddaughter of Ex-Governor Cannon, and they are the parents of one son, Joseph Horton Kile, a graduate of Stanford University, who has erected a fine house on the portion of the ranch owned by him, where he resides. Sixty acres of this ranch is de- voted to orchard and vineyard and some 500 acres is rented out as a dairy and alfalfa ranch. The family have always been active members of the Methodist Church South and for many years Mr. Kile was a member of the board of stewards. He is a member of Stockton Parlor, N. S. G. W., is a director in the Roberts Island Dredging Company and the Yosemite Theater Company. The latter company erected the Yosemite building and theater. He is also a member of the San Joaquin County Pioneer Society.

MRS. HANNAH STURTEVANT GEFFROY .- Numbered among the honored pioneers of San Joa- quin County is Mrs. Hannah Sturtevant Geffroy, who came to California via the Panama route in 1864 and since 1875 has been a continuous resident of the county. She has witnessed the growth and develop- ment of the Lodi section of the county from a wil- derness of underbrush and timber to the present high state of cultivation and prosperity. Mrs. Geffroy is a native daughter of New England, her birth having occurred in North Abington, Mass., Decem- ber 12, 1849, a daughter of George and Susannah

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(Shaw) Hammond. The Hammond family dates back to 1634, when the first of the name came to America on the ship Griffin, and from Benjamin Hammond are descended men and women prominent and influential in the early days of Massachusetts. There were eight children in the family: Delia, Mrs. D. J. Locke, residing in Lockeford; Susan, Mrs. Geo. Locke, deceased; Roland, deceased; Dr. Josiah Hammond of Butte, Mont .; Horace, deceased; Mrs. Geffroy, the subject of this sketch; Clara, deceased; John C. Hammond of Lockeford. The entire family of children were born in the same house in North Abington, Mass. The paternal grandmother, Han- nah Sturtevant, after whom our subject was named, lived to be ninety-one years old, while the father of our subject lived to be almost ninety years old and the mother died at the age of sixty-five. The family came to California at different times, then the father returned to the Massachusetts home and brought the remaining three children to California in 1864 via Panama. The ship which took them to Panama was convoyed against attack from the rebel naval vessels. The father leased the Staples ranch at Lockeford, where he farmed for a number of years.

On March 17, 1867, on the Staples ranch near Lockeford, in a house that was brought around the Horn in sections, occurred the marriage of Miss Hannah Sturtevant Hammond and Thomas Bush Geffroy, born April 4, 1832, in Newport, R. I. His father passed away when he was eight years old. Mr. Geffroy was trained for West Point and received his appointment, but it was at the time of the great gold excitement so instead he joined a party of seven and bought and stocked a vessel to come to California around the Horn and arrived in San Fran- cisco in 1849, where the party disposed of the vessel and went to the mines. However, Mr. Geffroy's success in the mining venture lasted but a short time, then he went to Monterey County, where he became prominent in the political circles of the county and was a member of the first legislature of California that convened at San Jose and Mrs. Geffroy has preserved the manuscripts of his work in that body. For many years Mr. Geffroy was county clerk of Monterey County; he also served as deputy sheriff of the county and was translator in the courts of the county, translating the grants from French and Span- ish to the English language. His health gave away and he was forced to seek an outdoor life and en- gaged in the stock business, first in Monterey Coun- ty, then in San Joaquin County, where he met Miss Hammond. The family resided in the vicinity of Lockeford for a few years, where Mr. Geffroy rented railroad land for stockraising and where their three oldest children were born; then the family removed to Oakland, and made their home for five years; then they moved back to San Joaquin County, in 1875, where they have continuously resided. Mr. Geffroy purchased a fifteen-acre ranch one-half mile west of Lodi on the Sargent Road, where he engaged in farming for thirty-two years, or until his death on July 7, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Geffroy were the parents of eight children: Mabel, Mrs. C. F. Walker of Yreka, Cal., has one daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Otis of Oakland, and she has three children-Geraldine, Wilbur, and Glen; Carrie, Mrs. E. J. Thomas, also of Oakland; Bertha, Mrs. Leslie Dye, resides in Lodi

and has three children-Charles, Edna, and Eleanor; Arthur died in 1877, aged three years; Susie, Mrs. W. W. Hubbard of Stockton, has two children- Wilma and Wayne; Amos died at birth, and his twin Amy, is Mrs. Emmitt Gordon, who resides in Acampo and has five children-Dorothy, Kenneth, Neil, Joyce and Barbara; Ralph Geffroy resides in New York. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Geffroy has made her home in Lodi at 221 West Elm Street, and she is an esteemed member of the Con- gregational Church in Lodi and is the oldest in mem- bership of that organization.

WILLIAM J. ZIEGLER .- On May 15, 1853, Wil- liam J. Ziegler, the subject of this sketch, was born in Wudenberg, Germany. About two years later, the news of California's far-famed gold discovery having reached them, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Jacob Ziegler, decided to seek their fortune in this great ven- ture of the West and with their children, started for America, coming around the Horn in a sailing ves- sel as so many of the early pioneers did, landing in San Francisco some months later. From San Francisco, they made their way to Sonora and Jamestown and there near the old Sullivan Creek, they established their little home. Here the father tried his luck at mining, at first very successful, but later failing in the venture, he decided to bring his family to Stockton, where he might return to his former business, that of a tanner, which business he followed until his death in the winter of 1904. It was about the year 1868, when Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler established their little family, consisting of William J. Ziegler, Mrs. Louise Meyers, August Ziegler, Mrs. Emma Held (now deceased) and Mrs. Sophia Chance, in the old family home, the site of which is now occupied by the Holt Manufacturing Company.

Being anxious to follow the tanning business, both August and William Ziegler entered the employ of the Wagner Company that year. August Ziegler's health breaking down, he gave up the business, but William J. Ziegler being interested, zealous and in- dustrious, continued to learn the business with all of its details. With the exception of a few years spent in a tannery at Santa Cruz, Mr. Ziegler worked con- tinuously for the Wagner interests until a few months before his death. In July, 1918, when the big fire destroyed a greater portion of the Wagner Leather Company plant, Mr. Ziegler was severely injured in the heroic effort to prevent the firemen and other volunteers entering a dangerous section of the burn- ing building and in an attempt to protect the com- pany's tanning liquors by the closing of certain valves. This was the inception of his frail health, which led him to retire in March, 1920, from active duties. On March 17th, 1920, his beloved wife passed away and grief over this loss, together with com- plications which set in, brought on his death, in Santa Cruz, on July 19th, 1920.

On May 5th, 1885, Mr. Ziegler married Elizabeth Charters, born in Stockton, and to them were born the following children, Fred, Lottie, Oscar William, Mrs. Arthur C. Hannigan and Mrs. Clinton E. Spen- cer,, all residents of Stockton. In the earlier days of Stockton, Mr. Ziegler was prominently identified with the Volunteer Fire Department. For thirty- five years he was prominent in the I. O. O. F., being a past noble grand of Stockton Lodge No. 11, and he was a member of the old Turnverein of Stockton.

J. J. Geoff

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

FRANK DYCKMAN COBB .- Among Stockton's most successful business men, whose time and ener- gies were devoted to its permanent improvement both in its commercial and civic advancement, was Frank Dyckman Cobb, one of the city's most public-spirited citizens and his passing away on May 9, 1919, re- moved from its activities a stanch supporter of all the community's forward movements. Mr. Cobb was a native of Michigan, born in Kalamazoo on May 1, 1849, the son of Samuel P. and Prudence (Dyckman) Cobb, both representatives of old Eastern families, the father a native of Vermont, while Mrs. Cobb was born in New York, in Onondaga County, on October 9, 1828. After her husband's death, on November 26, 1852, she became the wife of Marshall Hale and passed away in California in January, 1907.

Frank D. Cobb was educated in the public schools of his native state and at Hillsdale College, Mich. At the age of nineteen he entered the bank of his grandfather, E. B. Dyckman, at Schoolcraft, Mich., where he obtained a training that was of value to him in later years. Later he became a partner of his stepfather, Marshall Hale, in a general store at Schoolcraft, under the name of Hale & Cobb. In 1872 he bought out Mr. Hale's interest and went into business with W. B. Cobb, and later he was asso- ciated with his brother-in-law, O. H. Barnhart, under the name of Barnhart & Cobb, carrying on a store, lumber yard and a 200-acre farm.

In 1878, Frank D. Cobb disposed of his extensive interests in Michigan and came to San Jose, Cal., where his stepfather and mother and their six chil- dren had preceded him in 1875. In 1879 he became a partner in the firm of O. A. Hale & Company, which has since been incorporated under the name of Hale Bros., Inc. In 1884 Mr. Cobb located in Sacramento as manager of Hale Bros., and in the fall of 1885 he came to Stockton as manager of the company's thriving establishment here, and at once became identified with the city's progressive element. As one of the organizers, with O. A. Hale, of the Commercial Savings Bank of Stockton, Mr. Cobb had an important place in guiding the financial affairs of this city and he occupied the office of vice-president from its organization until his death.

Besides his mercantile and banking interests, Mr. Cobb was the owner of a valuable tract of thirty-one and a half acres of the old Shippee place on Chero- kee Lane, and here he developed a fine orchard and vineyard. Fine horses were his particular hobby and he owned some fine trotting and driving stock, in which he took great pride and pleasure. He was appointed by Governor James Budd as a member of the State Agricultural Society and was active at the annual State Fair held in Sacramento in the days when trotting and pacing events were the chief at- traction. An excellent judge of horses, he frequently acted as judge in the races held at Stockton by the San Joaquin County Fair Association.

In Schoolcraft, Mich., Mr. Cobb was married to Miss Hattie Myers, a native of that state, and the daughter of Henry B. and Mary Ann (Randall) Myers, old Eastern families of Holland Dutch and French descent, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb became the parents of two children: Boyd S., who lives in Los Angeles, is married and has one daugh- ter; Mrs. Carra Prentis Cobb Giesea of Oakland is the mother of four children. Mr. Cobb was promi-

nent in Masonry and was a member of San Joaquin Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M., Stockton Chapter R. A. M., Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T., Islam Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco, and he was a charter member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. Mr. Cobb was a man of a very pleasing per- sonality and endowed by nature with much business acumen, coupled with a generous and kind disposi- tion, he was very helpful to the needy and many worthy families in need received generous help from him. However, all his benefactions were accom- plished in an unostentatious manner. These traits made him greatly loved by all who knew him and his passing left a void in the community that could not be filled. A splendid type of citizen, Mr. Cobb loved Stockton and always predicted its great future, and the influence of his upright life will ever make itself felt. Mrs. Cobb continues to carry on her husband's charities as far as she is able and in her modest and quiet way still makes her home at the Cobb residence, 430 North Sutter Street, where she is surrounded by a large circle of devoted friends, who appreciate her many attributes of mind and heart.

FORNIA S. CURTIS .- To the honor of being a native of the beautiful state of California Fornia S. Curtis adds the distinction of being the son of one of the state's sturdy pioneers, Bradner Curtis, who survived thirty-two years after locating here, yet lived to see many marvelous strides in civilization and to enjoy many of its benefits. He was born on the parental homestead in San Joaquin County, May 26, 1859, the youngest of four children born to Brad- ner and Kezia (Benton) Curtis, both natives of New York. Fornia S. Curtis was educated in the schools of his native county and remained at home assisting with the care and responsibility of the home ranch until his father's death in 1881. In 1882 the prop- erty was divided and Mr. Curtis raised grain on his and his mother's portion for a few years, then he raised garden truck on his share until he leased it for that same purpose and came to town. He still owns thirty-five acres of the old homestead which is farmed to truck produce and he is living in Stockton practically retired from active business cares.

On February 8, 1893, Mr. Curtis was married to Miss Trinnie M. Helmer, a native of San Francisco. born October 29, 1873, the daughter of William and Trinnie Helmer, natives of Canada and San Jose, Cal., respectively. Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis; Benton F. is a prom- inent Odd Fellow, being a past noble grand of Truth Lodge No. 55; past patriarch of Parker En- campment and a member of Canton Ridgley; he is a mechanical draftsman with the Stockton Iron Works; he married Miss Harriet Glover, a native of Stockton; Vernon W., the second son, is secretary of Meisner & Sons, Sacramento, a large manufac- turing firm; he married Miss Frances McConlogue, born in Benicia, and they have one daughter, June Frances; Helmer B. is office manager for the Na- tional Cash Register Company in Stockton; he mar- ried Miss Hazel Allen of Healdsburg, Cal. In his political sentiments, Fornia S. Curtis is a Democrat, but notwithstanding this he never lets party lines prevent him from voting for the best candidate for the office in question. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church and has ever adhered to

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its teachings, and with his family is a communi- cant of St. John's Episcopal Church at Stockton, and one of its stanchest supporters, Mrs. Curtis is a member of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. and the Woman's Relief Corps G. A. R. Personally Mr. Curtis is a man of much worth, integrity and earnestness of purpose, and through- out San Joaquin County, where his entire life has been spent, he is esteemed as one of its best citizens.

HON. CHARLES LAMB .- A resident of Califor- nia from his earliest recollections, the late Charles Lamb was a typical and thorough Californian in his tastes, although he spent considerable time in other localities, where he passed through many interesting experiences as a cowboy and later a mining pros- pector. Mr. Lamb was born at Charleston, Lee County, Iowa, on January 18, 1859, and when he was nine months old his parents, James and Sarah Lamb, crossed the plains to California, first locating in Ama- dor County, but later settling in the northern part of San Joaquin County. Here Charles Lamb was reared on the home ranch, attending the country schools, and remaining there until he was twenty-one, when he started out to see something of the world.

Going to Mason Valley, Nev., Mr. Lamb did not remain there long, but continued on to Eastern Ore- gon, where for a year he rode the range, an experi- ence that proved of untold value in later years, giving him a rugged constitution which enabled him to with- stand exposure and hardship. From Oregon Mr. Lamb returned to California, and for fourteen years engaged in ranching and stockraising in Tulare County, going to Los Angeles in 1894, where for two years he was in the employ of the Los Angeles Street Railway. Leaving there, he made the long journey to Alaska, reaching the Yukon district in June, 1896, before the discovery of gold made that locality fa- mous. He took up a number of mining claims, which yielded large returns, the most productive being the Number 8 El Dorado Creek mine. His experiences in the rugged North would have made an interesting volume, could they have been written, so primitive were the conditions at that time. There were no steamboats on the upper Yukon and he and his com- panions were obliged to pack their supplies across the mountains to the river, where they constructed boats in which they navigated the lake and descended the river. Hardships and privations met them on every hand, but thanks to his sturdy physique, Mr. Lamb was able to come through them all safely. He later returned to Stockton, but made frequent trips to Alaska, looking after his mining interests there, meanwhile becoming more and more interested in farming in San Joaquin County, in which he made an outstanding success. He owned considerable ranch land in the county, and on his ranch at Newhope, now called Thornton, he was extensively engaged in raising grain and beans and was attended with very good success.

At Visalia on December 16, 1887, Mr. Lamb was married to Miss Belle Norcross, a native of the typi- cal old New England town of Farmington, Maine, and one daughter blessed their union, Edna, the wife of Amerigo E. Gianelli, and they have a son, Edward. After his initial trip to Alaska, Mr. Lamb was accom- panied by his wife on his subsequent trips, with the exception of one year. As the country improved and became less rough and crude, she enjoyed the experi-

ence of the trips, having made both the outside and inside passages to the frozen North. In 1897 and 1900 they were also accompanied by their daughter.

Mr. Lamb was a stanch Republican, active in the affairs of his party and was a member of the assem- bly of the California State Legislature from Stockton in the thirty-fourth session, 1919, and while there served on important committees, taking a leading part in progressive legislation. During his mining career, Mr. Lamb with his family passed their winters in San Francisco, where he had many warm friends among the business and professional men, being al- most as well known there as in Stockton. After 1912 they made their home in Stockton and here on Janu- ary 6, 1920, Mr. Lamb passed away, while still a mem- ber of the assembly. He was a very popular member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. A self-made man in every sense of the term, Mr. Lamb left behind him an honored record in all of his affairs in which he had met with an unusual degree of success.

REV. FR. WILLIAM B. O'CONNOR .- "If you knew him well as a man you caught the full meaning of the truth that human nature is made in the image and likeness of God. If you knew him as a priest you caught the full meaning of the truth that minis- ters of God are anointed from on high with a touch of divinity itself. As a man and as a priest he was all that heaven and earth desire." Such a man was Father William Bernard O'Connor, who for forty- three years served in the Master's vineyard, and forty of those years were spent in Stockton and San Joa- qin County, laboring in an humble field and working in silence, making no noise, no pretentions. The gov- erning spirit of his life can be summed up in one simple statement that he never had a selfish thought and that his work was never done.

William Bernard O'Connor was born in the parish of Ballyhea, Charleville, County Cork, Ireland, in October, 1841, the son of John and Mary (Rea) O'Connor, who were farmers and were able to give their children the advantage of having a private teacher in their own home. At an early age William B. was sent to Mount Mellory, a famous educational institution in Ireland, conducted by the Trappist Fathers. Here he finished his courses at the age of twenty-one, then felt called to the priesthood and soon made up his mind that God called him to labor in his vineyard. In 1863, he entered All Hallows College, where he read Philosophy and Theology and received his ecclesiastical training. On June 24, 1868, he was ordained and at once was assigned to the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

With twenty-one other priests young Father O'Connor left Ireland on the ship City of Boston for New York-this vessel, by the way, was lost with all on board on its next return trip from Ireland. After a voyage of eleven days the vessel landed in New York on August 17; here he spent a short time and then went to Earlville, Ill., whither his brothers and sisters had located upon their arrival in America a few years previous, and after spending a month visit- ing he continued his journey to San Francisco by way of Cape Horn. Immediately reporting to Arch- bishop Alemany, Father O'Connor was made assist- ant to Father Grey in St. Patrick's parish in San Francisco; later he was transferred to St. Joseph's Church in that city. So well did he discharge the duties imposed upon him that the young curate made

Chas Lamb

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a deep impression with the archbishop and he sent him to Stockton to take charge of St. Mary's parish, which included the outlying country and districts tributary to Stockton. He celebrated his first mass in Stockton on March 19, 1872, and from that day until he died he toiled unceasingly for his church, his people and humanity, whatever their creed. Entering upon his new labors with vigor and quiet determi- nation he toiled unremittingly for the salvation of the souls of his people. He always found time to listen to their troubles and to counsel with them; often his disinterested judgment was sought by others than Catholics, upon matters pertaining to their business and family affairs. He gave advice and encourage- ment to all who came to him and locked forever in his breast the confidences thus reposed in him.

Father O'Connor soon began to plan improvements here, in fact he was always planning to better condi- tions and to carry forward the work of his Master. In 1875 he made application to establish a convent under the management of the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic. Arrangements were made to conform to his request. and with the generous assistance of Captain C. M. Weber, who furnished a site and finan- cial aid, also aid from other sources, St. Agnes Academy was completed and dedicated on March 17, 1876. A few years later he built St. Joseph's School for the accomodation of the small children unable to attend the convent. The Sisters from the Acad- emy were put in charge. The consummation of this wish only gave impetus to his next desire-the estab- lishment of a parochial school for boys. Father O'Connor made arrangements to have the boys re- ceive instructions from the Sisters and classes were formed in a frame building at the northwest corner of San Joaquin and Washington streets. Upon the recommendation of Cardinal Gibbons, Father O'Con- nor made up his mind that he would do everything possible to induce the Brothers of Mary, whose par- ent house is in Dayton, Ohio, to come to Stockton. His labors bore fruit and in August, 1884, they took charge of the school. This was the first advent of the Brothers of Mary in the West; now the Brothers are teaching in many cities in California.

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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 69

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