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 77

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 77

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Mr. Simon was married to Miss Emma Grassber- ger, a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., who came with her parents to Stockton in 1859. Her father was J. A. Grassberger, who erected the old Columbia Hotel

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and ran the same from 1861 to the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Simon are the parents of five living children: Emma is the wife of Thomas Gough, as- sistant cashier in the Bank of Italy, at Stockton; Elsie is the wife of B. P. Foster of Modesto; Frona is the wife of Joseph Susa, and they reside at San Francisco; Ruby and Eda are single. Fraternally Mr. Simon is a member of the Elks, San Joaquin Grove of Druids, and Court Schiller, Foresters of America. For many years he has been a member of the old Turnverein and served as its treasurer for twenty-seven years. Mr. Simon is living retired from active business cares, but he finds his time well taken up with his personal affairs. He still takes the deepest interest in all problems pertaining to the future of both city and county and has always taken a very live interest in the San Joaquin County Fair. He has served as a director for many terms. His last appointment is a commission as a member of the Board of Managers of the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Association bearing the date of May 27, 1922, and he is at present the president of said board.

LOUIS N. DOUVILLE .- Among the old-timers of San Joaquin County who has resided in California for over half a century is Louis N. Douville, for many years a successful cement contractor, but now retired from business activity. A man of forceful character, he has held premier rank among the men of his class in San Joaquin County, and his mantle of reliability and thoroughness has been transferred to his son, Louis N. Douville, Jr. He was born at Quebec, Canada, March 15, 1852, and was reared in that city until he was eighteen years old, when he concluded that nothing could be gained by remaining in Canada. When he arrived in Stockton in 1870 he could not speak a word of English, coming from Canada on an emigrant train which occupied fourteen and a half days to make the trip. His first employ- ment was on a threshing machine for Charles Doyle,

where he worked for three months; he then bought a hay press of his own, which he operated through- out the county for the next ten years, when he was employed by Dr. Asa Clark at his private asylum on South Center Street, remaining there for three years. He then entered the employ of the Gray Brothers, cement contractors of San Francisco, becoming fore- man for them. He had twenty-seven men under him in his work, building streets in San Francisco, Alameda and Oakland; also doing cement work in new subdivisions in these cities; he did the cement work on the salt water reservoir at Geary Street and Central Avenue, San Francisco; also the reser- voir in San Rafael. Then he built miles of street sidewalks in Stockton and when he entered business for himself, he helped to do the cement work on the first paved streets in Stockton.

Mr. Douville's marriage united him with Miss Delia Hannan, a native of Stockton, and a daughter of a California pioneer. They are the parents of two children: Louis N., Jr., and Ethel, Mrs. Roy E. Gibbon. Louis N. Douville, Jr., was born in Stock- ton May 23, 1890, and received his education in his native city; he then went to San Francisco and was in the employ of the T. & D. theater for two years when he returned to Stockton and became a con- ductor on the street cars; then he became associated with his father in the contracting business. Among his more important contracts are the following: the foundation of the Studebaker block on Weber Ave-

nue; St. Agnes Academy and St. Joseph's Hospital. During the four years since his father retired from active business life, he has had the contract for cement work of the new subdivisions, the Yosemite Terrace, Tuxedo Park, Salfield's addition at Oak Park; in Rio Vista he laid the foundation for the Standard Oil tank, cement work in a number of dairy barns, foundations for bungalows in Manteca and on the Hugh Tye block on South San Joaquin Street, Stockton; cement work on annex of the Union Planing Mill on South Sutter Street; on the Stock- ton Mineral Baths; and laid the cement floors in the Lafayette school building. He is a first-class work- man in every particular, thorough and reliable; his prices are very moderate and all his work is guar- anteed. He is a member of the Eagles of Stockton. He married Miss Barbara Christy, a native of Cali- fornia, and they are the parents of three children: Clark, Geraldine, and Jack. Mr. Douville, Sr., is a member of the Iroquois Tribe of Red Men of Stock- ton and he has always led a useful, upright life.

MANSFIELD F. GREGORY .- The opportuni- ties afforded by the West to men of energy and de- termination are exemplified in the success of Mans- field F. Gregory, one of the leading citizens of San Joaquin Valley, whose prosperity is the result of wise investments and industrious application since he came to this valley some fifty-four years ago. His val- uable fruit and grain ranch of 640 acres is located twenty-six miles east of Stockton, where he settled in 1870 and has continuously resided ever since. He was born near Bingham, England, July 4, 1841, and he traces his lineage back to the time when his grandfather Mansfield Gregory was mayor of Lei- cester, England. Wellington Gregory, the father of our subject, was the proprietor of a hotel in London and Mansfield F. was sent to the Academy at Derby- shire for his preliminary education; later he entered the College of Plymouth and completed his educa- tion with a course at the College of Pas de Calais, France. About 1852 the father of our subject had removed to America and located on a homestead twelve miles from St. Paul, Minn., at that time an outfitting post.

At eighteen years of age, Mansfield F. Gregory left home determined to reach America, coming via a sailing vessel, and six weeks were consumed in making the voyage and in September, 1859, he ar- rived at St. Paul. He was not, at that time, in robust health and the Minnesota winters proved very trying to him, and in 1868 he sought a milder climate and spent a season in Florida; then concluded to try the California climate. Accompanied by his wife, he went to New York and there took passage on the S. S. Arizona bound for Colon. Arriving in Colon they crossed the Isthmus of Panama and boarded the S. S. Colorado for San Francisco, arriving in the Bay City on Christmas Day, 1868. At that time a severe smallpox epidemic was prevalent in San Fran- cisco so Mr. Gregory came to Stockton. He soon invested in land, buying 160 acres eight miles south- east of Stockton, where he remained long enough to harvest one crop; selling out in 1870 when he re- moved to his present location twenty-six miles from Stockton and purchased the Boyd and Gorham ranch, on which, in 1849, was located a sheep camp. Mr. Gregory has added to his ranch from time to time until he now owns 640 acres, which he has developed to orchards of peaches, apricots, prunes and walnuts,

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Mansfield the Gregory

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ann M Gregory

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besides raising large quantities of wheat and barley and since the beginning of his agricultural activities has owned considerable choice livestock. In 1920 his prune orchard yielded enough fruit to make fifty tons of dried prunes. Mr. Gregory also owns val- uable farming land in San Joaquin County and real estate and securities in the city of Stockton.

On Christmas Day, 1862, at Cylon, Wis., Mr. Gregory was married to Miss Anna Gibson, born in Pittsburgh, Pa., March 2, 1844, a daughter of John and Anna (Cassidy) Gibson, both natives of Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Gregory removed with her parents in 1851 to Dane County, Wis., locating near Madison, but two years later they removed to Hudson, Wis., and there she grew to womanhood, receiving a good education in the public schools.

She is a refined and cultured woman and their union has been a very happy one and has been blessed with eight children, three of them born in Wisconsin and five in California: Ford Gibson, Clara Victoria and Anne Belle are deceased; Stockton Mansfield is married and has four sons and is associated with his father in their ranching enterprise; Wellington Rus- sell is married, has four sons and makes his home in Stockton; Froane Livington lives in Los Ange- les, is married and has a son; Ann Inez is the wife of Ed Gall and they have two children and reside near Milton, Cal .; Frisbee Roy is also associated with his father in farming, is married and has a son.

There are seven granchildren and three great grand- children and the reunions on the old home place are the most enjoyable of times and are anticipated with the keenest delight by all. Mr. Gregory received his U. S. citizenship at San Andreas in 1875; he is past master of the Grange at Jenny Lind and for the past twenty-five years has represented the Fire- mans Fund of San Francisco and is also the agent for the Home Insurance Company of New York City; always a friend to the cause of education Mr. Gregory was for many years trustee of Chaparral school district. The Gregory residence is built on a sightly eminence amid large oak trees, and the view of the surrounding country is a delight to the oc- cupants of this home, where old time Californian hospitality is dispensed and where peace and com- fort prevail.

EDWARD THOMAS .- A lamented pioneer, highly esteemed in his day, whose beneficent life and work may be traced in more than one department of mod- ern activity, was the late Edward Thomas, who was born in Wales in 1827, and there grew up in that famous mountainous country by the sea which has been the native land of so many men and women of notable character. In 1848, the year so notable for political revolutions in Germany, France and else- where, young Thomas left home and crossed the wide Atlantic in a sailing vessel, spending twenty-one days on the ocean, and eventually safely landing in the metropolis of the New World. He did not remain in New York, however, but came on to Pennsylvania, and then to Minnesota; but his restless spirit did not permit him to tarry in even these great common- wealths and he never stayed his foot until, in the year of the Argonauts, he arrived in California.

To reach the Golden State he sailed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, and there em- barked for San Francisco on a vessel bound around Cape Horn; and at the end of some 216 days, when he and his fellow-passengers had shared many a

narrow escape on the boisterous waves, he saw for the first time the harbor which meant more than paradise to the founders of this section of our coun- try. San Francisco at that time was so emphatically in the making that Mr. Thomas found no difficulty in securing work at the carpenter's trade; but he soon made his way to the American River, where he also sought gold; then on to Calaveras County, and there he remained digging for several years. He did something more, however, than commit him- self to the uncertain search for the shining metal; he joined others, as a stockholder, in forming the Union Water Company, and helped supply the water needed for the miners. These various enter- prises proved sufficiently remunerative that he re- mained in that section for more than twenty-five years, and for nearly two-thirds of that period he was the manager of the water company, and he came to hold valuable interests in neighboring mines.

Meanwhile, as prosperity more and more smiled upon him, Mr. Thomas was able to return to Europe and his native land, reaching Wales in 1861 and staying there about three years; and when he could no longer resist the lure of California and prepared to come back here again, he chose for his wife and life partner Miss Jeanette A. Powell, marrying her on April 6, 1864, and then sailing with his bride for America. Two children were born of this union: The eldest died in infancy; Mary A. became the wife of James A. Nelson, an agriculturist living on Roberts Island, in San Joaquin County.

Seventeen years after he had returned to America, Mr. Thomas disposed of his holdings in the Southern mines, and removed to French Camp, in San Joaquin County, where he established and for years conducted the popular hostelry known as the French Camp Hotel. He was an ideal host, and on account of his conscientious attention to the wants of the traveling public built up such a paying patronage that when he disposed of it, in July, 1903, he let go a profitable enterprise. Thereafter, he lived to a venerable old age, making his home, as a retired country gentle- inan, with his daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Nelson, on Roberts Island; and there, on the fourteenth of De- cember, 1906, he passed to the great beyond, and his body was interred in Murphy's Cemetery, beside that of his devoted wife, who had preceded him to the grave many years before, January 13, 1870.

The demise of Mr. Thomas was keenly felt by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the county, for his strong character and winning personality had endeared him to all who in one way or another knew him or had dealings with him. His mind was virile and enriched, and he loved to recall the great and many changes which had occurred in California during his residence here. At a period when there was a dearth of the conveniences of life, and when a law- less element often held sway, he helped to develop the mineral resources of the country, and to make straight and easy the pathways for those who fol- lowed after. His life history, therefore, as it has already been well said by one historical writer, if written in detail, would prove most interesting and entertaining, since it would reflect clearly the stirring picture of those early, eventful days. The name of Edward Thomas, therefore, will always be inscribed high on the roll of California's honored pioneer citi- zens, for he was long and most honorably identified with the founding of the Pacific State. A staunch

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Democrat, most of his life, he was nevertheless such a broadminded citizen that he was above mere parti- sanship, hence his influence as an exponent of civic pride and honor was broader and more lasting, and it is pleasant to think of him as a patriot who still moves in the affairs of men.

FRANK A. FALLMAN .- One of the pioneer families of California is that which now finds a rep- resentative in San Joaquin County in Frank A. Fall- man who, for the past twenty-six years has been active in the development of Delta farms, being con- nected all those years with the dredgers that are constantly at work reclaiming the delta lands of the county. A native Californian, he was born at Rio Vista, Cal., August 14, 1869, a son of Louis Fallman, a native of Germany, who came to California via Panama in 1857, where for many years he was en- gaged in blacksmithing on Grand Island.

Frank A. Fallman was reared and educated at Rio Vista and learned the trade of blacksmith with his father. At eighteen years of age he shipped on a vessel to Alaska hunting for seals and on returning to California he went into business for himself on Grand Island. In 1893 he took a second seal hunting trip to Japan and Alaska, and upon returning to California, he began work on the Grand Island dredge and later was placed in charge of same, re- maining for seven years; then he went to Roberts Island in charge of the dredger, which occupied him three years. In March, 1903, he entered the employ of L. A. Phillips, where he has remained up to the present time. He has taken an active part in re- claiming the delta country lands and was with John Hurd in the first reclaiming of Union Island. The dredging outfit of which he is now in charge, consists of four large clam dredgers, two large clam dredgers, one steam shovel, several large tow boats, one steam- er and one electric pump, and in the busiest season of the year has charge of seventy-five men.

MARTIN LAMMERS .- When one considers the important part played by irrigation

in the development of Central California, the enviable status of Martin Lammers will be apparent, for he was one of the well-known citizens of his district, honored especially for his efforts in the development of water for irrigation. A native of Germany, he was born in Hanover on October 26, 1831, and was fortunate in receiving a good education in the public schools of his native country. In 1854 he left his native land for America and arriving in San Francisco he engaged in the mercantile business until 1856, when he located in the San Joaquin Valley, where he settled on the plains near what was then known as Mohr's Landing. From an humble financial condition he worked him- self upward to a position of prosperity and promi- nence through reading, observation and practical ex- perience.

During the session of 1876, Mr. Lammers was a member of the General Assembly of California and gave his support to the Republican party; he was the author of and introduced what is now known as the West Side Irrigation bill, comprising a section ex- tending from Tulare Lake to Antioch, Cal., the pur- pose of this bill being to provide irrigation for this section of the country and thus reclaim its arid lands

for cultivation. He was an alert and active member of the House and his public career, characterized by a patriotic devotion, bore much fruit which can now be traced through the succeeding years.

Fraternally he was a charter member of Sumner lodge of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias of Tracy and his life exemplified the beneficeut spirit of these fraternal bodies, being ever true and loyal to their teachings. The Lammersville school district, west of Tracy, is most appropriately named in honor of Martin Lammers and his two brothers, Deitrich and Neil Lammers, who also came to California in early days, and who are now deceased, all men of genuine worth and held in high esteem in their com- munity. Mr. Lammers lived to witness much of the growth and prosperity of the section which he labored so hard to build up and his memory forms a connect- ing link between the primitive past with its hardship and privations and the progressive present with its advancement and opportunities. Mr. Lammers passed away on November 2, 1909, mourned by the entire community for which he had accomplished so much.

RANSOM ECCLESTON .- Many of the pioneers who came to California in the early days were dis- appointed in the primary object of their journey, that is, making their fortunes in the mines, yet turned their energies into other channels, and in so doing became the substantial upbuilders of the commonwealth. Among this number was the late Ransom Eccleston, who passed away in Stockton November 15, 1907. He was a native of Ohio, born in Clermont County, Sep- tember 6, 1825, and was reared and educated in the vicinity of his birthplace. He was a young man of about twenty-four years when the wave of excitement incident to the finding of gold in California passed over his home locality and as a result he was among the number who were attracted to the gold fields. Without loss of time he made preparations for the journey across the plains, and November, 1849, found him in the state ready to try his fortune as a miner. He soon learned, however, that his forte did not lie in this direction and he wisely turned his attention to other means of earning a livelihood.

Before settling down permanently, however, Mr. Eccleston took a trip to the Sandwich Islands, and upon his return to California in the spring of 1850 he located near San Andreas, Calaveras County, where he first became interested in the hotel business, and in addition was proprietor of a general store. Follow- ing this, in 1866, he came to Stockton and thereafter made this city his permanent home, following the hotel business. He was successively proprietor of the Franklin House, Eagle House, Grand Central and Avenue House, all of which were noted for the cor- diality extended to guests, as well as for their superior accommodations. At the time of the meeting of the first state legislature in Sacramento he was also pro- prietor of the State Hotel in that city.

In San Andreas, Calaveras County, Mr. Eccleston was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Elizabeth Samsel, the ceremony taking place August 22, 1854, and of the children born of their marriage two are living, as follows: Mrs. W. C. Matteson, of Stockton, and Oliver H. Eccleston, whose sketch will be found in this work. Mr. Eccleston passed away November 15, 1907, his wife surviving him until June 26, 1922.

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Ransom Eccleston

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

LAWRENCE M. LARSON .- A noted traveler and lecturer, asked to epitomize Sweden, replied: "This is the home of the honest man." Exemplifying in his life the salient traits of his race, L. M. Larson became one of the leading and respected farmers and dairymen of San Joaquin County. He was born in Sweden, March 24, 1850, and was there reared and educated. His parents, also natives of that coun- try, are now deceased. Lawrence M. remained in his native land until he was eighteen years of age, then in 1868, he boarded the steamer "City of Balti- more," in the harbor of Gothenburg, and after a voyage of fifteen days (being accompanied by his brother-in-law, Carl Anderson, and his wife, from Sweden) he landed at New York, after which he at once made his way to Goodhue County, Minn. While in Minnesota he attended school for two winter sea- sons, and thus greatly improved his knowledge of English as well as adding to his general information.

On reaching the Pacific Coast in 1873 he came di- rect to San Joaquin County, where he was engaged in farming for a few years, and then removed to Stanislaus County, which continued to be his place of residence until he moved to Manteca in 1896. He settled on his ranch at Manteca, where he owned and cultivated eighty acres of land, twenty acres of which is in the town limits. He was most progressive in his methods of farming and his labors were at- tended with excellent results. His ranch is under a high state of cultivation, made so by irrigation. He was a very strong advocate of irrigation and his own work proved the value of this plan of making the soil fertile. He engaged in the dairy business and was a director of the Cowell Creamery Company.

Mr. Larson was married in October, 1884, to Miss Reora Talley, who was born in Scott County, Ind., and is a daughter of the late James Talley. The mother, Elizabeth Talley, makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Larson. The Talleys came to Cali- fornia in 1863 and have resided in San Joaquin County practically ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are the parents of five children: Hugo is married and has one son, Herbert, and they reside in Oakland; Bertha is Mrs. Valdeman Christiansen, and resides at Coal- inga; W. Torkel is married and resides at San An- tonio, Texas. He is a first lieutenant of aviation; Chester resides at Long Beach, and is an oil driller. He served overseas in the U. S. Army and was hon- orably discharged April 25, 1919; Willard is taking up mining engineering at the University of Nevada, resides at Long Beach and is in the employ of Shell Oil Company of California. Mr. Larson usually voted with the Democratic party, and he served as trustee of the Union school district before there was a school in town, and was the first assessor of the South San Joaquin Irrigation district, serving until 1914. He was one of the original sponsors of irrigation, and helped fight the project through to its culmina- tion, giving of his time and means to put the South San Joaquin project on its feet. Mr. Larson was very active in the incorporation of the city of Man- teca and his influence and activities figured largely in the success and consummation of the bond issue. He was president of Rochdale butcher market. Retiring from active farming pursuits, Mr. Larson gave his attention to his real estate holdings and his hobby was the reading of good books-his favorite author being Dickens. He passed away on September 18,

1922. Mrs. Larson has been truly a helpmate to her husband in all of his interests and she owns the Maple apartments in Manteca and other property.

JAMES WALTER GRAVES .- Decidedly among the most popular of public officials in San Joaquin County is James Walter Graves, the wideawake and efficient constable of Castoria township, a pioneer citizen, and one of the honored residents at Manteca. He was born at Lancaster, Wis., in 1857, and accom- panied his parents, Henry B. and Lorena R. (Howell) Graves to California, crossing the plains. with an ox- team train, and reaching the Cutler Salmon ranch at Dutch Point, Castoria township, on October 2, 1864. His father was a native of Kentucky and a farmer, although he also served as a circuit judge in Missouri, where his home was maintained from 1857 to 1864. Mrs. Graves, on the other hand, was a native of Virginia, and well represented the fine old Dominion. Out of their family of twelve children, only two now survive-J. C. Graves of Stockton and our subject.

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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 77

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