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 85

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 85

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

222 East Oak Street, Lodi, and erected the residence which has since been his home. Meanwhile he has been interested in the development of other proper- ties, purchasing land next to the old cemetery, of which he was custodian for some time, later selling this land to Mrs. Frances Barton. He also bought forty acres on the river north of Lodi which he brought to a high state of improvement, planting a vineyard and installing a fine irrigation system with cement piping and two pumping plants, and after three years he sold this property to his son Charles L. Villinger.

Mr. Villinger's marriage united him with Miss Mary E. McCoy, who was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and three children were born to them: Charles L., Fred H. and Mrs. Edith E. Ray. Always a leader in community enterprise, Mr. Villinger was elected as a member of the first board of trustees when Lodi was incorporated in 1906, serving six years and giv- ing faithful service, the board holding 101 meetings the first year, when so many matters were coming up for adjustment. He is also prominent in the Lodi Lodge of Odd Fellows, having passed through all the chairs.

ROY S. MILLS .- The name borne by Roy S. Mills is indelibly traced on the history of San Joa- quin County, for his grandfather Freeman B. Mills, was a pioneer of the county, coming in 1853 across the plains from Illinois and he became a very promi- nent citizen. He served as sheriff of the county for one term and was active in local Republican poli- tics and was a charter member of Jefferson Lodge of Odd Fellows. Roy S. Mills was born in Paso Robles, Cal., April 29, 1895; his father, George Mills, was born on the Freeman B. Mills ranch one mile west of Lodi and received his education in the schools of his native district. After finishing his education he moved to San Luis Obispo County and purchased a ranch in the vicinity of Paso Robles. He married Miss Mary Bucher, a native daughter of California, and their six children were born on their ranch at Paso Robles, namely: Ralph; Stella, Mrs. Guy Knight; Ethel, Mrs. Fred McCann; Claude; Glen- dora, Mrs. Marcus Nelson, and Roy S. the subject of our sketch. The father passed away at the age of sixty-four years in Woodbridge.

Roy S. Mills attended the Woodbridge grammar school and the Lodi high school and at the age of eighteen years struck out for himself, working first in Stockton. About four years ago he returned to Lodi where he bought a twenty-one acre ranch on Walnut Avenue set to vineyard and amply watered by a good irrigation system; then he purchased an- other on Terminus Road, consisting of twenty acres, one-half of which was set to vineyard and the bal- ance bare land; later he sold this ranch and then bought his present forty-acre ranch on the Cherokee Road south of Lodi, which is a producing vineyard.

The marriage of Mr. Mills occurred in Stockton and united him with Miss Corinne Bentley, a native of Lodi, Cal., a daughter of Rodney and Elizabeth Bent- ley. The former was born in Dixon, Cal., and later moved to Lodi where he engaged in the merchandise business. Both parents reside in Lodi, as does their daughter, Cecil Bentley McMillan. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are the parents of two children: James and El Roy, and in politics Mr. Mills is a Republican.

MASSIMENO PARDINI .- A native of sunny Italy who has been successful in California and who, therefore, having cast his lot here, has no need of re- grets, is Massimeno Pardini, a native of Lucca, who has a fine delta farm of 390 acres in the Middle Divi- sion of Roberts Island, eight miles to the southwest of Stockton, and he has enviably identified himself with that region.

He was born on July 1, 1864, the son of Lorenzo and Maria (Poppini) Pardini, the former a well-to-do merchant and landowner, the parent of thirteen chil- dren, only three of whom are living, among whom our subject is the youngest. An elder brother, Luigo, came out to America in 1877 and established himself as a wheelwright at San Francisco, and there he con- ducted a shop of his own until his death, in 1898. When seventeen years of age, Massimeno left home, crossed the ocean and the American continent, and arrived at San Francisco on June 1, 1882; and after remaining there for six months, he came on into San Joaquin County, where for over seven years he drove an eight-mule team on the Due Ranch, near Atlanta, receiving as a wage just twenty dollars per month. He also followed general farm work, for seven and one-half years, at the John Minges ranch, on the French Camp Road.

In 1898, he made a start on his own account, com- ing to the new reclamation on Union Island, and there he put in the first bean crop in the peat lands of that section, attaining such surprising results that he pro- duced the first season twenty-five sacks to the acre, a bountiful crop. He then moved to the middle division of Roberts- Island and leased land from Woods brothers, raising beans and potatoes, continu- ing until in 1911, when he bought 390 acres of the Woods' lands and has since developed a model farm, improved with a desirable residence and complete, modern equipment of every sort. Since 1907, too, he has also owned a fine residence in Stockton, at 906 South Center Street, where he and his family are still residing. In 1884 he had citizenship in the United States conferred upon him at Stockton, and since then he has marched with the Democratic party.

On January 19, 1890, Mr. Pardini was married to Miss Giovanna Allegretti, a native of Stockton, where she was born on April 27, 1873, the daughter of John and Catherine (Gianelli) Allegretti; her father was a pioneer of San Joaquin County and is now the super- intendent of gardens at the San Joaquin General Hos- pital at French Camp; her mother died in October, 1884; three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pardini, only two of whom grew up and are living. George J. H., who was born on March 10, 1894, is a graduate of Heald's Business College, and is at present cashier of the American Express Com- pany at Stockton. He was married to Miss Vera Camozzi in January, 1922. Leonilda, who first saw the light on April 24, 1896, became the wife of Ray E. Pulich and the mother of one son, Warren Marks, and they reside on the Pardini ranch. George J. H. Pardini is an active member of the Elks, belonging to Stockton Lodge No. 218, and of the Knights of Columbus, and he also belongs to Stockton Parlor, N. S. G. W.

In 1900 Mr. Pardini made an extended trip to Eu- rope, accompanied by his father, who remained in Italy and lived to reach the venerable age of ninety, passing away in 1920, and in 1907, he made a second visit to his Italian home-place, spending about five

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Mrs Giovanna Pardini

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

months abroad, and enjoying himself most pleasure- ably and profitably. On June 24, 1909, Mrs. Pardini, accompanied by her son and daughter, left for Italy; and they took along with them Miss Buela Minges, the gifted daughter of George Minges, whose interest- ing life-sketch also appears in this history. The pres- ence of the young people made the outing doubly enjoyable, and Mrs. Pardini declares it was an expe- rience never to be forgotten. During their stay in Italy her son and daughter attended school, from which they also profited greatly. Only by wise fore- sight, clever planning, and hard, incessant, honest labor has Mr. Pardino brought success his way, and his devoted wife has fully shared with him his respon- sibilities, and now merits to share his honors and suc- cess. They have never failed to give the right hand of fellowship to their neighbors and fellow-workers, and now, in their comfortable retirement, they have many right hands of friendship extended to them.

HARRY W. BESSAC .- When Harry W. Bessac was elected county superintendent of schools of San Joaquin County in 1922, a man was selected thor- oughly qualified to fill the position with distinctive ability, whose heart is in the educational work before him. First of all, Mr. Bessac is an educator by train- ing, bringing to the cause of education not only a well-trained mind, but a fund or practical knowl- edge backed by years of successful teaching. He was born at Dover, Wis., on July 29, 1876, and when a small boy was taken by his parents to the state of Washington, where he attended the public schools of Montesano; later, in 1889, when his parents re- moved to Los Angeles, Cal. he attended the grammar and high schools. Mr. Bessac then came to Stock- ton in 1897 for the purpose of taking a course in the Normal School and upon receiving a teacher's certificate, taught in Placer County for five years, when he became associated with the Western School of Commerce of Stockton. On September 1, 1902, this school was incorporated with the following offi- cers: J. R. Humphreys, president; T. H. Wolfen- barger, vice-president; and Harry W. Bessac, secre- tary, and for the next ten years he was a success- ful instructor, officer and part owner of this in- stitution. Mr. Bessac then became the principal of the Washington School of Stockton; later of the Jackson school, the largest grammar school in Stock- ton, and on December 1, 1921 was appointed super- intendent of rural schools of San Joaquin County, a position of responsibility, and because of his wide experience in all branches of educational work he is recognized as a leader, and a man in whom the public has every confidence. He is a member of the execu- tive board of the Elementary Teacher's Association of Stockton.

The marriage of Mr. Bessac occured in Stockton and united him with Miss Nell Hurd, a native of Stockton and a descendant of a pioneer family. Her maternal grandfather, Dr. Kerr, crossed the plains in 1849 and opened the second drug store in Stockton and practiced medicine for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Bessac are the parents of three children: Mar- ion R., Arthur H., and Francis B. Fraternally he is one of the leading Masons of the district; is past master of Morning Star Lodge No. 68; past high

priest of Royal Arch Chapter No. 28; inspector of the twenty-sixth Masonic district, which includes six lodges as follows: Morning Star No. 68, San Joaquin No. 19, Delta No. 471, Stockton No. 498. Lodi No. 267, Valley Lodge of Linden No. 135. While inspector, Mr. Bessac organized two Masonic lodges in Stockton, Delta No. 471 and Stockton No. 498. He is also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. The Bessacs have been prominent in Masonic circles for two generations. His father, Henry W. Bessac, who resides at Riverbank, is a past master of his lodge, and a Mason of more than fifty years stand- ing. In the spring of 1922, Mr. Bessac became a can- didate for the office of county superintendent of schools in San Joaquin County, and was elected November 7, 1922, taking office January 8, 1923.

JOSEPH H. SWAIN .- For many years Joseph H. Swain has been numbered among the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock raisers of San Joaquin County, and previous to his removal to Stockton and from the year 1877 he lived on his fine ranch five miles north of Stockton on West Lanc. He has added to his holding from time to time until he is now the owner of 1218 acres of fine grain land and its excellent improvements and thor- ough cultivation give it a reputation as one of the model places of the county. Since 1892 he has re- sides at 1045 North Commerce Street, Stockton. Mr. Swain is a native of San Joaquin County, where he has worked out his career in honorable effort to prosperous results, and he belongs to a family whose members have been influential in county affairs from pioneer days to the present. He was born January 13, 1856, a son of the late Cornelius Swain and his wife Juliza C. (Davis) Swain, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of. Missouri.

Cornelius Swain, who died at his home in Stockton in 1904, was a well known pioneer of San Joaquin County. He brought his family from Missouri to this state in 1853, crossing the plains with ox teams, and reached Stockton in the same year. He was a wagon and carriage maker, a trade which he fol- lowed for a short time after his arrival in Stockton, but nearly all of his active career here was spent in ranching on his fine estate on Cherokee Lane about six miles from Stockton, where he lived a life of use- fulness until he removal to Stockton about ten years before his death. He was a prominent Mason, being a member of Morning Star Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M., and of Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T., and he was buried with the rites of Masonry. He was a Democrat in politics, and as the candidate of this, the minority party, some years ago ran for the office of county treasurer. He served as trustee and clerk of the board of the Davis school district, in which he formerly resided, and he was always ready to act for the welfare and progress of his county.

There were six children of the Swain household: John A. resides in Stockton; Joseph H. is the sub- ject of this sketch; Charles C., deceased; Mrs. Mary Bell Mitchell resides in San Francisco; George re- sides in Hollywood; and Mrs. Jessie Hamilton re- sides in San Francisco. The father died in 1904 at the age of seventy-eight and the mother was also seventy-eight when she passed away in 1906.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Joseph H. Swain was reared on the Swain ranch in San Joaquin County, and attended the Davis county school and the Washington school in Stockton, then entered the Stockton High School, and after his school days were over he took up agricultural pur- suits, which he successfully followed until his re- moval to Stockton in 1892. While living in the country he served for a time as a trustee of the Davis school district.

The marriage of Mr. Swain occurred October 2, 1878, at the ranch home of his bride nine miles southeast of Stockton, uniting him with Miss Nancy H. Castle, born on the same ranch where her mar- riage occurred, a daughter of George H. and Harriet Castle. The former was born at Hobart, New York state, March 27, 1822, of English ancestry; his mater- nal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier and served throughout the struggle that made the colonies free. He removed to the state of Wisconsin, from which state in 1852 he set out for California and was accompanied on this journey by his two brothers, James U. and Christopher C., his wife and three chil- dren. He was married at Springfield, Ill., April 1, 1846, to Miss Harriet Oliver, who was born at Spring- field, Ill., October 28, 1829, and died at Oakland, August 2, 1882. They joined the usual emigrant train of those days, and, crossing the Mississippi River on April 5, 1852, arrived in Hangtown, Cal, on August 20. The brothers employed their ener- gies in mining on the middle fork of the American River until 1856. Later Mr. Castle located in San Joaquin County, where he acquired considerable land and at his death left a large estate. He also became a large landowner in Tulare County. This worthy pioneer couple became the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom grew up: Mary E., Mrs. Barney, deceased; Cynthia, Mrs. Nicewonger resides in Berkeley; Hasting, deceased; Dorlusca, Mrs. E. W. Kay resides at San Anselmo; Nancy H., Mrs. Joseph H. Swain, deceased; Edmund G. resides at Oakland; Mrs. Pamelia Josephine Baggs resides in San Francisco; Durrett Oliver resides on the old Castle homestead nine miles southeast of Stockton; Lavinia G, Mrs. Blythe, deceased. George H. Castle at one time served as sheriff of the county. After his marriage, Joseph H. Swain bought a quarter- section of land on Hammer Lane, about five miles north of Stockton and there resided for fourteen years, when the family removed to- Stockton, where he has since made his home. Some time later he bought an eighty-acre piece of land adjoining his quarter-section and when his father died he inher- ited 108 acres from the Swain estate, making 348 acres of land. Mrs. Swain and the other Castle heirs inherited 1170 acres of land, but 400 acres was afterwards disposed of, leaving 770 acres. Mr. Swain bought out the other heirs from time to time until he owned the entire acreage, making a total of 1218 acres which he now owns and which is devoted to grain and stockraising.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Swain became the parents of a family of five children, three of whom are now living: Mabel J., Mrs. Frank M. Simpson, resides in Alameda; George C. is the manager of the old home ranch; and Gladys O., Mrs. Roy N. Waltz, resides in Stockton, There is one grandchild, Donna J., a daughter of Mrs. Simpson. Mr. Swain is

affiliated with the Morning Star Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M., at Stockton, and Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T .; he is also a member of the Elks at Stockton, and is a member of the Christian Church at Stockton. Mrs. Swain passed away in the Stockton home on February 18, 1920.

GEORGE WILLIS-For fifty-three years George Willis has been numbered among the citizens of Stockton, fifty years of this time having been spent as chief engineer for the Wagner Leather Company. He came West and settled in Stockton in 1869, when a young man and has progressed to his present pros- perity mainly by reliance on his own efforts, and is therefore regarded among his neighbors and friends with that peculiar esteem always bestowed upon those who achieve their own welfare and success. He was born in Durham County, England, April 5, 1840, where at ten years of age he began driving a horse in the coal mines; later he was engineer in the same mine; he also worked on the hoists, taking the coal from the mines by cable. In 1867 he left England for America locating first in Ohio; the fol- lowing year he removed to Omaha, Neb., where he fired on a locomotive during the building of the Union Pacific railroad for a short time, then to Salt Lake City where he became engineer in the Wyom- ing carbon coal mines.

Coming to California, he arrived in Stockton in 1869 and worked as a carpenter with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, building water tanks and culverts between Stockton and Oakland. In the spring of 1870, he entered the employ of the Wagner Leather Company where he worked uninterruptedly for fifty years and is now living retired on a pension granted by this company for his efficient service during those years. When he began to work for the company, twenty men were employed and Mr. Willis worked as fireman and engineer; at one time he was sent to Humboldt County where he worked in the extract plant of the company. His years of service and valuable knowledge of the business made him an expert in his line and the appreciation of the company for which he worked so long and faithfully was shown in a substantial manner.

Mr. Willis' first marriage united him with Miss Hannah Sutherland, a native of England, who passed away in Stockton. His second marriage united him with Miss Mary Blackburn, who was brought to Stockton by Mr. Willis when she was eight years old and received her education in that city. Three children were born to them: Evelyn, now Mrs. Harry Swift and they have one daughter, Betty; Hattie is the wife of John McAdams and they have two children, John W. and Frances, and they reside in Alameda; George B. is in the employ of the Stockton street railway, and was in the Navy, sta- tioned on the South Dakota, conveying troops during the World War. In the early days of Stockton the slough came up to the Wagner Leather Company's plant by reason of the fact that Mr. Willis built a dam to bring the water to proper height, and schoon- ers came through the drawbridge loaded with tan bark; as many as three at one time have been taken through by Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis is a man of genuine worth, and all with whom he has come in contact entertain for him high regard.

George Willis

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

CHARLES E. HURD .- A typical California pion- eer, representative of all the best qualities and ele- ments of those sturdy settlers is Charles E. Hurd. The veterans of the old vanguard who made settle- ment in the state fifty years ago are few and con- stantly decreasing in number, and the deeds done in those days of activity certainly deserve chronicling before the actors themselves pass from the stage of life. Of the eighty years of his life, Mr. Hurd has spent the last fifty-eight in San Joaquin County, so that none have a more intimate acquaintance with the development and upbuilding of this portion of the state. He was born at Conway, N. H., on February 7, 1843, a son of Oliver S. and Sarah Ann (Linsertt) Hurd. The father was a building contractor and there were five children in the family; Emma, Charles E., Elwell, William and Ann Sarah. The father lived to be over seventy years old, but the mother passed away when Charles E. was a lad of seven. After his mother's death he was sent to Brownfield, Maine, where he was reared in various homes and attended the district school in the winter and during the summer months worked for his liv- ing. From the age of ten until he was sixteen he lived with D. M. Bean and worked in his store when not in school and from sixteen to the age of twenty- one he was a clerk in Mr. Bean's store, with the ex- ception of nine months that he served in the Civil War in the 23rd Maine Volunteer Infantry.

On February 26, 1864, he came to California and settled near Stockton where he worked for five years on a dairy owned by J. E. Moore, three miles out from Stockton and during that time was able to accumulate sufficient means to go into the dairy busi- ness for himself and for twenty-one years, he was so engaged, selling his products in Stockton. Some twenty years ago, Mr. Hurd purchased his present ranch of ten acres on Harney Lane about two and a half miles southeast of Lodi, the ranch being de- voted to the growing of grapes, fruit and alfalfa. He has also done considerable well boring throughout San Joaquin County.

The marriage of Mr. Hurd occured at Stockton on February 1, 1870, and united him with Miss Emma C. Kerr, a native of Miami, Ohio, a daughter of Dr. William R. and Francis (Brown) Kerr. Dr. Kerr came to California by the southern route and arrived in San Diego in 1849 and in the spring of 1850 came to San Francisco and the next year to Stockton. At the Gila River, Dr. Kerr was obliged to dispose of most of his baggage as the train was in danger of being hopelessly mired in the river. Mrs. Hurd was an infant in arms when her parents crossed the plains in 1849 and her father was a practicing phy- sician and had one of the finest drug stores in Stock- ton. Mrs. Hurd was educated in the Eldorado dis- trict school in Stockton and later the Normal school and became a teacher in Merced County. Her father owned a ranch on Cherokee Lane and the family re- sided on it for forty years. Dr. Kerr and Dr. Kel- sey, George and William West helped in the organi- zation of the Republican party in San Joaquin County, not an easy task in those days, as the county was mostly Democratic. Dr. Kerr passed away at the age of forty-eight, but his wife lived to be ninety-four years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Hurd are the parents of eight chil- dren: Francis E, now Mrs. Manning of Oakland;

Lila M., Clarence W., and Charles; Ethel, now Mrs. Comfort of Stockton and she has one son, Hosmer; Lester resides at Westley; Nellie married H. W. Bessac and they have three children, Marian, Arthur and Francis; Alga is the wife of Dr. A. Carlton Smith of the Oakland Emergency Hospital and they have one daughter, Alga Margaret. Mr. Hurd join- ing the Masons on February 26, 1864, entering Mt. Moriah Lodge at Brownfield, Maine, and he has been a member ever since; at the age of seventy this lodge presented him with a life diploma and membership. Politically Mr. Hurd is a Republican and the family are members of the Methodist Church.

WILLIAM H. LORENZ .- San Joaquin County will never forget the important and necessary part played by the far-sighted, experienced bankers in her development, through which she has come to take a front place among the counties of California, and prominent among the agencies that has done much for the progress in Central California the First Na- tional Bank of Lodi must be mentioned. Its success is undoubtedly due, to a great extent, to the per- sonal attention to every detail of William H. Lorenz, the president of this thriving institution. He was born in Crawsfordsville, Ind., on April 9, 1863, and there was reared and educated. In 1885 he came West to Walla Walla, Wash., and engaged in farm- ing pursuits for two years at the end of which time he removed to Stockton and was employed by P. A. Buell & Company; later he entered the Stockton State Hospital and soon afterward assumed the supervision of that institution, where he remained for fifteen years. During the year of 1905 he settled in Lodi and helped to organize the First National Bank and became its cashier, which position he held until recently when he was elected president. The other officers are as follows: H. C. Beckman, E. E. Morse and S. H. Zimmerman, vice-presidents; Lloyd Mazzera, cashier; P. A. Ritchie, H. F. Lightfoot, D. H. Groff and C. D. Tappan, assistant cashiers. The present board of directors are: George F. McNoble, chairman, and W. H. Lorenz, president; H. C. Beck- man, E. E. Morse, and S. H. Zimmerman, vice- presi- dents; George W. Le Moin, E. A. Covell, John C. Bewley, Otto Spenker and W. G. Micke. The First National Bank was organized with a capital of $25,- 000; and now with the Central Savings Bank, under the same management, has a combined captial of $300,000 with a surplus of $150,000 and resources of over $3,500,000.

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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 85

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