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 89

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 89

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George Thrush was born in Pennsylvania and when a small boy he was taken to Ohio by his par- ents, where they lived a short time and then removed to Missouri, where he grew to manhood and lived until he came west in 1862. He had married in Missouri and settled down to farm-pursuits until the news of the discovery of gold induced him to come to California. Leaving his wife and daughters-all then small children-he started overland with a mule and an ox team and a companion, in the '50s, and in due time arrived at his destination. Some time after locating in this state he and his friend took the smallpox and his friend died; and as soon as he had recovered from the disease he went back East to join his family and at the same time determined to make a permanent location in the Golden State. Settling his affairs he outfitted and with Mrs. Thrush and daughters made the long overland trip, driving an ox-team, while his wife drove a mule-team, taking the Salt Lake route to California. He was accom- panied by Henry Ebeling, the youngest brother of his wife, and he later died in this state. Upon arrival here Mr. Thrush hauled supplies to the mines and later engaged in ranching in the Harmony Grove district, where he settled upon his arrival. . He

sold out his holdings in that locality and bought 640 acres near Modesto and raised grain there until 1871, when he concluded he would try farming back in Missouri once more. Renting his land and equip- ment, with his family he returned to Missouri, bought and stocked a good farm, but only lived there six months, when he turned again to California. He lived for a time in San Jose and Santa Clara, then came to San Joaquin County in 1874, bought 320 acres of land on the Waterloo Road, eight miles from Stockton, and from that date this section remained his home until his death, September 8, 1907, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Thrush died at the age of sixty-three.

The following children were born to this worthy couple: Ellen married Russell Kincaide of Long Beach, and died in 1922, leaving two boys and four girls; Louise is the widow of D. I. Hancock and makes her home with her only daughter, Mrs. Ed Branstead, near Stockton; Marine became the wife of William Bonham and has two sons and one daugh- ter; Edith is the widow of Henry Leffler and the mother of three boys; Fanny is the widow of Nicho- las Bacon of Stockton and has one boy and two girls; Alice is Mrs. Wilkes Foreman of Oakland; the seventh in order of birth is William H., our subject; Dora married Thomas Brierly of Oakland and they have one daughter. The last two children were born in California.

William H. Thrush remained at home with his father until he was twenty-one and then started to farm for himself. He leased 160 acres near Linden and raised grain for three years, then came back to the old Thrush ranch on the Calaveras River and in 1892 bought eighty acres of the home estate; later he added ninety-five acres adjoining, part of the Martin property, and this he farms to grain with the exception of about four acres that he has planted to alfalfa. In 1914 he bought fifty acres of bare land near Linden that he has leased for a period of years and which will be set to fruit trees and vines. Mr. Thrush also owns considerable real estate in Stock- ton, which makes it more natural that, as a public- spirited citizen and loyal Republican that he should favor any legislation encouraging and protecting agricultural and industrial development. He has made his own way since leaving home and his suc- cess is the result of his own' efforts.

At Stockton, August 26, 1885, Mr. Thrush was married to Miss Allie Anderson, a native of Carson City, Nevada, and the daughter of William H. and Jane (McBride) Anderson. Her father was born in Hamilton County, Ind., August 22, 1838, and now makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Thrush. When a child he was taken to Van Buren County, Iowa, by his parents and there reared and educated. He came across the plains to Nevada in 1864, mined and freighted for two years. In 1866 he came to San Joaquin County and until 1886 farmed leased land in the vicinity of Waterloo, then he spent fifteen years in Mendocino County lumbering and since then has lived retired. He is of Scotch ancestry, his paternal grandfather having served in the Revolu- tionary War. Mrs. Anderson was born in Ohio of Irish parents and she died at the age of thirty-six, leaving two children, H. G. Anderson, an employe of the General Petroleum Company in the Coalinga oil field and Mrs. Thrush.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JOHN RANDOLPH CORY .- We all owe much to the pioneers of San Joaquin County for the secure foundation they laid for the present prosperity, and among these men we mention John Randolph Cory, a '49er, who was well and favorably known to the early settlers of Stockton and vicinity. His forebears were of English stock; the progenitor of the family in America was William Corry, as the name was spelled in England, who landed in the New World in 1660, settled on West Main Road in Portsmouth, R. I., and erected a stone house at the foot of Bar- ker's Hill, two and three-quarter miles from Bristol Ferry, which was thereafter called Cory's Castle. About sixty years elapse before the Corys are again heard from, this time when Thomas Cory, born about 1720, served in the British army when Canada was taken from the French in 1759. He was never heard from and it is supposed he was killed in battle. He left a widow, Patience Haskell Cory, who died in 1794. These were the great-grandparents of J. R. Cory. There was a son named Samuel Cory in their family and he was born at Portsmouth, R. I., in 1758 and died in 1841. He married Jemima Walden on August 2, 1781, and she died on September 23, 1848. Samuel Cory served in the Revolutionary War and with his comrades suffered great hardships when they were forced to march through snow and ice without shoes and left bloody tracks in their wake. The next in line was Pardon Cory, father of John R., born at Portsmouth, R. I., in 1793, married Abigail Lake, daughter of Daniel and Ruth (Tripp) Lake, on January 7, 1816, and went to live with his parents in a house near the head of Cory's Lane; part of this house was used as a town hall. It was here that John R. Cory was born. In 1810 Samuel Cory bought a place on a road, afterwards known as Cory's Lane, and the family removed there in 1822, and this re- mained the home for many years. Pardon Cory died on South Kingston Road in 1863.

John Randolph Cory first saw the light on Octo- ber 11, 1816, and was named for John Randolph of Roanoke. He received a good common school edu- cation and when he was seventeen went to Lippitt, Town of Warwick, R. I., to learn the trade of black- smith with his uncle, George Cook, who had married his mother's youngest sister. He only remained there a year, then returned home and attended school that winter. Upon the suggestion of his mother that he should learn a trade, he went to Providence, R. I., and apprenticed himself to Solomon Arnold for three years to learn the wheelwright trade and was to re- ceive as his pay the sums of twenty-five dollars for the first year; fifty dollars the second; and seventy- five dollars the third year, including board. He only remained two and one-half years, then went to work at the trade in that city until he went to New Bed- ford and engaged in the business for himself, con- tinuing there until he decided to come to California in 1849. He sailed on the Bark Diamond in Febru- ary, 1849, coming via Cape Horn, and arriving at San Francisco on July 22, that same year. He wrote an interesting account of his voyage to his family after his arrival here. Mr. Cory bought a lot in San Francisco soon after his arrival, then went to the mining districts but did not stay very long, intending to return to the East. He stopped off in Stockton, then a city of tents, and was so well impressed with the possibilities that he made his decision to locate here. In 1851 he returned to New Bedford, disposed

of his interests there and made arrangements to have his wife and child join him in California a little later, again made the trip, via Panama, to Stockton.

He had married at New Bedford, April 25, 1844, Miss Abby, daughter of Benjamin and Penelope Cory, who was born at Tiverton, R. I., on July 17, 1823, and two children were born in Massachusetts, one dying in early childhood. In January, 1852, Mrs. Cory, with her small daughter, arrived in Stockton to join husband and father, having come by way of Panama, crossing on mule-back, the child being car- ried on the back of a native. The fording of the Chagres River was attended with numerous mishaps, the trunks and other baggage being carried on pack animals. On January 15, 1852, Mr. Cory purchased four lots from Captain Weber at the corner of Fre- mont and California streets, paying $400 for them; here he built a small three-room house for their im- mediate needs and enlarged it from time to time as necessity demanded. He engaged in the carriage mak- ing business in a shop on Channel Street, and besides other work that came his way, he built wagons for heavy freighting to the mines. He lived in town and carried on his business until 1863, when he moved with his family to a ranch of 285 acres on the Weber grant about two and one-half miles east of Stockton. he had purchased several years before. Mr. Cory had also become the owner of what came to be known as the Fanning property (he having sold it to Mr. Fanning) where the Western States Gas & Electric Company is now situated; later he owned a forty- five-acre ranch near Lockeford.

Five children were born of the unusually happy marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cory: Caroline Jemima, died in the East in early childhood; Abby Amelia, a school teacher, died February 22, 1880; Adaline A., married James A. Louttit and died August 21, 1884; Nellie, married Charles H. Cory and died April 4, 1918, near Soquel, Santa Cruz County, where she had lived for a number of years; and Carrie E., who still lives at the old Cory ranch on the Waterloo Road and upon which Mr. Cory farmed and raised stock for many years, which has been the home place of the Corys since 1863. Miss Cory still has 184 acres of the original tract and her nephews 60 acres. Here Mr. and Mrs. Cory lived and died, he passing away on February 12, 1898, and his good wife breathed her last on May 3, 1901. Mr. Cory was a good friend, a good neighbor, and was es- teemed by all who knew him for his honesty, indus- try and integrity and left to his descendants the heritage of an untarnished name.

EDMUND MILLER .- Early in the year 1898 Edmund Miller, a native of Ogle County, Illinois, came to Stockton to visit his brother, S. M. D. Miller, a machinist employed in local shops for a number of years. He worked in a machine shop for two years in Stockton, then was recommended to Mrs. J. R. Cory by an intimate friend in whose home he roomed, as being trustworthy and familiar with farm work and in 1900 was employed on the Cory farm. Shortly before Mrs. Cory's death she requested that he remain on the place and assist her daughter and he has since continued in the management of the property.

As he was accustomed to stock raising, after a time it was arranged that Miss Cory and himself would increase the stock and operate the farm on shares. They then engaged in dairying for several

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

years, in the meantime purchasing a number of black Percheron mares. From these Mr. Miller raised many fine colts, some of which were sold at good prices. Among them were several excellent stallions, and he was largely instrumental in improving the quality of the work stock in this vicinity. Mr. Miller exhibited at the State Fair at Sacramento two years, winning each time on all of his entries either first or second prizes. He also had driving stock, among them a stallion that he bought as a small colt, which was both speedy and handsome, winning the first prize at the State Fair. He was called Stam Boy, being a son of Stam B. and grandson of old Stam- boul and on his dam's side a great-grandson of Elec- tioneer. The horse business becoming dull and the care made difficult on account of floods Mr. Miller finally disposed of the pure-bred stock. Owing to the numerous overflows from the diverting canal the land is now unsuitable for purposes to which he would otherwise devote it and the management of the property is beset with great difficulties at the present time.

GEORGE WENTWORTH CAMPBELL .- A

· former well-known citizen of Stockton, George Went- worth Campbell passed away at his home in that city, March 14, 1905. For many years he had been one of the prosperous business men of Stockton, where he conducted a draying business, and as man of happy, genial nature and thorough integrity he had a large acquaintance and is held in grateful remem- brance by his fellow-citizens. He came of hardy New England ancestors and was born at Argyle, Maine, April 9, 1828. Late in the '40s in company with his father, he left Boston, Mass., in a sailing vessel bound for California via Cape Horn. The trip consumed one year and while enroute the father passed away and the son immediately returned to his native state with the body. As soon as he could conveniently do so, he again set sail for California via Cape Horn and duly arrived in San Francisco and went direct to the mines in Calaveras County; then engaged in teaming to the Southern mines from Stockton, hauling sup- plies to the mines. Later he established a draying business in Stockton which he conducted until his death in 1905.

The marriage of Mr. John Campbell occurred May 13, 1863, uniting him with Miss Mary Ann Grace, a native of Ireland, and six children were born to this pioneer couple; Mrs. Grace Myers resides in San Francisco; Florilla; Charles F .; John P .; and Mrs. H. W. Spurr. George H., the oldest son, died in Stockton January 1, 1909; Mrs. Campbell passed away on June 18, 1919. Miss Florilla Campbell has been closely identified with educational matters in San Joaquin County since her graduation from the Stockton high school, first as teacher in the district schools of Fairview and Elkhorn and later in the Stockton city schools. She taught in the Franklin school, then was principal of the Grant school. She is past president of San Joaquin Parlor No. 5, N. D. G. W., and has at all times taken a very active part in all the affairs of the organization. Mr. Campbell was prominent in fraternal circles in Stockton, being a charter member of Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., and after returning to Stockton from San Francisco, where he resided for a few years, he joined Truth Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F. He was also a member of the Volunteer Firemen of Stockton.

NATHAN ROSWELL BARBOUR, M. D .- The

medical profession in San Joaquin County has an able exponent in Dr. Nathan Roswell Barbour, who has engaged in practice in Lockeford and vicinity since 1883. A native son of the Golden State, he was born in Suisun Valley, on August 26, 1853, a son of Nathan and Nancy (Alford) Barbour. Nathan Barbour was born in New York state, while the mother was a native of Virginia, and the young people were married in Missouri and crossed the plains with the Pyle-Whiteman party, just ahead of the ill-fated Donner party. Nathan Barbour was a carpenter by trade and built the hotel at Benicia, which he owned for a time. He went into the woods of Sonoma County and cut the timber and hauled it by teams to Benicia. Nathan and Roswell Barbour, father and uncle of Dr. Barbour, both served in the Mexican War under Fremont and he has their dis- charge papers signed by General Fremont. During the year of 1849, Nathan Barbour mined at Hang- town and in 1850 he bought a ranch in the Suisun Valley, consisting of 240 acres, and on this property he raised grain and stock. The following children were born to Nathan Barbour and his wife: those living are Eli, Nancy, Nathan Roswell and Julia. Those deceased are Amelia, William, Nellie, May, Florence and Kate Viola. The father was born in 1813 and died in 1872; the mother, who was born in 1827, died in 1869.

The education of Nathan R. Barbour began in the district school in the upper part of the Suisun Valley and was completed in the Oakland schools, then he topped off with a six months' course at Heald's Business College in San Francisco. Deciding to take up the study of medicine he studied the rudi- ments for one year, then completed his medical studies at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1881. He then spent one year in New Mexico. His father having passed away, he returned to Suisun as administrator of his estate; later he spent a short time at Fairfield, Vaca- ville, and Colusa, and in 1883 settled in Lockeford where he has practiced medicine since that time. Upon his arrival in Lockeford, he purchased a home and in 1912 built a modern, up-to-date bungalow where the old house stood.

Dr. Barbour's marriage occurred in Napa, Cal., on October 7, 1884, and united him with Miss Nellie Josephine Powell, a native of Monticello, Minn., a daughter of William and Barbara (Barrett) Powell. Her father, William Powell, was of English descent and engaged in farming for a time; later was a mer- chant in Monticello. Her mother passed away in Minnesota in 1869 and about 1871 the father brought his family to California and resided here until his death. Mrs. Barbour received her education in the Napa schools. Dr. and Mrs. Barbour are the parents of two children: Nathan Powell Barbour, a practic- ing physician residing in Stockton, and Roswell Powell Barbour, real estate dealer at Lodi. Dr. Barbour has been a member of the Masonic frater- nity since 1882, demitted from the Suisun Lodge No. 55 to Lodi Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M., in 1886, and he served for two years as inspector of this district. He joined the Royal Arch Chapter in Suisun in 1883, and Vallejo Commandery that same year; he is past grand of Progressive Lodge No. 134, I. O. O. F., at Lockeford, which order he joined in 1884. Mrs. Bar- bour is past noble grand of the Lockeford Rebekahs, of which Dr Barbour is also a member. Both Dr.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

and Mrs. Barbour were members of the Eastern Star Chapter, but now have their demit. Dr. Barbour belongs to the American Institute of Homeopathy and to the California Homeopathic Medical Society. Politically he is an adherent of the Socialist party. He is keenly interested in everything that pertains to the general welfare of the community in which he has resided for so many years, and has given his support to matters of a constructive nature.

CORNELIUS SWAIN .- When Cornelius Swain passed away at his Stockton residence, March 26, 1904, San Joaquin County lost a venerable and pro- gressive citizen and a pioneer of 1853. Having come to the county among the early settlers, he at once became identified with the best interests of this section of the state; and throughout his career he gave constant evidence not only of his individual success, but of a broad-spirited citizenship which meant the welfare of all people and institutions with which he came in contact. He was a man of irre- proachable character, earnest in the serious affairs of life, kind and helpful in the family circle, and rec- ognized for his honesty and sterling integrity in all his relations with mankind. For many years, in fact throughout the greater part of his active career, he engaged in the various departments of farming on his ranch located about six miles from Stockton on Cherokee Lane, where he had been one of the early settlers in 1853. A native of Nashville, Tenn., he was born February 17, 1826, being a son of John and Mary (Armes) Swain, natives of North Caro- lina and Pennsylvania, respectively. In 1830 the family migrated to Franklin County, Ill., where he lived until the age of eighteen, when he returned and lived a number of years in Tennessee. In 1850 he moved to Jackson County, Mo., which was his home until his removal to California.

While a resident of Jackson County, Mo., on March 4, 1851, he was married to Miss Juliza C. Davis, born January 1, 1829, a daughter of Anderson and Hannah N. (Head) Davis. Her father, a native of North Carolina, resided for some years in Ken- tucky before his removal to Jackson County, Mo. Her mother, who was born in Virginia, went with her parents to Jackson County in the very early days of that part of the state. Her paternal grandfather, John Davis, had served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Swain were the parents of six children: John A .; Joseph H .; Mary; Charles, deceased; George; and Jesse, all born on the home ranch in San Joaquin County, with the exception of John A., who was born before they left Missouri.

On April 28, 1853, Mr. Swain, with his wife and one son, left his Missouri home, and with ox teams drove over the broad western prairies to California, being just five months on the journey, arriving on September 28, 1853. They camped first on the spot where the Eldorado Brewery now stands. Later in the same year they located on the ranch on Cherokee Lane, about six miles from Stockton, which has ever since been known as the Swain ranch, and on which Mr. Swain made his long and prosperous rec- ord as an agriculturist. His ranch was covered with a thick growth of brush, which he cleared. He fenced and farmed the property, planted a family orchard, and engaged in raising fine horses and mules. This was the family home for forty-two years, until 1895, when he and his wife removed to

Stockton and made their home at the pleasant place at 2 East Flora Street, where they both remained until they passed away, Mr. Swain in 1904 and his wife in 1908.

In the early days Mr. Swain had a contract to cut and bale 200 tons of wild oats and hay for G. Jos- eph, who engaged in teaming with mules to the mines. The hay was cut with a hand scythe and baled by hand, and Mr. Swain received fifty dollars per ton for it. . Mr. Swain was well known in Ma- sonic circles, being affiliated with Morning Star Lodge No. 68 and Chapter, at Stockton. He was popular and held in high esteem throughout the county, and had once been a candidate for the office of county treasurer. Mr. Swain was one of the organizers and for many years served as trustee of the Davis school district, the schoolhouse being located on a part of his ranch. He was one of the promoters of the Farmer's Union, and served as director of the San Joaquin Valley Bank. He and some of his friends were the first to build a good gravel road out of Stockton, and for years it was a toll road.

CHRISTOPH M. BATTERMAN .- A useful and prominent citizen, whose success as a grain-farmer has given him an enviable influence in helping to shape the destiny of San Joaquin County as a great agricultural region is Christoph M. Batterman, who resides near Banta. He was born at San Francisco on May 1, 1868, and when a mere babe-in-arms was brought into San Joaquin County by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. C. Batterman, pioneers and com- munity builders of the West Side. They were na- tives of Germany, and brought with them the in- dustrious and thrifty habits and that knowledge of agriculture for which their native land was so long famous; and they were not long in acquiring the home-ranch near Banta.

When, therefore, our subject reached his fourteenth year, he went to work on the farm; and there he has been engaged as a successful agriculturist ever since, having as a boy received a good common-school education. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-nine years old, and then, at Mt. Eaton, near Hayward, in Alameda County, he was married to Miss Anna Rippe, who first saw the light near San Lorenzo, and enjoyed a good training in the common schools in Alameda County. Her parents, Christian and Doris (Dunker) Rippe were also natives of Germany, and they settled in California in 1877. One son, Henry C. Batterman, was born to this for- tunate union, and he is attending the West Side Union high school. The father of our subject passed away at Tracy on October 17, 1918, preceded, on May 19, 1905, by his devoted wife.

Mr. Batterman now owns the western half-section of No. 24, a portion of which is cut off by the town- site of Banta; and as he cultivates the soil there, bringing forth exceptional crops and maintaining a modest ranch of permanent attraction to all well- versed in agricultural pursuits and problems, he pro- secutes his arduous labors with greater satisfaction, recollecting that he is continuing to operate what has been the widely-known Batterman home-place since the late nineties, long the center of a generous hos- pitality, shared by many an appreciative guest, neigh- bor, fellow-citizen, and wayfarer.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JOHN A. SWAIN .- A prominent citizen of Stock- ton, and among the oldest residents of the city, is John A. Swain, who has been identified with the city's agricultural and other interests throughout his active career. The family home is located at 336 West Acacia Street, and his excellent farming estate is lo- cated on the Lower Sacramento Road, about three and a half miles north of Stockton. This ranch, which has so long been under his careful manage- ment, contains 480 acres, twenty acres of which is in vineyard, while the greater part of the remaining acreage is given up to grain raising. This is a model country estate and Mr. Swain is known as one of the most successful ranchers in the county. When Mr. Swain settled thereon in 1877 it was almost en- tirely unimproved, much of the land being covered with dense underbrush that had to be cleared before it could be cultivated; and it is owing to his energy and progressiveness that it has been brought into its present fine condition.

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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 89

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