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 94

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 94

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

the block which he had built being torn down to make room for the hotel.

In 1872, Mr. Gnekow gave up blacksmithing and carriage building to engage in the real estate busi- ne SS In early days he owned the half block now a part of the Holt Manufacturing Company's grounds on South Aurora Street, paying $300 for it and sell- ing it for $350. He bought a part of the Walker tract and offered it to the Odd Fellows for a build- ing site, but the lodge decided to build elsewhere and so did not take advantage of his generous offer. He became extensively interested in realty opera- tions and was very successful, amassing a compe- tence during the years of his activity.

Always a Republican, Mr. Gnekow was very ac- tive in politics and served as city councilman of Stockton and as supervisor of San Joaquin County. He was a member of the old volunteer fire depart- ment, whose roster included the leading business men of the early days, and he was prominent in the ranks of the Exempt Firemen in later years. A devout member of the German Methodist Church, he taught a Bible class there for many years. He was a great student of the Bible, having read it through many times, and could quote any familiar passage. His aid was always freely given to any of the church's benefactions. He joined the Odd Fellows Lodge in 1861, becoming a member of all its branches, and at the time of his death was one of its two oldest living members. A gold medal was presented to him by his fellow members in celebration of the fifty-fifth anniversary of his membership in that or- der. He was a Past Noble Grand of Stockton Lodge No. 11, and for many years held the office of treas- urer. He was made a citizen of this country in 1855, and entered heartily into the spirit of his adopt- ed land, never regretting the step that led him to cast in his lot on these shores. Among his other interests he was a director of the Stockton Savings & Loan Association. His passing away on January 13, 1920, depleted the fast-thinning ranks of those pioneers to whom full recognition is due for the labors they performed in the early days, making pos- sible the comfort and progress of today.

At Stockton, in 1860, Mr. Gnekow was married to Christiana Bollinger, who was born at Wurtemburg, Germany, and came to California by way of the Isthmus in the late fifties. Her brother, Gottlieb Bollinger, was a pioneer minister, building the Ger- man Methodist Church at Marysville, and later the German Methodist Church on South Sutter Street, Stockton, where he was pastor. Mrs. Gnekow passed away March 15, 1915, the mother of eleven children, nine of whom are living: Edward L., Frank W., Chas. D., William H., C. Cordelia, Dr. Emilie L., Nettie C. (wife of Thomas Bonney), Rudolph J. K., and Mrs. Rose E. Heeb. Dr. Emilie L. Gnekow, prominent among the medical fraternity of Stockton, attended the public schools of Stockton, took a course of training at Lane Hospital, San Francisco, graduated from Northwestern University, Chicago, in 1901, and has been engaged in the successful practice of her profession ever since. She is a mem- ber of the Greek Medical Fraternity, a member and Past Grand of the Rebekahs, and a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West and of the Women of Woodcraft, being examining physician of the latter two, and belongs to the San Joaquin Med- ical Society.

P. H. STITT .- There is ample opportunity in a city with such great possibilities as has Stockton for the exercise of the energies of those engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and among the most enterprising and successful men in those lines is P. H. Stitt, who was born in Brockville, Province of Ontario, Canada, on January 12, 1869, being the youngest son of James H. Stitt and Louise Nettleton. Mr. Stitt's father was born in Spencerville, Ontario, Canada, his mother, Louise Nettleton, being a daugh- ter of Philemon. Nettleton, a Pennsylvania Dutch descendant of the Pilgrim Fathers, who landed in America in 1620. The subject of this sketch was named after his grandfather, his full name being Philemon Herbert Stitt. Eight children were born to James H. Stitt and Louise, his wife, P. H. Stitt and one sister being all that remain alive. Mr. Stitt's grandfather, Philemon Nettleton, left New York in 1849, on a sailing vessel for California, but died of ship fever, and was buried at sea, when abreast Cape Horn. Mr. Stitt's father was killed in a railway accident in 1870, his mother, left with eight chil- dren, the youngest being the man about whom this article is being written. Two of the children died later, but the brave little mother, whose memory her son reveres because of her many splendid qualities, struggled on and reared her family as only a truly Christian mother could. She was highly educated, gentle in disposition and of unusual charm. All who knew her testified as to her being generally loved, it being a common expression among her acquaintances, that she was never known to show anger under any circumstances. She was a Wesleyan Methodist, and God finally called her to Him in 1882, when P. H. Stitt was about seventeen years of age.

At the age of eighteen years, P. H. Stitt was em- ployed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and served as agent for this company for over eighteen years. In 1901, he was transferred to Vic- toria, British Columbia, as superintendent of the company; and in 1902, was sent to Stockton to rep- resent that company as district agent where he suc- ceeded in developing a fine business for the company. In 1907 he quit the life insurance business and formed a partnership with Sidney N. Hodgkins, under the firm name of Hodgkins & Stitt and em- barked in the real estate and general insurance busi- ness; this partnership was dissolved in 1914 and Mr. Stitt opened up an office and has succeeded in build- ing up a large business for himself. He has popular- ized the idea of owning one's home by the slogan, "Build your own home." In 1918, he took over the Tuxedo Park properties, a subdivision consisting of 400 acres in the fashionable residence section of the northwest part of Stockton; this district was recently annexed to Stockton, which has added over a million and a quarter dollars to the valuation of Stockton and $30,000 annually in taxes; before this property was placed on the market, all improvements, such as sewers, sidewalks, gas and electric service, were made. Mr. Stitt has made a wonderful record in the building of this portion of Stockton; the first year sixty homes were erected representing one-half mil- lion dollars; this record has been kept up and forty acres only is left of this fine tract of land; within the past two years, 150 homes have been built. Since 1903, he has been the sole representative of the Aetna Life Insurance Company and has become known as Stockton's Aetnaizer, being one of the Aetna's lead-

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

ing agents in California. His insurance clientele has grown steadily and he is considered an authority on insurance matters.

By his first wife, Mr. Stitt had three children, James H. is a practicing attorney in Winnipeg, Man- itoba, Canada. During the World's War, he served overseas eighteen months in the trenches, being com- missioned as lieutenant during this war; William H. is interested with his father in the real estate and insurance business; Charles M., the other son by this marriage, is also in his father's office. His second marriage united him with Miss Clarice Haas, a native of Stockton and a daughter of a California pioneer. They are the parents of three children: Philip attending Hitchcock Military Academy at San Rafael, Cal .; Natalie Clarice, and Burton, a baby boy of two years of age.

Mr. Stitt was the first president of the recently organized Lions Club of Stockton, and is a mem- ber of the Yosemite and Country Clubs. He also holds a position on the Board of Directors of Stock- ton Chamber of Commerce. Although one of Stock- ton's busiest men, he has given unstintingly of his time to community activities. During the World War, he served on all the campaign committees, including Red Cross, Salvation Army, Y. M. C. A. and Liberty Loan. He was also one of the valuable four-minute speakers. He was a member of the board of directors of the Stockton Y. M. C. A. for over ten years, serving as president of this board during the year 1919. . He is a member of all the Masonic bodies in Stockton, as well as of the Oak- land Consistory and Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Oakland. He is known among his friends as the man who has a "voice with a smile that wins." He believes in spreading happiness wherever he goes, and those who know him agree that he is suc- ceeding at the job. Honorable in his dealings, indus- trious in disposition, his influence is ever used un- sparingly in promoting the welfare of Stockton, and his many friends esteem him for his public zeal and his many excellent qualities.

DERVIN K. WOODS .- Among the enterprising ranchers of San Joaquin County is Dervin K. Woods, whose fields and vineyards are indicative of careful su- pervision and progressive methods and he is numbered among the leading agriculturists and fruit raisers of San Joaquin County. He was born in Creston, Iowa, July 27, 1875, a son of Harvey B. and Elizabeth (Knox) Woods, both natives of Pennsylvania. Har- vey B. Woods first came to California in 1852 from his native state and stopped at Marysville; returning East he enlisted in the Civil War and finally in 1884, returned to California and settled at Fresno, where he engaged in buying and selling stock. Dervin K. is the youngest in a family of four children. Elmer E. Woods resides at Salem, Ore., Frank P. is at Lodi, Ella became Mrs. Johnson and both she and her husband died in 1923. The mother passed away at the birth of our subject and the father lived to be eighty-four years old, dying in 1914.

Dervin K. Woods received his education in the grammar schools of Fresno and at the age of eighteen years he began to earn his own way in the world. He learned the printing trade and worked on the Fresno Expositor for five years, then went to Ba- kersfield where he worked for three years on the Ba- kersfield Standard. He then spent a year in the East in various localities and returning to California in 35

1899, settled in the Lodi district, San Joaquin County.

On October 24, 1900, on the Fowler ranch six miles southwest of Lodi, Mr. Woods was married to Miss Addie Fowler, a daughter of Joseph Miner and Eliza B. (Brumley) Fowler, whose sketch will be found on another page in this history. Mrs. Woods received her education at the Lafayette district school of San Joaquin County. Mrs. Woods received 160 acres from her father's estate, twenty-two acres of which was sold and the remaining 138 is devoted to vineyard and grain raising. There was a fine old vineyard on the place, but Mr. Woods grubbed it out many years ago, and has since set forty-six acres to vineyard, which is now a fine bearing one. He has installed one eight, one six and one five-inch pump run by two electric motors, and a twelve horsepower engine. Mr. and Mrs. Woods had five daughters, Ella M., Celia A .; Winifred, Nileta, died aged five and Addie June. Both our subject and his wife had a wide acquaintance in the locality in which they make their home, and enjoy the warm regard and friendship of those with whom they associate.

EUGENE DOUGLAS GRAHAM .- One of the most popular officials of San Joaquin County who holds a most enviable and honorable record, is Eugene Douglas Graham, who was born on his father's ranch just north of the metropolis of San Joaquin County, January 22, 1866, a son of Robert L. and Caroline R. (Stokes) Graham, natives of Logan County, Ky., who lived to see their son so greatly honored by his fellow- citizens. The Graham family is of Scotch-Irish lineage, the ancestors being early settlers of Vir- ginia, members of the family serving in the Revo- lutionary War. Grandfather Graham removed from Virginia, making his way over the mountains to Logan County, Ky., in 1808, where he reared his family. The Stokes family are traced back to Ger- many. Great-grandfather Stokes was born in Stutt- gart, Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to Richmond, Va., when a very young man. Here he entered the Continental Army, serving under Washington as a fifer in the Revolutionary War, being wounded in battle, and he carried the bullet until his death; he left a widow and three children, among them Grand- father Stephen Stokes, who migrated to Logan County, Ky., and there he married and was a pioneer in the development of the Blue Grass State.

Robert L. Graham left his native state with his family for California, crossing the plains in 1852 in an emigrant train of wagons drawn by oxen com- manded by Captain Wood, men driving their loose cattle and stock with them. As one of the pioneers Robert Graham preferred farming to mining and located on a ranch near Lodi, where he followed agriculture all his life. The mother passed away on the home place September 15, 1915, and then the father lived with our subject but did not long survive his life companion, for he passed away November 17, of the same year.

This worthy couple had four children: Eugene D., the subject of this review; Robert L., a successful druggist in Lodi, died suddenly of heart failure while on a trip in the Yosemite Valley, June 2, 1922; Su- relda, Mrs. S. H. Hale of Amador County; Della B., the wife of Otto Seegers, died in Stockton in 1908. Eugene D. grew up on his father's farm and from a boy assisted in the work on the ranch learning to drive the big teams in the vast grain fields of that

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day. However, his education was not neglected for he attended the public school in Lodi and after com- pleting the course he supplemented it with a course at the old Stockton Business College, now "Heald's," where he was duly graduated in 1885.

As early as the age of thirteen he started to make his own living, his first employment being assistant postmaster at Lodi, a very responsible task for a youth of his age, but he early showed that thorough- ness to make the details of anything he undertook and soon developed into a painstaking and efficient assistant, so much so that he was continued in the position until he was twenty with the exception of the time he finished school and also the time re- quired for his business course. In 1886 he again took up farming, first on his father's ranch and then grain farming on his own account, and for the purpose leased a ranch north of Stockton.

Soon after this he chose his life companion, the marriage ceremony being performed at Modesto Sep- tember 5, 1888, uniting him with Miss Frances E. Mann, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of D. L. and Elizabeth J. (Sutherland) Mann, also natives of the Hawkeye State. Her father served in the Civil War and afterwards was a locomotive engineer. Bringing his family to California in 1869, when the daughter Frances was a babe in arms, Mr. Mann engaged in farming near Dixon, Solano County, for some years and then came to Modesto, Stanislaus County, where he farmed until he retired and- moved to Stockton, and there he and his wife died in Janu- ary, 1919, their deaths occurring two weeks apart.

After his marriage Eugene Graham continued farm- ing until January, 1895, when he was appointed dep- uty county clerk under Otto Grunsky, serving for five years, when he resigned to again engage in grain farming on a ranch near Lodi. In 1902 he was nomi- nated on the Republican ticket as a candidate for county clerk and was elected in the fall of that year by a majority of 1,000 out of 8,000 votes cast, taking the oath of office in January, 1903. He has since then served uninterrupted, being re-elected every four years without opposition, an unprecedented record in the state of California and undoubtedly the longest continuous service in the state as county clerk. When he took office in 1903 the office was conducted in one room with the aid of four deputies. The gradual increase of the business of the office now requires four rooms and ten deputies, and the county's regis- tration increased from 8,000 to over 30,000. How- ever, it has been Mr. Graham's policy to always keep the expenses of the office down to a minimum in the matter of assistants as well as in the securing of supplies. He has been a close student of the election laws and his many years' experience makes him an authority on ballots and balloting, his advice being frequently sought by professional as well as laymen. Mr. Graham's watchword is economy and efficiency, and taxpayers are unanimous in their praise of the conduct of the office and of the universal courtesy accorded all who have business in his department. During the World War Mr. Graham served as secre- tary of the county exemption board and for a time was a member of the County Council of Defense. He has always manifested a keen interest in farming, and owns a forty-acre ranch near Lodi which he is planning to develop to orchard and vineyard.

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene D. Graham have been blessed with three sons: R. Ellsworth is deputy county clerk

of Department No. 2, San Joaquin County; Lloyd L. is engaged in the grocery business in his home city, and Dr. E. Myrle Graham, a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of San Francisco, is prac- ticing his profession in Stockton. He was in the med- ical division of the U. S. Navy, serving overseas on the Hospital Ship "Mercy." Mr. Graham is promi- nent in fraternal circles, being a member of Truth Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E., Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., the Woodmen of the World and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is deeply zealous for the future greatness of his county and never allows an opportunity to pass to boost for and extol the great natural resources of this wonderfully rich and productive region, and he is ever ready to give of his time and means to aid in movements that have for their aim its development.

EDWARD C. WAGNER .- Thoroughness, indus- try and trained business judgment may be said to be distinguishing characteristics of Edward C. Wag- ner, president of the Wagner Leather Company. He was born in Stockton, November 24, 1869, the son of the late Charles Wagner. The success at- tending his career has not been due to any whim of fortune, but to years of painstaking work and consistent application. Although he is always a busy man, he is never too busy to recall with a smile the school days of a generation ago, with the pranks of now prominent citizens who were his chums.

Mr. Wagner's father was a very practical man. When Edward had completed his ordinary school course, he was sent to the old business college at the corner of Hunter Street and Miner Avenue. Then came his practical education as a tanner. Although his father held out to him the possibility that he might be one day the head of the great business which the Wagners had founded, he was put against the heaviest part of the work and passed through all the departments. He worked with the tan bark, in the engine room, and at pipe and carpenter work, and finally passed on to the more technical parts of the tanner's trade. Young Wagner was fortunate in that he was placed among elderly men, who, appreciating his desire to learn, were helpful to him and imparted all the knowledge at their disposal. It did not matter what the task might be or how long the hours of labor, the young man stuck to it and never passed from one department to another until his knowledge was complete. Another faculty stood him well in hand. He recognized that business is progressive and that the man who would succeed must keep abreast of the times and adjust his meth- ods to its demands. Accordingly, Mr. Wagner has always been alert to adopt every proven im- provement. As a result, the Wagner Leather Com- pany's plant has been kept modern in every respect, and the business methods have been kept up-to-date.

Mr. Wagner was married in 1900 to Miss Nellie Hellwig, and they are the parents of two children, Edward H. and Charles C. The Wagners come from a long line of tanners, and it is noteworthy that when Mr. Wagner married, his bride was the daughter of a prominent tanner of San Francisco. Although a busy man always, Mr. Wagner finds time for a delightful home life and for outside as- sociations that keep him in touch with the social activities of the day. He is a member of the San Francisco Commercial Club and the Olympic Club of San Francisco, of the Yosemite Club, of the

Regine &Graham.

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Stockton Country and Golf Club, and of the Native Sons of the Golden West, at Stockton. In politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Wagner has traveled extensively on both busi- ness and pleasure, and is personally familiar with conditions in all business centers. He has specialized to a large extent in the export business, and it is known that this department of his company is han- dled in keeping with the best rules known to com- merce. In his personal relations he is a man of agreeable personality, considerate and helpful toward others. This has found practical expression in his relation with his men. In the business of which he is the head will be found men who have never had another employer, being devoted to their work and the success of the great tannery.

As a Stocktonian Mr. Wagner is always in line with the best constructive thought. While conserv- ative in his attitude, he stands always for progress along proven lines. His first business is always to attend to his own large responsibilities, but he finds time to give public matters the attention and thought that qualify him as a wise adviser and capable leader. When looking for Mr. Wagner, look for a man who has the gait and action and vigor of a man in his prime. He has arrived at great success while the years of young manhood are still with him.

JOHN NICHOLAS TONE .- A wide-awake, pro- gressive rancher, whose commendable enterprise has steadily brought him handsome returns, is John Nicholas Tone, who has a very trim farm of 335 acres, 111/2 miles out of Stockton, on what is popu- larly known as the Jack Tone Road. He was born on the old, historic Jack Tone ranch, on April 24, 1866, the son of John Henley and Alice M. (Walsh) Tone, a worthy couple also represented in the biographical memoirs in this volume. Our subject first attended school in the Moore school district, and by his fifteenth year had finished with the fifth reader. He then stayed at home for a year, and then took a course of five months at the Sacramento In- stitute, following that up, for a short time, with studies at the Santa Clara College, and topping off his preparation for life's struggle with a course in the Stockton Business College in 1883-1884.

John Nicholas Tone has always remained on the old John Tone ranch, and now owns the handsome tract of 335 acres of what was long his father's famous acreage. As far back as 1873, the large two- story brick residence was substantially constructed, and ever since then has been the hospitable Tone home. Besides being a member of the San Joaquin County Pioneer organization (since the sons of the pioneers were admitted to the order), he was one of the organizers of the Tokay Colony district school, and is now clerk of the school board. He is a Re- publican in matters of national political import, but non-partisan in all movements making for local advancement and improvement.

At Stockton, on February 3, 1904, Mr. Tone was married to Miss Grace G. Talbot, who was born near Linden, the daughter of Patrick and Margaret Tal- bot. Her father came to California a genuine Argo- naut, in the glorious year of '49, sailing with thou- sands of others around the Horn, and Margaret came to California in 1852, by way of the Isthmus Route. Mr. Talbot first mined in the romantic Mariposa district, and then, finding the appeal of the soil-tiller greater than that of the digger of possible gold, he

settled on a farm at Linden. Ten children were in time born to them; Margaret, now deceased; May C., John A., Elizabeth, Clara Augusta, Fannie, deceased, Thomas, deceased, Grace C., William, deceased; one child died in infancy. Mrs. Tone attended the Linden schools, and has many happy recollections of her school days. Six children have been granted her and her husband. Margaret and Alice are attending the Dominican College at San Rafael; and the others are John H., Mary Genevieve, Richard N., and Theodore T. Tone. The family are devout Catholics, and Mr. Tone is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also belongs to the Elks at Stockton, and no one is more welcome in that circle.

MRS. ALICE M. TONE .- A pioneer of California and of San Joaquin County, Mrs. Alice M. Tone, residing at 135 East North Street, Stockton, is round- ing out her life amidst the scenes of her girlhood, sur- rounded by those she loves. She is a true representa- tive of the sturdy womanhood that braved the perils of the long and tedious journey to California in the early days. . She came from her New York home to California by way of Nicaragua in 1853, when she accompanied her mother and brothers to join husband and father in the Golden State. Her father, Nicholas Walsh, was a Forty-niner. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, where he was married to Elizabeth Brannan and where their two oldest children, Alice M. and Thomas Walsh, were born. The latter is well and favorably known throughout this county. With his family, Nicholas Walsh set sail for America in 1842, landing in New York and living there until 1849. Two boys were born in that state: Henry W., now living on the Jack Tone road near Stockton, and Charles, deceased.

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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 94

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