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 96

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1660

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accept, but each time he was firm in his refusal. While he declined the honor for himself, however, he was eager to aid his party, and in 1888, by act- ing as chairman of the city and county central com- mittees, he carried the county for the Democrats.

When twenty-three years of age, Mr. Budd served on the staff of Governor Irwin. As a cadet in the University of California he became connected with the National Guard, and at graduation held the rank of first lieutenant. Later he received successive pro- motions to the ranks of major of brigade staff, lieu- tenant-colonel on the governor's staff, and major of the line; and when Governor he was entitled briga- dier-general. During 1889 he became a member of the board of police and fire commissioners of Stock- ton. For six years he was a trustee of the Stockton city library, which was made a depository for public books and documents covering an issue of ten years.

In 1894 the Democratic convention, assembled at San Francisco, nominated Mr. Budd for governor, his Republican opponent being the late Morris M. Estee, afterward appointed United States circut judge in the Hawaiian Islands. The popularity of the Dem- ocratic candidate was shown by the fact that he was the only man on the Democratic ticket elected, and ran over 33,000 votes ahead of his ticket. Spen- cer G. Millard, the Republican nominee for lieuten- ant-governor, was elected, but died ten months after his inauguration and was succeeded under appoint- ment by William T. Jeter, who had been the gov- ernor's running mate for the office of lieutenant- governor. The campaign of 1894 will long be re- membered in California. It was almost unbelievable that Budd should defeat Estee and should be able to overcome a 20,000 Republican majority. But this is precisely what happened. The year 1894 was a year of political upheaval. Budd was elected governor and Sutro was elected mayor of San Fancisco.

During the executive administration of Governor Budd, the taxes were reduced, and many reforms were brought about in the interests of economy and good government. His term was one of the most suc- cessful of any of the governors. Upon retiring from office he practiced law in San Francisco, and it is said that the returns of his large and important prac- tice enabled him to accumulate a fortune in a com- paratively short period. The failure of his health, how- ever, caused him to retire from professional labors, and during 1907 he traveled extensively in Europe, hoping to be benefited by the change, but only tem- porary relief was secured. In the spring of 1908 he returned from abroad and, feeling restored in part to his former health, announced his intention of re- siding in Stockton and maintaining his principal of- fices in that city, with a branch office in San Fran- cisco. The illness of his brother, John E. Budd, caused him to plan an automobile trip to Lake Ta- hoe, and the brothers spent several weeks at mountain health resorts; but meanwhile the ex-Governor con- tracted a cold that brought on a recurrence of rheu- matic and kidney troubles. Treatment under a spec- ialist in a San Francisco hospital proved of no avail, and he was brought to his Stockton residence, where the end came.

Mrs. James H. Budd was formerly Miss Inez A. Merrill, born near Hartford, Conn., on August 2, 1851; in 1856 she was brought to California by her parents, Marcus H. and Celinda A. (Clough) Mer- rill, natives respectively of Connecticut and Mas-

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sachusetts. The marriage of Mr. Budd and Miss Merrill was solemnized in Stockton, October 29, 1873, and was the consumation of a romance begun when they attended the same school in Stockton. In every respect Mrs. Budd was fitted to be the wife of a man of genius and brilliant mind.

One of the most brilliant men ever in California was lost to the state in the death of Mr. Budd. Na- ture had liberally endowed him, and to this endow- ment he had added by industrious application .. Sup- plementing a brilliant mind, were great generosity of disposition, earnest philanthropy, a sincere love of children, an unfailing courtesy toward the aged, and the utmost consideration for others. Wherever the need might arise, there was the helpful hand, there was the kindly act. Many remember him less as the influential governor or the brilliant Congress- man than as "Jim" Budd, the devoted friend. His genial disposition won to him even those of different political opinions, and he never permitted differences of opinion to interfere with his friendships. It was said of him that he would travel a thousand miles to do a friend a favor, and none of his friends were dearer to him than the comrades of his early days in Stockton, the men who then admired and now remember with affection the generous, witty, gen- ial "Jim" Budd, a friend unchanged toward them by manifold successes of a brilliant career.

HON. JOSEPH H. BUDD .- Associated for al- most forty-five years with the activities of San Joa- quin County and the improvement and development of the city of Stockton, Joseph H. Budd became one of the most prominent and progressive citizens of that section. He was an eye-witness to the re- markable growth and prosperity of the city and county, for this had been his home from the year 1858 until his death, February 21, 1902.

A native of the East, Joseph H. Budd was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., January 13, 1822, the son of James and Ellen Budd, also natives of the Empire State and descendants of families who had flour- ished for many generations in that commonwealth. Joseph H. Budd's boyhood days, like those of other farmers' sons of his acquaintance, were spent work- ing on his father's farm and attending school during the short term it was in session. However, as he had no special inclination toward following farming as a life-work, but on the other hand had a leaning toward professional life and became interested in the study of law when he was little more than a boy. With the idea of preparing himself for the profession of the law, he supplemented his early school training by a course in Williams College, graduating from that institution in 1843, at the age of twenty-one years. With this foundation as a basis, he gave his atten- tion thereafter to the study of law, taking his legal training in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he was duly admitted to the bar. In 1847 he located in Wiscon- sin, and during the ten years he was identified with the state attained high rank in legal circles. 'Locating in Janesville, he opened an office for the practice of his profession, at first carrying on his practice alone, but later being associated with Lorenzo Sawyer, ex- judge of the United State circuit court, and also with John R. Bennett, of the district court of Wisconsin, both deceased. After a record of his successful prac- tice in Wisconsin, Mr. Budd came to California in 1858, locating first in Woodbridge; but after remain- ing there a year, he came to Stockton, and in this

city, he made his home until his death. Soon after establishing his practice here he became associated with W. L. Dudley in the practice of law under the name of Dudley & Budd; and as both were men of brilliant legal attainments and keen

discrimination, they built up a large practice and had as clients some of the most in- fluential business men of the city. Politically, Mr. Budd was a stanch Democrat, a fact which, coup- led with his unique fitness for the position, led to his appointment as successor to Judge Baldwin; and later he was twice elected to the office of superior judge of Son Joaquin County. He also served two terms as city attorney of Stockton. At the time of his death he had served on the bench fifteen years, during which time he had gained the reputation of of being one of the best jurists in the state; and it is a well-known fact that his decisions were seldom re- versed. Many of the most prominent legal cases handled in the county were brought to him for settlement, among them being the well-known Mo- quelemos grant litigation.

While a resident of Janesville, Wis., Joseph H. Budd was united in marriage, June 4, 1849, to Lu- cinda M. Ash, who like himself was a native of New York State. Two children were born to them, James H. Budd, the late ex-Governor of California, and John E. Budd, a resident of Stockton many years, but now deceased. His wife brought with them from the East much of culture and refinement, and those early days they were leaders in the social life of Stockton. Personally, Mr. Budd was beloved by all with whom he came in contact. With his wife, he was a member of the Baptist Church. His life was a success; and while succeeding in a financial way, he never neglected his duties as a citizen, and much of the city's advancement can be traced to his foresight and substantial encouragement.

CARL DANGERS .- Over fifty years have passed since Carl Dangers came to California to cast his lot with the pioneers. He was born in Hanover, Ger- many, on September 11, 1840, a son of William and Rebecca (Engehausen) Dangers, also natives of Ger- many, both parents now deceased. Mr. Dangers is descended from an old Huguenot family in France, the name being D'Angers. Members of the family were obliged to flee from France at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and after settling in Germany the name became Dangers. The father brought his family on a sailing vessel, the trip taking forty-nine days, and they landed in Galveston, Texas, in the fall of 1854. The father bought a section of land in Gillespie County, Texas, and engaged in cattle raising; then removed to Mason County. At the time of his settling in Texas the country was wild and desolate, with buffaloes and Indians roving the country, but he remained there until 1873 when he sold out and came to California to join his sons, who had previously migrated to California. There were three sons and one daughter in his family, as fol- lows: August, deceased, Carl, George, deceased, and Mrs. Mina Salmon. August Dangers came from Cen- tral America to California in the '60s. He settled on Roberts Island where he bought land and farmed to grain and also raised chickory. He was married and passed away in 1907, leaving a daughter, Juanita.

Carl Dangers' education was obtained in excellent schools in Hanover, and having been a student and

bart Dangers

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

reader coupled with his years of experience have given him knowledge and wide range of informa- tion. During his residence in Texas he helped his father in the cattle business and during the Civil War drove herds of cattle into Old Mexico where he sold them; later he drove cattle to New Mexico and Colorado where he experienced many hardships and privations, encountering herds of buffaloes and Indians. Selling their cattle in Pueblo, in November of 1870 he and his brother George came to California on an emigrant train from Denver and joined their brother August in San Joaquin County and re- mained with him for two years; then he and his brother George bought 308 acres of the Meyer ranch near French Camp where they raised barley and chickory. George Dangers died in 1908. In 1909 Carl Dangers sold his ranch and moved to Stockton where he invested in real estate. He is now living retired from active life with his sister, Mrs. Mina Saloman, at 405 East Church Street; his niece, Miss Juanita Dangers, also resides there. He attends the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Dangers' early experi- ences at ranching were not all ease and comfort, but attended with hard work as well as disappointments. He has been through five floods, each covering the ranch, saved stock by driving to higher places, and living in the second story, coming and going in a boat. His interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of the state is deep and sincere, and in as far as he has found it possible has co- operated in public measures for the general good.

EDGAR WOODRUFF .- For thirty years active- ly identified with the development of Stockton as one of the city's best known building contractors, Edward Woodruff is now enjoying life in caring for his ten-acre fruit ranch at Linden. Mr. Woodruff was born at Fairbault, Minn., July 16, 1858, and af- ter finishing his schooling there he learned the car- penter's trade. He was only eighteen when he made his first venture as a building contractor, and since that time, until about a year ago, he has followed this work with great success. For ten years he operated in Lyon County, Minn., building residences, flour mills and elevators, and in the fall of 1890, he came to California, settling first at Oakdale, where he remained for eight months, arriving in Stock- ton in 1891, and this has since been his home.

Among the buildings Mr. Woodruff has erected in Stockton may be mentioned the following: the Stockton Record building, the Wheat and Starch factory, which later burned, the Baldwin Block, the Terry Building, superintended the construction of the Odd Fellows Building and the Stockton Hotel, built the German Methodist Church, the Odd Fel- lows Building at Tracy, the residences of Joe Peters on Cherokee Lane, Colonel Ketchum at Linden, and Francis Hodgkins, at Lathrop, and many of the fine homes of Stockton. He was a pioneer in the Sperry addition, as he bought the first lot and erected the first house there. It was still a grain field, having just been put on the market, and no streets had been put through. Mr. Woodruff built a wooden sidewalk from his residence to North Street and this was the first entrance to the tract. He bought a number of lots there, built and sold the houses and erected many homes for others. He still owns two apartment houses and two residences there.

While a resident of Minnesota, on May 30, 1888. 36

Mr. Woodruff was married to Miss Carrie B. Reed, a native of Rice County, that state, born August 7, 1864, and they have one daughter, Dorothy C., the wife of F. R. Shutes of the contracting firm of Shutes & Zinck. She is the mother of two children, Stanford Woodruff and Janet Ray. Since his re- tirement from the building business in 1921, Mr. Woodruff has devoted his time- to the development of his acre ranch at Linden, which he has owned for the past eight years, and through his care it has become a valuable property. It is planted to prunes and walnuts and ten tons of prunes were taken off of it in 1922. Mr. Woodruff is prominent in Odd Fellow circles, being a member of Truth Lodge.

GEORGE WOLF .- An early settler of Stockton who is a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War, is George Wolf, a successful groceryman, located at 147 North Aurora Street, Stockton. He inherited many of the sterling qualities of his forebears, and these, combined with his own initiative and determination, have brought him large degree of success. A native of Germany, he was born in Bavaria on November 22, 1848. He learned the trade of baker in his native land and was occupied in that line of work when the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870; he was re- cruited for the cavalry, but on account of his being a baker was attached to the bakery department; he was at the siege of Paris and baked bread in field ovens, under fire, and had many narrow escapes from being shot; however, he went through the entire campaign and accomplished his task under great difficulties. In 1876 he arrived in San Francisco and worked in a bakery, receiving $15 per month for the first three months, working from sixteen to eighteen hours per day; two years later he settled in Stockton and was employed by Jacob Miller in the City Bakery; later he was head baker for the State Bakery conducted by John Inglis. He then entered business for himself at the corner of Weber Avenue and Sutter Street on the site of the present Elks' building; after fourteen years in that location he sold out and bought the two- story brick block at the corner of Aurora and Chan- nel streets, his present location, where he has been since 1903; here he conducts a grocery store and has built up a fine trade. In 1901 Mr. Wolf purchased a piece of property at 828 East Miner Avenue where he built a home; later he moved the house back on the lot and erected a modern residence; this property he now leases.

Mr. Wolf's marriage at Stockton, May 14, 1901, united him with Miss Annie Tecklenburg, a native of San Francisco, Cal., a daughter of the well-known pioneer of San Joaquin County, Heiman Tecklen- burg, who came to California in 1866. Her father is a native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and sailed around the Horn to California in pion- eer days and has been occupied with farming pursuits for many years in the San Joaquin County. His wife, Margaretta Jurgens, also came to California around Cape Horn, making the long journey in 1867. The parents are still living and in 1920 celebrated their golden wedding. Of the seven children Mrs. Wolf is the oldest. She is pos- sessed of much business ability and is of the greatest assistance to her husband in conducting his mercan- tile establishment and Mr. Wolf accords her no small degree of credit for his success. Fraternally Mr. Wolf belongs to the German Order of Druids, in

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

which he is past arch and trustee; he is also a mem- ber of the Sons of Herman, in which he is a trustee. He is also a member of the American Order of For- esters and the Fidelty Society, while Mrs. Wolf is a member of Ivy Circle of Druids, in which she is past arch druid. They are both members of the German Methodist Church and contribute generously to it.

JOSEPH TRIMBLE REES .- Among the enter- prising boosters and builders up of Stockton must be mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Rees, who own valuable property and greatly enjoy the climate and advantages of the great San Joaquin Valley in whose future they have great faith. Mr. Rees is a native of the Buckeye State, born near Zanesville, March 23, 1847, a son of Jacob and Nancy (Goshen) Rees, farmers in Ohio until 1856, when they removed to Illinois, locating near Bloomington, where the father died and the mother spent her remaining days in Stanford, Il1.

Of their nine children, Joseph T. is the oldest child. He had a brother Amos who served in the 29th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War from 1861 and afterwards was in the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry until he was killed at Petersburg, Va., in 1864. Joseph T. was reared on the Illinois farm, receiving his education in the district schools. When seventeen years old in the spring of 1864 he volunteered in Company H, 145th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in at Camp Butler, Ill., and was sent into Missouri, where he served until he was mustered out in the fall of 1864.

On February 6, 1870, Mr. Rees was married at Bloomington, Ill., being united with Mrs. Christania Loretta (Price) Mahaffey, who was born in Huron County, Ohio, and came to Illinois with her parents when she was a child of five years of age. They set- tled on a farm twelve miles west of Bloomington where she grew to womanhood, attending local school held in a pioneer log school house with puncheon floors and s'ab benches. Her father, Ho- ratio B. C. Price, was a New Yorker, who had mar- ried Ruanny Goodrich, a native of the same state, of Welsh and German descent. Mrs. Rees also traces her lineage back to Benjamin Franklin. The Price family moved to Pennsylvania and later to Ohio. In 1850 the family located in McLean County, Ill., where they were pioneer families, and there this worthy couple resided until their death. Five of their seven children grew up, of whom Mrs. Rees is the young- est and the only one now living. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Rees engaged in farming in Butler County, Iowa, for three years when they re- turned to McLean County, Ill., where they followed agriculture. In 1876 they removed to Kansas, set- tling on a homestead near McPherson. In Kansas he was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Alli- ance Insurance Company, serving as director and treasurer for five years; the company was very suc- cessful and is still doing good business. He was also a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company and the Farmers' Co-operative Store in McPherson, be- ing a stockholder and director for twenty years.

As early as 1890 Mr. and Mrs. Rees made a trip to California spending two years at Stockton and at Burson, returning to Kansas, they farmed at Mc- Pherson until 1900, when they moved to Oklahoma where they were engaged in farming and stockrais- ing in the Kiowa country until March, 1910, they re- turned to California and took up their residence in

Stockton. They purchased property and improved if and now own an apartment house on South Pil- grim Street as well as a residence in the rear. They also own a nice residence on Washington Street and four residences at the corner of Hazelton and Sierra Nevada streets, housing in all thirteen families. Their investment is proving a profitable one and they have been true upbuilders of the city. They have also bought and sold several other properties and own lots in and near Tuxedo Park. Mr. and Mrs. Rees have been blessed with five children, three of whom grew to manhood, and are living. Joseph Hubbard Rees is a very successful farmer at Roosevelt, Okla .; Ezra Grant is a contractor at Enid, Okla., and is also a preacher in the Christian Church; he had a son Her- ald, who served overseas in the World War; and Nancy Edith, Mrs. Schmalzried, resides in Stockton. By her former marriage Mrs. Rees had three chil- dren that are living: Newton Mahaffey, a contractor in Stockton; Wm. H. Mahaffey, a contractor in the Wyoming oil fields; and Adella, Mrs. McCombs, of Galena, Kansas. She had a son, Robert McCombs, who served overseas and died in France, Mr. Rees is a worthy member and past commander of Rawlins Post No. 23, G. A. R., and has served as an aide on the department commander's staff. Mrs. Rees is a member of Col. Roose- velt Circle, Ladies of the G. A. R., and for over twenty years has been an active member of the W. C. T. U. and is a devoted member of the First Chris- tian Church, Stockton. In Kansas Mr. Rees served as a member of the school board as he also did while residing in Oklahoma. He is a very strong temper- ance man and is a Prohibitionist in his political views, while Mrs. Rees is a very strong Republican. She is very patriotic and has one corner of a room in her house set aside for the preservation of histori- cal and patriotic souvenirs. They are both well read and well informed and believe in the adage of live and let live.

D. W. FANNING .- From the time of his arrival in California in 1848 until his death nearly fifty years later, D. W. Fanning was identified with various enterprises, agricultural and commercial, tending to- ward the development of San Joaquin County and during that period he held a position among the pros- perous and enterprising citizens of the community. He was born in Franklinville, N. Y., August 11, 1823. At the outbreak of the Mexican War he was apprenticed as a horseshoer. He ran away and enlisted in the Second Dragoons, serving with Generals Perry, Scott and Taylor, in the battles of Palo Alto, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, Chapultepec, San Pasqual, Tobasco, and Vera Cruz, serving from 1846 to 1848, and received wounds from which he never entirely recovered. He was a farrier by trade, which he followed during his entire enlist- ment. In 1848 he came to California and established a wheelwright and blacksmith business at the Old Fourteen-mile House east of Stockton, on the Mo- kulomne Hill Road; later he conducted the same kind of a business at the Half-way House and still later he removed his shop to Fishers Bridge, now Bellota, where he passed away on June 15, 1898, his widow surviving him until June 18, 1908.

Four children survive this interesting pioneer cou- ple: Mrs. Frank Creary and Mrs. Charles Cody re- siding in Bellota; William Fanning of Linden, and Mrs. Anna Lusignan of Stockton. Mr. Fanning was

Joseph of Beer blistering y Rer

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

well known to every teamster and freighting com- pany who passed through Bellota during the excit- ing days of gold discovery and being an expert in his trade, he was sought by every teamster to the Southern mines and they would travel many miles in order to have him do their wagon work. Almost a quarter of a century has passed since the death of Mr. Fanning, but among old settlers in San Joa- quin County he is remembered as one who labored unselfishly to bring about better conditions in the district in which he settled sixty-four years ago.

MRS. REBECCA J. IVORY .- For sixty-nine years Mrs. Rebecca J. Ivory has been a resident of San Joaquin County, where she has witnessed the transformation from a barren stretch of sand to its present high state of development. She was born in Steubenville, Ohio, August 3, 1846, a daughter of Sylvester V. and Isabelle Tredway, natives of Ten- nessee and Ohio. Sylvester V. Tredway first came across the plains from Ohio to California in 1849 and engaged in mining and conducted trading posts for four years, though he made his headquarters on his ranch. Then he returned to Ohio and the following year, 1854, brought his family across the plains and on September 9 they located southwest of what is now Lodi, on what is known as the old Tredway ranch which had been purchased in 1850. In 1852 an uncle. James Tredway, sailed around Cape Horn to Califor- nia. Sylvester V. Tredway became a partner of David Kettleman, owning at one time about 9,000 acres in San Joaquin County, besides a large tract of land in Fresno County; he also had an interest in mines at Winter's Bar, where he conducted a store across the river from Lancha Plano. The father and his brother James, always close partners, established a- number of butcher shops, one as far north as Vol- cano, and these shops were supplied with meat from .the Tredway ranch; they also sold a large amount of meat to Miller & Lux. On account of his large land "holdings and the vast herds of cattle, the father was obliged to employ many men and he was noted the country over for his humanitarism. If a man was injured while in the discharge of his duty, he was made comfortable and was given every care until he recovered. His great kindness was rewarded by faithful service of his many employees. Two Mexi- cans were so devoted to the family that they would have given their lives to protect Mrs. Tredway and the children from harm. Mrs. Ivory is the only one living of her family, George W. and William H., her brothers, both having passed away.

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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 96

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