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 99

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 99

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When the Kaiser family arrived in California in 1855, they located near San Jose, where they farmed for a couple of years, then sold out and moved to a wooded tract of land ten miles southeast of Stock- ton, where the home was established and which is still the home of the mother, highly honored and respected, now eighty-eight years old. Valentine Kaiser passed away at the old home place in 1914 at the age of eighty-seven years. Henry Kaiser attended the district school in the neighborhood of his home and was reared on the farm and as soon as he was old enough assumed his share of the work at home. In 1881 Mr. Kaiser bought his first land and by subsequent purchases has added to the origi- nal purchase until he now has 560 acres on which is raised large quantities of wheat and hay, which has been produced for the past forty years on this ranch.

In Stockton, September 30, 1901, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Kaiser and Miss Ella Sorensen, who was born in Nephi, Utah, a daughter of Fred and Caroline E. (Buntzen) Sorensen, natives of Denmark and Oldenburg, Germany, respectively, who emigrat- ing to the United States located first in Utah, where Mr. Sorensen was a farmer for twenty years, and then brought his family to Stockton in 1897. The father has passed to the great beyond and the mother now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser who look after her comfort and welfare. They have been blessed with one son, Edmon V. In 1917 the family removed to Stockton and about one year ago Mr. Kaiser purchased his present residence at 1443 South San Joaquin Street. Besides his resi- dence, Mr. Kaiser owns other valuable real estate in Stockton, which he purchased a number of years ago, realizing that Stockton would eventually become a large and prosperous commercial center. His busi- ness career has been marked with upright dealing,

Henry Jvaiser

Eliza M. Kaiser

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood is an indi- cation that his has been an upright, active and hon- orable life.

GEORGE MONROE FRENCH .- With the de- velopment and upbuilding of the San Joaquin Valley the French family has been identified from early pioneer times to the present, and no man in this sec- tion of the state was more widely known or more highly esteemed than the late George Monroe French, who resided on a ranch three miles east of Stockton, his popularity and genuine personal worth being at- tested by the fact that for over a quarter of a century he continued in the office of supervisor for the third district of San Joaquin County. He was born on his father's farm on the Mariposa road, the family home, December 3, 1856, and his parents were William Brad- ley and Sarah (McCloud) French, the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of Massachusetts. Lured by the discovery of gold, the father came to California in 1849, making the voyage around Cape Horn. After reaching San Francisco he engaged in mining in the southern mines. In 1852, he returned to Massachusetts, where he was married and in 1853 brought his bride to the Golden State, and they crossed the Isthmus of Panama on donkeys. When Mr. French first passed through Stockton, in 1849, its population numbered only a few persons, who were living in tents. He decided to locate here after his return from the East, and for many years was pro- prietor of the old Charter Oak House, also conduct- ing a stage station. It was located eight miles east of Stockton, and the country was then in a very wild and undeveloped state, no roads or fences having been constructed, while lawlessness held full sway. Human lives were not accounted as of much value, and vigilance committees were organized by the citi- zens, who took the law into their own hands, admin- istering punishment to the guilty. On his journey to the East Mr. French had carried with him six gold slugs, valued at fifty dollars each, and these were securely tied around his body. Wages were high in those early times, a laborer receiving fifteen dol- lars per day; but all commodities were very expensive, a pair of gumshoes costing fifteen dollars. Subse- quently the father purchased land three miles east of Stockton, and for many years he devoted his atten- tion to farming, becoming the owner of three horses, which was considered a large number for that period. Of the family of Mr. and Mrs. French, three children survive: William A .; Mrs. Emma Strait; and Mrs. Hattie M. Jones.

George M. French acquired his education in the primitive schools of the early days and later assisted his father in farming, which occupation he continued to follow, and he resided on a portion of one of the ranches owned by the father, a part of the William B. Loser farm. In 1896, his fellow citizens recogniz- ing his worth and ability, called him to the office of supervisor for the third district of San Joaquin County, and he served continuously in that capacity until his death, when Mrs. French was appointed to fill the vacancy, the term expiring in 1924. This is a record unequalled by any other county supervisor in the state, and indicates his marked capability and devotion to duty. He was personally acquainted with

all of the old residents in the county and with all of their descendants, and his reminiscences of the early days were both interesting and instructive. During his early boyhood there were but fifteen houses and two stores in Stockton, and a slough ran through the present courthouse yard. The Sister Slough ran to French Camp, which was then the head of naviga- tion, and from that point supplies were hauled to the southern mines and to the mountains. He witnessed practically the entire development and upbuilding of this part of the state, and rejoiced in the improve- ment and transformation that had been wrought with the passing years.

On September 17, 1890, Mr. French married Miss Josie Utt, a native of California, and four children were born of this union: Hazel E., the wife of Stephen Gaskill and the mother of two children; Hattie A .; George Jewett; and Janice J. Fraternally, Mr. French was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He always took an active and helpful part in public affairs, and in everything that touched the welfare of his city he was quick to respond. He was loyal to any cause which he espoused and faithful to every trust, and Stockton numbered him among her honored pioneers and valued citizens. He passed away on March 10, 1922, after a life of usefulness to his fel- low citizens, and is mourned by a wide circle of friends from all walks of life.

LAWRENCE HEARTY .- About sixty-three years ago Lawrence Hearty settled in Stockton. He became a prominent citizen and was associated with many early events in the county, as well as with its later progress and improvement. For several years he. con- ducted the Weber stables, and then, in 1874, bought 520 acres of land near Ripon, where he engaged ex- tensively in grain farming and stockraising until his death in November, 1901. On May 8, of the following year, 1902, his widow passed away, leaving two sons and two daughters. Charles died on May 22, 1922, survived by one son, John Bertrand Hearty. Cather- ine E. is the widow of Thomas Clinton. Thomas Clinton came to California in 1877, and engaged in farming until his death, November 29, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Clinton were the parents of four children. Annie is the wife of Alfred Carroll, and they have two chil- dren and reside at Atlanta; Alice is at home with her mother; Edward is associated with his mother on the home ranch; Nellie is at home. Annie Hearty, the deceased wife of James McCormick, is survived by three children: Mary A., Mrs. C. C. Hitchcock; Charles B .; and James, Jr. Thomas Hearty is a suc- cessful grain farmer in Dent Township. From 1910 he was justice of the peace of that township, until it was divided in 1923, forming Ripon township, and he was elected in the latter township.

Lawrence Hearty and his good wife were most liberal in their contributions to charities, more parti- cularly to St. Patrick's Parish at Atlanta. Their daughter, Mrs. Clinton, is also a faithful member and an untiring worker for the cause of St. Patrick's. Mrs. Clinton and her son are associated with Thomas Hearty in general farming. They enjoy the confi- dence of the business community and the respect of their associates in social life, and are consistent members of St. Patrick's Parish.

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

JAMES A. LOUTTIT .- Distinguished among San Joaquin County's leading citizens, whom he repre- sented so worthily as a member of Congress, stand- ing high as a member of the legal fraternity, and popular and prominent in civic and social circles, James A. Louttit's name will ever be honored in the community where practically all of his life was spent. His father, Thomas Sinclair Louttit, was the founder of the family in America, leaving his home in Scot- land, where he was born July 4, 1821, to cross the ocean to America in 1837. He settled in New Orleans, where he followed the trade of a blacksmith, and there he married Miss Jessie Ann Bell, also a native of Scotland, who had come to America in early girl- hood. She was the daughter of Alexander Bell, a Scottish Covenanter leader who attained the age of ninety-seven years, and who was survived by his wife, Jessie Margaret (Robertson) Bell, who lived to be 103 years old. They traced their ancestry to the Orkney Islands, as did also the Louttit family. The parents of Thomas Sinclair Louttit were James and Mary (Sinclair) Lotttit, the latter a sister of Thomas Sinclair, who for several years was lieuten- ant-governor of British Columbia and who also gained distinction as president of the Hudson Bay Company.

A resident of New Orleans at the time of the dis- covery of gold in California, Thomas Sinclair Louttit with his family made the tedious and dangerous jour- ney to the Pacific Coast, but not meeting with the desired success in the mines, he turned his attention to the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until the infirmities of age compelled his retirement from active labors. Afterward he and his wife lived quietly at their home at Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County. Like the majority of the pioneers of 1849, he was bold in spirit, resolute in purpose and dauntless in action. Hardships did not dismay him and obstacles served only to bring out his determination to over- come them. During the early days he organized at Coloma the Vigilantes, a law and order committee composed of public-spirited citizens, pledged to en- force the laws and win California from the control of the lawless element. He died April 22, 1896, his wife surviving until August, 1898.

Of the five children that comprised the family of this worthy pioneer couple all are deceased; they were James A., Mary, Thomas S., Belle and William R. Born in New Orleans on October 16, 1848, James A. Louttit was educated in the country schools of Mokelumne Hill and later, under a private tutor, Rev. W. C. Mosher, he became proficient in Latin, Greek and higher mathematics. He was graduated from the State Normal in 1864 and won first honors in his class. For three years he taught in the Brook- lyn high school of Oakland, when that institution was the only high school in California outside of

San Francisco. Meanwhile, during his hours of respite from educational duties he took up the study of law, which he prosecuted under the preceptorship of Porter & Holladay of San Francisco. Having been a diligent student from boyhood and having devel- oped his mind at the expense of his body, Mr. Louttit found himself compelled to abandon his law books for a time and he sought outdoor life with the hope of recuperating. It was his good fortune while he engaged in mining both to regain his health and lay the foundation of financial independence.

In October, 1869, Mr. Louttit was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of California, and about the same time he bought a set of law books which, by frequent additions, brought him in later life a library more complete than is usually found even in the largest law offices in the state. With his customary courtesy he gave to his professional co- workers the privilege of access to his library, in order that the best authorities might be consulted in prob- lems of serious import. Under the sponsorship of Hon. J. G. Carlisle and Hon. Thomas B. Reed, former renowned speakers of the House of Repre- sentatives, he was admitted to the bar of the Su- preme Court of the United States. During 1871 he opened a law office in Stockton, where the same year he was elected city attorney, retaining that post until 1879. For many years he was the partner of C. H. Lindley, later an attorney of San Francisco. In 1885 he became the senior member of the firm of Louttit, Woods & Levinsky, and in 1903 he formed a law partnership with his son, Thomas Sinclair Louttit, which continued until his death on July 26, 1906.

Fraternally James A. Louttit was identified with Stockton Lodge No. 11, I. O. O. F., and was a char- ter member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. Politically he gave stanch support to Republican principles. Although his district was Democratic, at the election of November, 1884, he was chosen as representative in Congress, carrying the district by a decisive majority. During his services at Wash- ington he gave a large share of his attention to working for the extension of the free mail delivery system and after eight months of tireless effort he was privileged to see the system extended to 142 cities, among these being his home town of Stockton. At the expiration of his congressional term he de- clined a renomination, preferring to devote himself exclusively to his professional work. As may be judged from his efforts to secure the free delivery of mail in Stockton, he was intensely devoted to the welfare of the city, and every progressive movement for city, county and state received his intelligent co-operation and assistance, and it is to the leader- ship of such men as he that Stockton has attained its present high place in the commonwealth.

Fond of home and children, many of Mr. Louttit's happiest hours were spent in the society of his family. His first marriage occurred in 1872, uniting him with Ada A. Cory, who was born in California in 1854 and died at Stockton August 21, 1884. Her parents were John R. and Abbie A. (Cory) Cory, honored pioneers of San Joaquin County. To this union the following children were born: Mary B, the widow of A. M. Young; John Randolph, of Lodi; Thomas Sinclair, a prominent member of the Stock- ton bar; Jessie Ada, the wife of Dr. J. M. Sloan; James A., Jr., died in Alaska; Howard died at twenty months. In 1891, at San Francisco, Mr. Louttit was united in marriage with Mrs. Nettie O. (Bailey) Walker, who was born on the Bailey ranch, near Linden, a daughter of Charles K. and Mary E. (Belknap) Bailey, pioneers of this county, repre- sented on another page of this work. Her childhood was spent on the home ranch near Linden and there she received her education in the public schools and later in Stockton. Her first marriage, which occurred in Stockton, united her with Lon M. Walker, a native of Ohio, who settled in San Fran- cisco, where he was engaged in the realty field. He

Jack Soudit

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

passed away in 1897, while on a visit to the Bailey ranch, leaving his widow and one son, Lon M. Walker, now of Seattle. Since Mr. Louttit's death Mrs. Louttit has continued to make her home in Stockton, occupying her time in looking after her interests. Especially is she devoted to teaching china painting, having displayed a decided artistic talent from her early girlhood.

NATHANIEL HOWARD LOCKE .- An enter- prising and successful rancher and stockbreeder, worthily representing a very thorough-going pio- neer who stood for great things in pioneer days, is Nathaniel H. Locke, the third oldest in a fam- ily of thirteen children of Dean J. Locke, who was born April 16, 1823, at Langdon, Sullivan County,, N. H., and whose sketch also appears in this work. Nathaniel H. Locke was born at Locke- ford, July 9, 1859, and there spent his boyhood, attending school there until he entered the San Jose State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1880. Following his graduation, he taught school for a number of years in Calaveras, Marin, and San Joaquin counties. Mr. Locke still owns a portion of the old home place and in addition some 300 acres situated on the Mokelumne River, his holdings amounting to over 500 acres. The Kerr ranch of 300 acres, purchased in 1911, has been developed into a splendid stock ranch, and here Mr. Locke engages in the breeding of fine Jersey dairy cattle. Recently, he has leveled twenty-five acres of rich bottom land, which he has set to pears. This is only a beginning, as Mr. Locke intends to enlarge his pear orchard from time to time. Mr. Locke's ranch was known in early days as the "Rancho Rio De Los Mokel- umnes," on which is the camp site of Captain Fre- mont on the night of March 25, 1844, when he was on his way south to fight the Indians, an account of which is found in the diary of the famous captain, paying tribute to the beauty and picturesqueness of this particular spot.

The marriage of Mr. Locke occurred on Christmas Day, 1885, and united him with Miss Lucinda M. Clapp, born at Wilmington, Mass., April 24, 1863, a daughter of Noah and Louise Clapp. They are the parents of six children, as follows: Chester C. died in 1918; Lottie C. is Mrs. Tip Anderson, residing on her father's place; Alma C. is Mrs. Arthur C. Am- brose, a geologist for the United States Govern- ment, located at Washington, D. C .; Howard C. resides at Lockeford on a stock ranch; Myrle C. is the wife of Capt. P. J. Clowry of Modesto; and Nathaniel C. resides on a ranch near Lockeford.

Mr. Locke has been in the stock business since 1887. He is among the leading stockmen of the state, and today owns the choicest herd of pure-bred Jersey cattle. His stock comes from the "King's Valet," imported from the Jersey Islands, a grandson of "Financial King," also imported, and the herd bull of John D. Rockefeller at Tarrytown. His "King's Valet," together with the heifer "Empress' Lass," won the grand championships at the Alaska-Yukon- Pacific Exposition; and whenever he has exhibited his dairy stock they have won their share of the prizes. He is an exhibitor each year at the State Fair. According to tests made by the Milk Pro- ducers' Association, Mr. Locke's herd led in tests made for butter fat, and for the month of February, 1922, in a "cow-testing record," Mr. Locke had the winner, a cow giving an average of seventy-six

pounds of butter fat during the month; and in Jan- uary, 1923, a cow gave ninety-one pounds of butter fat. His dairy stock has been in great demand throughout the country; and he exports to the Sand- wich Islands, to Mexico, and to most of the west- ern states of the Union.

Fraternally, Mr. Locke has been a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge of Lockeford for many years. He belongs to the Encampment; is a Patriarch Mili- tant, Canton Ridgley; and is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, enjoying in the circle of each of these well-known fraternities an enviable and deserved popularity. San Joaquin County may well be proud of the invaluable contribution made to its permanent growth and real progress by such citizens as Mr. Locke and his family.

WILLIAM C. MURDOCK .- A California pioneer of whom all native sons and daughters of the Golden State, and especially all patriotic residents of San Joaquin County, are justly proud, is William C. Mur- dock, who owns three-fourths of a section of excel- lent ranch land about one mile and a half southeast of Clements. He was born in the province of Nova Scotia, near Halifax, on December 19, 1844, the son of Henry and Mary (Sanford) Murdock; and accord- ing to the old story of ancestral migration, three brothers on his father's side came from Scotland to South Carolina. Grandfather Finley Murdock was a great trader, a merchant-marine man, who handled South Carolina products, with his sailing vessels run- ning to foreign ports. Finley's two brothers were planters, owning extensive lands in South Carolina, and cotton plantations. Grandfather Finley came from near Inverness, Scotland. During the War of 1812, one of the ancestors on the maternal side was a surgeon. He was Dr. Woolever, a native of Hol- land, of the old William Penn stock. Henry Mur- dock's folks migrated to Nova Scotia from South Carolina, and settled at Halifax; and Grandfather Murdock built and kept a public house, free to be used by all, at Windsor, N. S. Henry Murdock took up the wheelwright's trade, and followed it during his lifetime. He died of lung fever at the age of seventy-eight. Five children were granted the worthy couple. James is deceased. William C. is the sub- ject of our interesting review. Sarah Jane, who be- came Mrs. Hamilton and reared a family of four chil- dren, is deceased. Mary, now living at Fresno as Mrs. Smith, also brought up a good-sized family; and Katie is Mrs. Lane, of Oakland. The Sanfords orig- inally settled in Massachusetts.

When William Murdock was fourteen years old, having finished his district school studies, he went to sea as a cabin-boy; and at the age of nineteen, with seventy-five men working under his direction, he built a ship, constructing it from the keel to the top rigging on the mast, and launched it in the ocean. Curiously, after that practical experience with the sea, though having long wanted to come to California, he waited until he could come on an emigrant train. The first trans-continental train crossed the wide stretch of hitherto untracked country in May, 1869. Mr. Murdock came in November of that year, and the trip took fourteen days, and was full of adven- tures. For example, at one time a great herd of buffalo was seen coming towards the track a little way ahead of the train, and the engineer stopped the train to allow the band to pass, the train having to wait for about an hour.

610

HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Mr. Murdock landed at Stockton in November, 1869, and came almost directly to Lodi, where, as a partner of Alexander Gordon, he loaded cars and split wood. He was an expert carpenter, and he helped build the hotel on the Copperopolis road, which had been projected because the owners, thinking that the railroad would soon be opened up to the mines, ex- pected to do a good business. But the road did not pass that way and the hotel was finally burned to the ground. There were no railroads for a long time, for problems of construction balked the attempts to open up the country on an economical basis. The road from Stockton, to Ione and Jackson passed through such forests of trees that the driver had to pick his way. Mr. Murdock worked at his trade for a while at Lodi, when that place had one blacksmith shop and a store building owned by Mr. Ivory. In Stockton the sidewalks were built on sticks, like stilts, so that on coming into the town one would not need to walk in the mud.

In his youth, Mr. Murdock was a member of the Christian Church; and upon his attending church here, he met W. C. Miller, who was both a great church worker and a man of wealth. Soon afterward, Mr Miller proposed that they form a partnership, and embark in the sheep business. Mr. Murdock had no money at that time, but Miller introduced him to his banker in Stockton, and left instructions for the bank to allow him to draw all he needed for the business, in which he was then a half-partner. . He accordingly went into the country east of Lockeford, and ranged his sheep from a point about one mile east of the pres- ent location of Clements, on eastward into Cala- veras County and as far south as Tulare County. This herd grew to contain several thousand head.

Since 1870, Mr. Murdock has called the country east of Lockeford his home. He took up a govern- ment claim of a quarter-section of land, and received the patent to the land with James A. Garfield's signa- ture to it; and he still holds this quarter-section. Mr. Murdock also bought a half-section, and now, all in all, three-fourths of a section minus the forty-acre strip of land given to each of his daughters, on which they and their families reside today. The quarter- section of government land lay three miles to the east of his home.

At Sacramento, on November 5, 1870, Mr. Murdock was married to Miss Martha Dimock, who was born in the province of Nova Scotia, the daughter of Asa and Amy (Northover) Dimock, of English descent, who came to California and to Sacramento, bringing her when she was seventeen years old. He built a fine, two-story home on his ranch, in 1902, about one and a half miles south of Clements; but in 1917 it burned to the ground, a total loss, due to lack of in- surance. He then built a new home, where he and his son Winfield and his wife live together today. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Murdock, five of whom are now living, and there are ten grand- children. Arthur passed away in 1915; Carrie died in 1893; Katie lived to be only ten days old; Alberta has become Mrs. Pierson, and resides on forty acres of the old home place; Ethel is Mrs. Sain, and also lives on part of the old home ranch; Charles is in Stockton; Lena is Mrs. L. L. Brandt; and Winfield is at home. Alberta Pierson is the mother of Ross, Madaline, Stanley and John. Ethel Sain has a daugh- ter, Lucile. Charles is the father of, Ann Bell and Marcel. Lena Brandt's children are named Harold,

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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 99

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