USA > California > San Joaquin County > History of the State of California and biographical record of San Joaquin County; containing biographis of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 13
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CHARLES A. L. GRUNSKY.
The life which this memorial sketches began in Maichingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, Decem- ber 7, 1823, and came to an end in Stockton, Cal.,
August 24, 1891. Between these two dates there. was crowded a lifetime of useful and successful activity, the earlier part of which was spent in the native land. At the age of twenty years Mr. Grunsky crossed the ocean to the United States, landing at New York in 1844 and for some time: remaining in the east and south. The discovery of gold in California induced him to come to the west, where he arrived during August of 1849. After a short experience in the mines he engaged in teaming and then removed to Stock- ton, where he remained until death. During the early period of his residence in this city he was engaged in the lumber business as a member of the firm of Baggs & Grunsky, and thus became. identified with the material upbuilding of the com- munity. After becoming a citizen of the state he cast his ballot for the principles of the Repub- lican party. A number of times he was chosen to occupy positions of trust, all of which he filled with efficiency and fidelity. At one time he served as a member of the board of trustees of the schools of Stockton. Afterward he held office as city clerk and for three terms he filled the posi- tion of county recorder. In fraternal relations he was identified with the Stockton Turn Verein, the Druids, Knights of Pythias, and the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers. For a year he suffered from failing health, but force of will kept him among his friends until a few days before the end. His death occurred August 24,. 1891, at the family residence on Lindsay street, and two days later the body was interred in the cemetery near the scenes familiar to his later years.
During a visit back to Germany in 1852 Mr. Grunsky married Miss Clotilde Camerer, who was. born in Heslach, Germany, December 8, 1831, and died in Stockton January 17, 1864. Afterward he married, December 27, 1866, a sister of his. first wife, Friedericke Camerer, who died seven years later. December 23, 1874, he was united with Mrs. Anna Maria (Follert) Wurster, who was born May 11, 1836, and died June 10, 1903. By her former marriage she had two children, F. W. Wurster, now connected with the San
t.
NETretheway,
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Joaquin Valley Bank, and Miss Louise Wurster, a resident of Stockton; and by her marriage to Mr. Grunsky she had one daughter, Miss Anna Pauline, the only child of Mr. Grunsky's third marriage. Of his first marriage there are five ·children now living. C. Ewald, a civil engineer educated in Germany, at one time filled the office of city engineer in San Francisco and later was appointed as a member of the first Panama canal commission; at this writing he resides in New York City, where he is a consulting engineer. The second son, Otto, who spent two years in Germany, has filled the office of supervisor and served two terms as county clerk; now he is engaged in the real-estate business at Livingston, this state. The third son, C. A., is a resident of Stockton. The fourtli son, E. M., for many years has been engaged in the realty business and at present is the head of the firm of Grunsky, Diet- rich & Leistner. The only daughter of that mar- riage, Miss Lottie Grunsky, for many years has been a teacher in the Stockton public schools. Born of the second marriage of Mr. Grunsky were three children, namely : Mrs. Clotilde Fisk, a graduate of the California State University and for some years a teacher, now residing in Berke- ley ; Herman, a graduate of the Leland Stanford University and of Harvard, now making his home near Wrights, this state; and Mrs. Eda Murray, a resident of Stockton.
WILLIAM ELMER TRETHEWAY.
Without hesitation or fear of contradiction it may be said that the Stockton Iron Works holds first rank among the many substantial enterprises which go to make up the bulwark of commercial stability in this thriving city. The president of this enterprise, William E. Tretheway, is a native of England, born in London April 27, 1857, the
eighth in order of birth among the eleven chil- dren born to his parents. Richard and Rebecca (Arthur) Tretheway were born in Cornwall, England, June 11, 1823, and January 30, 1826, re- spectively, but subsequently became residents of London. When their son William E. was about two years of age the parents again took up their abode in Cornwall, making their home there un- til leaving for the United States by way of Pana- ma in July, 1868, making the journey from San Francisco on the side-wheeler steamer Cornelia, which landed them safely in Stockton on August 21st of the same year. The parents lived to enjoy the comforts of their adopted home in the Golden State for a number of years, the fathier living until July 4, 1877, and the mother until July 26, 1881.
Named in order of their birth, the children comprising the parental family are as follows : Edward Arthur, born April 23, 1844; Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; John, born March 16, 1847; Samuel and Richard, both of whom died in infancy ; Arthur, born February 13, 1853; Thom- as, born June 10, 1854; William E., April 27, 1857; Samuel, July 28, 1858; Amy, who died in San Francisco when in her thirteenth year; and Richard, who was born June 24, 1862, and died in Stockton when in his twenty-first year. Of this family, Edward A. is employed by the Sperry Flour Company; for the past thirty-five years John has been in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as conductor at Oak- land; Arthur is employed in the blacksmith de- partment of the Mare Island Navy Yard; and Samuel has for the past thirty years been em- ployed as baggagemaster witlı the Southern Pa- cific Railroad Company.
At the time William E. Tretheway became a resident of Stockton he was about eleven years of age, and thus the greater part of his education was received in the local schools. In 1872 liis school days were over and he began preparation for a business life the same year by an apprenticeship at the iron trade. Going to San Francisco he was for a time in the Risdon Iron Works, but after a time came to Stockton
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and took charge of the pattern department of the Stockton Iron Works, with which institution he has been continuously identified for thirty-two years, or ever since 1877. In San Francisco he attended evening sessions at the Lincoln school and after coming to Stockton took a busi- ness course in the Atkinson and Clark Business College. In 1889 he purchased a one-third in- terest in the Stockton Iron works and is now a large stockholder and general manager of the new and enlarged manufacturing plant on the north side of the Stockton channel, which be- longs to the company.
Mr. Tretheway was married November 30, 1905, to Mrs. Louise Haas, who was born in Stockton September 1, 1862, the daughter of George and Mary (Turner) Holdsworth, natives of Yorkshire, England. Mrs. Tretheway is also a director and a stockholder in the Stockton Iron works, and for the past six years has been a director of the Sacramento Natural Gas Com- pany.
MYERS J. GARDNER.
There are few men within the limits of Cali- fornia whose knowledge of the lumber business is more extensive than that acquired by Myers J. Gardner during a long and successful identi- fication with the industry both in Stockton and elsewhere. As a boy he early gained a complete practical knowledge of all grades of lumber un- der the trained oversight of his father, S. St. John Gardner, who for many years was associ- ated with the lumber interests of New York state and who became well known throughout that part of the country by reason of prominence and success in his chosen occupation. Under such capable instruction it was to be expected that he would become thoroughly versed in the industry and his present success might be predicated by
those familiar with his apprenticeship in youth.
The Gardner Lumber Company, which had been established by Mr. Gardner in June of 1905, was incorporated June 19, 1908, under its pres- ent title, with a capital stock of $200,000. On the organization of the company Mr. Gardner was elected president and he likewise serves as a director, the other members of the board being George E. Crane, F. A. McCann, W. A. Wash- ington and W. E. Elliott, of San Francisco. The company transacts a general retail business in the city and surrounding country and carries in stock a varied and complete assortment of hard and soft wood lumber. In addition to presiding over the conduct of this business Mr. Gardner also holds a position as president of the Stockton Fire and Enamel Brick Company, one of the growing industries that have aided in the busi- ness development of the city.
Mr. Gardner was born in New York state January 20, 1866. Educated in its schools and in Rockland College at Nyack-on-the-Hudson, and trained in its business enterprises, he brought to the coast the business acumen, progressive spirit and financial ability that characterizes so many of the people of the eastern seaboard.
During his long identification with the busi- ness interests of Stockton he has been ever mindful of the best resources of the city, the means needed for their development and the part to be taken by public-spirited citizens in their advancement. Through the Chamber of Com- merce he has been able to aid in local projects. The long period of his residence here has wit- nessed his generous co-operation with all move- ments having for their object the local upbuild- ing. Churches and charities have found in him a liberal supporter. Identified with local politi- cal affairs, he served as mayor from 1905 to. 1907, and during his term in the office many needed reforms were inaugurated that proved of benefit to the town. Fraternally he is identi- fied with Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His marriage, which occurred April 7, 1896, united him with Miss Annie Long, a daughter of M.
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A. D. Long, now of Stockton, and formerly a resident of Missouri. Their son, Floyd St. John, is at this writing a student in the Stockton schools.
MAJOR J. D. PETERS.
A complete record of the life of Major Peters would be in many respects a history of Stock- ton, the city he loved. Loyalty to the town was one of his most distinguishing characteristics. His interest, his ambitions and his life were cen- tered here, and when traveling abroad he was al- ways proud to state that he was a resident of Stockton. During the long period of his asso- ciation with the place he was the fostering spirit of its principal enterprises. Indeed, it would be difficult to name a progressive project that lacked his hearty support. When once convinced of the wisdom of any projected plan he was en- thusiastic in its support and contributed without stint of time and means to its furtherance. His loyalty was never questioned, for deeds gave proof of his words. During the building of the Masonic hall he was one of the leading financial supports of the work, and he also took stock in the Yosemite building, which gave to the city a splendid business block as well as the Yosemite hotel. Even when on his death-bed, illness could not take his mind from the welfare of the town and he subscribed to the new hotel, which had as yet scarcely taken form in the minds of its projectors. His contributions to St. Joseph's home were liberal, and made that institution pos- sible, and many other benevolent movements re- ceived the impetus of his generosity and cordial support. Financial institutions were greatly ben- efited by his association therewith and as presi- dent for many years of the Stockton Savings Bank he gave that institution a solid position among similar organizations in the state. In ad-
dition he acted as a director of the First Na- tional Bank and the Stockton Savings & Loan Society, also owned stock in the San Joaquin Valley Bank.
Between the date of his birth, which occurred in Genoa, Italy, July 25, 1827, and the date of his death, May 25, 1907, at his home, No. 1043 North Eldorado street, Stockton, Coi., an era of intense activity proved the value of Maior Peters to the citizenship of his adopted country. The youngest son among four children, he was only seven years of age when death deprived him of a mother's affectionate oversight. Himself frail in constitution and delicate in health, he was prevented from making rapid progress in his studies and at the age of eleven years he was taken from school by his father, who, licping that the ocean air might prove beneficial, sent him to sea under charge of an old friend. then captain of the ship Russell. The first voyage ended in New York City during December of 1838, when the boy caught his first glimpse of America. The next voyage took him to Liver- pool and for three years he traveled on the Rus- sell, meanwhile gaining a robustness of consti- tution that fitted him for the arduous duties of manhood. During the year 1841 he landed on American soil at Baltimore and forthwith cu- listed in the United States navy, where he served for three years. During the war with Mexico he engaged as engineer on the steamship Pepella. which carried supplies for the men in the army. In this way he became familiar with the south- west and heard of the riches of California.
When news came of the discovery of gold the enthusiastic young sailor embarked from New Orleans for California and during the latter part of July, 1849. landed in San Diego. A steamer for San Francisco was anchored in the harbor, but he lacked money for the fare. Nothing daunted by his poverty, he with a companion rowed out to the vessel and attempted to climb aboard. Unfortunately the friend was drowned. In his possession was found $16.01. The money was taken by the ship officers, with the excep- tion of the penny, which was turned over to Mr.
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Peters and ever afterward treasured by him. Landing in San Francisco he soon secured em- ployment and with the money thus earned paid his passage on a boat to Stockton. From this point he started to the mines, taking with him his entire worldly possessions, a pair of blankets, a loaf of bread, a pipe with tobacco, his copper cent and a silver one-half dollar. Arriving at the mines he prospected and earned a little by teaming, after which, in 1853, he settled in Stock- ton. During 1858 at Columbia, Tuolumne coun- ty, he married Emeline C. Taylor, by whom he had a daughter, now Mrs. W. L. Ashe. In March of 1875 he was united with Anna, daughter of Col. Ferris Forman. Three children blessed their union, Joseph F., Mrs. C. L. Six and Miss Anna F., the last-named remaining with her fa- ther to brighten his last days with her affection and sympathy.
In later years Major Peters met with a severe injury from which he never fully recovered, al- though it was not the immediate cause of his death. Up to the last he retained his grasp on his business affairs and with marvelous mental power carried the minutest details of his many enterprises without dependence upon books or employes. For many years he exerted a control- ling influence upon river navigation and with Captain Brooks built the tug Frolic, and the steamer Empire City, these forming the nucleus of the old San Joaquin Improvement Company. Several years afterward this was consolidated with the California Steam Navigation Company under the title of the California Navigation and Improvement Company. Of this he became the president and its best steamer now bears his name. Besides his navigation and banking inter- ests, he always had mining interests, and at one time these represented large investments, partic- ularly in the Royal Consolidated mine at Hodson, Calaveras county.
Perhaps no work accomplished by Major Pe- ters was more helpful to his county or a source of greater pleasure to himself than his labors in behalf of the agricultural interests of the com-
munity. As a grain merchiant he aimed to pay the highest prices possible and thus became pop- ular among farmers, to many of whom he also gave financial assistance in times of stress caused by crop failures. When they were unable to meet their obligations he encouraged them to do their best, look on the bright side of life, and pay as they were able, and never did he foreclose a mortgage against any of them. As a charter member of the old San Francisco Produce Ex- change and the Merchants' Exchange, he was a helpful factor in the development of these in- terests vital to the early progress of the state. For a period of forty-seven years he engaged in the grain business and during that long period he witnessed the agricultural development of the valley, the increasing prosperity of its farmers, and the introduction of modern methods of farm- ing.
The title by which Major Peters was always known came to him through his service on the staff of Governor Stoneman. During the cen- tennial celebration of 1876 he acted as grand marshal of the three days' celebration, which culminated in appropriate exercises on the 4th of July. Though often urged to accept positions within the gift of his fellow-citizens, he invari- ably declined, having no inclination toward polit- ical offices, but preferring to devote his attention to measures for the general welfare of the peo- ple. In this respect one of his most helpful labors was in connection with the development of the buhach industry. Buhach is the insecticide of commerce and was introduced into this coun- try in 1877, when one pound of seed of the flow- er (which is of the marguerite family) was sent to John Milco, proprietor of a fruit stand in Stockton and a native of Dalmatia, from which country it was sent to him by his father. The seed originally had been taken from Persia to Dalmatia by birds and thus had become known in the latter place. Mr. Peters experimented with the seed both on heavy soil and on sandy soil, but found he met with greatest success in the Merced county sandy soil, so he planted one hun-
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dred and forty acres to the plant at Atwater. The blossoms are picked, brought to Stockton, ground to powder, and converted into the poi- son, buhach, which is bought by the government in large quantities, being found the only thing that will kill the insects in Panama. From three hundred and twenty-five to four hundred pounds per acre are produced and sales are made all over this and other countries. The ranch in Merced county comprises fourteen hundred acres, a large portion of which is planted to a vineyard that is the largest in the world. As a horticulturist he won fame throughout the state and in the treatment and cultivation of vines and the raising of grapes he was an authority. His advice was consulted by others interested in vineyards and success followed his counsel. Indeed, upon every industry suited to this climate and soil he was an authority, and with justice it may be said that no citizen ever lived in Stockton who labored more earnestly for its prosperity or identified himself more intimately with its industries than did Major Peters.
JOHN RANDOLPH HUMPHREYS.
A man of scholarly attainments, active, am- bitious and capable, John R. Humphreys is car- rying on a most successful work as president of the Western School of Commerce, at Stockton, of which he has had charge since its organiza- tion in 1901. He is eminently qualified for the important work in which he is engaged, in fact the greater part of his life has been given to educational work of one character or another. He was born in Honaker, Russell county, Va., March 7, 1867, the son of southern parents, Ward C. and Nancy J. (Jackson) Humphreys, both of whom were also natives of Virginia. The son grew to a sturdy youth on the parental farm in the south, attending the public schools in the neighborhood during his boyhood, and later
becoming a student in the old Dominion Col- lege of Honaker, Va.
A predilection for the teacher's profession as- serted itself at an early age, for when only six- teen years old John R. Humphreys was installed as teacher in the public schools of his native town, filling this position acceptably to his su- periors for three terms. At the end of this time, in 1886, he went to Greenup, Ky., remaining there until 1895, during which time he was en- gaged in teaching in the public schools for six years, and the remainder of the time was as. sociated with a lumber firm whose main office was located in Pennsylvania. During the last few years Mr. Humphreys was interested in the latter business he had been investigating condi- tions in the west with a view to coming here as soon as he had satisfied himself as to the ad- visability of the change. He set out in 1895 with the intention of locating in Washington, but after remaining there one week came south in- to California, stopping at Hanford, Kings county, where for seven months he was employed on a ranch and also in a packing house.
Mr. Humphreys' identification with Stockton dates from January 1, 1896, whither he came direct from Hanford, and here he has since re- sided continuously. Having determined to re- sume educational work he refreshed his mind by taking a four-month course in the Stockton Busi- ness College, reviewing his school work. Six months later, June 1, 1896, he became a teacher in the same school and remained there until August 1, 1901, as a teacher in the Normal department. In September of that year, in part- nership with T. H. Wolfenbargar, he purchased the plant of the old Gas City Business College, ' which had not been in operation for one year. and he also took over their lease of the old location, in the Salz-Bours building, on Hunter street square, Stockton. The new proprietors opened their business, shorthand and normal school September 30, 1901, with a corps of three teachers and an attendance of three pupils for the first day, at the end of the first year having an enrollment of forty pupils. The school was in-
25
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
corporated under its present name, Western School of Commerce, September 1, 1902, with officers as follows: J. R. Humphreys, president ; T. H. Wolfenbargar, vice-president ; H. W. Bes- sac, secretary ; and the San Joaquin Valley Bank as depository. The sickness, resignation and death of T. H. Wolfenbargar (the latter occur- ring in November, 1905), made a change in the school's management, and its officers are at present J. R. Humphreys, president ; E. H. Mc- Gowen, vice-president ; H. W. Bessac, secretary, and L. W. Peart, business manager.
Mr. Humphreys' marriage occurred in Michi- gan Bluff, Placer county, Cal., August 30, 1899, and united him with Miss Lena Mannelin, a native of that county. Three children have come to brighten their home life, Mary, Jean and John, Jr. Fraternally Mr. Humphreys is an Odd Fellow, having joined the order Janu- ary 26, 1898, and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, Woodmen of the World, and the Tribe of Ben Hur. Without exception Mr. Humphreys stands in the forefront among educators on the Pacific coast, and it is due to his untiring efforts that the School of Commerce has attained the high standard of ex- cellence which it enjoys today.
HENRY TINKHAM.
"I believe that all things are for the best." "Do unto others as you would be done by." This was the philosophy and the life axiom of Henry Tinkham, who was born in 1820, in the old Green Mountain State, of a Scotch father and an English mother. The family can be traced back to the great-grandfather, who in 1776 served as a captain in the Revolutionary · war; and his grandfather was a private in the war of 1812.
Young Henry, like all of the New England. boys of that day, worked hard all summer on the little rock fenced farm, where, as he declared, "It took all summer to raise enough to live on through the winter." He had but two suits of clothing a year, the cloth being woven and made up by his mother. Henry, with the other children in the family, walked to church, barefoot through the snow, carrying his shoes under his arm, so that he might wear them bright and shining in the meeting-house.
During the winter months he attended the dis- trict school, the teacher being such as Gold- smith describes, "A man severe he was and stern to view, I knew him well, and every truant. knew." On one occasion the teacher gave Henry a whipping for misbehavior, sometimes, how- ever, the pupils gave the teacher the whipping, but in this instance Henry got the birch rod, the teacher always keeping a supply on hand, as the birch trees grew near by. On going home he re- ceived consolation from his father, the latter quietly remarking, "Now, Henry, if you get another whipping at school, I'll give you one when you come home." His father, Daniel Tink- ham, was a man beloved alike by his family and the community in which he lived, for his sterling qualities of heart and mind, but severe in dis- cipline and unwavering in his ideas of right and wrong, he believed in upholding parental, edu- cational, civil and religious authority.
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