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 22
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time, but always has found leisure to support the movements that build up the city, and here, as well as throughout the entire district which he represents in the senate, his standing is high and his friends as numerous as his circle of ac- quaintances.
CYRUS MOREING, SR.
An early period in the colonization of Amer- ica witnessed the immigration hither of the More- ing family and their settlement in North Carolina, where a number of successive generations lived and died. The first to seek a home further west was Jesse Moreing, a native of North Carolina and a pioneer of Iowa, where he took up land that was yet in a state of primeval wildness. The lands that he acquired were situated not far from the city of Dubuque and for a time he devoted himself exclusively to their cultivation, bringing them to a high state of improvement. Mean- while his talents had been recognized by men in other lines of labor and he had been induced to enter the contracting business, taking the con- tract to build the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad from Dubuque to a point eighteen miles north of that city. For years he made his home and business headquarters in Dubuque, where he had a large circle of friends among the early settlers. Sharing with him in the esteem of acquaintances was his wife, formerly Miss Celia Johnson, a native of Missouri, but a resident of Iowa after 1838.
Born in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, December 7, 1842, Cyrus Moreing was a son of Jesse Moreing, and received a common-school educa- tion in his native town. Starting out to earn his own way in the world, he went to Wisconsin and secured employment in lead mines, where he con- tinued for several years. During 1862 he came to California and settled in Stockton, where he
became interested in teaming and frenchbine to Virginia City and other points. For four year he continued farming and tearing to the midm. supplying miners with the necessities of life and of their work. The first purchase of land that he made consisted of a tract some dx ml. co of Stockton. This he devoted to wheat and For ley. Later he bought another tract ant cm barked in the dairy business, at one time com- ducting two large dairies in addition to box wither enterprises.
In no way will the name of Coru- Moreme Sr., be associated more inseparably with the de velopment of Stockton than in connection with his work in the grading of the streci Ever since coming to the city he ha, entertaineil otte inal but decided views upon the subject of street- grading, but it was not until the year 1997 thos he had an opportunity to test his theories Dur ing that year he was given the contract for 10- proving certain streets of the city, and he pro some $60,000 in grading and leveling the streets, rolling. macadamizing and oiling them At the outset of the enterprise considerable deploum was expressed among some of the citizens regard ing the outcome of the matter. Many iranof the money was being unwisely invested But wird the work was completed all were please | willy. the result and now it is a favorite ben : wi the people of the city that their streets will propan with any in the state of California The de parture from the ordinary methelemekool ox street improvenient proved an experiment wiely attempted and successfully consummanel la dur contract business employment was frirmkhed si ue high as three hundred men, while frem two Www dred to three hundred teams of hurich Were utilized.
The first marriage of Mr. Moreing tool pure in 1868 and united him with Mas Arrens J Lewis, by whom he had ten children, namely Arthur. Nettie, Henry. Nellie Charles Lenu William, Cyrus, Jr., Susie an 1 Dyvil Aler Jis death of the first Mrs. More'nig he was unicosin marriage with Adeline Schesentaber The wom are interested in the growing of fono orales
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on a large scale and during the year 1908 they cultivated five thousand acres in wheat and bar- ley ; and two hundred and seventy acres in pota- toes and onions, all of which yielded large crops. Mr. Moreing, Sr., also is interested in these agri- cultural enterprises and with R. B. Oullahan he owns a ranch comprising eighteen hundred acres.
Besides the business interests previously men- tioned, Cyrus Moreing, Sr., is a stockholder and director of the Enamel & Fire Brick Company, a part owner in eighteen hundred acres of land in Eldorado county, and is also a stockholder in nineteen hundred acres of land in Merced county. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Through the long pe- riod of his residence in Stockton he has exhibited a constant interest in the welfare and develop- ment of the place and has aided local projects of a progressive nature. He was elected to the city council for four years, but after having served two years he resigned, in order that he might de- vote his entire time to the management of his business interests.
EDWARD SKERRETT BONSALL.
The progenitor of the Bonsall family in Amer- ica was Richard Bonsall, who during 1683, set- tled at Upper Darby, Delaware county, Pa., having crossed the ocean from Moldridge, par- ish of Bradbourne, Derbyshire, England, accom- panied by his wife, Mary (Wood) Bonsall, formerly a resident of the mining town of Bon- sall, three miles north of Wirksworth, Derby- shire, England. With them they brought ample means for those days and thus escaped some of the privations incident to a moneyless existence in a new country. Richard, who died in 1699, was the father of Benjamin, who was born No- vember 3, 1687, and made his home in Phila- delphia county, Pa. Next in line of descent was
Richard, born May 13, 1714, whose son, Edward, was born January 4, 1739. Thomas, son of Ed- ward, was born August 1, 1789, and died Janu- ary 17, 1875. By his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Skerrett there was born, among other children, a son, Edward Skerrett, born March 18, 1818, and deceased December 17, 1897. He was in possession of a coat of arms of the Bonsall family, of which they are very proud. In re- ligion the ancestors of the race held firmly to the faith of the Society of Friends.
Born and reared in the city of Philadelphia, Edward Skerrett Bonsall learned in youth the trade of carpenter and stair-builder. His father and mother owned a drug store and were both druggists by profession and he was one of a family of eight children. At the age of about eighteen years he went to Salem, Ohio, and there in 1840 he married Sarah Evans, who was born in Ohio November 20, 1816, being a daughter of Jonathan Evans, a pioneer of 1804 in Ohio. About the beginning of the nineteenth century Mr. Evans had gone from his home near Phila- delphia to the frontier of Ohio, where he cleared land, improved a farm, planted a fine orchard and started a nursery. Later he became promi- nent as a nurseryman. For some years Edward S. Bonsall lived on a farm near Salem, Ohio, and devoted his attention to farming and car- pentering. Four children were born on the farm, namely : Rebecca, Edward, George W. and Charles E., of whom the last-named resides with his sister, Mrs. George Hornage, in Stockton.
During the autumn of 1850 Edward S. Bon- sall left Ohio for California, taking with him two fine teams of horses, which he exchanged for oxen in Kansas City, Mo. From there he took the overland trail for Oregon and acted as scout of the party. After arriving at The Dalles he explored Oregon and Washington and in 1851 came to California, settling in San Francisco. The removal from Ohio had been made largely with the hope that his wife's health might be benefited and in this hope he was gratified, but other losses came to him. During April and May of 1853 three of their children died. They were
8 76 W. Brandt
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buried in a cemetery occupying the present site of the city hall. After working for wages in San Francisco until 1855, he then moved to Alameda county and purchased three hundred and fifty acres near Mission San Jose. In ad- dition to ranching he worked as a carpenter and some of the houses he then built are still stand- ing, evidences of the substantial nature of his work. While living there he served as trustee of the public schools.
Removing to the west side of San Joaquin county in 1868, Mr. Bonsall bought three hun- dred and twenty acres from the railroad com- pany near Bethany and for years engaged in raising grain. After having farmed continuously until 1883, he then moved into Stockton and erected a residence on California and Acacia streets. In that home his wife died in May of 1886. Later he made his home with his only daughter,. Mrs. Hornage, until his death, De- cember 17, 1897. After coming to California his family had been increased by the birth of two children, Ella, now Mrs. George Hornage, and Edward, who resides in Berkeley.
Politically Mr. Bonsall always voted the Re- publican ticket. He always refused offices ex- cept those of an educational nature. Intensely interested in the upbuilding of our pioneer schools, he served frequently as a trustee, his last work of that kind being near Bethany. Besides being liberal in his contributions to educational matters, he was generous to charities and churches, and was a man of kindly disposition, genial, enterprising and progressive, supporting whatever had to do with the betterment of con- ditions in the west. At the time of the estab- lishment of Tracy cemetery he took a warm interest in the measure and aided in securing the land. When twenty-three years of age he had been made a Mason in Salem, Ohio, and trans- ferred his membership to California upon his removal hither. During the time spent in Ore- gon he frequently encountered Indians, but he made a policy of winning their friendship and treating them honorably, and never did he find them disposed to treachery or theft. The hard-
ships of the frontier did not incunvemimre Lim and he regretted them only becaine they Srughe privations to his wife and cloelfren Anime de began to farm in Alanteda counts he interested himself in securing cattle of good grader and made a specialty of the stock loosen The keeping of cattle and horses rei dered orach the fencing of the ranch and this le del af . time when few ranches were encheck it leve the common custom to allow the catthe the freedom of the range. His life was one of anvis ant his last days were quietly passel in the loom of his only dangliter, who gave hine the jeg devoted care as long as he lived
CHARLES H. W. BRANDT
Eight miles south of Stockton, at astar a known as Brandt's Bridge, may be wen a moje and interesting industry, the California Cheney works, which was inaugurated on a small scale in 1872 and has since become a duurbing leur ness center in which seventeen men are emplesos The organizer and proprietor of the enterprise is a native of the Fatherlan 1, born r Hanover Germany. October 25, 1840. the son of Pretende and Phillipena Brandt, both of the parent ale being natives of this province
By the time he was fifteen years of age Charth Brandt began to chafe miler the resimziali and limitations which surrounded bin in 36 itative country, and thengh a mere ld in coin and experience hre set out alun Jer the News World, where he felt contider mocos und fortune awaited hint. Setting sail from the poor of Bremen in 1855, he reached Galvenmm Tosa after a comparatively uneventful mage ui tos months and nine days. Going & Wardsoghw county, that state, lie secured wirk Me tlm corpen ter's trade, a business which he Peal for
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several years or until 1859, when a desire to acquaint himself with conditions further south took him on a tour of inspection to Central and South America. After two years spent in these ·countries he was contented to return to the United States, coming direct to California, and in San Francisco he engaged in the furniture business for a short time. The year following, in the spring of 1862, he came to San Joaquin county, locating on the river near Castoria, where for several years he engaged in gardening and gen- eral agricultural pursuits.
As an outgrowth of his agricultural endeavors for ten years, in 1872 Mr. Brandt concentrated his attention upon the raising and manufacture of chicory for commercial uses, beginning at first in an experimental way, but later, in 1881, the business had grown to such an extent that he took C. A. Bachman into the business. Under the firm name of Bachman & Brandt, business was carried on until the death of Mr. Bachman in 1903, since which time Mr. Brandt has been alone. In addition to carrying on the manufac- turing business just mentioned Mr. Brandt also owns three ranches, upon which he carries on general stock-raising and agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Brandt's marriage was solemnized in French Camp, September 18, 1870, uniting him with Theresa Bachman, the daughter of his late partner, C. A. Bachman. She was also a native of the Fatherland, and was born May 15, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Brandt became the parents of nine children, of whom one son, Oscar, is deceased. Those living are named in order of their birth as follows: Charles A., Frederick C., Augustus W., Louis, Emil A., Theresa, Dorothy and Mildred. With the exception of one child, Augustus W., all are residents of San Joaquin county. Frederick C. and Louis are now as- sociated in the plumbing business in Stockton and have the following large enterprises under construction : plumbing and heating for The New Hotel, the Y. M. C. A. Building and the State Hospital. The home of the family was made desolate by the death of the wife and mother, which occurred July 28, 1904. In his political
sympathies Mr. Brandt is an ardent Republican, is public spirited, and is withal a citizen whose influence is felt and recognized throughout a wide radius. During his residence of nearly a half century in San Joaquin county he has wit- nessed many marvelous changes and has himself been a prime mover in bringing about not a few of them. During all these years his ideas con- cerning and methods of conducting business have been such as to inspire the highest regard and confidence from those who have been associated with him, under no consideration being willing to countenance any gain that came at the ex- pense of his fellowman. This characteristic was nowhere better illustrated than in his organiza- tion of a plan to so regulate the raising of chicory that all farmers on the island should have an equal opportunity, thus preventing a monopoly among a few. Fraternally he is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Morning Star Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M., and he is also a member of the A. O. D.
JOHN H. GERARD.
To the residents of San Joaquin county in the vicinity of Woodbridge the name of Mr. Gerard was familiar as that of an energetic and capable agriculturist, one who coming here in young manhood had worked his way to a position among the prominent ranchers of San Joaquin county, and had won the respect of associates in every walk of life. Although his life activities have ceased he is still kindly remembered by a host of associates and friends.
Although a native of England, Mr. Gerard had no knowledge of his birthplace, as when he was a mere child he was brought to the United States, the family settling in Maine. The strait- ened circumstances of the family made it neces-
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sary for Mr. Gerard to begin his self-support when other children of a similar age were at- tending school. All the training which he re- ceived was in a night school, his days being em- ployed in cotton mills in Biddeford and Soco, Me. His duties in the mill were confining and he felt his restrictions even more keenly as the reports of better prospects in the west came to his at- tention, both by means of the press and by word of mouth from those who had returned to the east. In 1855 he decided to come to California, and during that year, with his bride, he under- took the journey which was to bring them to their new home. From the harbor of New York they took passage on a vessel which landed them at Panama, arriving there just three days before the railroad across the isthmus was completed. Upon its completion they were borne to the Pacific side of the isthmus on the initial trip made over the new road. Finally reaching San Francisco, Mr. Gerard went to the mines of Cala- veras county, where he was variously employed for a year and a half, after which he came to San Joaquin county, locating near Woodbridge in 1856. Here he purchased one hundred and eighty-three acres of virgin soil, the clearing of which entailed much hard labor. He continued to clear off the underbrush until he had the en- tire tract under cultivation and after several years was enabled to add more land to his ranch, the land being devoted to grain and to stock- raising. Mr. Gerard had the distinction of being the pioneer in the raising of grapes in this lo- cality, in 1862 setting out six acres in vines, at the same time also planting an orchard.
Prior to her marriage in 1855, Mrs. Gerard was Miss Caroline Sterling, a native of England. born in 1838. At the age of seventeen years she was brought to the United States, settling in Maine, where soon afterward she was married to Mr. Gerard. One son was born of their mar- riage, James, who is now located in Oakland engaged in the steam boat business. By his mar- riage with Miss Annie C. Penny of Boston, Mass., five children were born, three of whom are living as follows: Lillie, Raymond and James,
Jr. The life of John H. Gerard carne to a dime in 1882, on his ranch near Woodbridge, leaving to mourn his loss a host of warm personal irurgide who had been attracted to him by hewas sterling traits.
JOHN NEWTON WOODS
Honored among the pioneers of San Jumpsin county was John Newton Woods, who first bank ed in Stockton December 2, 1857, althresh le did not establish a permanent home in ton on until twenty years later. The family of heh he was a member became established in Amer ica during the colonial period. An areeder Henry Woods, who was born in Virginia, ful- lowed the tide of emigration that driftet toward the west, and settled in the wildls of Keitocks, where he was killed by the Incluant ity 1200 Later the family became pioneers of Chin where (in Brown county ) Johnson Woods was linory in 1815. During early life he became a pirmene at Indiana, where in 1834 he marriel Lapins M. Eastes. The American progenitor of the Flm ily on the paternal side was Rev. Rudert Wide ter, a native of London, England, Mico le (737. who crossed the ocean to the New World and settled at Brownsville. Pa Renouncing by de- giance to the king of Englar ! le allail che colonies in the war of the Revafinlon Alter ward he became one of the very carlase etleri of Fayette county. Inl. and officiel ar fe first minister of the Methohit Chored seu of the Alleghanies.
It was characteristic of Johoun Wonen 0mm he should disphy in his hic the Live wif pfer scenes that had been inheritel from hun am tors. During 1840 he ronivel irme Tecont to what is now Savantinh. Mo, where f- bono the first house in An trew county and ogxgod in trading. When news care of he diservery
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of gold in California he determined to brave the perils of the unsettled west in an effort to find gold, and accordingly during 1850 he made the long journey, arriving at Hangtown on the Ist of August. Soon afterward he began to pros- pect on Woods creek, and was already meeting with success when he was killed, February I, 1852, in Mariposa county, by a personal friend, for evidence given in a fraudulent claim case, which was against this friend. Surviving him were three sons and two daughters, also his wife, who was born in Rush county, Ind., in 1820, and died in Tulare county, Cal., June 12, 1906, at an advanced age.
At the age of fourteen years John Newton Woods, who was born in Fayette county, Ind., June 7, 1837, became a clerk in a general store at Savannah, Mo., where he gained a practical business knowledge. Five years later he went to Indiana, where he spent eighteen months at Knightstown, Henry county, and then came via the isthmus to California, landing in Stockton, as previously stated, late in the year of 1857. For a time he made his home with an uncle, J. H. Woods, the founder of Woodbridge. A year after coming he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, on a portion of which Acampo now stands. During 1859 he embarked in the mercantile business under the firm title of Porch & Woods, but the following year he sold out and went to Virginia City, Nev., where he tried his luck at mining. On his return to Woodbridge, Cal., he conducted business from 1861 to 1863 under the firm title of Woods & Bayliss. During 1864 he turned his attention to agriculture and enlarged his farm to four hundred acres, but in 1877 abandoned ranching and removed to Stockton. However, he still re- tained large ranch interests at his previous place of residence until about 1880, when he sold and purchased land in Tulare county. From 1877 until 1882 he held the position of manager and secretary of the Grangers Union, and in 1883- 84 acted as deputy treasurer of the county. Fra- ternally he was made a Mason in 1858 in Wood- bridge Lodge No. 131, F. & A. M., being the
first member initiated, later becoming a member- of Stockton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M., and Stock- ton Commandery No. 8, K. T. He was also a member of the Shrine, became a thirty-second de- gree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Eastern Star Chapter, and was also a member of the Stockton Lodge of Elks. In recollection of his identification with early events in this locality, he held membership with the San Joaquin Pio- neers and enjoyed greatly the reunions of these early settlers to whose energy and fortitude the present generation is greatly indebted.
The marriage of Mr. Woods took place De- cember 22, 1864, and united him with Miss Annie V. Farmer, who was born in Greenfield, Mo., January 24, 1843, and came across the plains to California with her parents during 1859. They first settled in Sacramento, but later moved to Amador county, and it was in the latter county that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Woods occurred. Two daughters blessed their union. Jessie Lee married George E. Wilhoit of Stockton, and Mary L. is now the wife of Mac- donald Douglass. The death of Mrs. Woods occurred in Stockton, April 7, 1900, Mr. Woods. surviving her a number of years, or until De- cember 4, 1906.
WESTERN SCHOOL OF COMMERCE.
The above institution of learning had its in- ception in 1901, when Messrs. J. R. Humphreys and T. H. Wolfenbargar bought of C. E. Doan the plant of the Gas City Business College, lo- cated on the third floor of the Salz-Bours build- ing, on Hunter street square, Stockton, and at the time of the purchase the college had been closed for a year. Though the plant was a small one it was first-class in every particular. With this beginning the new proprietors opened a business, shorthand and normal school on Sep-
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD).
tember 30, 1901, with a corps of three teachers and an attendance of three pupils for the first day, but during the year it was increased to forty pupils. From the first, the school has ap- pealed to the public only on the basis of merit.
Before organizing the Western School of Commerce Mr. Humphreys had had several years' experience in Normal work in this city and was recognized as one of the most success- ful teachers in the state in Normal subjects. Mr. Wolfenbargar had had considerable experience as a teacher of commercial subjects, as well as several years' experience as bookkeeper and ex- pert accountant. Both were enthusiastic in their work and believed sincerely in a higher standard for business college work than was then main- tained. They immediately raised the standard in this school by making more rigid requirements for graduation and requiring a longer term of preparation than had before been required by the business colleges of California. This school was the first to introduce an eight-month term for a business or shorthand course, and twelve months for a combined course, including both the busi- ness and the shorthand courses, with the accom- panying subjects that usually go with these branches.
From the start, business practice, with the theory of bookkeeping taught by class drills as it was necessary, was adopted in the business de- partment. An original course of work, based entirely on western business methods, was com- piled by Messrs. Humphreys and Wolfenbargar. In this course of study they included what they conceived to be the best of the older systems, and added many new features that seemed to them to be demanded by a thorough practical business education. Among the most prominent of these was the use of the loose-leaf systems, card systems, modern filing systems, and the use of other modern office appliances. This proved quite an innovation, as the use of these modern office systems and appliances in training pupils for business life was almost, if not entirely, un- known among the business colleges. These are now a part of the equipment of every modern
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