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 23
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business school, this school being thy jsources in their use.
The growth of the school had been so rayed that in the winter of 1904-05 its spate way 100 to be entirely inadequate to its nerde Arrange ments were therefore made by which a few building was constructed especially for the se commodation of the school, with more than tous the capacity of the old building. Tle did occupied the new building September 1, 105. and within a year reached practically the ca pacity of the new building. The school a enrolls yearly from four hundre l to five ban dred new students, and has an attendance through the winter of about three hundredl, wasch & all that the building will comfortably arcoonbast The Normal department has grown to le Um largest private school for the training of toarheo in the state, with an attendance approx nonch equal to all the other private normials of the state combined. The business anl shorthandi ile partments are recognized as among the best iM partments of their kind in the west. No tack ward step has ever been taken, either in the mar ter of service or equipment.
In May, 1902, H. W. Bessac, a young now much ability and considerable experience ingeb lic school work, became associated with Meue Humphreys and Wolfenhargar as a third owner of the school.
The school was incorporated under its presest name, Western School of Commerce, September I, 1902. The officers were J. R. Humphreys president ; T. H. Wolfenbargar, vive-presSte; H. W. Bessac, secretary ; anl the San Damun Valley Bank was named as depour Mit Wolfenbargar was compelled to give up Inx wors in the school in April. 1903. an ! E. H. MeGrom who succeeded him as principal of the crenmer- cial department, became vice-president.
L. W. Peart, who had been engaged in bus ness college and normal work in Sachenn i'ne a number of years, acceptel a posto in - Bio ulty of the school in September. 100s and ven chased Mr. Wolfenbargar's stool a Serummibe- 1905, thereby becoming one-third owner of Her
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school. Upon his securing Mr. Wolfenbargar's interest he was made business manager of the school, and the duties of the management of the school were divided among Messrs. Humphreys, Bessac and Peart about evenly. Mr. Wolfen- bargar died in November, 1905.
The strongest element in the growth and suc- cess of the school has been the ability and per- sonality of its teachers. The school now em- ploys regularly seven teachers and an office assistant. Its present officers are: J. R. Hum- phreys, president ; E. H. McGowen, vice-presi- dent; H. W. Bessac, secretary ; and L. W. Peart, business manager.
On January 1, 1909, the Western School of Commerce sold to the Heald Associated Colleges their business and shorthand departments, and purchased from the Heald Colleges their Normal schools at Oakland and Stockton. Thus the Western School of Commerce has become ex- clusively a Normal school. Its officers remain as above mentioned.
HOWARD MALCOM FANNING.
In the passing of Howard M. Fanning, April 23, 1906, another of the early pioneers and up- builders of California crossed over the Great Divide. He was a native of New York, born in the city of Troy, June 3, 1826, and in the vi- cinity of his birthplace he grew to manhood. He was a young man of only twenty-two years when he assumed domestic responsibilities by his mar- riage, October 4, 1848, the ceremony being per- formed on Staten Island, N. Y., and uniting him with Laura Louise Butts. In less than two years afterward the young people started for Cali- fornia, embarking in July, 1850, and reaching their destination in the following October. They made the trip by way of the Isthmus of Pana-
ma, across which Mr. Fanning was obliged to walk, as there were only enough mules for the ladies to enjoy the luxury of riding. By the time they reached the Pacific side of the Isth- mus a number of the party were taken sick with Panama fever, but fortunately all recovered. They had expected to be met at Panama by a steamer to take them to San Francisco, but in this they were disappointed, and instead they were obliged to take passage on a sailing vessel. Severe storms overtook them and drove their frail sailing vessel back almost to the Sandwich Islands after San Francisco had been sighted. The fact that Mrs. Fanning was the only woman on board led the superstitious sailors to believe that her presence was the cause of all the mis- fortune that had befallen them, and it was their wish to throw her overboard. She escaped this sad fate, however, and after a long and trying passage they finally set foot on terra firma.
From San Francisco Mr. Fanning came direct to Stockton, where for a time he engaged in the butcher business, and later worked at the car- penter's trade, receiving $16 a day for his serv- ices. Subsequently he gave this up to take up. farming on a ranch of two hundred and fifty acres one mile from Stockton, property which he cultivated successfully until 1875, when he sold out and thereafter lived retired. Few citizens were more deeply interested in the welfare of his home city than was Mr. Fanning, towards whose betterment he was ever lending his best efforts. For a number of years he served as su- pervisor of his township, having been elected to the office at the hands of his Republican friends, he himself being a stanch defender of that par- ty's principles. Fraternally he was a Mason, and socially he was a member of the Pioneer So- ciety, of which at one time he served as presi- dent.
Of the children born of the marriage of How- ard M. and Laura L. (Butts) Fanning three are living, as follows Mrs. Clara F. Bugbee, who makes her home at No. 429 North Hunter street, Stockton; Jennie D., also a resident of this city ; and Harry H., a prosperous rancher
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in the vicinity of Stockton. All were born, reared and educated in Stockton. Mrs. Fanning passed away August 1, 1906, aged seventy-seven years.
WILLIAM MONTGOMERY BAGGS.
In the death of William M. Baggs, which oc- curred in Stockton October 17, 1888, not only did this city lose one of her most esteemed business men, but the state one of its early pioneers, he having located here early in the year 1849. The records show the family to be of English origin, although several generations had made the name famous in the southern states, where many of its members were large slave holders. This was particularly true of Peter J. Baggs, the father of William M., who owned a large plantation in Maryland. His marriage with Miss Mary Nichols united him with another prominent family of the south, her father also owning a large number of slaves which he employed on his plan- tation in Maryland just over the line from Vir- ginia. It was on the plantation of Captain Aull, a relative on the maternal side, that Frederick Douglass received the education that made it pos- sible for him to become the noted exponent of anti-slavery principles.
William M. Baggs was born on his father's plantation in St. Anne's county, Md., May 30, 1822, and there spent his early boyhood years. As he had no taste or inclination to follow in the footsteps of his father and become the own- er of a plantation he early in life decided upon learning a trade, apprenticing himself to a cabi- net-maker for that purpose. It was with this trade as his chief asset that he went to Phila- delphia in young manhood, prior to the war with Mexico. It was while he was following his trade in that city that the news of the discovery
of gold in California came to hit notiks and made his efforts at making a fortune pale Ve fore the glowing tales of fabrics want to be found in the mines in the west. He immubar started for this eldorado, making the voyages he way of Cape Horn, and in Mas. 1850, to de on which he sailed cast ancher in the harbor es San Francisco. The eldorado which be lonely he did not find in the mines, however, but rather in the various business venture which he aden took in Stockton, to which city he gains imrendi ately after landing in San Francis The Int enterprise in which he engagei was the e Minh ment of a commission bisties, which dien patronage from a large territory, extending ar far north as Oregon, but he gave thứ up ( lime and for many years thereafter was extensively interested in the lumber bursite . The Lady in the future greatness of Stockton al a large om mercial center was continuaih mujicat, one of the evidences of his faith in his hum Bien shorn- ing itself when he ventured to erect thie fieet brick warehouse in the city. The Tonpraten proved a success, and from that time umud for death he concentrated his efforts abieg this line exclusively.
While a resident of Philadelphia 'Ir Dopo was married to Miss Anna Nairn Malsood M 1848, she being a descendant wi the home nl Nairn of Scottish nobility. The war following their marriage Mr. Bages set rent alone for the west, and three years later he was joined by his wife, she having made the trip by war of de Isthmus. The death of Mr Ragge comrod October 17, 1888, and he was wirvived by Ba wife until September 22. 193. both pauicsway in Stockton, which had been their home for mans years. Eight children were born wi their user. riage, but of the n11 tiber vmly ilires are pes living. The eldest chill, Jobin, in Jemand, Montgomery is engaged in the roomgrass lion ness in San Francisco: Walter T ho ded af the age of thirty-two, was a jostur of the poure in San Joaquin county ; Harry is a rede ný Redondo, Los Angeles county ; Mary come ihr wife of W. D. Buckley and makes her leme in
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Stockton; the other two children died in in- of street improvement, which work was taken up fancy.
The fourth child in the family of William M. and Anna Baggs was Walter Thompson Baggs, who was born March 4, 1858. He was edu- cated in the public and high schools of his home city, Stockton, supplementing this training by a course in Yale College, from which institution he graduated with the highest honors of his ·class. For a time he was associated with com- mercial interests as secretary of a paper mill in Stockton, but a predilection for the law lead him to give this up and devote his time to its study, reading in the office of Judge W. L. Dudley, of Stockton. Subsequently he was elected to the office of justice of the peace on the Republi- can ticket. It was while filling his second term in this capacity that failing health made it neces- sary for him to resign his position. He went to Phoenix, Ariz., in the hope of recovering his health, but after remaining there for six months he returned to his home in Stockton and passed away one month later, May 8, 1888, just five months before the death of his father. He was a young man of brilliant promise, and his un- timely death was a sad loss to the legal pro- fession.
GEORGE GRAY.
The lumber firm of Simpson & Gray, estab- lished at Stockton in 1853 by the purchase of the interests of Simpson & Jackson, enjoys the dis- tinction of being the oldest continuous co-partner- ship on the Pacific coast, and its members, A W. Simpson and George Gray, are entitled to the highest credit for having built up from a small beginning, an industry of large dimensions and great importance. Meanwhile they have con- tributed to the general development of the city :and have paid large amounts to aid in the task
about the time their partnership was formed. Be- sides their city property they own lands in the county and are rated among the successful and prosperous business men of Stockton.
A native of Maine, Mr. Gray was born June 8, 1826, in the town of Topsham, in what was then Lincoln, but is now Sagadahoc county. His father, Capt. George Gray, descended from an old family of Rhode Island, and his mother was a member of the Winchell family, colonial set- tlers of Maine. On both sides the ancestors were lumbermen, farmers and seafaring men. The boy grew up almost within sight of the great Atlantic and as he listened to the tales spun by the sailors of winter nights, there arose in his heart a desire to be a sailor, yet duties at home prevented for a time and, after he had attended the country school and an academy, he turned his attention to farming in Lincoln county. The land in that locality affords little encouragement to tillers of the soil and its sterile wastes provide a most meagre sustenance in return for care and cultivation ; hence the young man indulged his desire to see something of the world and became a sailor on a vessel between Maine and New Orleans. While following the sea he learned of the discovery of gold in Califorina. November I, 1849, he sailed before the mast on the ship Birmingham, bound for the Pacific coast via Cape Horn, and after a voyage of one hundred and fifty days under Captain Winchell, an uncle, he landed at San Francisco April 4, 1850, to find himself in the midst of strange conditions and a cosmopolitan population.
Using some boards to construct a boat, Mr. Gray rowed from San Francisco to Stockton and then proceeded to the southern mines, but met with no success. A brief experience on the Feather river terminated his experience as a miner. For a short time he operated a dray in Stockton, next he worked in a saw mill in Sonora, Tuolumne county, and during the summer of 1853 he became a permanent resident of Stock- ton, where his interests in the state had first cen- tered and where previously he had made his head-
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quarters and terminus. Among his recollections of early days here is the fact that a ferry was operated across a slough where now stands the hall owned by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For a time he served as president of the San Joaquin County Society of Pioneers and always he has maintained a warm interest in the reunions of the early settlers, with whom he enjoys exchanging stories of pioneer existence and frontier experiences. Since coming to the west he has made three visits to Maine, the first one being made via the Isthmus ten years after his arrival on the coast.
A house that was brought around Cape Horn to California and that is still occupied in Stock- ton, was the center of a gay circle of pioneers one night in September, 1858, when George Gray and Cynthia A. Hammond were united in mar- riage. The bride was a native of Newport, R. I., born in 1840, and had come to the western coast during girlhood years. Their married life has been one of prosperity and happiness and they own a comfortable home on Fremont street, where their comfort is ministered to by their daughter, Hannah W., the other daughter, Abbie H., being the wife of John Garwood, of Stockton. Both daughters were educated in Stockton schools and are women of refinement and culture.
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM.
It is interesting, instructive and profitable, on occasions, to review the lives of men who have risen from comparative obscurity to honor and distinction among their fellow-men by virtue of their unaided efforts and intrinsic merits, in that they are exemplars worthy of imitation, a light to the path and a guide to the feet of the rising generation.
Thomas Cunningham was, perhaps, not only
the best-known man in San Joaquin county, but also in the state, over which lus active carno o sheriff in this county, for over a quarter /t . co tury, had carried him. He was a native of puis ty Longford, Ireland, where he was born in the 17thi of August, 1838, the yourgest of a family of seven children. When ten years of age came to the United States with relative and For cated in Brooklyn, N. Y. There he servol on apprenticeship at the harness-making trade with his brother-in-law, and while so ciplayet &c- voted his spare tinte to study and in attenliter at night school as he had a chance. He worked there until 1855, when he left for California via Panama on the steamer Illinois, and Ended in San Francisco from the steamer Sonora on June 16, 1855. Soon after his arrival there he came to Stockton and found employment with Peachy & Baggs, harness-makers. He afterwarits worket in the sanie line of business for George Elleworth and H. T. Dorrance. In 1800 he startel in brow ness for himself, on Main street near Eldorado, having bought out the stock of J. W. Sou.
In 1861 Mr. Cunningham was married m Stockton to Miss Catherine Quirk, of the Isle of Man, who died April 4. 1875. anl dipem bes demise, great grief overshadowed many heart in the community where she was known and be- loved for her many virtues. They because the parents of three children : Mrs. LOhan May Confer, deceased : Margaret Ella, who soupes the home place at No. 1000 Nurth Elored street ; and Katherine Q., wife pf Frank S Degs He never contracted a second marriage, but de- voted himself to the well-being of the mother less children left in their infancy to Hil fatherly care and keeping.
Mr. Cunningham was a leading memler ni the old Volunteer Fire Company, an l'in 1357 War elected a member of the Eureka Engine Company No. 2; he labored diligently to comprebend the duties of a fireman in detail : and wax opaly faithful in the discharge of three date. As preferment followed merit, lus sphere of pund ness was speedily enlarged, ar 1 be seen Mud at the head of the company as its f rooms In 1965
29
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he was chosen chief of the Stockton Fire De- partment and served in that position for several terms with such universal acceptance that in De- cember, 1870, he was presented with a splendid medal of honor of unique and happily conceived design.
In 1865, and again in 1870, Mr. Cunningham was elected a member of the Stockton city coun- cil from the third ward; and was distinguished for the soundness of his views upon all matters of public interest presented during his term. It was at this time when the question was before the city council of granting a franchise by which the Stockton & Copperopolis Railroad (which was at that time backed by local capitalists, who later sold out to the Central Pacific), could gain access to the waterfront through Weber avenue. Councilman Cunningham stood alone in deter- mined opposition to the measure ; contending that railroads should reach the wharves, mills and warehouses by some more obscure route, as is being done today, but when the final vote was taken upon the granting of the franchise, his vote was the only one recorded in the negative. He predicted then in his final stand before the vote was taken, that if the railroad was kept off the avenue, that it would be the main business street of the city, extending as it did in its ample pro- portions from the waterfront to the Central Pacific depot and out toward the tributary country be- yond, peculiarly adapted to trade and traffic, and the accommodation of a street car system with- out interference with this traffic; but this grand avenue being obstructed by a steam railroad, the street railroad which came along soon afterward was forced to ask for a franchise on narrow, contracted Main street, and the city council was forced to grant the same. One can realize now, after thirty years, the foresight of this man at that time. We can remember the long fight to get the steam cars off Weber avenue, and the boom it has taken as a retail street with splendid modern buildings since they were removed and the electric street car system substituted.
In the fall of 1871 Mr. Cunningham was nominated by the Republican party for sheriff
of San Joaquin county and elected by a handsome majority. He took office on the first Monday in March, 1872, thus entering upon one of the long- est and probably the most notable career of any sheriff on the Pacific coast. Pessimists on all sides wagged their heads and prophesied that this "harness-maker" would prove a dismal failure when confronted with the duties of his office. A knowledge of the existence of this adverse criti- cism, in the minds of many, grated harshly upon the sensitive nature of the sheriff-elect, but proved to him a blessing in disguise, for it aroused all the latent energies of his mind and in- domitable will; and those gruesome forebodings. of ill were quickly put to rest. From that time until his voluntary retirement in January, 1899, he was continuously in office, and during the un- settled period of the early part of his career he had many opportunities of showing his tact and courage. In the saddle, over mountain passes and through swamps, about the campfire and in the stealthy watch of the silent night, on guard for the good of the commonwealth; from the trailing of Vasquez and his band for six thousand miles until they were finally run to earth near Los Angeles in 1873, up to the tracking of the train robbers in southern San Joaquin county in 1898, just before he retired from office, he took a prominent part in every important man hunt in the state; was at the seat of danger wherever there was a disturbance, as in the Moquelemos grant and other settlers' troubles; and was in general a tower of strength on the side of law and order over the wide territory where his in- fluence was felt and his determination known. Many tales could be told of his adventures, his prowess and daring, had we but space to do so ; but the collection of weapons taken from criminals in the court house at Stockton is mute testimony of the stirring scenes during his long career in office.
One of the leading characteristics of this re- markable man, that enabled him to hold an office continuously for such a length of time, an office much coveted by aspirants in all parties, who ex- hausted every expedient to compass his defeat
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during that long period, and to the disgust of the strenuous advocates of rotation in office, was his kindly sympathy for even the most hardened criminal, when once he had peaceably submitted to his authority. His manhood life abounded in deeds of charity, known only through the grate- ful recipients of his bountiful generosity. But between Thomas Cunningham in civil life and social intercourse with his fellowmen, and Sheriff Cunningham in his constant, fearless and indefa- tigable efforts for the suppression of crime with- in his jurisdiction, the line is drawn so sharply, that one is at a loss to understand how these two qualities can combine to such a degree in the same individual. This apparent anomaly was one of the principal factors that so endeared him to his constituents and the general public. When a warrant was placed in his hands for service up- on a venerable justice of the supreme court of the United States, growing out of a tragic affair at Lathrop, who of the old timers does not re- member the singularly graceful and unobtrusive manner in which that delicate duty was perform- ed under the critical eye of the whole country?
In illustration of the peculiar tact and strategic ability that stood this veteran sheriff in hand throughout his brilliant career, we record the fol- lowing: When in 1894, during the extreme in- dustrial depression of that year, a branch of that army of unemployed and impecunious men, on their way to Washington to present their griev- ances to the government, rendezvoused at Sacra- mento, and remained for months, an incubus upon the city, exhausting the hospitality of its citi- zens, committing depredations upon property, and disturbing the general peace of the community; there came a time when forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and they received peremptory orders, "to move on." It was then that this army com- menced preparation for a descent upon Stockton as their next objective point. Anticipating this unwelcome visit Sheriff Cunningham appeared before the board of supervisors and submitted his plan of operation, asking their co-operation to the extent of appropriating a comparatively small sum of money to enable him by a little stratagem to
prevent this terrible inthetion upon the car munity. The supervisors heartily approved the sheriff's plans, and freely vetil the required act The "army" was soon on the mar In: but they Boyd heard of "Tom Cunningham." and approxdet the borders of this county with werewww indl ings of a hostile reception. On reality. the county line, to their surprise, they were imi bo the sheriff, wearing lis blandet amfo god wohl assurance of his hearty sonpathy 1 (hier in their forloni condition, and that he would do 40 in his power to forwaril then toward thefr off mate destination. As an carurst ef lu grid intentions he directed then to plime imi? Man- kets and luggage on wagons he hul drawn up for the purpose. After partaking of a lomilt prepared for theni, they were ready for the march to the camping ground in the bay ffe sheriff had kindly provided for thene Arrived on Banner Island, a grand feast awastel Bum. comprising all of the substantials an ! delicdie of the season, of which they parto k as emily huis- gry men can, while every breath wae hlen wohl blessings for the good sheriff of San Kann The inner man being fully sati fied, you can im agine that they were in excellent good honnan About this tinie a tug. with two barges, drew am to the landing. The sheriff then inter ned them . he had yet one more pronf to offer wi Inu grul im- tentions towards theil. He hall prividel these barges to speed them on their journey toward their destination, to the extent of the ainsile waters of the San Joaquin river Tilly annares ment was received with Mal acclamations of ap- proval. and they thereupon embarked with abe- rity, and were soon ready to bid allim to Stik- ton and take painful leave of their gel trend "Tom Cunningham."
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