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 29
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The domestic life of Roswell C Surpent he- gan in 1858, when his marriage with Moms Drabet Smith was celebrated. Mrs Sargyne ww. . native of England, but from girlhimnt be tern a resident of California. Born of the wrong of Mr. and Mrs. Sargent were the following children : Clara R., who diedl in 1877. when in her eighteenth year: Jacob Pre me whm war born June 8. 1863. and is now in charge wi the family estate; Roswell C., Jr., who died in in-
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fancy; Julia Frances, who died in 1885, when in her eighteenth year ; Mary Emma, who was born May 20, 1870, and is now the wife of Frederic N. Vail, a civil engineer of Stockton; Charles Bradley, deceased ; and Roswell W., who died in 1884, when a child of seven years. Mr. Sar- gent represented the Republican party from his district in the legislature four sessions and dur- ing his term of service was an active member of committees which had to do with swamp lands and claims. Fraternally he was a member of Jefferson Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Woodbridge, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and he was also a valued member of the Woodbridge Grange and the Agricultural Fair Association. His death June 15, 1902, was the cause of uni- versal mourning, for his long association with the growth and upbuilding of San Joaquin county had displayed qualities which won the love and esteem of his fellowmen. While in office he gave his undivided attention to the people's interests with the same fidelity that he would give to his own. Such men as he build for all time and leave a monument to their memory in substantial form, as well as a heritage to their posterity and an example worthy of emulation.
JUGURTHA W. GLENN.
A noticeable characteristic of the native-born sons of California is their devotion to their com- monwealth. Few there are who seek homes in other parts of the world; the great majority re- main in the midst of scenes familiar to their ear- liest recollections and mingle in business enter- prises with an energy inseparable from the equip- ment of a typical westerner. This is no less true of Mr. Glenn than of other Californians who have spent their entire lives within the limits of their state. Devotion to the commonwealth has
been evidenced in his actions, and he has ex- hibited the highest faith in the future growth and prosperity of the state.
Shasta county is Mr. Glenn's native place, and June 14, 1854, the date of his birth, his parents being Hugh and Mary (Catna) Glenn, natives of Scotland but reared in America. They be- came pioneers of the Pacific coast, having crossed the plains in 1853, and settled in Shasta, where Mr. Glenn conducted The American hotel. As early as 1865 he accompanied the family to Stockton and became a student in the public schools. After graduation from the high school he went to Kingsburg, Fresno county, and for two and one-half years engaged in the general mercantile business. On his return to Stockton in 1876 he became an employe of William Baggs in the grain business, filling the position for three years, and during one year of that period he had entire charge of the warehouse. In February of 1879 he became an employe of Hamilton & Greer in the running of steamboats along the river from Stockton, and also on the Sacramento river.
The San Joaquin Improvement Company was organized about 1884 and Mr. Glenn, who had acted as purser for the old firm, was given a posi- tion as assistant manager in the new organiza- tion. From that position he rose to be secretary of the company. During the following year there was consummated the consolidation of the San Joaquin Improvement Company and the Califor- nia Steam Navigation Company under the title of the California Navigation & Improvement Com- pany. In the capacity of assistant manager of the combined companies Mr. Glenn acted from about 1889 until 1902, when he was promoted to be general manager of the organization and con- tinued as such for three years. Resigning from that firm, he assumed the management of a new line, the Union Transportation Company. One year later this company sold out to the California Transportation Company and since then he has been retained in his former position, representing the concern in Stockton and vicinity.
The marriage of Mr. Glenn took place in Au- gust of 1886 and united him with Miss A. C.
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Wellington, a native of Louisiana. They are the parents of two children. The daughter, Marie B., is the wife of Ralph W. Weymouth, of Berkeley, a graduate of the University of Cali- fornia. The son, Jugurtha W., Jr., is a student in the Stockton high school. The family resi- dence is'at No. 444 West Oak street. On the organization of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., Mr. Glenn became a charter member. In addition, he is identified with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, in which for six years he held the office of chaplain. He has always been a Republican and is interested in the growth and advancement of the city and county.
JOHN E. OLIVER, M. D.
The professional circles of Stockton have an able representative in the person of Dr. Oliver, who for a considerable period has been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in this city, operating a drug store in connection with his medical work. A long and successful ex- perience as a practitioner in Missouri, supple- menting exceptional advantages in study in a splendid eastern institution and training under his father, who was a skilled physician, qualified him admirably for successful practice in the city where now he makes his home. Pleased with this country and its climate, he has identified himself with movements tending to the permanent welfare of the region. The fine soil and excel- lent farming facilities of the county interested him to such an extent that, as a diversion from practice, he allowed himself to acquire permanent agricultural interests, and was the leading pro- moter of the Miller's Farm Company, Incorpor- ated. This organization, of which he is the pres- ident, owns a farm of six hundred and forty acres, devoted to the growing of grain, hay and live-stock.
A native of Missouri, Dr. Oliver way leon near Huntsville, Randolph county, Marchi 1., 1863, being the only son of J. C. Oliver, SL b., an honored physician of that region. The lather was born in Scott county, Ky., May 1. 1825. and received fair advantages in the study of molde In 1850 he was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College. Shortly afterward he wennl an office in Randolph county, Mo., where he Mail: up a large practice extending for mite l'i every direction from his home. In these days a ilo tor's life was necessarily one di privation and hardships. Long rides and exposure to in loveat weather, added to the strain of rep-nulde pro- fessional duties, taxed even the most robust pret- stitution, and the doctor succumbed in 1881 ere yet old age had conte to hint. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Edding. 02. born in Virginia in 1833 and died in 1901 in Kansas City, Mo., where her last days were spent.
After having studied in a private school so l academy in Randolph county. Mo. John F Oliver was sent to the William Jewell College at Liberty, near Kansas City Mo., and in that fine old institution he qualified himself for his life work by laying the foundation of a clas tal clus- cation. While still quite young he hal gains ! some idea of therapeutics under his father's in struction and after the death of the father he read alone for a time. In order to receive the advantages of clinics and lectures he enteret the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, where he remained until he was given the degree at M. D., in 1885. Immediately afterwarit he west to Kansas City, Mo., and upenel an obie, maining in that city for eleven year , anl cimi ually retiring from practice there m erder 15a. he might remove to the most attractive Minute of California. Since coming in Sanckitos in September of t&h. he has built up an Important practice, carried on a drug Intuses Erimd agricultural associationto, anl talen a warm in terest in all movements for the permanent wp- building of the city. For years Be bas Boot & champion of the plulanthrope promoples af 3le-
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sonry and holds membership at this writing with Stockton Lodge, F. & A. M., Stockton Chapter, R. A. M., Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T., and the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
THOMAS S. LOUTTIT.
Typical of the opportunities which the city of Stockton offers to its native-born sons is the life of Thomas S. Louttit, who although scarcely yet in the prime of mental activities has risen to a foremost position at the bar of his home town. Here he was born July 11, 1876, here the foun- dation of his education was laid in the common schools, here he enjoyed high-school advantages and here, too, he began the study of the law un- der the wise and talented preceptorship of his father, the late James Alexander Louttit. Upon the completion of his studies he was admitted to the bar in 1903 before the supreme court of California in San Francisco and at once com- menced professional work in partnership with his father under the firm title of Louttit & Louttit, which connection continued until the death of the senior partner three years later. During January of 1907 a partnership was formed with DeWitt Clary under the name of Clary & Louttit and since then the firm has conducted a general law practice in all of the courts. Favored by close association with his gifted father and later by contact with many of the prominent attorneys of the state, Mr. Louttit has availed himself of every advantage for the training of his mental powers and has acquired a knowledge of jurisprudence that his friends believe will place him eventually among the leading lawyers of our commonwealth, with whose laws he is intimately acquainted and to whose progress he is keenly devoted. Hospi- tality graces his comfortable home in Stockton, and the charm of social amenities is added to the
strength of mental attainments. During 1898 he was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of H. M. and Anna J. (Ortman) Hunter, the ma- ternal side representing one of the old families of this county. By this marriage one son has been born, Thomas Hunter Louttit.
The qualities displayed by Thomas S. Louttit are his by right of inheritance from a long line of gifted Scotch ancestors. Distinction in official positions as well as longevity marked many gen- erations of the race from which he sprang. His paternal grandparents were Thomas Sinclair (in whose honor he was named) and Jessie Ann (Bell) Louttit, the former born in Scotland July 4, 1821, and the latter a native of Inverness, the same country, and five years the senior of her husband. Mrs. Jessie Louttit was a 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, a centenarian, attaining the age of one hundred and three years. They traced their ancestry to the Orkney Islands, as did also the Louttit family. The generation preceding the senior Thomas Sinclair Louttit had as its head James Louttit, who died at the age of sixty- six years ; he had married Mary Sinclair, a sister of Thomas Sinclair, who for several years offi- ciated as lieutenant-governor of British Columbia and who also gained distinction as president of the Hudson Bay Company. The death of Mr. Sinclair occurred when he was sixty-six years of age. Through another branch of the same family came a famous relative in James Hack- land of Port Natal, Africa ; he was a son of Mary (Louttit) Hackland (an aunt of James A. Lout- tit), who dying in 1886, at the age of eighty-four years, left nine children.
The founder of the family in America was Thomas Sinclair Louttit, Sr., who crossed the ocean to the United States in 1837, and settled in New Orleans, where he followed the trade of a blacksmith. In that city he married Miss Jessie Ann Bell, who had come to America in girlhood. At the time of the discovery of gold in California he made the tedious and dangerous
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journey 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 Moke- lumne Hill, Calaveras County, Cal. Like the majority of the pioneers of 1849, he was bold in spirit, resolute in purpose and dauntless in ac- tion. Hardships did not dismay him, and ob- stacles served only to bring out his determined will in overcoming them. During the early days he organized at Coloma the Vigilantes, a law and order committee whose members were public- spirited citizens determined to enforce the laws and win California from the control of the law- less element. He died April 22, 1896, his wife surviving until August, 1898.
Of the five children that comprised the family of Thomas Sinclair Louttit and wife all are de- ceased, and were James A., Mary, Thomas S., Belle, and William R. Of these, one was born in Scotland, three in Calaveras county, and James Alexander, in New Orleans on October 16, 1848. He was educated in the country schools of Moke- lumne Hill, and later, under a private tutor, Rev. W. C. Mosher, he became proficient in Latin, Greek and higher mathematics. He was grad- uated from the State Normal in 1864 and won first honors of his class. For three years he was employed as teacher in the Brooklyn high school · of Oakland, when that institution was the only high school in California outside of San Fran- cisco. 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, James Alexander 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 min- ing to both regain his health and lay the founda- tion of financial independence.
During October of 1869, James A. Louttit was
admitted to practice before the supreme court of California, and about the same time Le bought a set of law books which, by frequent Miliciens, brought him in later life a library møre engler than is usually found even in the largest law offices of the state. With customary courtery he gave to his professional co-workers the privilege of access to his library, in order that the best authorities might be consultel in problems of serious import. Under the sponsorship of Hon. J. G. Carlisle and llon. Thomas B. Reml, furver renowned speakers of the house of represer's- tives, he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of the United States. During 1871 he opened a law office in Stockton, where the ome year he was elected city attorney, retaining the position until 1879. For many years he was the partner of C. H. Lindley, later an attorney Mi San Francisco. In 1885 he became the tenor member of the firm of Louttit, Wood & Ist insky. During 1903 he formed a law partneralso with his son, Thomas Sinclair, Jr., and this con tinued until his death, which occurrel July 1906.
Fraternally James A. Louttit was Hlentiful with Stockton Lodge No. 11. I. O. O. F. an1 lit was a charter member of Stockton Longe Vos 218, B. P. O. E. Politically he gave stanch support to Republican principles. Although Mis district was Democratic, at the election of Ninvean- ber, 1884, he was chosen as representative in congress, carrying the district by a dledrive me- jority. During his service at the national capital he gave a large share of his attention to working for the extension of the free-mail delivery synes. and after eight months of tireless effort and fun- wearied application he was privilegeil ok me the system extended to one hun lrel and fortytwo cities, among these being his home own of Stockton. At the expiration of his omcresoonal term he declined a renomination, preferone in devote himself exclusively to profcovid wirl in his home city and neghbwring localities At may be judged from his efforts av sepire the free delivery of mail for Stockton, he was niepsely devoted to the welfare of this city. Every muse-
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ment for the welfare of city, county and state re- ceived his intelligent co-operation and sagacious assistance, and it is to the progressive spirit of such men as he that Stockton has attained its present high position in the commonwealth.
Fond of home and children, many of the hap- piest hours of James Alexander Louttit were spent in the society of his family. His first mar- riage occurred in 1872, uniting him with Ada A. Cory, who was born in California in 1854 and died in Stockton August 6, 1884. Her parents were John R. and Abbie A. (Cory) Cory, hon- ored pioneers of San Joaquin county. By this union the following children were born: Mary B., born in 1873, is the widow of A. M. Young and resides in Council City, Alaska ; John Ran- dolph, born in 1874, is in Alaska; Thomas Sin- clair, born in 1876, is a resident of Stockton ; Jessie Ada, born in 1877, is the wife of Dr. J. M. Sloan and resides in Alaska; and James Alex- ander is also in Alaska. The second marriage took place in Denver, Colo., in 1890, and united him with Mrs. Kate L. (Stuart) Palmer. The third marriage united him with Nettie O. (Bai- ley) Walker, who survives him and resides in Stockton.
EDWARD OULLAHAN.
The family represented by the late Edward Oullahan of Stockton came from distinguished Irish lineage and he was a native of the city of Dublin, born in 1830 to Robert and Mary Oulla- han, who possessed ample means and the highest social standing. His father, an architect and contractor as well as an eminent civil engineer, was attached to the Royal Engineering Corps of the British army and his name is still associated with a number of the historic engineering works of the United Kingdom. It was the good fortune of the son to receive an education befitting the
family rank, and his surroundings in youth were those of culture. The necessity of earning his own livelihood was not thrust upon him, but when he learned of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia he and a brother, D. J., became fired with the spirit of adventure and, equipped with ample means bestowed upon them by their father, they sailed forth in quest of the land of gold. Like many young men similarly situated they gained experience at the expense of their endowment, but they never regretted the events that turned their steps toward the Pacific coast and always gave loyal support to their adopted country.
Arriving in New York City, the brothers. bought an interest in a vessel bound for Califor- nia via the Strait of Magellan, bringing as part of their cargo four large iron houses, an invest- ment that did not prove profitable, as the brothers were unable to sell them and they were burned during one of the early fires of San Francisco. The brothers took up a quarter-section of land each, south of San Francisco, and began to raise stock. In 1852 Edward came to Stockton. The next year D. J. joined him here, and for several years the two conducted a teaming business to the mines, also a commission and forwarding business. Afterward Edward became interested in and superintendent of a ranch of one thousand acres on the Calaveras, five miles from Stockton. In 1861 he relinquished this work and embarked in the wholesale liquor business with Mr. Mc- Shane. Seven years later, broken in health, he returned to Ireland in the hope that a change of climate might prove beneficial. The hope was destined to fulfillment. He gained in weight from one hundred and sixteen pounds to two hundred and forty pounds in less than one year.
Restored to health, Mr. Oullahan returned to New York by steamer and to California by railroad. Shortly after his return the partner- ship with Mr. McShane was dissolved and the firm of Oullahan & Porter was established. Three years later he and his brother entered into partnership. In recognition of his services to the Democratic party he was elected city collector and harbor commissioner, serving for one year,
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and then resuming his wholesale business, which he conducted until his death in 1896. Mean- while he had made a second visit to his native land and had taken great pleasure in resuming . the associations of youth with such of his old friends as still remained in Dublin and vicinity. From early life he was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and during later years enjoyed the warm personal friendship of Father O'Con- nor. In all movements for the betterment of Stockton he was deeply interested, and public- spirited principles guided his acts as a citizen. For some time he was a member of the county central Democratic committee and at one election he lacked only a few votes of being chosen for the office of sheriff. Realizing the need of fire protection in the city, he aided in organizing the volunteer fire department and served as a member of the Eureka Company. For a time he was captain of the Emmett Guards, a local mili- tary organization. Those who had business dealings with him placed implicit confidence in his honor and integrity, and he was also well known for his kindness of disposition and gen- erosity.
The first marriage of Mr. Oullahan took place in Sacramento in 1870 and united him with Ada, daughter of Daniel Callahan, proprietor of the Golden Eagle hotel. She died in 1871, leaving one child, Kate, who at the age of three years was taken into the home of relatives in Ireland and there died in 1886. The second marriage of Mr. Oullahan was solemnized in 1882, uniting him with Miss Helena Gorlinski, a native of Baton Rouge, La., but at the time of her mar- riage a resident of Salt Lake City, where her father, Major Joseph Gorlinski, was stationed. Her mother had received the best musical ad- vantages of Europe, and was a pupil of Chopin in Paris. She gave personal attention to the artistic training of her daughter, who in early childhood evinced a decided talent for music. For some time she studied in Washington, D. C .. and then returned to Salt Lake City to take up professional work as a teacher of voice culture and the piano-forte. From there she came to
Stockton to teach music and in this cily met Mr. Oullahan, who later went to Salt Lake Cht to claim her as a bride. Ever since doounce to Stockton she has been a leader in numeal circles in Central California and has made a fecales of teaching the piano and cultivation it the voice. Through the exercise of distinctive genius, with all the advantages of thorough traur ing, she has been able to give to the art a pro- nounced uplift and her residence in Stockton bar been of the utmost value to the aspiring yon: artists who have enjoyed the advantage of bier personal training.
JOHN WESLEY HART.
The life which this narrative depicts began in Chestertown, Kent county, Md., Mav 18, 1828 and closed in Stockton, Cal., September 13, 1001 Between these dates was enacted a life fillof with experiences, many of which were mat unauml and trying, but none of them was more harrowing than those he was called upon to bear while crout- ing the plains in 1849. He had been hired bir a party to drive a mule team over the plans to the mining country, but before reaching thew destination he was taken sick with mountain fever. When he was no longer able to at am the wagon box and guide the mules hun war per off the team by his inhuman employer ant lei to die by the wayside. Later, However. he was overtaken by friends, who acted the part of the Good Samaritan, and taking lom in the me- veyance, carried him through to Californie Tid first stop was at Placerville, anil on the very day of their arrival Mr. Hart and lils friends Semed that the three men who hal priveit lo oolund to Mr. Hart were to be hung that day for leie stealing.
Mr. Hart finally recovererl brs health amil -
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cepted the first position that offered itself as a means of making a livelihood in the west. As he was fond of hunting and was considered a good shot he was hired at the rate of $8 a dạy by the men at the sawmill to furnish them with deer meat, beef being an unknown quantity there at that time. After working in the capacity of hunter for some time Mr. Hart came to Stock- ton in 1852, and as he was by trade a carriage- builder and blacksmith, he began to work at his trade at once. Subsequently he was offered and accepted a position as foreman of the A. N. Fisher Stage Company, which operated a line to and from the mines. About three years later, how- ever, in 1855, he resumed work at his trade, this time devoting his efforts to carriage building at the corner of Weber and Sutter streets, in a brick building which he constructed for his own spe- cial purpose. Still later he engaged in the gro- cery business, but after following this for a time he sold out in 1883, and going to Portland, Ore., became interested in the street railway service of that city. Thirteen months later, however, he was compelled to give up his position with the company on account of sickness and return to Stockton, and thereafter until his death he made this city his home.
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