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 33
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JAMES CARY ALLEN.
From the time of his arrival in California in 1859 until the present time Mr. Allen has been identified with various enterprises, agri- cultural and commercial, tending toward the de- velopment of San Joaquin county, and he has been no less active and efficient in a public capa- city, having served as deputy assessor of San Joaquin county for twenty-two years of this time, and at this writing is filling the office of postmaster at Tracy.
The descendant of a long line of ancestors who had known no other home than the east and especially the Empire state, James Cary Allen was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., May 17, 1832, the son of Thomas and Ann (Austres) Allen, who spent their entire lives in that east- ern state. Such opportunities as the time and place afforded for gaining an education were made much of by Mr. Allen during his boyhood, for he was ambitious to get ahead in the world. and after his school days were over he lost no time in preparing himself for a business career. Inclination and opportunity combined to lead his thoughts toward the trade of ship carpenter,
and he forthwith undertook its mastery. He had followed his trade in his native state for a num- ber of years, when having heard of the wonder- ful accomplishments of other young men who had come to the west he made up his mind to come hither also. Another strong factor in in- fluencing his decision to make the trip west was the fact that his health had become greatly im- paired by too close application in his business. These combined objects led him to outfit for the journey overland in 1859, a trip which was des- tined to live in his memory ever afterward. In crossing the plains the party was accosted by a Mormon disguised as an Indian who shot one of the party, but happily the wound was not fatal. This murderous attempt aroused the ven- geance of the others of the party and their first thought was to lynch the assailant, but their more humane judgment finally prevailed and they let him go unpunished. The party who fol- lowed Mr. Allen's caravan met with a sadder fate, however, for on the very spot where the encounter with the latter occurred the following party was murdered outright, not one of the party being left to tell the tale.
On his arrival in California Mr. Allen went direct to San Jose, being attracted thither by the fact that he had relatives living there. Securing a ranch in that vicinity he put it under cultiva- tion and at the end of a year found that he had made a large profit on his investment. He then went from Santa Clara county into the red- woods district in Santa Cruz county, where he was employed in the manufacture of redwood lumber for a time. In 1862 he went to San Fran- cisco and worked at his trade of ship carpenter for about a year, when, in 1863, he returned to the redwoods and constructed a logging railway for the Fromente Lumber Company. In October of that year he went to what is now known as Prescott, Ariz., but then showing little prospect of becoming the thriving city it now is, for the hostile Indian made the life of the settler very uncertain. It was on account of the constant disturbance from the Indians that Mr. Allen, after attempting to settle in business there,
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finally gave it up at the end of a year and again went to San Jose. Soon afterward, however, in 1866, he came to Tracy, San Joaquin county, and here he has made his home ever since. Se- curing a ranch in this vicinity, he followed gen- eral farming with splendid success for about nine years, when, in 1875, he gave it up entirely and thereafter was variously employed until his appointment to the office of deputy assessor of San Joaquin county, a position he filled acceptably for twenty-two years. Further honors as a pub- lic official came to him in July, 1906, when he was appointed by President Roosevelt to the postmastership at Tracy, and is now the incum- bent of this position. Fraternally Mr. Allen is well and favorably known in the ranks of the Odd Fellows, being one of the oldest members of the order in San Joaquin county, his mem- bership dating from the first Monday in June, 1853. He is now a member of Sumner Lodge, No. 177, I. O. O. F., of Tracy. All the attri- butes that go to make up a thoroughly conscien- tious and substantial citizen are found in Mr. Allen, and all who are brought in contact with him realize and appreciate these qualities.
CHRISTOPHER STURM STEPHENS.
The life history of the pioneer, the man who has braved the dangers, privations and hard- ships of frontier life, never loses it interest to those who have not experienced frontier life for themselves, but who have been followers instead of leaders in the march of progress. Such an in- terest we find in following the events in the life of Christopher S. Stephens, whose permanent location in California dates from the year 1861, and his residence on his present ranch near Waterloo from the year 1862.
The Stephens family is of English origin, and
the first of the family to come to the United States was Joseph Stephens, who served for a time in the English army, and at the time of the war of 1812 was a member of the regiment sent to Canada to assist in queiling disturbances. There his army career ended, however, for, crossing over into the borders of the United States, he renounced his allegiance to the Mother Country. Going to Louisville, Ky., he there be- came a naturalized citizen of the United States and made that city his home throughout the re- mainder of his life. One of the children born of his marriage with Miss Rosa Kirkpatrick was Christopher S. Stephens, of this review. He was born in Harrison county, Ky., August 28, 1823. and grew to young manhood in the vicinity of his southern home. The death of both parents left him an orphan in 1832, and thereafter lie was bound out to serve an apprenticeship of seven years to a man who had leased the woolen mill at Claysville left by his father, Joseph Stephens. This was one of the three mills which the father had established, the others being lo- cated at Cynthiana, Harrison county, and in Lewis county, Ky .. but both were destroyed by fire. All of the children were apprenticed to learn the same business by their uncle, who was their guardian and the executor of the estate of Joseph Stephens.
When twenty years old C. S. Stephens began to be self-supporting. and at the same time, feeling the restraint of his home surroundings, he went to Rush county, Ind., where for two years he was foreman of a woolen factory. During this time he occupied all of his spare time in improving the meagre education which had been afforded him in the schools of his home town, hiring a private teacher to assist him in his studies. Sub- sequently, going to Cincinnati, he was employed on an Ohio river steamer for about a year, when, the Mexican war having broken out. he went to Kentucky and enlisted for service. His com- pany was not accepted, however, and still deter- mined to see service he and a companion went to St. Louis, but there, too, disappointment awaited them, for the quota was filled. Mr. Stephens their
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applied to the government for a position as team- ster, and being accepted, started to drive to Santa Fe, N. Mex. Typhoid fever had worked ravages to the ranks, and as a consequence men were readily accepted for enlistment. At Fort Leavenworth Mr. Stephens enlisted as a team- ster and from that point drove a team to Santa Fe. With others he was selected for a peculiarly hazardous duty, being chosen to communicate for General Price with Commodore Stockton. They reached the fleet at San Pedro, Los Angeles county. When they had discharged their duty Mr. Stephens and three other men began the re- turn trip to Santa Fe with an express from Com- modore Stockton. Indians attacked them, but were repulsed, and they finally reached Santa Fe in safety. Subsequently Colonel Washington or- ganized four companies there, in one of which Mr. Stephens enlisted and was made first ser- ·geant, serving as such until the regiment was dis- banded. In 1847 he was made wagonmaster of the post at Santa Fe, holding this position for eighteen months or until he left for the east in 1849. Because of his skilled knowledge Mr. Stephens was selected to build a grist mill in which to grind forage for the dragoons and cav- alry. There were no conveniences at hand, how- ever, so it was with some difficulty that he finally got the mill in running order. This was the first mill ever operated in New Mexico territory, and made a reputation for Mr. Stephens as a mill- wright, and at Albuquerque he was called upon to complete a mill for the commissary depart- ment. With the fall of the Mexican stronghold peace was declared and the soldiers dispersed, Mr. Stephens returning to Santa Fe, where he enlisted as wagon master in the regular army, and remained about eighteen months.
With the close of his army career Mr. Stephens returned to Indiana and once more took up the life of the civilian, establishing a home and engaging in business there for eight years. During this time, in 1853, he built a steam sawmill near Zionsville, Marion county, which he operated in connection with his farm. 'Closing out his affairs in the middle west Sep-
tember, 1860, found him on the overland journey to California, the trip being made with one ox- team and one horse-team. Arriving at Eldo- rado, he remained there about a month, during that time engaging in teaming, and afterward he came to San Joaquin county and located on a rented ranch in the vicinity of Lockeford in No- vember. This experience enabled him to famil- iarize himself with the western mode of farm- ing and also to become better acquainted with land values. In 1862, he put his experience and knowledge to good account in the purchase of a ranch of two hundred acres in the vicinity of Waterloo, and this has been his home ever since the 22nd of September of that year.
Mr. Stephens was first married in Indiana in 1851 to Miss Melissa Walker, and of the five chil- dren born to them four are living as follows: Thomas J .; Alice, the wife of Warren Ambrose, of Lockeford ; Rosie, the wife of George Bidwell ; and Alfred Newton, a resident of Waterloo. The mother of these children died in 1874, and in 1882 Mr. Stephens was married to Miss Levina Potts, three children resulting from this mar- riage as follows: Christopher S., who with his child makes his home on the old homestead ranch with his father, his wife having passed away in 1909; Margaret Levina, who is a student in Lodi; and Victor, at home. Since the death of the wife and mother in 1902 Mr. Stephens has been ministered to by his children, who are a comfort to him in his declining years. During his more active life Mr. Stephens was deeply interested in the political and legislative affairs of his state and county, serving in the legisla- ture for two terms, in 1882 and 1883, was a jus- tice of the peace for sixteen years, and for fifteen years was school trustee of his district. Mr. Stephens' experience of over a half century since he left his southern home makes him an interest- ing conversationalist, and probably there is no subject to which he refers with more zest than his experience in the Mexican war. It was dur- ing this time that he first came to California, in February, 1847, being commissioned to deliver important messages from General Price to Com-
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modore Stockton at San Pedro, Cal. On the re- turn trip to Santa Fe Mr. Stephens and his com- panions were followed by Indians for two weeks and finally were drawn into a skirmish with their dusky foes, which resulted in almost mortally wounding one of the white men, who recovered after four months careful nursing in a hospital. The other four men of the party made their way in safety to Santa Fe. Mr. Stephens is now in his eighty-sixth year, a link between the past and the present, and has every reason to be proud of his long and useful life.
EZRA McINTIRE.
Many of California's successful ranchers have gained their initial experience on eastern farms, and among this number may be classed Ezra McIntire, who since locating in the state in 1879 has met with a success far above the average. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that he has made a study of specialized farming and in the raising of watermelons has practically stood alone in this part of the country, and indeed has been called the Watermelon King of San Joaquin county.
Born in Oxford county, Me., in 1833, Mr. McIntire was reared and educated in that state, making his home with his parents on the parental farm until he attained years of maturity. Be- ing ambitious to see something of the commercial life of the east he went to Boston and accepted a position in a mercantile establishment there, but upon giving it up he returned to the home- stead in Maine and continued its management continuously up to the year 1879. It was in the latter year that he came to California, and lo- cating in San Joaquin county, began the raising of watermelons on a large scale on the sandy soil in the vicinity of Lodi. Four hundred and
ten acres were devoted entirely to this com- modity, the largest patch in watermelons in the United States at the time, hence his title of Watermelon King was no misnomer. His first purchase of land was the old Brannock ranch, six miles from Lodi, but this he sold about 1890. Later he leased land near Linden, upon which he lived for about six years, when he came to the vicinity of Stockton and purchased the ranch upon which he now lives, on Rural Delivery route No. 3. Here he began with six hundred acres, but as his demands increased he added ad- joining land until he now has under his control and management two thousand acres, all under cultivation to grain and hay. He ran the In- dependent dairy of eighty cows for twelve years.
Mr. McIntire was united in marriage with Miss Serena Morse, a native of Maine, and a sister of the late L. M. Morse of Lodi. Mrs. McIntire passed away in 1902. Four children were born to them. The eldest son, Frank, is a contractor by trade and a resident of Stockton ; Flora is the wife of William P. Steinbeck, of Stockton; Arthur is a rancher in the vicinity of Farmington ; and Ernest is a bookkeeper in the Sperry Mill Company at Paso Robles. For forty-three years Mr. McIntire has held member- ship in the Masonic organization, having joined the order in Wilton, Me., and he still holds mem- bership in Wilton Lodge No. 156. He is a Republican in politics, but never would accept office ; he cast his first vote for John C. Fremont.
JOSE VASQUEZ.
As his name would suggest, Mr. Vasquez comes of Spanish antecedents, and he himself was born under the Spanish flag. on the island of Minorca, one of the Balearic Islands, in the Medi- terranean sea, February 24. 1831. He received
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his education in his home city, Mahon, the capi- tal of the island, and when his study days were over he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of ship carpenter. Thereafter he worked at his trade until the breaking out of the Crimean war in 1854, when he went to sea, and it was while he was in the harbor at Havana that he was pur- suaded by one of his countrymen to join an American merchantman ship and come to the United States. Upon landing in New York he was pleasantly surprised in meeting his brother, with whom he visited for about a month, after which he again set out to sea, having in the meantime joined the United States navy. He shipped as steward on the frigate Wabash, under command of Commodore Palden and Captain Engle. On one of his voyages he witnessed the capture of General Walker in Nicaragua in 1857 and thereafter returned to New York and was discharged from the navy. An opportunity to work at his trade induced him to accept a posi- tion in the Brooklyn navy yard, but after three months of life on land he again longed for the sea, and going to Boston, shipped on board the Constellation, under command of Commodore Hickman and Captain Wilson. For twenty- seven months the Constellation cruised in the waters around Africa, but at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war the ship was re- called and Mr. Vasquez was discharged in New Hampshire. From there he went to Havana again, but finally returned to New York, and it was at this time that events so shaped themselves that he was induced to come to the Pacific coast.
In 1862 Mr. Vasquez shipped aboard the mer- chant vessel Attache Magoo, under Captain Baker, which sailed around Cape Horn and on the 15th of August of that year dropped anchor in the harbor of San Francisco. While there he heard that his brother was engaged in mining in Tuolumne county and thither he went to join him, remaining there for five years, or until 1867, when he came to Stockton. His first under- taking upon locating here was as proprietor of a small grocery store. which he continued for six years, with increasing success, and was finally
compelled to enlarge his quarters by removal to the corner of California and South streets. Finally he gave up mercantile interests to en- gage in farming, at first renting land for this. purpose. Gratified with the results of his ven- ture as an agriculturist he felt justified in pur- chasing property of his own, continuing to add to his possessions from time to time, until he now owns considerable real estate. He is not act- ively interested in its cultivation, however, as he rents the land to tenants and has retired from active business life.
In Sonora county, Cal., Mr. Vasquez was united in marriage with Miss Rosario Villanneva in 1866, and one son and one daughter have blessed their marriage, John and Josie, the latter still at home with her parents, at No. 1404 South California street.
FERDINAND STOETZER.
Although a number of years have passed since the death of Mr. Stoetzer he is still remembered with most kindly feeling by those who had en- joyed his hospitality during the many years he was proprietor of a hotel in Stockton. As the name would indicate, he was a descendant of German ancestors, and he himself was born in Germany in 1842. In keeping with the German custom he was well educated in the schools of the Fatherland, and there also, when of suitable age, he was apprenticed to learn a trade. He had followed the locksmith's trade there for a time when he was compelled to give it up and enter the service of his country, this also being a cus- tom peculiar to the Fatherland. Before the com- pletion of his term, however, he determined to immigrate to the New World, and the year 1862 found him embarking for the United States by way of the Horn. The voyage was made in a sailing vessel, which after much buffeting and
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tossing finally entered the Golden Gate and land- ed its burden of human freight in San Francisco. From the metropolis Mr. Stoetzer came at once to Stockton, where he soon became interested in the hotel business and from that time, 1862, un- til 1895 his success increased in the same ratio as did his popularity with his patrons. In the year last mentioned he retired from active business and thereafter lived retired until his death, which occurred September 29, 1907.
In San Francisco, in 1871, Mr. Stoetzer was married to Miss Wilhelmina Newhofer, who like himself was a native of Germany, and of the four children born to them two are deceased. Those still living are Otto E., and Lena, the wife of W. O. Bigelow, of Stockton. Fraternally Mr. Stoetzer was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Druids. Personally he possessed many winning characteristics, his cordial and kindly nature gathering about him many life-long friends, not only from Stockton, but from the countryside in every direction.
CHARLES A. POTTER.
It is always interesting to chronicle the life history of the pioneer, who braved the dangers and hardships of frontier life and put his shoul- der to the wheel in the upbuilding of new terri- tory. Such a man was represented in the late Charles A. Potter, who passed away in San Fran- cisco in August, 1880. A native of Connecticut, he was born in New Haven, August 15, 1829, the son of Eber K. and Jerusha (Smith) Potter. When he was little more than a lad Charles A. Potter left his parents' home for the great east- ern metropolis, New York City, where he learned the trade of last-making. It was while he was in that city that the news of the discovery of gold in California was spread broadcast over the coun-
try and found him an easy prey to the alluring advantages which the discovery made possible for ambitious young men. With his brother, Francis E. Potter, he set sail for the eldorado in February, 1849, going by steamer to the Isthmus of Panama. When they reached the Pacific side of the Isthmus they expected to find a steamer waiting to take them to San Francisco, but in this they were disappointed and were obliged to make the trip in a sailing vessel. They did not reach their destination until July, and in the meantime they had experienced a inutiny of the crew and were themselves with others of the passengers compelled to take their places be- fore the mast.
Mr. Potter's first experience in a business way was in San Francisco, where he carried on a draying business for about two years, and during this time was a member of Sansome volunteer fire company. At the end of this time he came to Stockton. Here in addition to carrying on a bakery business he also engaged in mining and farming, the three industries combined netting him a fairly good income. Notwithstanding this he returned to San Francisco in 1870 and resumed work at his trade, last-making, estab- lishing the first factory for this purpose on the Pacific coast. During the early history of that city, when law and order were the exception rather than the rule, he became a member of the vigilance committee, which was composed of the better element of citizens for the purpose of bringing order out of the chaotic condition that then existed.
Mr. Potter was twice married, his first mar- riage uniting him with Caroline Mersfelder De- cember 6, 1855; she was a native of Baltimore, Md., and came to the west in the pioneer days with her parents. His second marriage also occurred in Stockton and united him with So- phia C. Eberhart August 3, 1865. she also being a native of Baltimore. Two children were born of the first marriage, Charles A. Potter, of San Francisco. and Mrs. Carrie H. Martin, of Eureka, Cal. The only child of the second mar- riage is Frederick E. Potter of Stockton, with
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whom the mother makes her home, at No. 122I North Monroe street. He is married and has one son, Fred A. Mrs. Potter is a woman of pleasing personality and is an active member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Pioneer Society of Stockton. Fraternally Mr. Potter was a mem- ber and past noble grand of Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., a member of the encampment of Stockton, and he was also a member of the vol- unteer fire department of this city, as foreman of Protection Hook and Ladder Company.
Mr. Potter erected a residence at the northeast corner of Weber avenue and Stanislaus street in 1852, known as the Potter house, and which was in the possession of the family until 1906. He also owned a ranch of nine hundred acres about three miles from Stockton, on the Mariposa road, which among the old settlers is known as the Potter ranch. Here he made his home for a time and engaged in stock and grain raising, and while here brought to the coast the first "Bel- mont" stock of horses.
GEORGE H. HEIMANN.
Prosperity and adversity, success and failure, wove their web of joy and sorrow around the early years of George H. Heimann, for many years an honored citizen of Stockton, but by birth and ancestry of the Teutonic race. Born in Nassau, Germany, June 9, 1844, he was sent to school in childhood and later supplemented text-book study by private readings, which gave him an accurate knowledge of the history of the world. When only eight years of age he began to help in the blacksmith's shop owned by his father and at the same time he began to learn the trade of wagon-maker. At the age of fifteen years he ironed off his first wagon, being assisted by his father with the heaviest work. It might be
supposed from his arduous labors in the shop that he had no leisure for study, but such was not the case. The time spent by other boys in sport or play was by him devoted to reading and he be- came unusually well informed concerning the world.
The first important event in the life of Mr. Hei- mann was the return of his half-brother, Jacob Roentgen, from the gold fields of California, whither he had gone in 1848. This relative was a member of the family made famous by the dis- coverer of the Roentgen rays. Having spent years in the gold mines, he had much to tell con- cerning prospects and conditions in California, and the young half-brother was deeply interested in what he heard. Thus it happened that in 1867 he crossed the ocean to the United States. The assistance of Mr. Roentgen and his own diligent study had given him a knowledge of the English language and thus spared him many of the hard- ships experienced by foreigners unfamiliar with any tongue except the German.
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