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 35
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Upon starting out to make his own way in the world James W. Hislop came to the United States. After landing in the harbor of New York he
proceeded westward to the Pacific coast and es- tablished himself as a permanent resident of California. For fifteen years he was connected in different capacities with the Gladding & Mc- Bean Company, of Lincoln, Placer county, and meanwhile he proved his exceptional qualifica- tions for such line of business. However, it was his ambition to superintend a plant of his own inception, and preliminary to such an enterprise he accepted and filled a position as superintend- ent of the works of the Carnegie Brick Pottery Company in Alameda county near the line of San Joaquin county. From there during 1907 he came to Stockton, where in April of that year he secured the incorporation of the Stockton Fire & Enamel Brick Company, with a capital stock of $50,000, and with himself as superintendent. Myers J. Gardner acts as president of the com- pany and T. A. Nelson fills the offices of secre- tary and treasurer.
The plant is situated outside of the corporate limits of Stockton to the south and is equipped with the most modern, up-to-date machinery. The kilns are of the latest and most approved construction. Native oil is utilized for fuel, thus reducing the cost of the product. Five or more electric motors furnish ample power for each de- partment. The clay used in the manufacture of brick is shipped from different portions of this state and by the mixing of different clays various shades of bricks are produced. The drying pro- cess can be carried on outdoors during the greater part of the year, but arrangements have been effected so that during the rainy season the brick are dried under cover in a building supplied with pipes through which steam is forced. Therefore no time is lost by changes of weather. Five of the improved kilns are equipped with a down draft so that there is very little loss in burning. The capacity of the plant is two hun- dred and fifty thousand brick per month. By long experience in the business the superintend- ent is able to produce superior brick for build- ings of all kinds. Many of the face brick are given the glass finish and resemble the finest quality of tile. Wherever the brick has been
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used, satisfaction has been expressed with its quality and the company is finding that its best advertisement is a multitude of pleased custom- ers. Undoubtedly a prosperous future awaits the concern, whose upward progress will be of benefit not only to the owners, but also to the city where the plant is located.
GILCHRIST P. ROBERTS.
The commercial interests of Stockton have a resourceful representative in Gilchrist P. Rob- erts, who as the senior member of the firm of Roberts & Clark is maintaining one of the largest planing mills in San Joaquin county. Mr. Rob- erts is a native of Missouri, born September 21, 1878, the son of parents who had long made that state their home. His early boyhood was spent in his native locality, where as a student in the grammar schools he was fitted to enter the high school after the family home was transferred to Stockton, Cal., this event occurring in 1896. After his graduation from the Stockton high school he continued his studies in Stanford Uni- versity and graduated from that well-known in- stitution of learning in 1900.
Leaving college, Mr. Roberts put his recently acquired knowledge to practice as bookkeeper in the planing mill of Thomas & Bell, a position which he filled with great credit to himself and with acceptability to his employers for five years, during this time also devoting much of his time to the interests of the Republican party, having in the meantime been elected a member of the county central committee of that party. During the years spent in the mill just mentioned Mr. Roberts gained a clear and thorough understand- ing of the planing-mill business, which gave him confidence to undertake a business of his own. In 1905, associated with W. X. Clark, he pur-
chased the milling business of the Gardner Lum- ber Company, and under the name of Roberts & Clark a general milling business has since been conducted. The plant, which covers nearly half a block, is equipped with the latest and most ap- proved machinery for the manufacture of outside and inside finishings for buildings, this being their specialty, although they also do a general milling. business. The building covers a space of about three hundred feet square, and taken all in all the plant and equipment in general is the finest to be found in this part of the country.
Mr. Roberts' marriage occurred in 1903 and united him with Miss Abbie Hammond, the daughter of John Hammond, an old resident and much respected citizen of Stockton. They have two children, G. P. Jr., and Junius D. Although much of Mr. Roberts' time is necessarily con- sumed in his business affairs, he yet has time to, take an interested part in the welfare of his home town, and no worthy measure advanced for the betterment of conditions lacks his support and encouragement. He is also interested in a num- ber of fraternal organizations, becoming a men- ber of the Elks organization in 1901, and in 1908 he was elected exalted ruler of his lodge, to serve for one term. He is also a member of Truth Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F.
J. C. SILVEIRA.
One of the younger generation of agricultur- ists in San Joaquin county is J. C. Silveira, who. is making a specialty of the raising of aspara- gus on Roberts Island, where the conditions of soil and climate are especially well suited for the successful cultivation of this vegetable. Al- though he is not a native of California, having been born in Gold Hill, Nev., in 1876, he never- theless has spent his entire life in sight of the
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mountains and the greater part of it has been passed in the Golden state. His father, Rollin Silveira, came to the coast in 1870, and in the vicinity of Fresno gained considerable renown as a successful sheep raiser, a reputation which he also bore in San Joaquin county and in Ne- vada. He now makes his home in Oakland.
When he was a small child J. C. Silveira was brought to California by his parents, who for a number of years made their home in San Fran- cisco. In the public schools of that city he gained a good education, and thereafter pre- pared himself for a business career by learning the plumber's trade, apprenticing himself for this purpose to the firm of Taylor, Adams & Pritch- ard. In all, he worked at the trade seven years, giving it up at the end of that time, when he came to San Joaquin county. Since that time he has been engaged in the raising of asparagus on Roberts Island. where he owns two hundred and thirty-five acres, of which two hundred acres are entirely devoted to raising this vegetable.
Mr. Silveira's marriage united him with a na- tive daughter of California, Miss Louisa Holm- quist, who was born in Merced. Two children, a son and daughter, have been born to them, Leslie and Maria.
JAMES WEBB.
It might well be a source of gratification to a man if, in looking back over the years of a busy life, he recalls no deed to' cause remorse and re- gret and no intentional act of wrong-doing toward his fellowmen. As Mr. Webb reflects concern- ing the activities of over a century, he can face the past without sorrow and the future without fear, for in all his actions he has been guided by the highest principles of honor. Though he has long since passed the point of usefulness in life's
activities, he has as yet signified no intention of relinquishing his splendid grasp on life, and has now (1909) reached the remarkable age of one hundred and three years.
This centenarian makes his home in Fair Oaks, just outside of Stockton, his residence in California dating from 1854. He was born in Kentucky, July 27, 1806, but while he was still a mere infant his parents settled in Tennessee, where he was reared and where he made his home until 1844. It was during the latter year that he went to Missouri and took up agricul- tural pursuits, following this for about ten years. His restless spirit brought him to California in the fall of 1854, and in the Bellota district and in the vicinity of Linden, San Joaquin county, he followed farming until he was seventy-two years of age. Mr. Webb was deprived of thie com- panionship of his wife many years ago, and since 1895 he has made his home with his son Isaac, who bestows upon him every attention heart could wish. The parental family included five children, four sons and one daughter, and of them we make the following mention: Jesse was born June 23, 1826, and now makes his home in Bellota; Isaac, born September 14. 1830, lives at Fair Oaks, where he conducts a store; Ira was born January 11. 1840; William was born September 22, 1841 ; while the only daughter, Mrs. Nancy E. Gard, was born Sep- tember 16, 1834.
James Webb has always been a Democrat and claims the distinction of being the oldest living Democratic voter in the United States. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson before he reached manliood's estate, this ballot being cast in 1824. Jackson was not elected at that time. but Mr. Webb had the satisfaction of voting for him again in 1828. when his chosen candidate was elected. It is his proud boast that he has never voted anything but the Democratic ticket, his last one being cast for William J. Bryan, in November, 1908.
In the early part of the nineteenth century James Webb braved the dangers incident to Ten- nessee mountain life, and as a boy he walked
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behind the ox in the corn row of Tennessee, and there also he became familiar with the shrill cry of the wolves and the terrible yell of the Cher- okee and Creek Indians. His outdoor life and his splendid heritage of health gave him great strength and valor, and it is said of him that, though he was not a quarrelsome man, he would rather fight than eat. In those early days in Tennessee fighting was as much a part of a man's life as the social activities are now. The warmest friends often engaged in combat "just for the fun of it," often fighting terrible battles and shaking hands with one another afterward without the slightest ill-feeling. Mr. Webb, with his giant strength, his courage and his hardi- hood, was an opponent worthy any man. By nature he was active, and up to the age of eighty he engaged in the sports of the hunter, but the failure of his eyesight in mistaking a lump of dirt for a squirrel made him decide to give up the sport. All through the years of his life Mr. Webb has taken an interest in the af- fairs of men, in the seed-time and harvest, which he has seen come and go a hundred times, and is patiently awaiting the summons to come "up higher."
JAMES T. AND WILLIAM E. HOLMAN.
Through the labor and accomplishments of father and sons in San Joaquin county for the past thirty-five years the name of Holman has come to represent all that stands for uprightness in business, in both commercial and agricul- tural lines. As far back as it is possible to as- certain the history of the family it originated in Missouri, where the father, William Benjamin Holman, was born, and where, in the town of Clifton Hill, he was a successful merchant for many years, or until coming to the west in 1874 and locating in Linden, San Joaquin county, Cal.
Here he continued in mercantile business through- out the remainder of his life, passing away at the. age of seventy-three years, in 1903. By his marriage with Miss Martha Jane Prather, also. a native of Missouri, seven children were born,. but of this number only five are now living. Named in order of their birth they are as fol- lows : James Thomas; Mattie Florence, at home with her mother in Linden; William Edgar ;. Neil Samuel, a rancher in the vicinity of Linden, San Joaquin county ; and Boyd Prather, in charge of the home ranch at Linden.
James T. and William E. Holman, were born in Missouri in 1858 and 1868 respectively and came to California with their parents in 1874. After the younger brother had completed his edu- cation in the public schools of Linden, where the family settled, he and James T. went to San Joaquin county, and in the vicinity of Milton farmed on rented land in partnership until 1902, when they bought the ranch which is now their home, in close proximity to Farmington. This property comprises five hundred and thirty-seven and a half acres, of which ten acres are in vine- yard, and the remainder in grain and hay, Another branch of agriculture from which they receive a good income is the raising of stock. To facilitate the work of gathering their large crops the brothers have supplied themselves with a harvester, which neighboring ranchers not thus supplied are eager to employ during the harvest- ing season, and this in itself is a source of no smali income to the proprietors. Besides the cultivation of their own land the brothers also have adjoining land under their care, farming in all about one thousand acres.
Both brothers are married and settled in homes of their own, James T. Holman choosing as his wife Luella Gertrude Needham, by whom he has one son, Earle Leigh. William E. Holman was married in 1893 to Miss Lillian V. Need- ham, a native of Santa Clara county, and the daughter of C. E. Needham, who became a prominent rancher and stock-raiser in San Joa- quin county. Mr. Needham came to California from Illinois in 1862, settling in Santa Clara
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county, and two years later he returned to the east for his family. His advent into San Joa- quin county dates from the year 1867, at which time he settled on a ranch near Banta. Mr. and Mrs. Needham became the parents of six children, as follows : Harry Burr, located in San Francisco in the government employ ; Cyrus Hal, a rancher; Myrta Lou, the wife of William G. Mckean, of Berkeley; James Carson, who is a congressman from the sixth district and a resident of Modesto, Stanislaus county ; Lillian Vale, Mrs. William E. Holman; and Luella Gertrude, the wife of James T. Holman. One child has been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Holman, to whom they have given the name of Charles Edgar. Both broth- ers are active members of the Odd Fellows or- ganization, James T. having passed through all the chairs of Farmington Lodge No. 296, I. O. O. F., and William E. is now treasurer of the same.
ARTHUR WILLIAM HEWITT.
Glowing tributes have always been paid to the pioneer who blazed his way across trackless plains to the unknown west and inaugurated the civilization which we of today enjoy with little thought as to how it was brought about or what sacrifices it represents. Too much praise and gratitude cannot be bestowed upon the noble men who thus risked life and fortune, but a just meed of praise also belongs to the later generation who are continuing the work laid down by their fore- runners. The above picture clearly depicts the lives of Martin L. and Arthur W. Hewitt, father and son, the former now a resident of San Fran- cisco, and the latter the proprietor of the home- stead ranch located two miles west of Farming- ton.
Martin L. Hewitt was born in Ohio in 1844.
and until reaching manhood was contented to re- main in his native community. However, he was finally seized with the western fever and in the early 60's he made his way across the plains by means of ox-teams, making the trip in company with his parents and family. Upon reaching the west he went at once to the vicinity of the mines, but instead of searching for the golden metal in the mines he engaged in a freighting business to Copperopolis and Sonora, which in all probability netted him as satisfactory an income as if he had risked the uncertainties of mining. When the rush to the mines began to diminish the freight- ing business suffered accordingly, and he finally gave it up entirely. Thereafter he came to San Joaquin county, and upon the ranch he then pur- chased, three miles west of Farmington, he con- tinued to make his home until 1900, since which time he has been a resident of San Francisco. His wife was in maidenhood Miss Florence Har- rold, a native of Iowa, by whom he has two sons, Arthur William and Harrold Luther, the latter still with his parents.
Arthur W. Hewitt is a native of Farmington and was born on what is known as the Harrison ranch in 1878. His early training was received in the district schools and later he took up pre- paratory work under Professor John York, thus becoming eligible to entrance in the University of California. There his studies were confined particularly to mining engineering, and after the completion of his two-year course he put his knowledge to practice in the mines of Alaska. His trip to the far north was made in 1897, dur- ing the early rush to the famous Klondike coun- try. By means of dogs he made his way over the ice to Dawson, and in the fall of 1898 he went to Nome by boat. After a varied experi- ence in the north covering two years he finally returned to San Joaquin county and settled on the home ranch, the management of which has since occupied his entire attention. This com- prises eight hundred and fifty-seven acres de- voted to grain and hay and is considered one of the best managed and most productive ranches in the vicinity of Farmington.
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The marriage of Mr. Hewitt occurred June 27, 1900, and united him with Miss Ida Church, a native of Farmington, and the daughter of M. M. Church, the latter now a resident of Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt have one son, to whom they have given the name of Milo Lester. Mr. Hewitt's fraternal affiliations ally him with the Odd Fellows, his membership being in Farming- ton Lodge No. 296, of which he is past grand. He also holds membership in the Arctic Brother- hood of Alaska.
BASILIO LAOGIER.
Yet another of the pioneers to this western commonwealth who have passed to that bourne whence no traveler returns is the late Basilio Laogier. He was a native of France, born in Nice March 6, 1820, the son of Charles and Jo- sephine (Moisin) Laogier, also natives of that country, the father maintaining a wholesale and retail mercantile establishment and also manag- ing a hotel at Nice. There the son was reared and educated and soon after leaving school he secured a position with the French government in the arsenals and for three years his duties kept him in Africa. At the end of this time he remained there three years longer on his own account, during this time carrying on a profit- able business as locksmith and gunsmith. There- after he returned to France, and during the month he spent in Marseilles he made prepara- tions to start on an extended tour of the world. From Marseilles he shipped to Rio Janeiro, Bra- zil, and after stopping there for a time resumed the voyage, rounding Cape Horn and finally reaching the port of Valparaiso, Chile, in safety. From this South American port he continued his travels on the ship La Princesa Belgoiosa to San Francisco, arriving at that port January 22,
1850. He had not been in that city long, how- ever, before he was attracted to the mines, for this was the time that the gold excitement was at its height. Going to Mokelumne Hill, he mined there with average success for a few months, and then returned to San Francisco, reaching that city the day following the disastrous fire. Six months later he again went to the mines, but after seven months more of this life he gave it up altogether and thereafter settled in Stock- ton, where for a time he conducted a locksmith establishment. Believing that a lucrative busi- ness could be established in hauling supplies to the mines, he embarked in the pack-train busi- ness in 1858, hauling goods to Murphys, Vir- ginia City, and other mining camps in that vicin- ity. In the course of a few years interest in the mines there began to lessen, and at the same time the cost of fodder for his mules had in- creased to such an extent as to make continu- ance at the business almost prohibitive. Some idea of the cost may be gathered from the fact that during the year 1864 the feed for his pack- mules cost him at the rate of $300 per month. This condition of affairs made it necessary for him to change his location, and from there he went to the mining region about Sacramento, hauling supplies to Red Bluff, Colusa, Tehama and Yreka. He also attempted to take the In- dian trail to Klamath Lake, but the Indians re- sented the intrusion and drove him away, and he then journeyed by way of the lava beds, Warm Springs and Fort Dalles to Dalles. From that point he sent his pack-train overland to Umatilla, while he himself took the steamer for that point, and from there took a cargo to Ban- nock City. The expedition proved sufficiently profitable to warrant two more similar trips. He then proceeded to Placerville, Centerville, pass- ing through Oregon on his way to Walla Walla, Wash., which city he reached on the 25th of November, in the midst of a heavy snowstorm. From that point he took a steamer for San Fran- cisco, reaching that city January 10, 1865, and after having his gold coined at the mint, con- tinued his journey to Stockton.
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After the many years which Mr. Laogier had passed in freighting to the mines he was glad to settle down to a more quiet business and upon coming to Stockton he entered into the broker- age business and also dealt in real estate. Still later he opened a grocery. Finally, however, in 1870, he retired from active business altogether and thereafter lived retired until his death, May 3, 1897.
In Stockton, March 27, 1869, Mr. Laogier was united in marriage with Miss Dionisia Ponce, or as the name was originally spelled, Ponce de Leon, she being a direct descendant of the famous Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon. Mrs. Laogier was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and is the daughter of Nemesio Ponce de Leon, a merchant and trader in that Mexican city. Mr. Laogier was a well-educated man, his extensive travels giving him an unusual oppor- tunity to exercise his ready observation, a facul- ty which added to a keen intellect resulted natur- ally in a fund of information. His early resi- dence in the state made him eligible to the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers, of which body he was a prominent member.
GRAVEM BROTHERS.
There are probably few men within the limits of San Joaquin county whose knowledge of the bakery business is more extensive than that ac- quired by the Gravem brothers during their long and successful identification with the industry in Stockton. This dates back to the year 1886, when, on May 12, they bought out a small shop at the corner of Aurora and Lindsay streets whose demands could be supplied by one barrel of flour a day. Under their management the business took on new life and finally twenty-five barrels of flour were needed to fill the daily
demands upon the plant. Under the name of the Stockton Home bakery, business continued to flourish until February 22, 1909, when it was consolidated with the State bakery and incorpor- ated under the state laws of California as the Gravem-Inglis Baking Company. Without doubt this merger represents one of the largest and most important business ventures undertaken in Stockton, and is a source of no mean pride on the part of her citizens. Some idea of the mag- nitude of the undertaking may be realized when it is said that the Gravem brothers alone have expended $20,000 in remodeling the plant to bring it up to a point of excellence which their trade demands.
The moving spirits in this vast undertaking are Ole L. and Martin L. Gravem, who were born in central Norway November 12, 1863, and June 29, 1864, respectively, sons of Lars G. and Anna O. (Svesdale) Gravem, the parents life- time residents of Norway. The sons had re- ceived good educations in their native town when, in 1882, they decided to come to the New World and take advantage of the opportunities which awaited the ambitious foreigner. Accord- ingly they took passage from the port of Christi- ansand, Norway, bound for Liverpool, England, whence they again set sail for the United States, with Philadelphia, Pa., as their destination. Up- on reaching that city, however, they soon made arrangements to go from there to Dallas. Tex .. but still dissatisfied with the outlook they con- tinued their journey to the Pacific coast, and finally arrived in Stockton, Cal., with the sum of $6.50 as their sole capital. This condition of their finances made it necessary for them to seek employment at once, and they were fortunate in securing work on a ranch not far from the city. While thus engaged they carefully saved from their earnings whatever was not actually needed for expenses of living, and in the meantime also were acquiring a familiarity with the English language, which was as necessary to their fu- ture success as the financial foundation.
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