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 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
The association of the Gravem brothers with the bakery business dates from the year 1886.
34
294
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
when Martin L. Gravem came to Stockton and. entered the employ of C. Sprague, proprietor of the Stockton Home Bakery, taking a position. as driver of one of his delivery wagons. He had not been associated with the business long before he became financially interested in it, he and his brother soon afterward buying the busi- ness from Mr. Sprague. The new proprietors began business May 12, 1886, at which time a one-barrel output was sufficient to supply the daily demand. From this it steadily grew from year to year until twenty-five barrels were re- quired daily to supply the orders which came to them. The growth of the business and the suc- cess which has come to the brothers is remark- able when it is remembered that at the start neither one was familiar with the details of the business. At the start their combined capital was $900, and they were occupying leased prop- erty, but in one year they were enabled to pur- chase the lot, building and fixtures, all of which represented an outlay of $3,000. From year to year, as the growth of the business demanded, they continued to enlarge the capacity of the plant, until finally, on February 22, 1909, the Stockton Home Bakery consolidated with the State Bakery and at the same time was incorpor- ated under the laws of the state of California as the Gravem-Inglis Baking Company. As has been previously stated, the brothers have them- selves expended $20,000 in making changes and improvements in the plant. The baking depart- ment is under the direct supervision of Ole L. Gravem, while the outside interests of the busi- ness are in charge of Martin L., whose duties though of a different character are no less im- portant to the well-being of the business, and taken together they have gathered about them the largest establishment of this character in this part of the state.
Ole L. Gravem was married September 2, 1891, to Miss Margaret Sheehan, a native of California, and three children have been born to them, Orrin, Marie and Harold. Martin L. Gravem formed domestic ties November 11, 1890, when he married Miss Elizabeth Bowers, a native
of the state, and two children, Bernice and Helen, have been born to them. Both brothers are members of Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., and also of the North Western Life Insurance Company. All matters that have been presented to these gentlemen for the advancement of the public welfare have found them willing sup- porters, and they take high rank among the pro- gressive young business men of this city.
CHARLES A. BARLING.
There are few business firms in Stockton bet- ter known or held in higher repute than that of Lewis & Barling, contractors and builders, evidences of whose skill are seen on every hand, both in the business and residence portions of the city. The junior member of the firm, Charles A. Barling, is not only a native son of the state, but is also a native of his home city, having been born in Stockton in 1872, the son of B. F. and Irene (Parmley) Barling, pioneers of this county and respected citizens. After completing his studies in the schools of San Joaquin county, Mr. Barling began to devote his attention to learn- ing the building and contracting business, and so earnestly did he apply himself to his task that he not only mastered it theoretically in a com- paratively short time, but he also had a practical working knowledge of it. For a time he carried on a contracting business alone, but owing to the rapidity with which it grew it seemed ad- visable to take in a partner, hence his association with John T. Lewis in 1900. Since that date their business has grown with even greater strides, until they now not only are recognized as the leading contractors and builders in Stock- ton, but bear that reputation throughout the central part of California. Among some of the structures which they have built may be men-
295
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tioned the First National Bank building of this city, of which Mr. Barling had the personal supervision, the palatial residence of F. N. Vail, besides many other buildings, ranging in valu- ation from $2,000 to $40,000.
Mr. Barling was married in 1889 to Miss Etta Stanaway, she, too, being a native of San Joaquin county, and two children, Hazel and Beulah, have been born to them. Fraternally Mr. Barling is a member of Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker, preferring to be unhampered by public duties so that his time can be devoted to his business, which makes heavy demands upon him. Personally he is es- teemed for his sterling qualities of head and heart, and also for the stanch business principles exhibited in all of his transactions.
WILLIAM S. BELDEN.
The list of pioneers who came to California at the time of the gold discovery is growing shorter year by year, as one by one they fulfill the years allotted to them and pass to that bourne whence no traveller returns. W. S. Bel- den was among the number who came to the state in the year so famous in California his- tory, 1849, then a young man of twenty-one years, and for over half a century he lived to witness the transformation which progress wrought in this then undeveloped country. He was born in East Haddam, Conn., in 1827. re- ceiving his education in the schools of that vicini- ty, and thereafter he remained with his parents on the old homestead until attaining his majori- ty. In the meantime gold had been discovered in California and he like thousands of others be- came fired with an ambition to try his luck in the mines. Leaving the quiet surroundings of
his Connecticut home he with twenty-six com- panions prepared for the journey and took pas- sage on the whaler ship Mentor, which lifted its anchor in the port of New London, Conn., January 1, 1849, and by way of the Horn made its way to San Francisco after a six-months voyage. The mines had been the chief attract- ion in bringing him to the state and naturally he lost no time in making his way to them. It is not related that he was disappointed in regard to the outcome of his efforts, but it is safe to say that the returns were not sufficiently alluring to continue the work indefinitely, for after a short time he abandoned mining, and coming to San Joaquin county, became interested in and identi- fied with the little settlement called French Camp. It was in 1851 that he became associated with Ebenezer H. Allen in the purchase of a house which they transformed into a hotel and con- ducted successfully until 1862. In this year they dissolved partnership, by disposing of the proper- ty and thereafter Mr. Allen located on a ranch in San Joaquin county, still later taking up his residence in Stockton, where he conducted the Eagle Hotel up to the time of his death. Mr. Allen and Mr. Belden were boyhood companions, had made the voyage to California together, and until the death of Mr. Allen were close friends.
After disposing of the hotel in French Camp Mr. Belden erected the residence which has ever since been the home of the family, and here his earth life came to a close November 14. 1901. During the thirty-five years in which he filled the office of postmaster in the village of French Camp he knew and became known to the entire population, who revered and respected him, and his death was mourned as a public loss. He also served for a long term of years in the capacity of school trustee, and was in many capacities. identified with municipal affairs.
Mr. Belden's marriage united him with the sis- ter of his life-long friend. Ebenezer H. Allen. Their parents, James and Lucretia ( Holt) \1- len, were old-time residents of New London. Conn., where several generations of the family had flourished. The Holt family can be traced
296
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in direct line to the Brewsters who landed in the Colonies from the Mayflower in 1620, and whose descendants, it is claimed, have never left their New England homes. The Allens are also descendants of good old Colonial stock. Eliza- beth C. Allen was born in 1818 in New London, Conn., which continued to be her home until the year 1852, when she came to California to visit her brother, making the journey by way of Nica- ragua. This was accomplished in the remark- ably short time of four weeks, and at the time was considered the record trip. Landing at San Francisco, she came at once to French Camp, and here the year following, 1853, she was unit- ed in marriage to Mr. Belden. Three children were born of their marriage, two daughters and one son. Mary Jane became the wife of J. R. Hardman, and they with their two children are residents of Gold Creek, Nev .; Georgiana S., the other daughter, is unmarried and makes her home with her mother in French Camp; the son, William A., has been in the employ of the Southern Pacific road for the past thirty-five years, much of this time as engineer, in which capacity he is still serving ; before her marriage his wife was Miss Ida Parker, of Nevada.
CHARLES W. DOHRMANN.
Sixteen years have passed since the death of Mr. Dohrmann, but notwithstanding this, his life and accomplishments in Stockton during the thirty years of his residence in this city "are still remembered, and the business which he had carried on for a number of years prior to his death is still maintained under the name of P. W. Dohrmann & Son, his wife and only son being the sole owners of the business.
The influences which tended to mold the char- acter of Mr. Dohrmann in his youth were such
as cluster around the German provinces, for he was born in Schleswig-Holstein, his birth oc- curring June 21, 1846, in the home of William and Frederika (Behrend) Dohrmann. Both parents were natives of the Fatherland also, the father born in 1805 and passing away in San Francisco in 1886, while the mother died in Ger- many in 1856. Immigrating to the United States during young manhood, Charles W. Dohrmann left New York bound for California by way of Panama and arrived in San Francisco Janu- ary 6, 1864. His elder brother, Adolph, had preceded him to the New World and was en- gaged in the grocery business in Stockton, so he readily found employment in his brother's store. In this and at other pursuits he was em- ployed until 1868, when he purchased his broth- er's business and carried it on for two years, or until 1871. Disposing of the grocery busi- ness then, he at the same time established him- self in the insurance business, his first interest in the business dating from May, 1868. He insti- tuted the plan of insuring growing crops in this section of the state, and in that, as well as the general insurance business, he built up a pros- perous business. He organized the Alta Insur- ance Company, which he served in the capacity of general agent for many years. Since his death, October 26, 1893, the business has been continued under the supervision of his wife and son, as P. W. Dohrmann & Son.
Mr. Dohrmann was married in Stockton, June 23, 1870, to Pauline Wetzler, she too being a native of the Fatherland, her birth occurring in Saxony. Four children were born of this mar- riage, and all are living as follows: Augusta E., the wife of William Clayton, of San Diego; Louise B., Mrs. Grant S. Gorman; Marie J., the wife of E. C. Warner, of Santa Cruz; and George W., the only son, who is capably as- sisting his mother in the management of the in- surance business inaugurated by Mr. Dohrmann. In 1864 Mr. Dohrmann joined the National Guard of California, and served on the staff of the Third Brigade with the rank of major. He was also a prominent figure in fraternal circles,
297
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
being a Mason, Knight of Pythias, an Elk, and he also belonged to the Ancient Order of Druids and the social order of Turn-verein of Stockton.
CHARLES LAMB.
Although he is a native of Iowa, born in Charleston, Lee county, January 18, 1859, Mr. Lamb has no recollection of his birthplace, for when he was a child of only nine months his par- ents crossed the plains to California, and his life henceforth has been associated entirely with the Pacific coast country. His parents, James and Sarah Lamb, first located in Amador county, but finally settled in the northern part of San Joaquin county. Here their son was reared and educated. As soon as he reached maturity, however, a de- sire to see the wild western country led him to go to Mason Valley, Nev., and from there he went to eastern Oregon, where for one year he lived the life of a cowboy and spent all of this time practically in the saddle. This experience proved of untold value to him, giving him a rugged constitution which has enabled him to withstand exposure and hardships in later years.
From Oregon Mr. Lamb returned to Califor- nia and in Tulare county he engaged in the cat- tle business and farming, following this for four- teen years, or until going to Los Angeles in 1894. During the two years he remained in a street railroad company's employ he had been making plans to go to Alaska, and in the early part of the year 1896 he carried out his plans, reaching the Yukon country in June, 1896, before the dis- covery of gold made that country so famous. He took up a number of mining claims which yielded large returns and is also the owner of several valuable mines in that country, the most pro- ductive being the No. 8 Eldorado creek mine. Since his return to California he has made his
home in Stockton, although in the interim he has made frequent trips to Alaska, thus keeping in close touch with his interests there.
Mr. Lamb was married in Visalia December 16, 1887, to Miss Belle Norcross, a native of Farm- ington, Me. One child, Edna, has been born of their marriage. Fraternally Mr. Lamb is an Elk, belonging to the lodge of that organization at Stockton. In the best sense of the word Mr. Lamb is a self-made man, and as a compensation for his determined efforts in whatever he has attempted he has met with an unusual degree of success. His experiences in the rugged north would make an interesting volume if they could be written. He vividly recalls his first trip to Alaska, at which time there were no steamboats on the upper Yukon, and he and his companion were obliged to pack their supplies across the summit to the river. There they constructed boats in which they navigated the lake and descended the river. Hardships and privations met them at every hand, as only those can realize who have had similar experiences in this cold northland. It was here that Mr. Lamb's experience on the plains as a ranchman stood him in good stead, for the rough out-of-door life which he then en- dured strengthened his constitution and made it possible to withstand the more intense hardships which awaited him in Alaska.
THOMAS JEFFERSON DRAIS.
One of the most thrifty ranches in San Joa- quin county is that of which Mr. Drais is the proprietor, comprising about eight hundred acres and located adjacent to Farmington. Of this tract one hundred and twenty-eight acres are in vineyard, fifteen acres in peaches, and the remainder is in hay and grain. Taken as a whole it is one of the most productive ranches
298
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in this vicinity and exemplifies the tireless en- ergy of the master hand of the proprietor.
Thomas J. Drais comes of a long line of southern antecedents, and he himself was a na- tive of one of the southern states, his birth oc- curring in Platte county, Mo., in 1850. He is one of seven children born to his parents, Mad- ison J. and Lucinda Jane (Sweeney) Drais, who were born respectively in Virginia and Kentucky. When their son Thomas was a child of two years, in 1852, the family home was transferred from Missouri to California, the trip consisting of several months spent in crossing the plains behind slow-plodding oxen. They finally reached their destination, San Joaquin county, and in the vicinity of Farmington, where the father first located, he made his home until his death, in 1895. Here he took up farm- ing and stock-raising, and also erected a hotel for the accommodation of those on their way to the mines. During the years of the mining excitement his hostelry was well patronized and was a source of no little income to him, but with the decline of interest in mining in that vicinity his patronage suffered accordingly, and he final- ly gave it up entirely and devoted his time ex- clusively to ranching and stock-raising. Of the large family of children who at one time were included in the home circle only two are now living, Thomas J. and Alexander Sydney, both of whom are ranchers in this vicinity.
As he was little more than a child in arms when the family removed from Missouri to Cal- ifornia Thomas J. Drais has no recollection of any other home than this. He attended the dis- trict schools of Farmington during their short terms, and when not in school he was giving his services to his father in performing duties on the home ranch. When he reached years of dis- cretion he selected ranching for his life work, and in fact was his father's successor on the old homestead, for this has always been his home and the scene of his activities. The ranch originally comprised eleven hundred acres, but from time to time, in small lots, this tract has been lessened by the sale of three hundred acres, and the re-
mainder is now in hay and grain, with the ex- ception of fifteen acres in peach trees and one hundred and twenty-eight acres in vineyard. He has also engaged in sheep-raising to some ex- tent.
In Stockton, in 1872, Mr. Drais was united in marriage with Miss Cassie Williams, a native of that city, and seven children were born of their marriage. Named in order of their birth they are as follows: Henry T., Thomas J., Jr., Charles Martin, all ranchers; Lucy, the wife of Amos Ford, of Oakland; Susie and Flora, both at home; and Mabel, who is now a student in the high school at Stockton. Mrs. Cassie Drais passed away in 1900, and in 1904 Mr. Drais married Miss Lucy Hall, a native of Stone county, Mo. Politically Mr. Drais is a Democrat on national issues, but in local matters he votes for the candidate who in his opinion will give the best service, regardless of party name or creed.
DAVID EDWARD YOUNG.
In David E. Young we find not only a native son of the Golden West, but also a native of San Joaquin county, his birth having occurred on the Sonora road, four miles west of Farming- ton, June 23, 1871. He is the son of an old- time resident of San Joaquin county, also named David Young.
David E. Young was educated in the public schools of Stockton, where he applied himself diligently, and he has ever since been an inter- ested reader of the best literature, the result be- ing that he is one of the best informed men of his community. For a time after leaving school he was employed in the office of J. D. Peters, a large grain merchant of Stockton, but he finally gave up this position to assist his father in the management of the home ranch. The experience
299
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and self-reliance thus gained created a desire to undertake ranching on his own account, and in 1900 he entered into partnership with his brother, J. M. Young. They rented the home- stead ranch of the heirs and have ever since concentrated their efforts in its management. In 1904 they came into possession of this property. In addition to this ranch, which comprises six hundred and forty acres, they control the man- agement of considerable adjoining property, cul- tivating in all seventeen hundred acres. One hundred and sixty acres of their own ranch is in grapes, a commodity which they raise under favorable conditions with excellent results.
The marriage of Mr. Young was solemnized in 1905 and united him with Miss Elizabeth M. Bolliger, the daughter of Samuel Bolliger, a sketch of whose life will be found elsewhere in this volume. Among the younger generation of agriculturists Mr. Young takes high rank, and without doubt the passing of years will add still greater accomplishments to those already re- corded.
HENRY AARON.
An association of more than forty years with the business interests of California, where he continued to make his home from the time of his arrival in pioneer days until eventually death ended his activities, entitled Mr. Aaron to a rank among the honored early settlers of our state, to whom in large measure may be at- tributed the development of the commercial en- terprises of the commonwealth. Of eastern par- entage and ancestry, he was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., July 12, 1824, and passed the days of youth in an uneventful manner, leaving school in order to learn a trade after he had acquired a fair knowledge of the common branch- es. The trade which he was made familiar with.
the manufacture of soda water, occupied his attention throughout his active life and furnished him with an excellent income both in the east and the west.
Upon deciding to come to the Pacific coast Mr. Aaron resigned his position in the east and during 1851 set sail from New York for Pan- ama. On arriving at the isthmus he found there was no steamer ready for San Francisco and he was obliged to wait for six weeks until a vessel arrived. Meanwhile he instructed some of the residents in the art of manufacturing soda water. so that he was busily occupied when time other- wise would have dragged slowly. Very soon after landing in San Francisco he secured em- ployment with a Mr. Guyon and remained there until 1853, meanwhile engaging in the manu- facture of soda water.
Resigning his position in the autumn of 1853. Mr. Aaron returned to the east, and at Pittsburg, Pa., January 24. 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth J. Ream, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania. The wedding trip took the young couple on a ship to Aspinwall, whence they crossed to Panama muleback in one night. This was said to be one of the quickest trips on record and its speed was due to the fact that Mr. Aaron, on his previous trips to the isthmus, had become familiar with the road from port to port. Mrs. Aaron was the only lady in the party, but she endured the hardships of the journey with remarkable fortitude, bearing with bravery the unusually severe storms encountered on the Pa- cific ocean.
Settlement was first made at Campo Seco, Cal- averas county, where Mr. Aaron engaged in the manufacture of soda water. Eventually he sold the business to Charles Belding, who later re- moved the plant to Stockton, and Mr. Aaron also removed in 1868 to this city, where for a number of years he acted as manager of the busi- ness for Mr. Belding. After a long and honor- able identification with the business interests of this city he passed away August 21. 1804. and was followed to his last resting place by tributes of sincere esteem from the people among whom
300
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he had spent so many useful years. Three chil- dren survive him, the son being Charles Mackay Aaron, of Stockton. The daughters, Misses Mabel and Blanche M. Aaron, reside with their mother at No. 839 North Commerce street, and have many friends in the best social circles of the city.
JOHN LYMAN BEECHER.
Though nearly a decade has passed since the death of John L. Beecher, he is still remembered with affection by the early settlers in San Joa- quin county in the vicinity of Stockton, whither he came as early as 1852. A native of New Eng- land, he was born in Berkshire county, Mass., May 5, 1828, and he was reared and educated in the vicinity of his parents' home. During his boyhood he dutifully performed the tasks allot- ted to him as the son of a farmer, and his first independent work was on farms of neighbors. By the time he had attained his twenty-fourth year he had become interested in California through the reports of larger opportunities as compared with the limitations of the east, and in 1852 he was among those who were attracted to the mining regions of Calaveras county, coming by way of Cape Horn. An experience of three months in the mines was sufficient to satisfy him that his forte did not lie in that direction, for at the end of that time he resumed the business to which he had been trained, having purchased a ranch on the old Copperopolis road. This was the scene of his activities for many years, and in addition to the care and management of his ranch he was an active factor in all upbuilding meas- ures promulgated in the vicinity. His public- spirit was especially shown in his efforts to or- ganize the Farmers Union, which he had the sat- isfaction of seeing well established and of be- coming an indispensable organization to the
ranchers of the community. For ten years he served as president of the body and from its organization until his death was on the board of directors. As he succeeded in his operations he added land to his holdings in Merced, Stanis- laus, and also in his home county, and while he looked after these interests he devoted a large part of his time to the interests of the Farmers Union. Mr. Beecher returned to his ranch, up- on which he continued to make his home through- out the rest of his life, his death occurring Janu- ary 12, 1899. Mr. Beecher came to the west in 1852 as a single man, but three years later, in 1855, he returned to the east to claim his bride, who before her marriage was Miss Maria All- ing, a native of Canaan, Conn. She died in 1905, aged seventy-eight years. The four children born of this marriage are living, and are named in order of their birth as follows: John L., Jr., a resident of Stockton; Clara G., wife of W. F. Sibley, of Stockton; Elliott S., a rancher near Stockton; and Charles A., a rancher on the old home place.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.