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 38
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The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Sarles was Clorinda M., previously mentioned ; and she be-
came the wife of F. G. Hickox, a pioneer of 1851 in California. The only son of their union, William J., was born at Castroville, Monterey county, March 16, 1873, and received excellent educa- tional advantages. After having graduated from the Stockton high school he entered the Cali- fornia State University and carried on the studies of the scientific course between the years of 1892 and 1894. Prior to graduation the deatlı of his mother caused him to return to Stockton, where under his father's instruction lie learned the trade of a painter. For some years lie hias taken contracts for painting and paper-hanging, and enjoys a reputation for expert workmanship in his specialties. His comfortable home at No. 528 North American street, Stockton, is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Annie Smith, who was born at Angels Camp, Calaveras county, and is a woman of education and culture. Though not active in politics and at no time seeking the honors of office, Mr. Hickox has been stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party and always votes the straight ticket. FFra- ternally he holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Improved Order of Red Men.
LORING GRANT KEENEY.
It is said that only experience can broaden life and give it color and character. If this be true then Mr. Keeney is well qualified to judge of its value, for liis experiences have been somewhat varied during the eighty-one years of his long and useful life. He was born in Wyoming county, Pa., August 29, 1828, first attending the primitive district schools in pursuit of an educa- tion, later a private school, and finally attended Wyoming Seminary, in Kingston, Luzerne coun- ty. With the completion of his school days his. thoughts naturally turned toward the more prac-
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tical side of life, and as he was ambitious to be- come self-supporting he lost no time in searching for employment. This he found on the canal in Pennsylvania, occupying a rather menial po- sition at first, but he finally became foreman over a number of employes and remained in this position for one year. Thereafter he went to Laporte, Ind., where he was employed as fore- man with the Northern Indiana & Southern Michigan Railroad for a number of years, or until 1852.
It was in the spring of the year just men- tioned, 1852, that Mr. Keeney outfitted for the trip which was to bring him to California, ar- riving at Hangtown in September of that year, after a tedious journey of nearly seven months. "The mines had been the chief attraction in bring- ing him to the west and consequently his first thought was to find an advantageous location for the purchase of a claim. From Hangtown he went to Manhattan Bar and bought a claim, which he mined for a time, thence went to Sac- ramento, and while there was for a time in the employ of the Sacramento Union. A desire to engage once more in active mining took him to the headwaters of the Feather river, near Span- ish Creek, where he mined with indifferent suc- cess for four months, also mined three years at Hopkins, Plumas county. Better success await- ed him in Butte county, his next location, and in the vicinity of Forbestown he continued min- ing for six years. In 1861 he went to Pine Grove, Amador county, and after following the search for the yellow metal there for about three years he gave up mining altogether, there- after becoming interested in blacksmithing and wagon-making for a time. Subsequently he went to Jackson, Amador county, where for a time he was engaged in ranching, but after dis- posing of his property engaged in the lumber business in the same place. His identification with San Joaquin county dates from the year 1898, at which time he came to Woodbridge and bought a vineyard which he cultivated with considerable success for eight years. He sold this property, however, in 1905 and coming to
Lodi at the same time has since made his home in this village, retired from all active cares, hav- ing entrusted the management of his affairs to his sons.
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Mr. Keeney was united in marriage in 1866 to Miss Mary Jane Rice, a native of Amador county, and of the seven children born to them five are living, the solace and comfort of their aged parents. Nellie is the wife of W. E. Kent and resides in San Diego; George, who married Miss Edith Lewthwaite, makes his home in Lodi; Cora, who became the wife of James J. Correll, lives in Sacramento; Edward is mana- ger of his father's business affairs in Lodi; and the youngest child, Catheryn, is the wife of W. H. Renwick and a resident of Sacramento.
SYLVANUS URIELL.
Mr. Uriell has lived to see many changes take place in California during the last forty-six years, this being especially true of Stockton, where with his father he located in 1862. They came across the plains with horse teams from Iowa, bringing with them a large band of horses and mules, and for over twenty years lived on a ranch on the Sonora road, not far from Stockton. In the meantime the father passed away and in 1876 Sylvanus Uriell returned to Iowa to settle up his father's estate. When this was accomplished he returned to California and for about two years engaged in farming, giving this up at the end of this time to accept the position of toll collector at one of the wharves at San Francisco. During the nine years which he filled this position he made his home in Oakland, and thereafter re- turned to Stockton.
With a change of location also came a change in Mr. Uriell's occupation, for after taking up his residence in Stockton he built a number of
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buildings for himself. It was in 1900 that he retired from the contracting business and settled on the ranch which has been his home ever since. This is a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land especially well located just outside of the limits of Stockton, on the Mariposa road. Be- sides this tract he has forty acres adjoining de- voted to a vineyard. Taken all in all this is one of the finest ranches in the vicinity of Stockton, and in its care and management Mr. Uriell is demonstrating his adaptability and ability to suc- ceed in whatever he undertakes.
The marriage of Sylvanus Uriell occurred in Iowa in 1878, uniting him with Lilltan Stratton, a daughter of Charles Stratton, and a sister of Dr. D. E. Stratton, a resident of Chinese Camp. Tuolumne county. Three children were born of this marriage, a son and two daughters, all of whom make their home with their parents on the home ranch. The son, Jay Uriell, was born in Iowa in 1880, and when he was a child of two years his parents returned to California, where they had previously made their home, but had settled in Iowa temporarily, while settling up the affairs of the grandfather. His early education was received in Oakland, where he resided up to the age of ten years, when his parents removed to Stockton, and here his education was continued in the high school, from which he graduated with honors in 1900.
BURTON A. TOWNE.
But a short distance from Woodbridge, San Joaquin county, lies the property which has re- ceived Mr. Towne's attention for the past five years, and which in point of productiveness and thriftiness of appearance is excelled by no other vineyard in the vicinity. Mr. Towne was born in St. Paul, Minn., in 1874, and was reared in his
native state. At the age of twenty-four years, in 1898, he came to California, locating first in Sacramento, where for five years he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad. At the expiration of this time, in 1903, he came to Wood- bridge and has since been successfully engaged in the cultivation of his vineyard.
JOHN QUINN.
It is now half a century ago since Mr. Quinn settled in Stockton, and during this time he has gathered about him a large circle of friends and well-wishers, who have been irresistibly attracted to him on account of his genial manner and ster- ling worth. Although he is well advanced in years, now in his eighty-ninth year, he is re- markably well preserved, and can read and write without the aid of glasses. A native of Ireland, he was born in Roscommon March 17, 1820, and until he had attained manhood years he contin- ved to make his home in his native land. The at- teution of the world was attracted to America about this time on account of the finding of gold in California, and it was this that decided him to cast his lot in the land of unlimited op- portunity. Although he landed on our shores in 1851, it was not until seven years later that he came to California, having made the trip hither by way of the Isthmus of Panama. San Francisco was his destination, but after remaining there four months he came to Stockton, and was so well pleased with the outlook here that he then decided to make it his future home.
By trade Mr. Quinn is a painter and decora- tor, a business with which he was thoroughly ia- miliar, and upon coming to Stockton he estab- lished himself in this business and followed it successfully until 1905. since which time he has lived retired from active duties. although he is
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interested with his daughter in the management of the Quinn House. This hostelry was erected on property which Mr. Quinn purchased in 1858, on Main street, and in 1905 he built the fine struc- ture known as the Quinn block.
Mr. Quinn's marriage occurred in England and united him with Miss Katherine Tuohy, who at her death in 1893 in Stockton left eight children, as follows: Annie, Mrs. John Collins, of San Francisco ; Fannie, Mrs. D. A. Mackinnon, also of that city; Gertrude; Mary; Julia, the wife of William West, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Laura Hill, of Stockton; Belle, also a resident of this city and the wife of Joseph Cuineo; and Luke, a resi- dent of Butte, Mont.
During his younger years Mr. Quinn was an active member of the National Guard and was also identified with the fire department, and though no longer actively associated with these bodies, is still keenly interested in their welfare, as he is in every object that has at heart the bet- terment of his home city or her citizens.
LUCAS KLEINFELDER.
For almost one-quarter of a century Mr. Kleinfelder was associated with business enter- prises in Stockton and when death suddenly terminated his useful activities there was a gen- eral expression of regret concerning the loss of one so loyal to the city, so devoted to its prog- ress, and so interested in movements for its benefit, as was this public-spirited citizen. Al- · though he always cherished with affection the memory of his childhood home across the seas, he never regretted that destiny had led him to America, and especially was he interested in the growth of California, which he believed to be the garden-spot of the entire country.
The birth of Lucas Kleinfelder occurred at
Rheinpfalz, Germany, November 10, 1840, and his education was received primarily in the grammar schools of his native locality, after which he studied in a gymnasium. In boyhood he displayed considerable musical talent and this was trained until he became a fine musician, and after he left home he traveled in various parts. of Germany with a band of musicians. While he was yet a mere lad he lost his father by death and from that time he made his own way in the world, remaining in his native land until 1867, when he emigrated to the United States and set- tled in California. For a time he was employed in the asylum and for several years he held a position in the brewery owned by Mr. Rothen- busch. Later he entered the employ of Simpson & Gray and for more than seventeen years he held a responsible position in their lumber yard at Stockton, continuing with them until he died, July 1, 1891, from the effects of sunstroke. Physically he was a man of fine physique and robust constitution and had not accident ter- minated his career, he would have lived to old age in all probability. Fraternally he was identi- fied with the Ancient Order of United Work- men and the United Ancient Order of Druids.
Upon coming to Stockton Mr. Kleinfelder was unmarried and it was not until several years later that he established domestic ties. May 10, 1871, in this city, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Hoage, who was born and reared in Germany, and during 1869 accompanied the Rothenbusch family to Stockton, where she has since continued to reside. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kleinfelder was a residence on Ophir near Fremont street, which he erected after mar- riage and in which his death occurred. The widow remained there until 1905, when she dis- posed of the property. Since then she has made her home with her eldest daughter. Of her six children a son and a daughter died of diphtheria at the ages of six and eight years. Four are now living, namely: Emma, who married C. A. Ziemer, and resides at No. 927 East Weber avenue, Stockton; Lucas F., Louisa D. and Christie. All were born and reared in Stock-
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ton and received their educations in the local schools, remaining together beneath one roof and tenderly caring for their beloved mother in her widowhood. The family has the respect of their large circle of acquaintances.
GUSTAVE SOLOMON.
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The ranching interests of San Joaquin county are well represented by Gustave Solomon, who for nearly two decades has engaged in raising wine grapes on his ranch on Linden road, just outside the corporate limits of Stockton. The Solomon family is of German origin, and was first represented in this country by the father, Max Solomon, who with others of his country- men, came to the New World and located at Fredericksburg, Tex. It was while the family were making their home in Texas that the birth of Gustave occurred in 1858. His earliest recol- lections are of the existing conditions in the Lone Star state during the early 60's, and later for fifteen years his life was associated with the Fatherland, whither the family returned. Fif- teen years later they again took up life in the United States, but instead of returning to Texas they came to Stockton, Cal., where two sons, William and August, had previously located. Both of these sons are now deceased, and the only children living are Gustave and his sister, Mrs. Schimelfinig, both residents of Stockton. Here the father also made his home up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1903.
Upon coming to Stockton Gustave Solomon found employment with an uncle, who was en- gaged in the manufacture of chicory, used in the adulteration of coffee. After remaining with this relative for a number of years he went to San Francisco and for two years engaged in the hotel business. In this undertaking he was
fairly successful, but believing that a larger profit could be made in the produce business he dis- posed of his hotel and dealt in produce in San Francisco for a time. He then returned to Stock- ton and established himself in the produce busi- ness in this city, following it successfully for about five years. It was at this time that he purchased his present property on Linden road, comprising fifty-six acres of excellent land, which is devoted exclusively to the raising of grapes, which he also manufactures into wine. This combined industry not only makes his ranch a busy place, but brings him in a good income.
Mr. Solomon's marriage united him with Miss A. Broyer, a native of Germany, and three chil- dren have been born to them, Liberty, Elsie and Vernon. Mr. Solomon is one of the enterprising citizens of San Joaquin county, and has been an important factor in bringing about the present high standard in agricultural conditions in this locality.
THOMAS ANDY JORDAN.
North Carolina had been the home of the Jor- dan family for many years, and in that state the birth of Malachi Jordan occurred in 1838. He remained in his native surroundings until four - teen years of age. when, in 1852. he made his way across the plains to the Pacific coast country, and for many years was located on a ranch five miles north of Stockton. It was in 1877 that he came to New Hope and located on the ranch which was his home thereafter until his death. which occurred June 23. 1890. Since his death his widow has made her home in Santa Rosa. Cal. Fifteen children were born to these par- ents, and nine are still living and performing their part in the world's activities. The ellest in the family. William A., is a rancher on Rver Island: Julia became the wife of Joseph Miller
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and resides in Santa Rosa; Hattie, Mrs. Frank Kent, lives in Stockton; George A., is also a rancher on Ryer Island; Daniel is a resident of Stockton; Ida is the wife of L. B. Dick, of Acampo, San Joaquin county; Jesse J. is the next in order of birth; and Fred lives in Stock- ton.
The second child in the parental family was Thomas Andy Jordan, who was born on the ranch which the father first occupied upon coming to California, five miles north of Stockton. In the neighboring schools of the county he received a good education, for he applied himself diligently to his studies, as he has ever done with what- ever he undertakes. Returning to the home ranch with the close of the school days, he was associated with his father in its management until the latter's death, and afterward carried it on alone for a number of years, or until 1899. when he purchased the ranch of twenty acres one mile north of New Hope, the same on which he now lives.
The marriage of Thomas A. Jordan was cele- brated November 16, 1887, and united him with a native daughter of California, Miss Ellen Fow- ler, of Lodi. The only child of this marriage, Alice, died in March, 1907.
Mrs. Jordan's father, Joseph M. Fowler, was a native of New England, born in Westfield, Hampden county, Mass., July 26, 1825. In 1849 he came by the Mexican route to California in search of gold, and for seven years followed mining on the Merced river. During this time, in 1854, he and a brother took up a section of land in San Joaquin county, but he finally ac- quired the brother's title and put the whole acre- age in wheat, making the raising of this crop his principal business throughout the remainder of his life. He had come to the west a single man, but in 1857 he returned to Massachusetts and in that year was married to Miss Eliza Bromley, the young people coming to California on their bridal trip. Of the twelve children born to them only six are now living, three sons and three daughters as follows: Royal R., a resident of Merced; Joseph Warren, of Lodi;
Ellen L., Mrs. Thomas A. Jordan; Myrtle, the wife of E. E. Thompson, of Lodi; Addie J., Mrs. D. K. Woods, of Lodi; and Ernest W., also a resident of Lodi. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler are both now deceased, the former passing away June 4, 1896, and the latter March 25, 1906, at the age of sixty-seven years.
H. T. FANNING.
Years before the discovery of gold in Califor- nia made this the center of attraction for men ambitious to gain sudden wealth H. T. Fanning came to the state for the purpose of making his permanent residence here, and was not only a pioneer of the state, but was as well one of the first residents of what is now the city of Stock- ton.
Mr. Fanning was a native of Troy, N. Y., born in November, 1819, and was a brother of the late Howard M. Fanning, also an early settler of Stockton. By way of Cape Horn Mr. Fan- ning came to California in 1843 and at the time of the breaking out of the Mexican war he went to the scene of difficulty and lent his services. He was in Monterey at the time that city was made the first capital of California, June 3, 1843. After the close of the war Mr. Fanning came to San Joaquin county and engaged in the cattle business in partnership with Captain Weber, driving his cattle from Sacramento to San Jose, and in so doing passed the section of country which is now the site of the city of Stockton. After selling their cattle they went to San Fran- cisco and purchased lumber with which to build a house in Stockton, two weeks being required to transport the lumber by boat to this city. With this material they constructed the first house ever erected in the city, this being located on the wa- ter front near the present site of the steamboat
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landing. For a number of years Mr. Fanning derived a good income from the dairy business which he established here, and later the produce business, carrying this on up to within a short time before his death, which occurred in 1875. He had never married.
ALFRED L. EDDY.
The great commonwealth of California was in the initial period of its history when Alfred L. Eddy came hither in 1849 in response to the at- tractive inducements that were spread broadcast over the country during that memorable year. He made the journey in company with his brother John, the two coming directly to Stockton, and from here without loss of unnecessary time they made their way to the mines at Winters Bar. While their mining venture was of short duration it yielded them unusually satisfactory returns, and with the proceeds of their year's work the brothers established and maintained a feed stable in Stockton for about one year. From this they branched out into the cattle business, and having in the meantime admitted a third partner, they carried on a very profitable busi- ness along this line until 1857, when A. L. Eddy disposed of his interest in the business and pur- chased the ranch on which he has since lived, near Lodi, San Joaquin county.
This old pioneer and prominent rancher of San Joaquin county was born September 20, 1823, at Taunton, Mass., the son of A. L. Eddy, by pro- fession a chemist and foreman in a large calico printing and manufacturing establishment in that city. Before her marriage Mrs. Eddy was Miss Charity Fields. Alfred L. Eddy was reared and educated in his native surroundings until he was eighteen years of age, at that time going to New York City, where he became a student
and assistant veterinary surgeon in an omnibus stable. His instructor was very proficient in the profession, being a graduate of a French government school at Alfort, France, under whom Mr. Eddy proved himself so apt a pupil that he made rapid strides in his studies and be- came a great favorite with his instructor. After remaining as second assistant surgeon in the stable for two years, however, he resigned his position, and thereafter traveled throughout the southern states for about the same length of time. He then returned to New York and ac- cepted a position in a foundry of which his brother Samuel was foreman. He had filled this only a short time, however, when he re-entered the employ of his instructor, this time becom- ing first assistant veterinary surgeon in the stable where he had formerly been a student.
In his southern travels Mr. Eddy had been in New Orleans and in 1848 he revisited that city. It so happened that he was there in January, 1849, and witnessed the sailing of the steamer Falcon, the first vessel to make the port of Cha- gres on the Isthmus of Panama from New Or- leans. It was while he was in the latter city that Mr. Eddy heard of the gold discovery in Cali- fornia, and he immediately hastened back to New York City. On June 1. 1849, he and his brother John took passage on the steamer Cres- cent City from that port and nine days later they reached Chagres on the Isthmus. After crossing the neck of land they sailed from Pan- ama on the bark Tasso, which landed them in San Francisco in September of that year. They immediately came to Stockton, as previously stated, going thence to Winters Bar, where they mined until the rainfalls began. Their efforts were then devoted to other mining fields, some- times with success and at other times meeting with reverses, but finally they found a rich field which they worked until the fall of 1850.
In 1850, with the proceeds of his mining ven- ture. Mr. Eddy entered into a partnership with his brother in Stockton, purchasing a feed stable which they conducted for about one year. They then branched out into the cattle business and
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after a time admitted Joseph Leonard into the partnership, the enterprise being carried on on what has since become known as Leonard's ranch. This partnership continued to the profit of all interested until 1857, when Alfred L. Eddy sold his interest in the business and at the same time purchased the ranch on which he has since lived, near Lodi, comprising one hundred and fifty acres. He has always been a lover of the horse, and on his ranch may be found a number of the finest breed of animals, in the care of which his knowledge of veterinary surgery has been of incalculable value. Mr. Eddy's mar- riage united him with Miss Emeline Harp, a native of Tennessee, and four children were born to them, one of whom, John H., has inherited his father's love of the horse and is a well- known veterinary surgeon in Stockton.
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