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 42
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terprise, although he did not relinquish his mining efforts altogether during the time he remained there. Closing out his affairs in Vallicita, he then came to Stockton, satisfied with the business outlook of the then young city, and in January, 1859, he purchased an interest in the Eldorado brewery. This enterprise had been established four years previously by Bush & Dinkelacker and in 1857 Mr. Bush's interest had been purchased by Peter Rothenbush, a brother of Daniel, and the latter bought out Mr. Dinkelacker's inter- est in 1859. The partnership thus formed be- tween the brothers existed to the profit of both for six years, when, in 1865, Daniel Rothenbush purchased his brother's interest and thereafter conducted the enterprise alone. From a small beginning the business has grown to large pro- portions and the development of the buildings has been in keeping with the growth of the busi- ness, which now enables the Eldorado brewery to rank among the largest breweries in the west.
Soon after purchasing his original interest in the Eldorado brewery in 1859 Mr. Rothen- bush took a short respite from business cares and returned to his native home in Germany in the hope of regaining his health. Six months proved sufficient to accomplish this purpose and at the end of this time he returned to Stockton and with renewed vigor took up his duties, with the results already noted. In 1865 he again returned to Germany and while there, in 1866, was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Alexander. After a residence of three years in the Fatherland the young people came to the United States and took up their home in Stockton. Here all of their children were born and here they were all educated with the exception of one, who in ad- dition to his home training in Stockton was a student in the college of Heidelberg, Germany. Named in order of their birth the children are as follows: Emma C., Mrs. Charles Maschek ; Louise R., the wife of Edward J. Oullahan ; Fred W., who is his father's successor as president of the Eldorado brewery; Alex D .; Alfred J .; and Carl H. About five years before the death of Mr. Rothenbush, A. Waldenmeier purchased an
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interest in the brewery and is still associated with the business. Under their management the plant was equipped with all the modern labor- saving appliances known to the business, and the growth of the business has not lessened since the death of Mr. Rothenbush, the plant occupy- ing an entire block of ground.
Personally Mr. Rothenbush was one of the de- pendable citizens of Stockton, upon whom one could rely unfailingly for support in any measure for the well-being of the town, county or state. He was a firm believer in the future greatness of Stockton as a business center and lost no oppor- tunity to advance these ideas, and it was due to his enthusiasm that the Imperial hotel became a reality. A devoted husband and father, he knew no greater happiness than to be seated with his wife and children around the family fireside. Public life had no inducements to offer that were sufficiently alluring to induce him to become an office-holder, although at all times he was a sup- porter of the men and measures that would further the interests of the community. Frater- nally he was a member of the Knights of Pythias, and socially he held membership in the Turn- Verein and the Verein-Eintracht.
ROBERT JAMES STANLEY.
The Pine Tree state is represented in San Joaquin county by Robert J. Stanley, who for thirty years has been a resident in the vicinity of Stockton. He was born in Maidstone, Essex county, Vt., in 1847, one of four children, even- ly divided as to sons and daughters, born to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Stanley, the father a farmer in Essex county throughout his active years.
Robert J. Stanley received his education in the schools of Maidstone, turning to best ac-
count the rather meager advantages there offer- ed, but by well-selected reading he has ever since continued to add to his store of informa- tion and in so doing has kept well abreast of the times. Even during his school days lie became thoroughly familiar with agricultural life in helping to perform the duties which fall to the lot of the farmer's son, and it was therefore natural that in starting out on his own independ- ent career he should select the calling with which he was most familiar. It was in 1878 that his interest in California asserted itself to such an extent that he closed out his affairs in the east and settled in the Golden state, where he has since been contented to remain. His first location was in San Joaquin county about two miles from the ranch which he now owns, where he cultivated a tract of four hundred acres for about twelve years. Upon disposing of that property he assumed control of the Wright es- tate, about two miles below his former tract. remaining there for seven years, or until dis- posing of it and purchasing his present prop- erty, which was formerly known as the Holt estate. This is also located on tlie Sonora road, not far from Stockton, and during the ten years of his occupancy he has demonstrated his ag ricultural knowledge and ability in an unmistak- able manner.
The marriage of Mr. Stanley occurred in 1880 and united him with the widow of Charles Mat- teson, by whom she had two children, Arthur Eugene and John J. Matteson, both of whom are residents of Stockton. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley. Albert James, his birth occurring on the first ranch occupied by his par- ents after their removal to California. His ear- liest education was received in the district schools adjacent to his home, and later he sup- plemented this training by a business course in a college in Stockton. After the completion of this special business training he was employed in a mercantile house in San Francisco for a time, but is now on the home ranch, in the care and management of which he lias assumed a large share of the responsibility. Mr. Stanley's
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home was made desolate by the death of his wife in 1903, after nearly a quarter of a century of happy married life.
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WALTER LEROY CHANDLER.
Not far from Holt Station, San Joaquin coun- ty, may be seen the thrifty dairy ranch owned and operated by Walter L. Chandler, one of California's younger generation of business men, who has practically grown up with the country, for he was brought to the state when a lad of five years and has lived within its borders ever since. A native of the middle-west, he has born in Illinois in 1870, and five years later his par- ents transferred their home from Illinois to Cal- ifornia, locating in Butte county, on a ranch which the father devoted to stock-raising and general farming.
The district schools in the vicinity of his home in Butte county furnished Walter L. Chandler with his first insight into books, for he had left Illinois before attaining school age, and later he was privileged to attend Heald's Business College at San Francisco, graduating from that well-known institution in I892. When his school days were over he naturally became am- bitious to become independent, and as youth and courage were strongly in his favor it was not long before his wish was gratified. In Chico he established a grocery business of his own which he continued successfully for six years, when, in 1898, he sold out, and going to San Francisco, entered the retail milk business. It goes without saying that he was successful in this venture also, but after continuing it for seven years he wisely saw that a larger opportu- nity awaited him in handling this commodity from the dairyman's standpoint and he there- fore sold out his business in San Francisco.
Coming to San Joaquin county in 1905 he found! a suitable location for a dairy ranch near Holt, and secured eleven hundred acres of excellent land, upon which he is now grazing four hun- dred fine milch cows. Everything connected. with the ranch, equipment, buildings and acces- sories, are up-to-date and kept in the best con- dition, prime essentials in any line of endeavor,. although these points are not always recognized by the average farmer. To furnish feed for his large herd Mr. Chandler has seven hundred acres of land sown to grain, alfalfa and rye grass. Six hundred gallons of milk per day are shipped to San Francisco from his ranch to supply a portion of the retail trade in that metropolis.
Mr. Chandler was married in 1892, in Chico, to Miss Madge Clarke, a native of that city, and. three children have been born to their marriage, Lewellyn, Lloyd and Laura, all pupils in the public school. Fraternally Mr. Chandler is identi- fied with but one organization, the Masons, be- longing to Chico Lodge, No. III, F. & A. M.
HARRY C. DUNLAP.
On Roberts Island, not far from Holt, San Joaquin county, lies the large ranch which under the supervision of Mr. Dunlap is yielding abund- ant crops of barley, the entire tract of three thousand acres being sown to this grain exclu- sively. A native of Missouri, born in 1876, he is a son of C. W. Dunlap, who in 1889 came to. California with his wife and child and located at Stockton, where the parents still make their home, living in the enjoyment of the competency gained in former years.
Harry C. Dunlap was a lad of thirteen years when the family home was transferred from Mis- souri to California, and in the public schools of
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both states he acquired his education. His first efforts in his own behalf were as a traveling salesman for the Pacific Hardware Company, a position in which he proved his efficiency during the seven years he remained with the company. Believing that he saw a larger opportunity in the freighting business he became interested in a number of steamboats on the San Joaquin river, where for two years he carried on a fairly successful business. Selling out his interest at the end of this time he came to Roberts Island and assumed the management of the property on which he now lives, making a specialty of the raising of barley.
Mr. Dunlap formed domestic ties in 1907, when he was married to Miss Isabelle Whiteman, of Stockton. Fraternally Mr. Dunlap is asso- ciated with but one organization, holding mem- bership in Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. With his past success as a criterion it is safe to say that Mr. Dunlap has a bright outlook before him, for energetic application and unwearied in- dustry have been the underlying principles which have guided him in the past and if fol- lowed in the future are sure to be followed by results worth the effort.
FRED CHRIST WITT.
The agricultural community of San Joaquin county is represented largely by those of for- eign birth, and among those of German origin mention may be made of Fred C. Witt, who for the past ten years has owned and cultivated his present ranch of one hundred and five acres on Roberts Island. He was born in Germany in 1856, and there he received the best educational advantages which his parents were able to pro- vide. They were God-fearing, hard-working farmers, and when not in school their son was assisting them with such duties as he was able to perform. Finally he undertook farming re-
sponsibilities on his own account, following this life continuously until he was thirty-three years of age, when he was seized with the ambition to try his fortunes in the New World. Coming di- rect to San Joaquin county, Cal., he located first in Stockton. Naturally he sought employment along the line with which he was most fammihar and for two years worked on a ranch on the west side of the river. This experience male him ambitious to become a land owner on his own account and resulted in the purchase of a ranch on the Middle river, which he cultivated for about five years. Selling the property at the end of that time he returned to the Father land for a visit to relatives and friends, and at the end of a year's time was willing and even anxious to return to his adopted home.
Upon his return to the United States Mr. Witt once more came to San Joaquin county and purchased the old Lindstrom place, which has been his home ever since, and so contente 1 is he with his surroundings that he has no thought of changing it for another location. The ranch consists of one hundred and five acres and is devoted entirely to the raising o hay and grain.
Before immigrating to the United States in 1889 Mr. Witt had formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Jurgensen, who like himself was born in Germany. They have one son, Then, who was born in Stockton, and is now assisting his father in the management of the home ranch. Mr. Witt belongs to but one fraternal organ- zation, the Woodmen of America.
BENJAMIN ALLEN WOODSON
The tract of land forming the ranch winch until his death was the hume of Mr Wirbon was a source of just pride to its owner. whole efforts had been instrumental in giving it a po- sition among the very fine-t ranches in San Jos -
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quin county. The ranch comprises four hun- dred and eighty acres, located six miles north of Lodi, and here Mrs. Woodson is continuing the activities inaugurated by Mr. Woodson, she having had entire charge of the property since his death, March 31, 1893. A native of the south and the descendant of a long line of south- ern ancestors, Mr. Woodson was born in Vir- ginia December 9, 1824, but he had little per- sonal knowledge of his birthplace, for when he was a small child his parents removed to Pike county, Mo., where his education and boyhood training were received. Still remaining in that vicinity he took up farming apparently content- ed to make the south his lifetime home, when his plans were changed through the encouraging re- ports which came from the west as an outcome of the finding of gold in California. Having formed domestic ties in the meantime, in 1853, with his wife and child he started for the eldo- rado, making the journey across the plains with a six-ox team. Going direct to Diamond Spring, Eldorado county, he remained there interested in mining until 1858, when he came to San Joaquin county and purchased the ranch near Lodi which is now the home of his family.
Mr. Woodson's marriage, which occurred Oc- tober 14, 1852, united him with Mary Ann Bounds, born October 22, 1824, the daughter of John Bounds, who was a native of Virginia, in later life a farmer of Pike county, Mo., and after the early '50s a resident of California. Six children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Woodson, and of them we mention the fol- lowing: William Guilford is a dairyman in Ma- dera; he is married and has three children. John Cameron, a resident of Lodi, is married and the father of four children, and also has five grandchildren. James Gordon, who lives on the home ranch, is married and has one daugh- ter. Benjamin Franklin, a real-estate dealer in Lodi, has two children. George Washington, also on the home ranch, is married and has eight children. The youngest child in the family is Martha Jane, the wife of Robert McCourt, of Fresno, and the mother of two sons and one
daughter. Mr. Woodson's residence of over thirty-five years near Lodi made him well known throughout the surrounding country, a popular- ity which was well deserved, for his kindly, wholesome qualities made him a dependable friend.
JOHN HANCOCK.
A pronounced characteristic of the native- born sons of California is their devotion to their native state. Not many of the native sons seek homes in other parts of the world; the great majority remain 'in the midst of scenes familiar to their earliest recollections and take part in the business or professional life with an energy which is typical of the true westerner. This has been noticeable in the life of Mr. Hancock no less than in other Californians who have spent their entire lives within the borders of the state. Devotion to the commonwealth has been evi- denced in his actions, and he has shown the greatest faith in the future growth and prosper- ity of the state.
John Hancock was born in San Jose, Santa Clara county. His first knowledge of books was received in the public schools of that city, and to the training received there he added a course in the Normal school, receiving his diploma in this latter institution in 1895. Thereafter he put his knowledge to good account by accepting the principalship of the school in Angels Camp, Calaveras county, a position which he filled ac- ceptably for eight years. In the meantime he had been greatly impressed with the idea of pre- paring himself for the legal profession, and in 1903 he took active steps in that direction by taking a course in Hastings Law College in San Francisco. His devotion to his studies was re- warded when, in 1905, he was admitted to the bar, after which he at once became associated
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with the well-known law firm of Salinsky & Wehe, of San Francisco, being connected, how- ever, with the branch office in San Andreas, Cal- averas county. Here his accomplishments have received the warmest approval and have elicit- ed favorable comments as to his ability and professional knowledge.
The marriage of Mr. Hancock united him with Miss Hattie Avery, the daughter of George Avery, whose settlement in Calaveras county dates back to early pioneer days. One child has been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hancock, a daughter, to whom they have given the name of Eleanor.
JOHN F. McCAULY.
Back in the early days of colonial history the representatives of the McCauly family showed themselves to be men of courage and high prin- ciples of honor, characteristics which were be- queathed to their posterity and have been emu- lated by each generation in turn. As the name would indicate the family is of Scottish origin, and very early in the settlement of the Old Do- minion it became established in the New World. John F. McCauly was born in Virginia, and continued to make his home in the state so long the abiding place of his ancestors until he broke the traditions of years and removed elsewhere to found a home. His migrations took him to what was then considered the far west, Missouri at that time holding little promise of becoming the flourishing and prosperous commonwealth of later years. There he carried on farming op- erations until attracted to California in 1852, making the journey across the plains in the most primitive method, behind an ox train. Upon his arrival in the state he purchased the Cha- bello grant of land located in San Joaquin and
Sacramento counties, the tract comprising over twenty thousand acres of land, to the supervis- ion of which he devoted his attention through out the remainder of his life.
Associated with General Estelle, Mr. McCauly took a lease of the State's Prison at San Quen tin, and for five or six years maintained its man- agement with success. Trouble had been brew ing in the meantime, however, as was plainly revealed when Governor Bigler endeavored to break the lease given to Mr. McCauly and Gen- eral Estelle. On the order of Colonel McCauly Governor Bigler was locked up in the prison grounds and held for one week for attempting to take forcible possession of the prison. The outcome of the matter was that Mr. McCauly was finally forced to leave his position, and af terwards he was awarded a judgment of $50). 000 against the state. Thereafter Mr. McCauly and his wife went on an extended trip abroad, spending several years visiting many points of historic and modern interest in the old world Upon their return to California they locate l on a ranch near Galt, San Joaquin county. where throughout his remaining years Mr. Mc- Cauly superintended the management of his ranch, which returned to him an excellent in come. Since his death, which occurred in 1892. his wife has continued his policy of management with the aid of her son, thus maintaining its reputation as one of the most profitable and model ranches in San Joaquin county.
Mr. McCauly's marriage occurred in Inde- pendence, Mo., in 1845, uniting him with Miss Caroline Wilson, a native of Nashville, Tenn .. and the descendant of a long line of English ancestors, the name having been introduced in America during the Colonial period. Several members of the family defended the cause of the Colonists in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Mc- Cauly's father. Thomas H. Wilson, was a farm- er and planter in Virginia, whence he later re- moved to Missouri, and at the time of the Mor- mon uprising in that state he served as general of the army organized to banish them from the state. Mrs. Wilson was in maidenhood Sarah
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Davis, a cousin of the president of the South- ern Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. Mrs. Wilson came to California in 1846 and passed away in 1890, after a life of almost fifty years in the Golden State. After the death of her parents Mrs. McCauly came into possession of her father's large estate in Missouri, property which she still owns. She has been a prominent factor in promoting the agricultural development of San Joaquin county, and in many other ways has lent her aid and influence in the betterment of conditions. Probably the most notable of her benefactions was the building of ten miles of levee on the Mokelumne river, and the erection of the Catholic church in Galt.
Two children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McCauly, George B. and Alice, the latter the wife of Guilo Velensin and a resident of Arno, Sacramento county. The son George Beauregard, was a child of two years when taken abroad by his parents. His knowledge of his native country dates from his sixteenth year, for it was not until then that he returned to California, having in the meantime received his education under private tutors. For two years after taking up his business career he en- gaged in the provision and supply business in San Francisco, but since giving that up he has made his home in the ranch near Galt, having charge of seven thousand acres in San Joaquin county and three thousand in Sacramento coun- ty. In June, 1907, he was united in marriage with Miss Hall, of Tehama county, and they have one daughter, Caroline Wilson McCauly, born April 15, 1908.
WALTER EDWIN KENT.
Born in San Francisco December 26, 1855, Walter Edwin Kent was reared in the pioneer "home of his father, Edwin A. Kent, and was
educated in the schools of the town. Upon starting out for himself at the age of twenty years, he embarked in the teaming business and, before the railroads were built he hauled freight from Sacramento to the mountains. For a time he had his headquarters at Aqueduct, Amador county, and from there he went to Jackson, same county, where for five years he clerked for the L. Newman Company in the general mer- cantile business. Next he bought one-half in- terest in a general mercantile store and became a member of the firm of Levy & Kent, the con- nection being continued for a time. After sell- ing out, he bought the Globe hotel at Jackson, which he conducted for two years. Upon sell-' ing the hotel in 1893 he opened a grocery, which he conducted under the title of W. E. Kent & Co., and at the same time he carried on an un- dertaking establishment which had been started by his father. During December of 1896 he sold the undertaking business to Hubberty & Gebinoni and the grocery business to the Amador Milling Co., after which he removed to Stock- ton. Since then he has engaged in the grocery business in this city.
In addition to building up a large local trade in groceries, Mr. Kent acts as local agent for the Amador Milling Co., of Ione, Amador coun- ty, manufacturers of the famous Peerless flour. The mill has been in operation about thirteen years and manufactures a superior brand of flour, which is sold in the leading markets of the Pacific coast. For a number of years Mr. Jackson served as city trustee. In fraternal re- lations he is identified with the Masons, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Native Sons of the Golden West. His family comprises three children, Vivian Blanche, Loring E. and Ward Foster, all residents of Stockton. In the business circles of this city he bears a high rep- utation for integrity, intelligence and honorable dealings with all with whom he is brought in contact.
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