Biographies
GEORGE
PHIPPS
GEORGE PHIPPS—A
man well known and respected, George Phipps has long been effectively
interested in the civic improvement of his community. He was born on April 27,
1853, in Stockton, Cal., the son of George and Nancy Phipps. During his
infancy, his mother passed away, leaving him in the living care of his elder
sister, now Mrs. Nancy Jane Wise. In 1855 Nancy Jane Phipps moved to Walnut
Grove, bringing her brother, then a mere child, with her. Here he spent
twenty-one years.
Since then, Mr.
Phipps has been engaged in a great many trades. He ran a hay press for seven
years, and for two years of this time worked for the Stockton Paper Mills. For
nine years he was employed as caretaker of Dr. Locke’s orchard at Lockeford. Becoming interested in agriculture, for a time
he contracted for plowing and cultivating in 1900 he was employed as tender of
the bridge over Georgiana Slough at Walnut Grove.
On October 17,
1875, in Lockeford, Cal., Mr. Phipps was united in
marriage to Eliza Jane Wilson, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Sherman) Wilson.
Mrs. Phipps was born at Lockeford on the John Wilson
Ranch, just north of the Mokelumne River Bridge north
of Lockeford. Her parents were natives of Ohio. In
1857 John Wilson and his wife made their way by ox team, via the Salt Lake
route, to Lockeford, about one and one-half miles north of the city. There Mr. Wilson acquired 300 acres of
grain-land. He passed away at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Wilson is still
living at the age of eighty-two years. Eliza Jane was one of six children born
in this happy home, the others being Mary, John, Josie, Samuel and Hester.
George and Eliza Jane Phipps were blessed with a family of fifteen children,
ten of whom are living. The two eldest, Corda and
Lois, have both passed away. Then come Nettie, Mrs.
Sprague, of San Francisco; Nellie, Mrs. Fallman, of
Walnut Grove; Reuben and George, both deceased; Mary, Mrs. Perry, of Isleton;
Elsie, deceased; Hester, Mrs. Crowell, of Oroville; Charles, in San Francisco;
Mabel, Mrs. Bullock, of Lodi; Alma, Mrs. Conelson, of
Sacramento; Irene, Mrs. Wickham, of Walnut Grove;
Lorene, Mrs. Kammeyer, also of Walnut Grove; and
David, who is bookkeeper in the Bank of Alexander Brown, in the same place.
There are thirteen grandchildren in the family circle.
Mr. and Mrs.
George Phipps are stanch Republicans. They are active members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and contribute generously to its benevolences. Mr. Phipps is a
very interesting character. He is a great reader and has been a close student
of life. He has well-defined ideas on current affairs, has at his command a
fund of general information, and is an interesting talker. It was but natural,
therefore, when Jack London spent several weeks at Walnut Grove in the “Snark” which lay anchored there, that he and George Phipps
should become great friends. During the time of their acquaintance and friendly
association, Jack London found in Mr. Phipps a personality so interesting,
straightforward, and honest that he used him as a character in several of his
short stories and also in his novel, “The Valley of the Moon.” Mr. London
prized Mr. Phipps’ friendship, showing his appreciation in many ways. Among
other things, Mr. London presented Mr. Phipps with the manuscript of “The
Valley of the Moon”; and as soon as the novel “John Barleycorn” was off the
press, he gave him one of the first copies, which he autographed, including his
best wishes. Mr. Phipps and his family greatly prize these tokens of regard
from the celebrated author.
Transcribed by Gloria Wiegner
Lane.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 434-437. Historic Record Company,
© 2007 Gloria
Wiegner Lane.