San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ELLSWORTH ARCHER
A well-informed man on the fruit
packing and shipping industry of the San Joaquin Valley, Ellsworth Archer is
the efficient field superintendent of the Pacific Fruit Exchange at Lodi. Nineteen years of his life were spent on a
farm in Antrim County, Michigan, where he was born at Eastport on April 14,
1877. He was reared on the Michigan farm
and attended the public schools of his native state. Upon leaving home he went to Chicago, where
he spent ten years as coachman in many of the millionaire families, and for
three years was coachman for C. H. McCormick.
In September, 1905, he removed to California and settled in Lodi,
purchasing a ranch of forty acres in the Christian Colony district. This tract of land was in old almond trees;
he grubbed out twenty acres of them and planted it to peach and young almond
trees, now in full bearing and very productive.
He spent ten years in the development of his home place, living on it
until 1915, when he removed to Lodi. In
1921 he traded his place for a 180-acre ranch located north of Woodbridge,
known as the Washington ranch. Ninety
acres of this is devoted to growing grapes, and seventy-five acres is in
Bartlett pears. The ranch is improved with a fine residence, and good tenant
houses and farm buildings.
Mr. Archer has been closely
identified with the development and growth of the Christian Colony, having
planted and taken full charge of many orchards there; he still has some under
his care belonging to non-residents of the state. During the year of 1915 he became associated
with the Pacific Fruit Exchange as their field superintendent; and on account
of his thorough knowledge, through years of active experience, he is considered
an authority on packing and shipping.
The marriage of Mr. Archer at
Atwood, Michigan, united him with Miss Dora Paukett,
a native of Ohio, and they are the parents of four children: Helen, a graduate of Lodi high school, and
now Mrs. Earl Botts of Lodi; Eva, in Lodi high
school, class of 1924; and Nathan and Norton.
Mr. Archer and his family are members of the Christian Church, Lodi, and
take an active part in furthering its work and supporting its benevolences. He is an elder and a member of the board of
trustees, as well as treasurer of the church.
For five years he was superintendent of the Bible class; and he was a
member of the Building Committee that has just completed the new $80,000
church, which the congregation enjoys greatly.
Mrs. Archer is also active in church work. She is a talented musician, as are all the
children; and the family has an orchestra that favors the church with excellent
music. Mr. Archer is affiliated with the
Knights of Pythias. He has never
regretted casting his lot in California, particularly in San Joaquin County,
which he considers the most favored spot in the whole world.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1116. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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