San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MRS. SUSAN A. BAWDEN
All over the United States we find
women coming more and more to the front in the different professions and
various lines of business endeavor, showing their ability to make a success and
to embrace every opportunity afforded them.
Such as woman is Mrs. Susan A. Bawden, proprietor of Hale & Bawden,
funeral directors of Lodi, one of San Joaquin County’s most capable women, and
she has a wide acquaintance throughout the northern part of the county, where
her business ability is recognized and appreciated. A native daughter of San Joaquin County, she
was born on the old home ranch at Acampo, her parents being Peter F. and Susan
(O’Mally) Jahant, the
latter a native of Ireland. The father,
who was born in France, came to San Joaquin County in the early ‘50s and took
up 160 acres nearby. This was in its
primitive state at the time, covered with brush and trees, but Mr. Jahant
persevered in clearing it, building the family home there and raising grain on the virgin soil. He became a large landowner and a wealthy
man, and was one of the pioneer fruit growers of the county, setting out one of
the earliest vineyards for commercial purposes, and as an experienced
agriculturist he exerted a splendid influence for good in the community. Well known throughout this part of the
country from his years of association with its development, he was an honored
member of the San Joaquin County Pioneer Society. He passed away in 1913, Mrs. Jahant’s death having occurred several years before.
Two of the children of Mr. and Mrs.
Jahant are deceased and the following are living: Mrs. Frances Murphy, of Lodi; George, a
rancher of Acampo; Mrs. Martha Eddleman, of Lodi;
Mrs. Eliza Gehan, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Carrie Pattee,
of Acampo; and Mrs. Susan A. Bawden, of this review. Reared on her father’s ranch at Acampo, she
has spent all her life in this community, receiving a good education in the
public schools. In 1907, at her parents’
home at Acampo she was married to Thomas Leslie Bawden, who was born in Amador
County, where he was reared and educated.
As a young man he came to Sacramento and learned undertaking with the
firm of Miller & Skelton.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs.
Bawden resided in San Francisco, where Mr. Bawden was manager for the Truman
Undertaking Company for six years. While
living there Mrs. Bawden became interested in the study of embalming and having
received a legacy from her father she concluded to engage in the business of
funeral director, in which she had become deeply interested. In 1912 she came to Lodi and purchased an
interest in the business of Mr. Hale, the firm becoming Hale & Bawden, and
in 1914 she acquired Mr. Hale’s interest.
Mr. Bawden from the outset entered heartily into the management of the business,
his experience making him one of the most capable men in his line in the
county. He is prominent in the Masons,
Elks, Knights of Pythias and Native Sons of the Golden
West.
In 1914 Mrs. Bawden purchased the
large residence of A. J. Larson on West Elm Street, and this they have
converted into modern funeral parlors with reception room, offices, chapel,
etc., with garages for their automobile equipment, and they have their
residence quarters on the second floor.
In 1917 Mrs. Bawden acquired the Lodi Cemetery from Leon Villinger and
has greatly improved it, beautifying the lawns with plants and flowers, and
seeing that it is well kept. Seeing the
need for larger grounds she purchased ten acres adjoining on the east, devoted
to a vineyard, which she superintends, but this will eventually become a part
of the cemetery. Although very busy in
her profession, she finds time to participate in the progress life of the
community, and she is a popular member of the Woman’s Club, the Eastern Star,
the Rebekahs, the Native Daughters of the Golden West, having been president of
the Lodi Parlor, and is a member of the California Funeral Directors’
Association. Mr. and Mrs. Bawden have
one daughter, Marjorie Alice, a student in the public schools.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
760-763. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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