San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ELI J. BLANCHARD
A leading business man of Stockton
who has forged his way to prosperity and success is Eli J. Blanchard, who
conducts a wallpaper and paint store at 616 East Main Street; he is also a
leader in interior and exterior decorating.
He was born in Montreal, Canada, on June 19, 1860. In 1883 he left his native home and located
in Arizona and for three years followed various occupations until 1886 when he
went to San Francisco and there learned the trade of painter. He located in Stockton in 1891 and for four years
worked for Matteson & Williamson Mfg. Company; then in 1895 started in
business for himself as a painting contractor.
One of his first large contracts was the painting of the old pavilion,
formerly one of the landmarks of Stockton.
His business grew steadily as the city grew, until now he is among the
leaders in his line; he keeps from ten to thirty-five men busy all the
time. Among his more recent work of
interior and exterior decorating are the Wilhoit Building, the Hotel Bronx,
Hotel Sutter, Hotel Philson, Hotel McAllister, two school houses, etc. He has made a specialty of fine residences
and has been the contractor for a large number of them. In the spring of 1909, he opened a paint and
wallpaper store, which is well stocked with a full line of up-to-date paints
and wallpaper. When Mr. Blanchard
arrived in Stockton he had very little capital and what he has accomplished
during these years has been due to business-like methods and the quality of his
work.
Mr. Blanchard’s marriage united him
with Miss Harriet A. Binnington, a native Californian
and they are the parents of four children:
Thomas T. is the manager of his father’s store; Amy is a trained nurse;
Mrs. C. C. Marsh; and Leah, attending the University of California at Berkeley. Fraternally he is a member of the Truth Lodge
No. 55, I. O. O. F., the Elks, and is active in the Rotary Club.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1271. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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