San Joaquin
County
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FRED D.
BURLEIGH
Among the progressive and enterprising men who are very optimistic and see a great future for the San Joaquin Valley is Fred D. Burleigh, manager of the Fred Hartsook studio at Stockton. He is a native of Illinois, born at Taylorville, Christian County, in 1873. His paternal ancestors are traced back to England and descended from a very old family of the nobility. George N. Burleigh, the father of Fred D., was born in Macon County, Illinois, and Grandfather Burleigh served in an Illinois regiment during the Civil War.
George N. Burleigh was a photographer in Taylorville and there he married Miss Mary Murphy, who was also born near that place; later Mr. Burleigh located his studio at 111 West Side Square, Springfield, Illinois, in the place adjoining 107, the location that was formerly the law office of Abraham Lincoln. George Burleigh was a successful photographer, continuing his business in the Capital City until he retired. He spent his last days in Newark, New Jersey, while his widow now lives at Daytona, Florida. This worthy couple had three children, of whom Fred is next to the oldest. Until the age of twelve he lived in Taylorville, where he attended school, when his parents moved to Springfield, Illinois, and there in due time he was graduated from the Springfield high school. Gifted by nature with an artistic temperament he displayed from the time he was a lad much interest in his father’s studio and soon after his graduation he studied photography in all of its details, learning the art under his father’s preceptorship. On reaching the age of twenty-one he entered the employ of the Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, New York, as a traveling demonstrator over the west, his territory extending from the Gulf to the Canadian border and from Chicago to the Pacific coast. This vast territory kept him very busy, but he found it very interesting, giving him an experience that was indeed instructive and comprehensive.
In Iowa Mr. Burleigh made the acquaintance of a beautiful and accomplished lady whom he married at Fort Dodge. She was Miss Ida May Johnson, a native of Fort Dodge, who was a graduate of Highland Park University at Des Moines, Iowa, and was a cultured and refined woman. However, her health became impaired, so thinking she might be benefitted by the mild and salubrious climate of the Pacific coast he transferred his headquarters to San Francisco in 1902, from which place he traveled the entire Pacific Coast. He liked climate and conditions in this state was well as its people, so very wisely he finally concluded to make his future home in this land of sunshine and flowers. Resigning his position with the Eastman Company in 1912 he removed to Sacramento, where he accepted the position as operator and manager of Fred Hartsook’s studio. Success crowned his efforts and it was his fortune to build up the business until it became the largest and most popular in the Capital City. After six years of successful endeavor he was transferred to the Stockton studio, and here his ability has been appreciated, so that the studio has been brought to the same high standard. The business place is located at 531 East Main Street, where they have a large and well furnished studio and where they accomplish the most artistic and satisfactory work. A large proportion of the portraits in this work are from the photographs taken at Hartsook’s studio.
Mrs. Burleigh on coming to California for a time improved in health, but in time she began to fail and although she had the best of medical attention and care she succumbed and passed on June 7, 1919, a woman much loved and mourned by her family and many friends. Their union had been blessed with one child, a lovely daughter named Effidean.
Fraternally, Mr. Burleigh is prominent in local Masonic circles. He was made a Mason in Mt. Nebo Lodge No. 76, A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of Stockton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M., Stockton Council No. 10, and the Order of Sciots.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham,
George H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page 940. Los
Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1923.
©
2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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