San Joaquin County
Biographies
GEORGE CALDWELL CARLON
G. C. CARLON, one of the
prominent citizens of Stockton, is a native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania,
born April 5, 1834, his parents being George and Eliza (Elder) Carlon. Both
parents were born in Pennsylvania, and the father was a farmer.
George C. Carlon, with whose name this
sketch commences, was reared in his native county until in his twenty-first
year, and in 1855 started out to make his own way in the world, amid new scenes
and among strangers. Proceeding westward to Iowa, he went up the Des Moines
river to Kossuth County, hunting land, and pre-empted a tract there. That
section was then in a state of almost primitive wilderness, and at that time
there were almost no neighbors, even of the long-range sort, as Mr. Carlon was
one of the first settlers of Kossuth County.
In 1859 he joined the rush for Pike’s
Peak, in company with a cousin, J. R. Carlon, now a resident of this county,
and G. Tully, now a large land-owner of Stanislaus County. They did not visit
Pike’s Peak, but kept right on to California. Their route was via the North
Platte and Sublette’s cut-off, having some trouble with the Indians the latter
part of the journey. They proceeded directly to Stockton, but Mr. Carlon took
sick at Murphy’s.
On arriving at Stockton, he located, and
has been a resident of the county ever since. He took charge of a ranch for
Sperry & Co., between Stockton and French Camp, and remained in that
capacity until 1865. He then leased the ranch and operated it until 1870. He
then went into hay and grain business in Stockton, continuing about six years.
In the spring of 1876 he sold out that business and went East, visiting the
Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. On his return to San Joaquin County he
resumed ranching, leasing land for two years, at the end of which time he
bought a farm fifteen miles east of Stockton, on the Copperopolis road, and has
ever since carried on farming there, the place having been principally devoted
to wheat and barley. He is branching out somewhat from these lines, however,
and in the spring of 1889 set out 1,000 vines of choice raisin grapes. His
intention is to experiment with the raisin-grape without irrigation, and, so
far as the test has gone, it has been satisfactory. The vines are all of the
Muscat variety, brought from Fresno. The land on the ranch has been cultivated
many years, but holds up as well as ever. Irrigation has never been employed.
He also leases 320 acres adjoining his own tract, and farms the whole section.
Mr. Carlon also conducts the bonded
warehouse, No. 3, corner of Sutter and Market streets, Stockton. The building
was constructed by Henry Hoffman, many years ago, for a freight warehouse. In
1877 Mr. Carlon leased the structure for the purpose of a bonded warehouse, and
opened it for business in October of that year.
Mr. Carlon is also proprietor of the
livery stable on Market street between San Joaquin and Sutter, now operated by
Hefferman & Hefferman. He carried on the business himself for some time,
and then rented the establishment to Heffernan & Hersom. They were
succeeded by the present firm.
Mr. Carlon was married in this county June
7, 1866, to Miss Abbie Lizzie Woodbridge, a native of Newcastle, Maine, and
daughter of D. K. and Abbie Woodbridge, who are now residents of Stanislaus
County, though having formerly lived in San Joaquin. Her father came to
California in 1850, and was joined by his wife and two children in 1852, they
having come around the Horn. He was engaged in teaming for a time, afterward in
fruit-raising on French Camp slough, and is now farming. Mr. and Mrs. Carlon
have one child--Mabel.
Mr. Carlon is a charter member of the
first lodge of A. O. U. W. established in Stockton. He has always been an
active and is conceded to be a shrewd and successful man of business. Besides
the interests mentioned in this article, Mr. Carlon has other valuable
property. He is a Republican politically, but not a politician.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 596-597. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
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