San
Joaquin County
Biographies
LOUIS EUGENE CHICARD
The Chicard family comprising George
Jean Chicard, his wife Marie F.; Louis Eugene; Adele C. (Mrs. G. Joseph); Marie
Elizabeth (Mrs. Jules Pache) and Thomas Chicard, an infant, left Independence,
Missouri, in May, 1849, and came across the plains, traversing the Platte
country and the Great American Desert, in “Ships of the Desert,” by ox team,
entering California by the route taken by the Donner Party, arriving at Sutter
Fort in October, 1849. Their destination
was San Jose, but on arriving in Stockton November 1, 1849, Thomas Chicard died
and was buried in what lately was Independence Square. They purchased from Captain Weber, the
quarter block corner of Market and Hunter streets, including what was later the
old Catholic rectory, extending on Market Street 150
feet opposite to what was the old county jail and present City Library. The Hunter Street property was the home of
the late Madame Chicard and on it was planted the first vines and bay trees in
San Joaquin County, being brought from Santa Cruz County.
George Jean Chicard returned to St.
Louis where he died in 1850 and Madame Chicard remained with the family in
Stockton, passing away in 1876. Louis
Eugene Chicard engaged in the forwarding, commission and draying business for
many years and was known throughout the southern mines and valley
counties. He was a member of the old Eureka
Fire Engine Company, an Exempt Fireman and a member of the San Joaquin County
Society of California Pioneers in which he held office at different times. He was esteemed for his probity and business
acumen, being one of the public-spirited citizens of Stockton. Adele C. Chicard was married to G. Joseph, a
merchant of Stockton, later removing to San Francisco where she resided for
many years, passing away in San Jose in 1918.
Marie Elizabeth Chicard married the
late Jules P. Pache in 1860. She was
educated at Notre Dame Convent, San Jose, being one of the first to
matriculate. She excelled in fine needle
work and tapestry, taking prizes for them at several early San Joaquin County
fairs, the tapestries being prized and treasured heirlooms in the Pache
family. She was a brilliant conversationalist,
speaking several languages. She was a
member of the Associated Charities while living in Stockton, and also of the
San Joaquin County Society of California Pioneers, being voted a membership and
certificate by the society, her membership being still in possession of her
family. She resided in Angels Camp
during the latter part of her life, passing away in 1916. The Chicard family came from Orleans, France,
and there is still in the family on the banks of the River Loire in France, an
estate comprising large vineyards and an ancestral chateau.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
472-475. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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