San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN B. CORY
The story of the progress and
success of John B. Cory, a native Californian whose interests in the San
Joaquin Valley are of such nature as to make him one of the most prominent and
influential citizens of the county, is interesting and illuminating, showing
what may be done by steady application, industry and well-directed
activity. A native of Santa Clara
County, he was born in San Jose, California, on February 20, 1854, a son of
Benjamin Cory, a pioneer physician of San Jose.
His father was a native of Ohio, who came to California at an early day
and established a practice in San Jose.
John B. Cory was reared and educated
in Santa Clara County, his public school education being supplemented by a
course in the College of the Pacific.
After finishing school he tried stockraising for a time; then, in 1882,
he removed to Vacaville, Solano County, and began his career as a fruit grower,
in which line of business he has been very successful. During the fall of 1887, in company with his
brother-in-law, Frank H. Buck, he came to San Joaquin County and purchased 400
acres of the Langford tract near Acampo, a part of the ranch of the late
Senator Langford. At that time most of
the San Joaquin Valley was devoted to the raising of grain; but when Mr. Cory
and his partner acquired the land they set it to fruit trees, planting peach,
plum, prune and apricot. Later they
purchased 350 acres more of the same ranch, making a total of 750 acres, and
the property became known as the Buck & Cory ranch. Thus Mr. Cory is the pioneer fruit grower in
the Lodi district, for they set out the first commercial orchards here, and
when their orchards came into bearing, showing a large yield of most excellent
fruit, it was demonstrated that their judgment had been correct. They incorporated the Frank H. Buck Company,
fruit shippers, which became one of the large fruit companies of the
state. Mr. Cory became manager for their
local business in the section. Upon the
death of Mr. Buck in 1918, the Buck and Cory ranch was divided, the home place
of Mr. Cory containing 240 acres, which has been so highly improved that it is
one of the show places of the valley. An
attractive and commodious residence has been erected with beautifully laid-out
grounds and tropical gardens; and a complete system of irrigation has been
installed with three pumping plants, which furnish an abundance of water for
all purposes. Mr. Cory’s ranch is a fine
demonstration of what can be accomplished in the way of beautifying and
improving property in the San Joaquin Valley.
In 1905, in conjunction with a
number of influential citizens of Lodi, Mr. Cory organized the First National
Bank; and he was its first president, serving in that responsible position
until he disposed of his interest in January of 1922, when he was one of the
organizers of the Citizens’ National Bank, of which he was elected president, a
position for which his years of experience so well qualified him. Mr. Cory is also a director in the Lodi
Investment Company, among the notable buildings which they have erected being
the Lodi Hotel and the Lodi Theater Building.
He is also a stockholder in the City Improvement Company that built the
modern business buildings on the corner of School and Oak streets.
The marriage of Mr. Cory in
Vacaville, in 1884, united him with Miss Nellie Buck, a native of New
York. Her father, L. W. Buck, was one of
the leading fruit growers of California, and was prominently known all over the
state as a highly intelligent and progressive citizen. He served as state senator from his
district. Mrs. Cory was reared in
Vacaville, and completed her education at the College of the Pacific. Fraternally, Mr. Cory is a member of
Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He is also a member of Stockton Chapter No.
28, R. A. M.; of Stockton Council, R. & S. M.; Stockton Commandery No. 8,
K. T., of which he is a past commander; Islam Temple, Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, in San Francisco; and the Order of the Eastern Star. He belongs to the Yosemite Club and Country
Club in Stockton, and the Mokelumne Club and Rotary Club in Lodi. Mrs. Cory is also prominent in civic and
social affairs, being a member and past matron of Woodbridge Chapter No. 118,
O. E. S., of which Mr. and Mrs. Cory were charter members, and served as the
first matron and patron. Mrs. Cory is
also a member of the Lodi Woman’s Club and the Philomathean Club of Stockton,
having served two terms as vice-president of the latter. Mr. and Mrs. Cory have traveled extensively,
and recently returned from a trip around the world. Mr. Cory’s prominence as a progressive
citizen has been won by strict application to business, backed by ability and intelligence,
and Lodi is proud to count him among her most worthy and valuable citizens.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
682-685. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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