San
Joaquin County
Biographies
GEORGE L. DICKENSON
It is safe to say that there has
been no person in Stockton who more continuously extolled its possibilities as
a manufacturing center and distributing point, with its three trans-continental
railroads and its ocean shipping, than George L. Dickenson, the conservative,
yet enterprising leader in business affairs and public-spirited citizen. A native of Missouri, he was born in Jackson
County, September 13, 1857, the son of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Meador)
Dickenson, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The Dickenson name has been associated with
California since 1846, when Gallant Duncan Dickenson, a cousin of George L.,
became identified with the West. He was
born in Virginia in 1806, and was left an orphan at an early age and reared by
an uncle. In 1822 he went to Rutherford
County, Tennessee, and there was married to Isabella McCreary in 1828; and in
1834 they moved to Jackson County, Missouri, and lived there until 1846, when
with his wife and six children, G. D. Dickenson left Independence and crossed
the plains as a captain of a train of 500 emigrants. Arriving in California the family spent the
first winter at San Jose, but in 1847 removed to Monterey County and lived
there for the next eighteen months.
While residing there, Mr. Dickenson built the first brick kiln and
erected the first brick house in the state.
During the year 1848, while prospecting for gold, he discovered the
gulch which bears his name, and in April of 1849, he located in Stockton. When he had passed through here in 1846 there
was neither a wooden nor a brick building in the place. Here Mr. Dickenson built the first hotel,
constructed of lumber that was brought around the Horn and costing him one
dollar a foot. This hotel accommodated 100 guests and was operated by him for a
short time; later it was leased to Roach & Morgan for a rental of $18,000 a
year. The building was destroyed by fire
about two years later. G. D. Dickenson
was elected alcalde of Stockton and served till California was admitted as a
state. It was here that his daughter
Margaret was married to A. G. Lawrey on October 29,
1849. She was the first American girl
wedded in this city. In 1851 the family
settled in Ferry; and this continued to be their home until his death, October
25, 1870.
George L. Dickenson was educated in
the public schools of his native county and in Baker University at Baldwin,
Kansas. For a number of years he was
connected with railroad interests in the Middle West. He was in the auditing and freight department
of the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Gulf Railroad at Kansas City, Missouri;
then with the Atchison & Nebraska at Atchison, Kansas; and then with the
Indiana, Bloomington & Western at Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1890 he came to
California and the following year settled in Stockton, where he became
associated with the Holt Manufacturing Company, retaining his connection with
this concern until 1913, when he resigned to give attention to his own
interests that had accumulated with the passing of the years. During the years he was with the company he
became the first secretary after its incorporation in 1892; in 1910 he became
secretary and treasurer of the Peoria, Illinois, branch of the Holt
Manufacturing Company; and then for three years had charge of the Holt
interests in the Eastern and Middle states, as well as much of their foreign
trade. He became recognized as one of
the best informed authorities on harvesters, traction engines and
equipment. In 1901 the Matteson &
Williamson Manufacturing Company was purchased by Mr. Dickenson and George H. Cowie. It was
operated by them two years. In 1903 the
business of this concern was merged with the Holt Manufacturing Company, and in
1905 The Georges Company was organized and succeeded to the realty holdings of
the Matteson & Williamson Manufacturing Company.
In 1919 The Georges Company Building
was erected at the corner of Aurora and Market streets. This structure was conceived by Mr. Dickenson
as a home for industrial interests, it being in the heart of the industrial district
of the city. The building is two stories
high, with the entire ground floor arranged to house tractor concerns and
affiliated institutions that help make that branch of trade so important. It is well-appointed throughout and occupies
about a quarter of a block. The second
floor is devoted to business offices, each provided with conveniences that add
comfort to the occupants.
In passing, it is well to mention
the fact that the Matteson & Williamson Manufacturing Company, which began
business in 1852, was one of the oldest concerns in the state, and with it were
connected men at different times that are now prominent in industries of their
own. Among these we mention: G. H. Harris, superintendent, now president
of the Harris Manufacturing Company; O. H. Eccleston, secretary, now holding
the same position with the Holt Company; E. H. Noack,
who began his apprenticeship as a foundry man and is now president of the
Monarch Foundry Company; J. M. Kroyer, formerly
foreman in the machine shop, now president of the Kroyer
Motor Company. When the company’s
business was merged with the Holt concern it had existed over half a century.
The marriage of Mr. Dickenson on
February 15, 1910, united him with Miss Erma Wagner, born in Ventura
County. They had a son, Richard W.
Dickenson, born November 12, 1910, who is shaping an individuality that will
place him in high position when reaching mature years. Upon the reorganization of the Chamber of
Commerce, Mr. Dickenson was elected a director; and he was always active in its
affairs. He was also a member of the
United States Chamber of Commerce, and belonged to the Yosemite Club and Golf
and Country Club.
Mr. Dickenson was always found among
the leaders in all movements that make for a greater Stockton, was ever on the
alert to “boost” his favored city, and worked consistently to show industrial
leaders of the whole country the splendid possibilities of this city as a
manufacturing and distributing center, where raw materials, labor and water and
rail transportation combine to create the location they are seeking. He was a persistent worker and advocate of
Stockton and San Joaquin County, and never neglected an opportunity to place
before the public the features that are offered by Stockton for jobbing,
manufacturing, packing, canning and distributing. He is the father of Tractor Row, which
extends from Weber Avenue, to South Street on Aurora Street. It is this constant endeavor that does much
to bring substantial results and new institutions to Stockton, and for these
efforts the people of this county owe much to the unselfish devotion of Mr.
Dickenson. He died January 12, 1923.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
712. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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