San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOSIAH KENT DOAK
J. K. DOAK, one of the
well-known and prominent residents of Stockton, is a native of Huntingdon
County, Pennsylvania, born December 16, 1827, his parents being H. C. and
Margaret (Morrow) Doak, both of whom were native Pennsylvanians. When he was
eight years old his family removed to Vincennes, Indiana, and there he resided
from 1835 to 1851. In the latter year he removed to California. Going to New
Orleans, he took steamer to Havana, thence to Chagres, then up the Chagres
river to Gorgona and from there walked to Panama in a day. There he took the
steamer “Monumental City” to San Francisco, where he arrived on the night of
March 4. After ten days in the city, he went up to Murphy’s in company with a
cousin, John Doak, and they put up a saw-mill, which had been constructed for
them in the East. It had been their intention to take the mill to Humboldt Bay,
but they learned that the field was greater in the mines. After two and a half
years at Murphy’s they dissolved partnership, and Mr. J. K. Doak removed near
Mokelumne Hill, and there he carried on lumbering, ranching and stock business.
In 1869 he removed to Stockton, and in the following year he purchased the
livery business of J. C. Gage, which he has since conducted. This is one of the
oldest livery establishments in Stockton, having been started by George Congdon
in 1850. He was succeeded by Mr. Gage, who sold to the present proprietor.
Mr. Doak was an old-time Whig in his
younger days, and when the forces of that party scattered he became a Democrat,
but since 1861 he has been identified with the Republican party, and prominent
in its councils. He was elected Mayor of Stockton in 1872, and re-elected in
1874, and from 1876 to 1889 was a trustee of the State Insane Asylum at
Stockton. He was a delegate to the National Republican convention at Chicago in
1880, which nominated James A. Garfield. He was President of the San Joaquin
District Agricultural Society from 1867 to 1872. He has passed the chairs of
San Andreas Lodge, No. 50, I. O. O. F., and of Lone Star Encampment, No. 10,
but has been a member of Charity lodge, No. 6, since 1870. He has been
asiociated (sic) with the order for over forty years, having joined Wabash
Lodge, No. 20, at Vincennes, Indiana, in 1849, before he came to California. He
is also Past Chief officer of Parker Encampment. Mr. Doak has been all his life
an active man, and his standing in the community has always been of the
highest.
Mr. Doak was married in Calaveras County,
in November, 1862, to Miss Sarah E. Chase, a native of Nashua, New Hampshire,
and their children are: John E., Sarah Elizabeth and Clara. The first-named,
who was graduated from the University of the Pacific (class of 1884), has been
attending the Boston Institute of Technology for four years, and has decided
upon the profession of mechanical engineering for his future career.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 492-495. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Genealogy Databases