San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN DUCKER
JOHN DUCKER, of Stockton, is
a native of Germany, born near Bremen, Hanover, April 15, 1821, his parents
being John Dietrich and Katharina (Nullman) Ducker. He was reared there, and
attended school between the ages of six and fourteen years. He remained in his
native country until 1849, when he emigrated to America, sailing from Bremen,
April 15, on an English vessel, and landing at New York after a voyage of sixty
days. He remained in New York until about June 15, 1852, when in company with
four or five friends he took passage on the sail ship Dakotah, Captain Sloan,
bound for California, via Cape Horn. The vessel stopped at Rio Janeiro for
water, and remained in that port twelve days. Soon after leaving, the vessel
lost her masts and was compelled to put back to port, and they had to wait
eleven weeks making repairs. They stopped twelve days at Valparaiso, and sailed
thence directly for San Francisco, arriving in April, 1853, nearly a year out
from New York. About two days after landing, Mr. Ducker proceeded to Stockton
by steamer, arriving in the morning. After breakfast he went out to the ranch
of J. Carsten Grupe, nine miles from Stockton, and after spending the night
there, proceeded on to Chili Camp, Calaveras County, where he remained a short
time. He then went to Poverty Bar, a little lower down on the Mokelumne river,
where he mined about two years, with fair success. Having about concluded to go
back to New York, he left there, and while journeying stopped at the ranch of
Charles Meyer. The latter urged Mr. Ducker to go into partnership. He took the
matter under consideration, finally securing 160 acres there, and they became
partners. Mr. Ducker sold out to his partner in 1858 (in which year he was
married), and after a year’s residence in Stockton moved upon a ranch which his
owned in the uplands of Stanislaus County (then in San Joaquin County). The
winter of 1861-’62 was a very severe one on live-stock, and Mr. Ducker sold out
and removed into Stockton, where they had a house. In the spring of 1863, being
desirous of taking a trip into that region, he transported some passengers to
Virginia City and Aurora, Nevada. In 1864 he bought a corner lot on the corner
of Weber avenue and American street, and erected a store building, and opened
business there in partnership with a man named Landmann. About two years later
Mr. Ducker bought out his partner’s interest, and thereafter carried on the
business alone until 1878, when he sold out to L. Mollenhauer. He still owns
the building, however. In 1881 he built the house where he now resides, and
moved into it.
Mr. Ducker has been president of the
Stockton Warehouse Company since 1879. He is a member of Charity Lodge, No. 6,
I. O. O. F., and has passed the chairs of Parker Encampment. He is an Exempt
Fireman, having served three or four years as a member of San Joaquin Engine
Company in the days of the Volunteer Fire Department. He is a man of the
highest standing for business integrity, and commands the respect of all who
know him. His wife, formerly Miss Martha Woodman, is a native of
Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 511-512. 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
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