San Joaquin County
Biographies
NICHOLAS ENDICH
NICHOLAS ENDICH, part owner
of the “Popular Resort,” two miles east of Stockton, was born near Ragusa,
Austria, early in 1831, a son of Michael and Mary (Erlevich) Endich, both
deceased. The father was by occupation a farmer, and both parents lived and died
in their native land.
The subject of this sketch went to sea at
the age of sixteen in a vessel engaged chiefly in the trade between Ragusa and
Bristol. After three years in that line he spent six months in Bristol,
England, and then sailed from that port for America. He arrived in San
Francisco in October, 1850, and went to mining near Sonora, where he spent the
first winter. He afterward mined two or three months on Feather river, and in
August, 1851, he began mining in Amador County, near Jackson, where he remained
until 1854, engaged in that pursuit. He then bought 160 acres in partnership,
and went to farming. He planted a vineyard and some 700 peach trees, only to
find, after seven years, that vine-growing was not profitable in that region.
In 1862 he lost his peach orchard by the great flood, and the necessaries of
life sold at famine prices--sugar, $1 per pound; bread, $1.25, and everything
else proportionately dear. Mr. Endich sold out his interests in that district
on February 23, 1864, and moved to this city. Meanwhile he had been married
here, July 19, 1863, to Miss Pauline Vizelich, also a native of Ragusa, and a
daughter of Stephen and Lucy Vizelich. She had come to California direct from
Ragusa, leaving port March 25, and reaching San Francisco June 30, 1860, where
she spent nearly a year. In May, 1861, her brother Nicholas bought a place in
this city, and she came here also.
Soon after their marriage Mr. Endich
bought the square in this city on which he still resides, the portion not taken
in with the home and out-buildings being planted to fruit trees. In 1867 he
bought the square immediately south, but sold it in 1869. In 1875 he bought
about fifteen acres two miles east of the city on the Copperopolis road, which
he retained and cultivated twelve years. In 1887 he sold ten acres, retaining
the remainder, on part of which is situated the “Poplar Resort,” in which he is
still interested.
Mr. and Mrs. Endich lost one child in
infancy and have three living, all born in this city--Mary Agnes, born
September 11, 1864, was married September 11, 1884, to Nicholas P. Chagal, of
this city; Nellie Cecilia, born October 5, 1868, received a liberal education,
is an accomplished musician and an artist of marked ability; Nicholas Francis,
born March 28, 1871, was educated in the public schools and in the Business
College of this city. He was engaged with his brother-in-law, N. P. Chagal,
from September, 1887, to September, 1889, and has since been with his father in
charge of the “Poplar Resort.” The whole family are members of the Roman
Catholic Church.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County, California,
Pages 622-623. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago,
Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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Biographies
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