San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HENRY ESHBACH
In the great army of Argonauts there
came across the plains two brothers, Frank Robert and Joseph Robert, pioneers
of 1848 on the Pacific coast and intimate friends of the illustrious Captain Weber. For a time they tried their luck in the
mines, but indifferent success caused them to turn their attention to
industrial pursuits. Starting the first
dairy in Stockton they met with steady success, and for years continued to
conduct a prosperous business. Upon
finally retiring they removed to San Francisco and there died when advanced in
years. During the early growth of their
business they became impressed with the possibilities of the state and
accordingly sent money for traveling expenses hither to Henry and Magdalena
(Robert) Eshbach, a brother-in-law and sister.
Thus it happened that the Eshbach
family in 1857 boarded a vessel at New Orleans bound for the Isthmus of Panama
and from there proceeded to San Francisco, whence they came to Stockton. Henry Eshbach was a native of Switzerland and
in early life had immigrated to the United States, settling in New Orleans,
Louisiana, where he followed the trade of carpenter. There he met and married Magdalena Robert,
who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, and in childhood, had come to the United
States. It was not the privilege of
Henry Eshbach to attend school regularly in boyhood; hence his education was
not what he wished. However, he was a
natural mechanic and also a proficient carpenter, and after coming to Stockton
he followed carpentering until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty
years. His wife met with an accidental
death in 1878. During the Civil War, he
served as a member of the 3rd California Regiment Volunteer Infantry
from 1862 to 1865 and on the way east his regiment was detailed to suppress an
Indian uprising in Utah. He was a member
of the Stockton Volunteer Fire Department, San Joaquin Company No. 3. They were the parents of two sons, Henry, the
subject of this sketch, and Frank, both residents of Stockton.
In the city of New Orleans,
Louisiana, Henry Eshbach was born on August 25, 1850, and there he spent his
first seven years, when he took passage on a ship in 1857 and came via the
Isthmus to California, landing from the steamer Golden Gate in April,
1857. He attended the old Franklin
school, still standing on South Center Street, and in the same class with him
was Caroline Deitsch, a pioneer’s daughter, whom he
married in 1875, and by whom he has two daughters. Amy E. is the wife of Frank E. Murphy, an
attorney of Stockton, and Carrie L. is the wife of S. E. Berkley of Stockton
and they have two children, Caroline and Eugenia.
Upon leaving school Mr. Eshbach
worked at the printer’s trade. For nine
years he was foreman of the job department of the Independent, and has in his
possession a copy of the paper dated November 2, 1869. He also ran a job printing office on El
Dorado Street between Main and Weber with Charles L. Hamilton as a partner, and
started the Stockton Record, which was then known as the Commercial
Record. Eventually he sold out to a
partner and after an association of eighteen years with the printing business
he turned his attention to other lines and is now living retired from business
cares and responsibilities. He was a
member of the Volunteer Fire Department Weber Company No. 1 and is now a member
of the Exempt Firemen’s Association, and for four years was chief engineer of
the Stockton fire department. A Democrat
in politics, he served as a member of the city council from 1881 to 1884; he
also served as a member of the police and fire commission for two years. Fraternally he is connected with the Charity
Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., which he joined over fifty years ago, on February 28,
1872, and is a member of the relief committee of that order; Stockton Lodge
Elks; Knights of Pythias; and Ancient Order of United Druids. He is also a member of Fidelity Lodge. Mrs. Eshbach is now deceased. Their two daughters are members of San
Joaquin Parlor No. 5, N. D. G. W., and also of Lebanon Rebekah Lodge.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
653-654. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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