San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM WESLEY FITZGERALD, M. D.
One of the most representative
citizens of San Joaquin County who has made a name for himself as a physician
and surgeon and who is also widely known as the pioneer in the English walnut
industry of the county is W. W. Fitzgerald of Stockton. A native son, he was born on a ranch about
seven miles east of the city on June 1, 1868, the son of the pioneer Philip
Fitzgerald, a native of New jersey but who was reared in Indiana from early
boyhood and there followed farming until he set out for California in 1850, and
arrived in Stockton in 1851, after having traveled for months behind slow-moving
oxen. He first tried his luck at mining,
and then engaged in freighting to the mines from Stockton with ox teams. As he prospered in hauling supplies to the
mining camps he bought land in the vicinity of Linden and there he set out one
of the finest vineyards, consisting of ten acres, in the county. As he had demonstrated that grapes would grow
successfully here he enlarged his vineyard to thirty acres. In the early days prices were very good for
wine grapes and the value of land increased in proportion when it was found
that it would grow trees and vines.
Philip Fitzgerald was twice married:
his first wife was Miss Jane Kindle and a native of Wisconsin. They had five children: William W.; Emily; Josephine; Albert and Ottie. His second
marriage with Miss Dora Hoffman resulted in the birth of three children: James W., Mark, and Clarence. Both parents of Dr. Fitzgerald are now
deceased.
W. W. Fitzgerald attended the public
schools of San Joaquin County, finishing with a course in the Stockton Business
College. Desiring to become a physician
he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia and in due time received
his M. D. degree, and then he followed his profession in Philadelphia for a
time. Upon the death of his father in
1895, he returned to Stockton and soon was recognized as one of the leading
physicians and surgeons in the county, his practice taking him to almost every
section of it, and for years he remained active as a leader in professional
circles. During the years of his active
practice he had associated with him at different times
four young physicians, all of whom have become prominent in the
profession. For many hears Dr.
Fitzgerald was the surgeon for the Southern Pacific.
While acting as railroad surgeon Dr.
Fitzgerald made frequent visits to southern California, and being a keen
observer as to the possibilities of the soil and climate of San Joaquin County,
having been reared on a ranch, he concluded that soft shell walnuts would
thrive here. He brought scions of the
various kinds of English walnuts from the south and grafted them onto the black
walnut trees in various parts of the county to test out both climatic and soil
conditions. After several years’ careful
scientific experimental work he selected the Eureka and Payne varieties as the
best suited to the local conditions and in 1909 he set out one of the very
first commercial English walnut groves in the county, consisting of sixty acres,
four and one-half miles southeast of Lodi.
Still continuing his experimental work he demonstrated that the climatic
conditions were ideal for the culture of walnuts as the trade winds from the
ocean which follow the Bay to Stockton cool the hot air of the locality and
enables the nuts to fill and mature.
These two species named are hardy, uniform in size and command the
highest prices in the markets of the east.
After experimenting for about five years Dr. Fitzgerald set out his
first grove in 1909 and one of 100 acres on Cherokee Lane in 1915.
After many years of professional
work Dr. Fitzgerald retired in 1918.
Having been the pioneer in the walnut growing industry in San Joaquin
County, others have followed in his footsteps until the industry is now looked
upon as becoming one of the principal horticultural projects in this
section. Always willing to help others
who are following his lead, his counsel is often sought by those contemplating
the planting of English walnut groves; and besides he has been contributing to
various journals on the subject of walnut growing and culture, also has given
many lectures. In 1915 he was asked to
address the American Pomological Society at its meeting in Berkeley on this
subject. From a hobby the growing of walnuts
has become a very profitable commercial enterprise with Dr. Fitzgerald and he
is a member of the California Walnut Growers Association.
Dr. Fitzgerald was united in
marriage on September 8, 1914, with Miss Dorothy Eproson,
a native daughter, born at Milton, and she shares with her husband the good
will and esteem of all who know them. He
is a member of Morning Star Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M.; Stockton Chapter No.
28, R. A. M.; Stockton Council No. 10, R. & S. M.; Stockton Commandery, K.
T.; and Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. in San Francisco; he also belongs to
Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E., and the
Iroquois Tribe of Red Men. Taking his
career from any standpoint it shows that Dr. Fitzgerald has been a benefactor
in professional, commercial and horticultural circles and is entitled to the
commendation of his fellow citizens who hold him in high esteem.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
460. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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