San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM THOMAS FRANKLIN
Among the most thorough and
practical viticulturists of the Lodi section is William Thomas Franklin, who
has been reared on a farm and has studied grape culture from all angles. He was born on his father’s ranch six miles
west of Lodi on July 25, 1864. His
father, Rufus Franklin, was born in Arkansas and made his first trip to
California across the plains with an ox-team in 1848; however, he returned to
the east and when he came back to California in 1853 he came via the Isthmus of
Panama. As a young man, he worked on
ranches throughout San Joaquin County and in the early ‘60s took up a
Government claim of 160 acres six miles west of Lodi, on which ranch our
subject was born; later he acquired more land, in the same vicinity, on which
he raised grain. He planted the first
large vineyard of wine grapes, principally Zinfandels, in the county,
consisting of eighty acres, his cuttings coming from Napa County. He was a member of the Jefferson lodge of Odd
Fellows in Woodbridge. He married Miss
Elvira Lynch, a native of Missouri, and they became the parents of eight
children, three of whom are deceased; the five living are: Mrs. J. Burrill of
Berkeley, Jessie Louis of Stockton, Amos W. on the home place, William Thomas,
our subject, and Mrs. Florence E. Wood of Oakland.
When a boy, William Thomas attended
the district schools of San Joaquin County and when he was ten years old
learned to plow and do other kinds of farm work. After the death of his father he took charge
of the home place; he planted 165 acres to Tokay grapes and in 1919 sold his
interest in the home farm.
Mr. Franklin married Miss Nileta M. Thompson, a native of Kansas, and they have two
children, Nileta C. and Harold W., who is married and
has two children. In 1914, Mr. Franklin
became outside man for the Pacific Fruit Exchange of Lodi, in which capacity he
is giving most efficient service, for his years of experience and close touch
with the grape industry make him invaluable.
Fraternally he is a member of Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, F. & A.
M. He is an upright and honorable
citizen in every sense of the word and has the good will of all with whom he
has come in contact.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
932. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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