San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOSEPH FYFE
JOSEPH FYFE.--Among those who
have led in the recent material advancement of Stockton, none have been more
active than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He came to this city in
1870, and assumed his connection as book-keeper with the firm of Moore
Brothers, lumber dealers, which established the Stockton branch of their
business in that year. He handled the same department, with a wider scope, for
Moore & Smith, who succeeded the old firm in 1878, and in 1884, became in
name as well as in fact their general manager. When the Moore & Smith
Lumber Company was incorporated, in 1884, Mr. Fyfe remained at the head of
their business interests centering in Stockton, which he has built up to
immense proportions. He is a stockholder in the company, and in those kindred
organizations, the Kings River Mill & Lumber Company, and the Port
Discovery Milling Company (State of Washington).
While his lumber interests are most
important, his enterprise is by no means confined to that particular direction
of industry. He has been a director since the organization of the Stockton
Land, Loan and Building Association; is Vice-President of the Stockton Street
Railway Company; a director of the Alta Insurance Company, and of the Stockton
Insurance and Real Estate Association. Ever since locating in Stockton, he has
taken an active interest in public affairs. He has been prominently identified
with fire department matters, and in the time of the volunteer organization,
was president of the Hook and Ladder Company for years. He has served eight
years as a member of the city council, and was for three years of that time
chairman of the finance committee. He has been a member of Morning Star Lodge,
F. & A. M., since 1870, belongs to Stockton Chapter No. 28, and Stockton
Commandery No. 8, and is a director of the Masonic Hall Association. He is Past
Chancellor of Charter Oak Lodge, No. 20, Knights of Pythias, and has been
president of the Pythian Hall Association. He was for years chief of the
Stockton Caledonian Club.
Mr. Fyfe is a native of Ayrshire,
Scotland, born on the 6th of June, 1850, his parents being James and
Elizabeth (McKenzie) Fyfe, the former of whom died in 1873 and the latter in
1865. He was reared and educated at his native place, and served an
apprenticeship in the shipbuilding trade in the establishment of Connell &
Co., and J. G. Thompson. In 1869 he removed to America, locating in California,
and coming to Stockton the following year, as before mentioned.
He was married in San Francisco, June 5,
1873, in St. John’s Episcopal church, to Miss Annie Morton Bruce, a native of
Glasgow, Scotland. They have two children, viz: Joseph and Annie Morton Bruce.
Mr. Fyfe is one of the most enterprising
business men of Stockton, and always stands ready to assist with push and
energy all movements calculated to advance the interests of the city.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 625-626. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
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