San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN J. GAMBETTA
A pioneer of 1855, the late John
Gambetta was a far-seeing and enterprising citizen of Stockton until his death
in 1899. He was born in the suburbs of
Genoa, Italy, March 5, 1847, his parents being Joseph and Marianna (Croza) Gambetta. In
1855 the family came to the United States, their route being an unusual one,
and taking them via Gibraltar, Carthegena, Acapulco,
across the Isthmus of Panama, and thence to San Francisco on the steamer Golden
Gate. He was reared and educated in
Stockton and worked in various stores in that city; later he worked for Captain
Weber selling his real estate and followed that business for many years. Mr. Gambetta established a general store at
the corner of Market and El Dorado streets and as business increased he
established four more similar stores throughout the city. He owned and platted the first subdivision
put on the market in Stockton, located on East Street between Lafayette and
Market streets; he also had the Northern addition and the Fair Oaks
subdivision. Mr. Gambetta was a firm
believer in the great future of Stockton and from early days believed that
Stockton would eventually become a great city.
He was an advocate and supporter of the deep water to the sea project
many years ago, realizing the importance of the best shipping facilities to be
had. Mr. Gambetta was an inventor of
marked ability, being the inventor of the first motorcycle, which was under
construction at the time of his death; he also invented a motor-boat engine and
a self-locking nut for carriages and wagons.
On April 10, 1872, in Stockton,
occurred the marriage of Mr. Gambetta, which united him with Miss Carmelitta Capurro, a native of
Stockton, and they were the parents of five children: Blendina is Mrs. A.
C. White; John Francis; Mrs. Eugenia Sievers; Adella, the wife of Harry D. White; and Pauline Gambetta,
all residing in Stockton except John F.
Mr. Gambetta was elected coroner of San Joaquin County and served one
term. In 1886 he was elected public
administrator of the county and was re-elected to that office again in 1888.
Fraternally he was a member of Stockton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Charter Oak
Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and he held a prominent
place in the councils of the Democratic Party.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1555. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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