San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN GAMBETTA
J. GAMBETTA, Public
Administrator of San Joaquin County, is a native of Italy, born in the suburbs
of Genoa, 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, Carthagena, San Juan de Caraga,
Acapulco, across the Isthmus of Panama, and thence to San Francisco on the
steamer Golden Gate. Our subject, though but a young boy, soon went to work in
the store of Lorenzo Costa, and was thus engaged about a year and a half. For a
similar period of time following this he was in the employ of Captain Weber. He
then engaged in selling apples for his father, who had a fruit store. After
that he was for five years clerk in a hardware and crockery establishment.
After that, acquiring possession of a piece of land, he engaged in gardening,
and was thus employed for two or three years. After this he clerked again about
a year, and then embarked in business for himself, on the corner of Market and
El Dorado streets. Eighteen months later he had five places of business, and
within two years and a half from the time he commenced, so well had he managed,
that he had accumulated about $30,000. He lost about $18,000 in San Francisco
through the failure of other parties, and sold a one-half interest in his
business to Peter Musto, and afterward disposed of the other half to him.
Having wound up all his old business affairs, he started anew, buying out the
Weber House. A year later he sold out and took a trip to Nevada. His finances
were then at a low ebb once more. He went to Virginia City, and when he arrived
there his capital amounted to $17.75. In about ten weeks he had cleared up
$10,000, buying junk. He then took in a partner, and shortly afterward went to
San Francisco on business for the firm. While he was gone his partner sold out
the business, and went away with the proceeds. Mr. Gambetta then returned to
California, and put in a crop in Stanislaus County, but lost everything by
flood. He then walked back to Stockton. After he had been here about two years,
he borrowed $1,000 from a friend, and in about a year’s time had made $8,000.
He was elected Coroner of San Joaquin County, and served out his term. He was
nominated for Public Administrator, but at the election was defeated. He was
nominated for that office again in 1886, and that time was elected, assuming
his official duties in January, 1887, and still holds the office by virtue of
re-election in 1888. He has been in the real-estate business since 1881.
Mr. Gambetta was married in Stockton,
April 10, 1872, to Miss Carmelita Capurro, a native of Stockton. They have five
children, viz: Blendina, John, Jr., Eugenia, Della and Pauline.
Mr. Gambetta is a member of Stockton
Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Charter Oak Lodge, K. of P. He holds a prominent place
in the councils of the Democratic party.
Mr. Gambetta has set up on his residence
lot in this city, the stump of a tree, which is note-worthy for its size. It is
called the “Pioneer,” having been brought and placed in its present position,
in honor of the pioneers of California, by Mr. Gambetta. The tree of which it
was a part was 237 years old, and the stump, which weighs thirty-seven tons and
is twenty-four feet in circumference, was moved to its present resting place
with immense difficulty and at an expense of $800, all of which was borne by
Mr. Gambetta. It was taken from the place of W. G. Phelps, and moved two miles
and a half. On the Phelps place three tons of grapes were picked from one vine.
This vine was planted the day General Kearny was there with the troops, on his
way to Salt Lake. He threw away four cuttings, and Mr. Phelps, picking up one,
planted it. From it grew this great vine.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 599-600. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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