San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JAMES STEVEN GERARD
In a record of those who have been
prominently identified with the development and progress of modern California,
it is fitting that definite consideration be granted to James Steven Gerard, for
he has been a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of San
Joaquin County, and has so ordered his life as to gain and retain the
confidence and esteem of his fellowmen.
He was born at Dutch Flat, California, on July 11, 1856, and was the
only son of that sturdy pioneer, John H. Gerard, who married Miss Caroline C.
Sterling. Both parents were natives of
England. They are represented on another
page in this history.
James Steven Gerard received his
education at the school located at the four corners south of Woodbridge, known
as the Burton Town corners, and in 1878 was married to Miss Annie C. Penny, a
native of Massachusetts, a step-daughter of the late Capt. Thomas Chapman, who
was captain of the Pacific mail steamer “San Blas” for twenty years. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gerard removed
to San Francisco, where he was employed by freight and transportation companies
out of Stockton to San Francisco. They are
the parents of six children: Caroline,
Mrs. Shirkie, died in San Francisco; Leon died in San
Francisco; John, deceased; Lillian, Mrs. Schleef;
Raymond; and James Steven, Jr. The last
three reside on their ranches near Lodi.
Mr. Gerard was agent for the Union
Transportation Company, working under James Gillis; then he was clerk under
Division Superintendent W. W. Prugh of the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company; then spent some time working for the California Transportation
Company in bay and river steamer work, and later was agent for this company at
Oakland for three years. During the
great San Francisco fire of 1906, Mr. Gerard lost his entire belongings, house
and personal effects. Mrs. Gerard passed
away a number of years ago and our subject now makes his home at Woodbridge,
dividing his time among his sons and daughter on the old Gerard home
place. Mr. Gerard has many warm personal
friends who have been attracted to him by his many sterling traits.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
939. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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