San Joaquin County
Biographies
HARRY C. GILLINGHAM
HARRY C. GILLINGHAM was born
July 6, 1830, in Pennsylvania, his parents being John and Mary (Price)
Gillingham, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by
occupation, and remained there until his death, which occurred in 1853.
Harry remained at home on the farm until
nineteen years of age, when he left for California via the Isthmus. He landed
in San Francisco April 6, 1850. He was engaged in mining until the 1st
of October, then came to Stockton and remained during the winter of 1850. The
next four years were spent in running a threshing-machine and in teaming to the
mines. In 1854 he came and located 160 acres of land about ten miles from
Stockton, on the Davis road, in Elkhorn Township. He made his home there until
he purchased his present property in 1883. Since that time that has been his
home. He built his new and elegant residence in 1884, making many other
improvements at the same time. The property is situated about two miles from
Lodi and twelve from Stockton, on the Sacramento and Stockton road. Mr.
Gillingham is one of our leading farmers, and his ranch shows neatness and
order.
Mr. Gillingham was married in 1856, to
Miss Rachel A. Henderson, a native of Ohio, since deceased. She died in 1878,
at the age of forty-two years, leaving a loving husband and two children to
mourn her loss. The children are Samuel A. and Ida L., both at home. Mr.
Gillingham is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, No. 50, of which he was one of
the charter members. He was also a charter member of Lodi Lodge, No. 41.
Politically he is a Republican; his first vote was cast for Franklin Pierce. He
has seen his share of early California life. The county in which he resides was
once a barren plain, and is now one of the most productive and fertile parts of
the State.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 594-595. 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
Genealogy Databases