BIOGRAPHICAL AND
DESCRIPITIVE
MATTER
PERTAINING
TO OUR
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM
CASTORIA
TOWNSHIP.
1879
Page 102
BIOGRAPHICAL
C.A.
BACHMAN, partner of Mr. Brandt in the chiccory business,
was born in Prussia in 1827. He carried on the trade of upholstering until
1853, when he emigrated to New York. In 1859 he
embarked on a steamer for California, crossing the Isthmus. He remained in San
Francisco until 1866, when he bought 327 acres on the San Joaquin river, upon which he is now residing. He cultivates 300
acres, of which he devotes 25 to chiccory, and the
balance to grain. He has 500 or 600 trees, apples, peaches, pears, &c., 25
head of good draft horses, and some good milch cows.
He was married in 1851, in Germany, to Miss Dora Echler.
They have one daughter, now Mrs. Brandt. He erected his residence in 1866 since
which he has added to it, and now has a pretty house, two stories high,
containing 9 rooms. The house fronts on the San Joaquin river,
and is situated just below that of Mr. Brandt. He has a large roomy barn. A
view of his place will be found in this volume.
J.M.
BARBER was born in Norfolk Co., Canada, Jan. 5,
1833; was married the 25th of December, 1854, in Middlesex, Canada, to
Catharine Jane Ward. He was in mercantile business in Canada until the fall of
1858, when he moved to Iowa, where he taught music until April, 1863, when he
undertook an overland journey to California, chiefly on account of his wife's ill
health, she being unable to step into the wagon when they started. They arrived
in Stockton in October, and immediately settled down on the place where they
now reside. Mrs. Barber was completely restored to health during the journey,
and was enabled to assist her husband in his efforts to establish a pleasant
home on the barren land. His ranch, which had not a single tree when he
commenced his labors, has now a large quantity of locust, Italian and Monterey
cypress, orange, peach, pear, apricot and walnut trees, 1,200 bearing grape
vines, &c. He has 480 acres of land, 341 where he resides, and 139 on the
San Joaquin river. He has 260 acres well fenced and
under cultivation. The river land is fenced with barbed wire. Mr. Barber has
his own machinery, and does his own heading and stacking. He raises chiefly
wheat, rye and barley. The soil is a sandy loam. He has a fine stock of
Jersey and Devon cattle for dairy purposes. Mr. Barber for the past three years
has been selling musical instruments in San Joaquin and adjoining Counties. He
has resided in Stockton chiefly for the past five years for the educational
advantages offered for his children, of which he has six, three girls and three
boys. See accompanying view of his place.
JOHN
M. BLANKENSHIP is a native of Mercer Co., West Virginia, where he was born
July 28, 1828. In 1833 his father moved his family to Iowa. In 1850 the subject
of our sketch traversed the plains, arriving in Stockton in October. For about
a year and a half he mined and freighted at Mokelumne
Hill. Feb. 1, 1852, he started from San Francisco for Iowa, going by way of the
Isthmus, New Orleans and the Mississippi river. He remained in Iowa a year,
being married May 20, 1852, to Miss Mary Ann McGee, of Marion County. April 1,
1853, he once more undertook the toils and perils of an overland journey,
accompanied by his young bride, who has since borne him eleven children, nine
boys and two girls. The young couple settled in Castoria
township on French Camp road, one-half mile from
French Camp, on a beautiful piece of land, consisting of 700 acres, purchased
from Mr. Weber. About 600 acres are under cultivation; the remainder, covered
with a growth of fine white oak timber, is used as a pasture for his stock, of
which he has much and of an excellent quality. Nearly all his farm is composed
of a sandy loam, a small portion only being black soil. The location and
character of this farm can be more fully seen from the accompanying view.
S.W.
BOICE is a native of Kentucky, was born near Danville in that State in
1834. Mr. Boice pursued farming until 20 years of
age, when he started for California in 1854 by the way of the plains, and was
six months on his journey. He settled in Sonora, Tuolumne Co., where he pursued
mining and the dairy business until 1861, when he went to Nevada, and worked at
blacksmithing at the Silver State Reduction Works for a year, and then returned
to the mines in Tuolumne Co., where he remained until 1866. In 1866 he married
Emma Pence, daughter of Dr. Pence, of Elliott Township in San Joaquin Co., and
moved to French Camp, where he continued blacksmithing until 1868. In that year
he purchased the land he now occupies, and has by his earnest and energetic
efforts built a fine homestead for himself and family.
He has three daughters, two of whom attend the rustic school. He farms 1,000
acres of land, 240 acres of which form his homestead, situated four miles from
Lathrop, and fourteen miles from Stockton. The soil is sandy loam, and wheat is
the crop chiefly relied upon. He has some fine horses of the Messenger stock,
besides cattle and other stock. He has peach, apricot and plum trees, and a
fine grape vineyard. We call attention to the view of his ranch on another
page.
MRS.
JANE BOWMAN was born in Germany in 1824, where she was married in 1853. She
started with her husband for California, landing in New York, and coming across
the country by the way of San Juan, arriving in San Francisco by steamer, in
July, 1853. They resided there two years and then removed to Contra Costa Co.
and farmed until 1860, when they removed to Old river
in San Joaquin Co. and farmed there for six years. From here they removed to
her present residence, where Mr. Bowman died in 1871. She has 200 acres of
superior farming land lying along the San Joaquin river.
Barley and wheat form the staple crop. She is cultivating 160 acres, and the
rest is devoted to pasturage for her horses and cattle, of which she has about
twenty head, also some fine milch cows. Mr. Bowman
erected a house of five rooms on the old place in 1869, which was moved to the
new ranch. She contemplates building an addition soon. Mr. Bowman came to
California in 1849, and returned in 1853 when he was married. They have had six
children, three boys and three girls, all of whom are now alive. A view of
their farm and residence is on another page.
C. H.
W. BRANDT was born in Germany in 1840, and came to this country at the age
of sixteen. He settled in Texas where he learned the trade of carpenter. In
1859 he went to Cherokee, New Grenada, where he followed the business of
butchering until 1861, at which time he went to San Francisco. He remained in
San Francisco three years working at cabinet making. In 1864 he came to San
Joaquin Co. and settled on the river, going into the fruit and vegetable business.
In 1867 he purchased 133 acres of land, on which he now resides, and has since
added a section. In 1879 he erected a two and a half story house, with thirteen
rooms costing $2,500. About this time he was married to Therese Bachman. They
have four boys. Mr. Brandt has been raising chiccory
for seven years; and in 1872 erected a chiccory
factory at a cost of $3,700, which he sold in 1877, and erected a larger one,
50x48 feet, costing $7,500. Since the commencement of the erection of the large
factory C.A. Bachman has gone into partnership with him and they are doing a
large business in raising and manufacturing chiccory.
They have a landing on the San Joaquin river about
twenty-five feet from the factory. A large sun-drying platform is connected
with the factory on the north, with a capacity of 25,000 square feet. The
capacity of the factory is two tons in a run of ten hours, three men being
employed to attend the machinery. (See views of factory, &c, on another
page.)
GEORGE
H. CASTLE was born at Catskill, N. Y., March 27,
1823. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Davenport, Delaware
Co., N. Y. When he arrived at the age of twenty-one years he went to Lancaster,
Grant Co., Wis., where he engaged in farming and lead mining until 1852. Here he
was married to Miss Harriett Oliver, April 1, 1846. They have had fourteen
children, five of whom have since died. In 1852 he came overland with his
family, settling in this County. He acquired by purchase and preemption 1,180
acres of land in Castoria Township, which he has been
cultivating ever since. He is working 900 acres, which are well stocked with
cattle, and supplied with everything, such as machinery, etc., that are required
on a large, well-conducted farm. His principal crop is wheat, though he raises
other grains to some extent. In 1868 he erected his present residence, at an
expense of $4,000, and which is in striking contrast with the twelve feet
square log cabin, with a roof of green hides, and a tool-chest table, such as
he resided in when he first came here. He says that when he put down a carpet
of gunny sacks, he thought himself quite extravagant. Mr. Castle served the
people of San Joaquin Co. for two years, 1869-'71, in the capacity of Sheriff,
his services being entirely satisfactory. A view of his place will be found on
another page.
HENRY
WRIGHT COWELL was born January 3, 1837, in Tioga County, N. Y. In 1844 his
parents removed to Grant Co., Wis. In 1861 he started for California, driving
an ox-team across the plains. He stayed two months in Nevada, and finally
arrived here in November. He taught school in the Union District, San Joaquin
Co., the first winter. In the spring he went on foot to Gold Hill, Nevada,
often passing over twenty feet of snow while on the way. Upon his arrival there
he went to work for other parties, but soon, in conjunction with his brother,
purchased a team and commenced hauling ore. After short time he came back to
California, and made two trips across the mountains with freight. In
partnership with his two brothers he purchased 320 acres of wild land from
Judge Lyons. This purchase was made on credit, as the brothers could raise but thirty dollars. The first year they got 2,500
bushels of grain, and the next year they rented more land, sowing 500 acres.
The season was very dry, and they only secured 560 bushels of grain. At the end
of the season they found themselves $5,000 in debt. However the next year was a
good one, and though they had but little seed, some of the land being sown with
but twenty-three lbs. to the acre, they had a good crop. Mr. Cowell now owns 1,920 acres, all under cultivation. In
November, 1858, he married Miss Melinda K. Hall, of Grant Co., Wis., who died
in November, 1861. They had two daughters, both living. In May 1867, he married
Miss Larrain Dickinson, of Grant Co., Wis. They have
two children, one son and one daughter. In 1878 he erected a new house, costing
$5,000, a view of which will be found elsewhere.
JOSHUA
COWELL is a native of Tioga Co., N.Y., where he was born on the 2d of
January, 1841. In 1844 his parents removed to Grant Co., Wis., from which place
he started across the plains for California in 1861. He remained at Gold Hill,
Nevada, for eighteen months, and finally arrived at his present residence on
the 26th of January, 1863. He has experienced the vicissitudes that were
incidental to the lives of the great majority of the farmers here. He now owns
720 acres of excellent land, well improved and cultivated. His farm is well
supplied with everything that appertains to practical farming. In addition to
his general farming business Mr. Cowell is somewhat
interested in raising stock. He farmed in connection with his brother, H.W. Cowell, until 1868, at which time they divided their
possessions, and he has since been working on his own interest. He married
Rachel V. Graves, of San Joaquin Co., November 25, 1868. They have four
children-three daughters and one son. Mr. Cowell's
farm lies in Castoria Township. A view of this place
will be found on another page.
HARRISON
FREDERICK was born September 20, 1845, in the State of Indiana, and when he
was four years of age, his parents removed from their home and settled in Pope
Co., Iowa. In 1862 Mr. Frederick came to California with his parents, settling
in San Joaquin Co., where he conducted farming in connection with his
step-father until 1875. In this year he commenced working alone on his place in
Castoria Township a tract of 240 acres, all of it
being under cultivation, and well supplied with machinery and all the
appliances required by an energetic farmer. In 1875 he erected the house in
which he now resides, a view of which is given elsewhere. In the same year he
was married to Miss Sarah J. Dirst, of Stanislaus
Co., California, September 5. They have had two children,
one of who has since died. In addition to his homestead Mr. Frederick owns a
stock-ranch of 178 acres, in Stanislaus Co., and also 18 acres of timber land
near Taylor's Ferry.
H. S.
HOWLAND was born in July, 1827, at Dartmouth, Mass., near New Bedford. When he was only seven years of age the family moved to Seneca Co.,
Ohio, where they lived on a farm until 1850. In August, 1848, he married
Miss Barbara Meyer, and in 1850 moved to Indiana, where he pursued farming
until 1851, when he returned to the old home in Ohio. In the spring of 1852 he
started with his wife for the Pacific coast. They arrived in Stockton October
27, 1852, and in 1854 he purchased from Mr. Weber 140 acres of land, situated
on what was then known as the Slocum Ferry road, for which he paid three
dollars per acre. In the spring of 1857, with the intention of returning East, he sold his land for six dollars per acre; but
changing his mind, he purchased, in 1858, a farm of 160 acres, which he sold to
the C. P. R. R. in the fall of 1869. In 1866 he purchased his present place,
and moved upon it in the winter of 1869, at which time he purchased two quarter
sections, making in all 520 acres, including forty acres on the San Joaquin river. His residence was erected in 1869, at a cost of $1,500
(see accompanying view). His place is situated one mile from Lathrop and eleven
miles from Stockton. He has some very excellent stock and eight fine milch cows. The land is a sandy loam, well watered by both
hard and soft water, the wells being from seven to ten feet deep. He raises
fruit and grapes. In 1873 he and his wife visited the old Ohio home, in six
days making a journey that had before taken then six months. He has four
children.
URIAH
MARTIN was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1820. Mrs. Martin was born in
Leicester, England, in 1827, and was married to Mr. Martin in 1847. They
journeyed across the Atlantic in 1849, settling in Brooklyn, N. Y., where a son
was born, Thomas Franklin Martin, in August, 1851. They left New York February
20, 1857, for California, by way of the Isthmus. They settled in San Joaquin
Co., on the ranch they now occupy, in November, 1857. They have 480 acres of
land, 300 of which they are cultivating this year (1878). Mr. Martin is the
senior partner in the firm of Martin & Rock, who have land in Fresno Co.
The residence is situated on a little knoll overlooking the surrounding country
in all directions. To the east can be seen the Sierra Nevada mountains, far
beyond the San Joaquin plains. The south view looks out upon a beautiful
valley. To the west the land lies along the San
Joaquin river, with the dark old land-mark, Mt. Diablo, in the distance. On the
north a beautiful fringe of white oak timber is all that obstructs a view of
the city of Stockton. Mr. Martin keeps a superior quality of stock, having
Jersey cattle and horses of the Clyde and Chieftain breed.
The residence was erected in 1869, a view of which and the ranch accompanies
this sketch.
ANDREW
MEYER was born in Switzerland in 1823. His parents emigrated
to America in 1829, settled in Seneca Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming. Here
he remained until 1849, when he came across the plains, arriving in Hangtown, Aug. 25, 1849. He worked the first year in the
mines, but gave up that occupation, and commenced the business of teaming, in
which business he continued until 1851. In January, 1852, he returned to the
States, but only remained until until the fall of the
same year, at which time he again came to California. He purchased and settled
on 600 acres of land in Castoria Township, where he
is still residing. His land is well cultivated, and yields a good crop of
various grains, chiefly wheat. He has supplied his ranch with machinery and
buildings necessary for the raising and storing of grain, and also conveniences
for taking care of stock, in the raising of which he is largely interested. In
1861 he again returned east, to be married to Miss Cooley, who returned with
her husband. A view of his ranch is given in this work.
J. K.
MEYER was born in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, Aug.
30, 1823. His father and family emigrated to Marion Co., Ohio, in 1830, and in
1832 removed to Seneca Co. He remained on the farm with his father until 1847,
when he started for himself. In the spring of 1849 he came across the plains,
and stopped at Placerville, then known as Hangtown,
in August. For over a year he worked there, in Yorkville, Tuolumne Co., and in
Mariposa, and prospected; but meeting with little success, he came to Stockton
and went to freighting. He made hay on Mr. Weber's place, brought the hay to
town, and established a feed store. He sold out his feed business, and in 1852
went to Ohio for the purpose of buying cattle and driving them to this country;
with a drove of which he arrived in Stockton in Oct. 1852. Andrew Meyer, who
came out with him in 1849, was his partner in this enterprise. In 1859 he went
back to Ohio, where, on the 20th of Oct., he was married to Elizabeth Wetter,
who returned with him in 1860. In 1861 he dissolved partnership with Andrew
Meyer, and moved his effects to the place he now occupies, where he built a
house at a cost of $1,000. He has recently built a barn, 60 by 100 feet, for
$1,500. (See view of his place). He owns 492 acres, seven miles south of
Stockton, on the San Jose road, and one and a half miles from French Camp. He
has considerable stock; some horses of the Sampson and David Hill breed; 28
head of milch cows, &c., a five year stallion,
that has taken two district and one state premium. He
has a fine orchard of various fruits, and two acres of grapes.
HENRY
MOORE was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, Dec. 22, 1833.
When nineteen years of age he went to Texas. After a
sojourn of two years in the "Lone Star State" he returned to his
house in Ohio, where he was married April 26, 1855, to Miss Sarah Meyer, of the
same place. He engaged in farming until 1858, when he came to California with
his wife, via the Isthmus of Panama. He purchased the place where he now
resides, in Castoria Township, in 1864. It contains
160 acres of land, all under cultivation, and furnished with machinery and all
the appliances of a well conducted farm. He erected the house, in which he now
resides, in 1879, at an expense of $1,200. A view of his residence and grounds
is shown on another page.
MARGARET
E. NOBLE, (Miss Margaret Evans,) was born in North Wales in 1829. Her
family emigrated from their home in 1835, settling in western Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Noble, her father and two brothers came to California in 1851 by way of
the Isthmus. They came to French Camp in March, 1852. From there they went to
Sonora, but soon returned to French Camp. In October 1852, she was married to
R. W. Noble, who was one of the first permanent settlers in French Camp, having
arrived there in August, 1849. He was the only settler at that time between
Stockton and Bonsell's Ferry. R. W. Noble was born in
Connecticut in 1807. At the age of twenty-two years he went to St. Louis, where
he followed his trade, that of a tailor. In 1832 he went to Mexico, where he
remained seventeen years, accumulating a fortune trading. When the gold
excitement was started he came direct to California, and opened a supply depot,
at French Camp, to keep in supplies a store at Mariposa. He was in partnership
with Archibald Stevenson until 1852, when they dissolved, Mr. Noble continuing
in the business for several years and finally turning his attention to farming.
He was Judge of the Plains for two years and Justice of the Peace for a long
time. He was Associate County Judge during the terms of Judges Shaffer and
Stokes. He died at his residence in French Camp in 1875. In 1850, Mr. Noble
built a fine, large adobe house at a cost of $14,000, and a store-room and
building costing about as much more. (See view of these in this volume.) The
house is 20x60 feet, and has walls three feet thick, and the rooms are large
and commodious. It is situated on a knoll in the center of French Camp. There
are on the place, an old vineyard, that was set out in
1852, fruit and olive trees. Mrs. Noble has 180 acres of land, part black soil
and part loam. The farm is stocked withy fine Durham
cattle and other stock.
MARTIN
OTT, is a
native of Wurtemberg, Germany, was born February 8,
1837. In 1853 his father emigrated to Detroit, Mich.,
with his two sons. Martin clerked in a mercantile house until 1858, when he
journeyed to San Francisco by way of the Isthmus, arriving there in June, 1858.
He remained there nine months and then went to Tuolumne Co., where he mined
until 1867. He then bought 200 acres of land on the San Joaquin river and adopted the life of a farmer. After a stay of six
months on his ranch, he went to San Francisco on account of his ill health,
where he sojourned two years, still keeping his farm. On his return to the farm
he broke up a little ground and raised vegetables; he is now cultivating 150
acres. He raises wheat, barley and chiccory; to the
latter he devoted twenty-five acres last year, which averaged four tons to the
acre. He has two chiccory platforms, each 48x144
feet. In 1875 he went to Germany, and on his return went to New York, where he
married Miss Marie Wille, who came with him to his
western home. They have two little girls. In 1874 he erected a seven-room
house, costing about $1,200. (See accompanying view of his ranch.) He is in
partnership with Chas. Dangers in the San Joaquin Chiccory
Factory, located on the San Joaquin river fourteen
miles from Stockton. They are doing a large business, and find ready sale for
their product on the coast.
JOHN
B. REYNOLDS was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, June 27, 1817, from
which place he emigrated to Wisconsin in March, 1844,
where he worked the lead mines. On the 1st day of May, 1853, he started for the
Pacific slope, arriving in Stockton after a long and tedious journey of five
months across the plains. For a while Mr. Reynolds worked at his trade of brickmason, in Stockton and Marysville. He helped construct
the Court-House, Weber House and Theater Building at Stockton. In June, 1855,
he went to Eldorado Co., where he worked nearly two years in the Placerville
mines. In October, 1856, he settled on a farm in Castoria
Township, and has continued the life of a farmer ever since. Mr. Reynolds took
a trip back to the States in 1859, and while there married his first wife, in
1860, in Indiana, who came with him to his home in the west, and by whom he had
four children. After the death of his first wife, he married, October 23, 1877,
Mrs. L. F. Fuller, of San Francisco. Mr. Reynolds' ranch is situated eight miles
from Stockton, and three miles from French Camp, and contains 440 acres, 300 of
sandy loam and 140 of black soil. He has raised fifty-three bushels of barley
to the acre, and twenty-five of wheat. The north 100 acres are covered by white
oak timber. He has 300 acres under cultivation, while the balance is devoted to
pasturage for his stock, of which he has forty head of cattle, some fine brood
mares of Bertrand and Copper Bottom stock, hogs, &c. (See accompanying view
of his farm.)
CUTLER
SALMON is a native of New York state, where he was
born August 5, 1809. In 1814 his parents removed to Coshocton County, Ohio,
where he remained until the spring of 1828. In that year he went to Grant
County, Wis., where he settled. He made this his home until 1853, engaging in
farming and occasionally in lead mining. When he landed there he was compelled
to operate on a cash capital of twenty-five cents, and at once commenced
teaming to replenish his exchequer. While there he was married, October 19,
1829, to Miss Jane Reynolds, of Grant Co., a native of Kentucky. They have had
ten children, four boys and six girls; four of the latter have died. In 1853,
he took his family across the plains, unloading his teams under the trees that
now stand in front of his residence in Castoria
Township. He located 320 acres of land there, and has since accumulated more by
purchasing adjoining fields, until he now possesses a large farm of 1,007
acres. He cultivates 700 acres, raising wheat mainly, and the balance he uses
for pasture land. His present fine house was built in 1866, at an expense of
$6,000, a view of which will be found on another page.
PETER
G. SHARP was born at Hudson, N. Y., October 12,
1816. His father, Jacob Sharp, was a descendant of the Hollanders who early
settled in New York. His mother, Sallie, is of English descent, and is still
living, at the ripe old age of 102 years, enjoying good health, and having but
little gray hair. She has had ten children, Peter being the sixth. When Peter
Sharp was fourteen years of age he was placed with a saddler, for the purpose
of learning the trade. At the age of twenty years he went to Buffalo, N. Y.,
and a year later to Bellevue, Huron Co., Ohio. Here, in 1840, he married Miss
Mary Jane Dickenson. They had three children, two of whom are still living.
While here he was engaged in the foundry, saddlery
and general merchandise business. Not withstanding
the fact that he was worth $10,000 he caught the gold fever in 1849, and
putting $2,500 in a mutual mining association, came across the plains; but when
he arrived here the association and his money both melted away. He took to
Mariposa the first wagon load of goods that arrived there, and set up a store,
but soon left on account of the heavy rains, and commenced a general freighting
business at Stockton, soon after opening a store there. In the spring of 1851
he moved his stock to Hart's Bar, Tuolumne Co., losing by fire a few days later
about $1,000 worth of goods he had left in Stockton. While at Hart's Bar his
place was used as a depository for the miners, and he soon had a large trunk
full of gold dust. In the fall of 1851 he went East,
and returned in 1853 with his family. His wife died on the journey, and was
buried at Fort Bridger. Upon his arrival he went into the farming business, and
has continued that since. He now owns 1,000 acres of land in Castoria Township, all, with the exception of fifty acres
of timber land, being under cultivation. The excellent house in which he now
resides was erected at a cost of $10,000. A view of this place is shown
elsewhere. In October, 1862, he was married to Miss Emma A. Wood, of Bellevue,
Ohio. They have two daughters, both living.
CHARLES
E. TAYLOR was born in New York City, June 19, 1835. In 1852 he embarked for
California, coming by the way of the Isthmus. He followed the draying business
in San Francisco continuously until 1857. He then took a trip through the
mines, finally settling in Stockton, in which place he started the Pioneer Wood
Yard. He remained there until he purchased his present farm, in 1868, in Castoria Township. This purchase was made in company with Mr.Munecke, whose interest Mr. Taylor afterwards secured.
He owns fifty acres of land, in connection with what is known as Taylor's
Ferry, a place of wide-spread reputation in this part of the State, a ferry
over the Stanislaus river. He cultivates all of his
land, and has a very fine vineyard. Nov. 20, 1873, he was married to Miss
Rosetta J. Daniels, of Stanislaus Co. They have had two children, the elder of
whom died Feb. 22, 1876. A view of Mr. Taylor's place is shown on another page.
JOHN
W. THOMPSON was born in West Haven, Conn., on the 16th of May, 1838. While
he was young he followed the sea for a livelihood. He came to California in
1855, and followed the life of a fisherman almost continuously for seventeen
years. He made one trip to Fraser river, which
consumed six months, and spent eighteen months in Montana. When he abandoned
fishing, he embarked in the grocery business in Sacramento, where he remained
three years. He disposed of his business there, and established a hotel at
Merced, but soon sold out, and went into the same business in Fresno. After a
stay of eighteen months there he disposed of his interest in the hotel, and
took the Railroad house at Lathrop, which he conducted for two and a half
years. He then bought the place upon which he now resides, in Castoria Township. His farm contains 400 acres of well
improved land, stocked with cattle, horses and machinery, and well adapted for
profitable farming. A view of this place is given elsewhere.
Transcribed by Sharon Marie Robinson.
Source: “History of San Joaquin County 1879” by Thompson &
West. Pages 102-105.
© 2010 Sharon
Marie Robinson.
GOLDEN NUGGET LIBRARY'S SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY DATABASES