BIOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPITIVE

MATTER PERTAINING

TO OUR ILLUSTRATIONS FROM

DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP.

1879

 

 

 

 

 

 

HENRY BLOHME is a native of Hanover, Germany, in which country he was born in the year 1839.  He came to America in 1858, landing at New York, in which city he resided for two years.   He came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, and landed in San Francisco January 4, 1860.  His first occupation was that of a farm hand, receiving $25 and $30 per month.  He also took contracts for the reclamation of Tule lands from Ross Sargent and other parties.   He purchased his ranch in 1869 and has since devoted himself exclusively to farming.  The farm lies in Douglass Township, and contains 320 acres of excellent grain raising land; is all under cultivation, and is devoted chiefly to the cultivation of wheat.   Mr. Blohme made a visit to his native land in 1871, remaining three months.  His father and brother are still living in the old country.  A view of his place is given in this work.

EDWIN B. COGSWELL was born in Boston, Massachusetts, September 25, 1823.  He came to California across the Isthmus of Panama in August 1849.  After spending about one year in the mines on the Mokelumne River, he came to San Joaquin County, in which he has continued to reside, with the exception of one year spent in Trinity County, and three months on a visit to his native city.  He located his farm near Linden, in Douglass Township, 1850, and bought it of the state in 1853.  The farm contains 232 acres of as excellent grain land as can be found in the valley; a large portion of his land has been sowed to wheat for twelve successive years, without any diminution in the yield.  He was married in 1868 to Mrs. Sarah Van Pelt.  He has taken quite a prominent part in the Grange movement, and was elected master of the Linden Grange; he was also a delegate to the State Grange Convention, at San Francisco, in 1875.  A view of his place is given on another page.

SHUBAL DUNHAM was born in Massachusetts in September, 1825.  He came to California across the plains in 1849, and sold goods at the Dry creek mines for about a year and a half.  In 1853 he established a store on Mormon creek, Tuolumne County, which he kept for two years.  He settled in San Joaquin County in 1855, and purchased his ranch in Douglass Township the same year.  He has 1410 acres of land all under cultivation.   Grain raising is his specialty, paying particular attention to the production of wheat.  The farm was a part of the State School Land Grant, and cost him $2.50 per acre.   He built his house in 1859, at a cost of $10,000 (a view of this place will be found on another page).  Mr. Dunham is a stockholder and President of the Farmington Water Company.  He shipped the first cargo of flour to New York across Panama, and also the first to Liverpool.  He visited his native place in 1851, 1856 and 1870.   His ranch lies fifteen miles distant from Stockton, and three miles from Farmington.

JOHN DURHAM was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky, May 12, 1834, and lived there until about twelve years of age, when the family removed to Washington County, Indiana.  He came across the plains to this state in 1856, and came to San Joaquin County in that same year.   He spent about a year in the mines of Calaveras County.  His principal business since coming to California has been that of farming.  He purchased the farm on which he now resides in 1873.  It is situated in Douglass Township, and contains 320 acres of rich grain land.  He raises grain chiefly, giving most of his attention to wheat.  He has well stocked his place with cattle, and furnished it with all the machinery and buildings required on a well conducted farm.  He was married on the 19th of May, 1876, at Stockton, to Miss Josephine Holden.  They have one child.   A view of his place will be found in this work.

WILLIAM V. FISHER is a native of St. Charles County, Missouri, where he was born August 27, 1831.   He removed to Pike County, Illinois, in 1846.  He came across the plains in three months, in 1850.  From 1851 to 1861 he sold milk in Stockton.  He purchased the farm where he now resides in 1861.  The place contains 264 acres, and is situated in Bellota, Douglass Township.   Since purchasing this place his chief occupation has been that of farming and keeping hotel.  He has 264 acres, about 100 of which are rich bottom land.  In addition to the general farm business and the raising of grain, he has paid considerable attention to the breeding of fine sheep, cattle, horses, etc.   Mr. Fisher, at his place in Bellota, keeps a hotel, that is well-known throughout the valley.   He was married December 12, 1858, to Miss Maggie McDonald, at her father’s residence, nine miles from Stockton, on the Calaveras River.  They have six children, the two youngest being twins.  A view of his place is in this work.

THOMAS FLOOD was born in the County of Meath, Ireland.  He came to the United States in 1855, and to California, via the Isthmus of Panama, in 1857.  He spent the first six years of his life in this State at the mines in Tuolumne County.  He permanently settled in this County in 1864, purchasing 160 acres of land in Douglass Township, near the village of Linden, and about twelve miles from Stockton.  All of this land is being cultivated and yields a good crop of wheat, to which it is chiefly sowed.  In addition to the cultivation of grain, he has given considerable attention to the raising of fine cattle and sheep.  He has now forty fine graded sheep.  He married Miss Ann M. Welch January 8, 1873, and has two children.   His residence was erected in 1876 and cost him about $2,000.  A view of his place is given elsewhere. 

JOHN PETER FUNCK was born near Frankfort, Germany, in the year 1805.  He emigrated to America in 1831, landing at Baltimore, Maryland.   He was a blacksmith, and worked at that trade in several States of the Union.  He resided fifteen years in Burlington; and finally came across the plains to California in 1850.  After two years sojourn here he returned for his family.  He married Miss Elizabeth Boerger, a native of Prussia, in Burlington, in 1839.  They had three children, two of whom are now living.  Mrs. Funck died at their home in Douglass Township January 14, 1878.  Upon his return from Iowa he settled on the place which he now resides, and kept a hotel on the Sonora road.  This place was known as the Fifteen Mile House.   He is farming 480 acres of well-improved land, stocked and furnished with everything essential to successful farming.  In 1876 he erected a new house at a cost of $2,000.  A view of his place will be seen elsewhere.

CHARLES GRUPE and wife are both natives of Germany.  They have had eight children, four boys and four girls, who are all living.  He came to America in 1843, and removed to California in the early days of ’49.  In 1852 Mr. Grupe purchased the claims of a number of squatters to a portion of the land he now occupies, and subsequently added by purchase until at present his farm consists of 920 acres.  This land has been all improved and brought under a high state of cultivation.  The farm is well supplied with proper machinery, necessary barns and buildings, cattle, etc., for successful farming.  The fine house (which is shown with the farm in the accompanying view) was built in 1871, at a cost of $4,000.  The farm lies in Douglass Township.  Mr. Grupe gives his attention to the raising of grain, chiefly wheat.

NATHANIEL S. HARROLD was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1833.  When he was five years of age his father moved to Lee County, Iowa.  Mr. Harrold made the journey across the plains, reaching Wood’s creek, California, November 14, 1849, where he commenced mining, but did not follow that business long.  He has in his possession at the present time all the gold he found during his short experience as a miner.  He went into the teaming business, which he continued for several years.  He sold this and went to southern California and embarked in the cattle trade, having on hand at some times as many as twelve of fourteen thousand head of cattle.   After five years spent in this enterprise, he adopted the business of general farming and stock raising.  He now owns some 15,000 acres in various Counties of the State.  In 1856 he married Miss Elizabeth Smith of San Joaquin County.  They have had eight children, six of whom are now living.  Mr. Harrold resides on his homestead near Farmington (see view on another page).  This place was known as the Oregon Ranch, and was located by Thayer & Wells, of whom it was purchased by Mr. Harrold in 1851.  At that time the ranch contained 320 acres, but he has added to it, by purchase from other parties, until it now has 5,400 acres.  In 1868 he erected a fine brick house at a cost of $10,000 and placed $3,000 worth of furniture in it.

A. HUNTER was born in the County of Antrim, Ireland, in March, 1819.  He came to the United States in 1844 and settled in the State of Virginia, where he continued to reside until 1851, at which time he came to California by the Isthmus of Panama.  He first settled in Calaveras County, on the Stanislaus River.  He came to San Joaquin County in 1863 and lived on the upper Sacramento road.   He purchased the place he now occupies in 1869, and has ever since made it his residence.  His homestead is situated about nine miles from Stockton, on the Copperopolis road, and three miles from Linden, and contains 120 acres.  In addition to this place he has 322 acres near Linden on the Mokelumne Hill road.   Both of these places are all under cultivation, and well stocked with machinery and supplied with all the requirements of a prosperous farm.  His attention is given chiefly to wheat raising.  A view of his place will be found on another page.

CHARLES MEYER was born in Hanover, Germany, November 12, 1832.  He came to California across the Isthmus, and settled in San Joaquin County in 1852.  He purchased the place where he is now residing in 1852, but worked around among the farmers until 1855.  His farm is situated in Douglass Township and contains 360 acres of land, the soil of which is considered of the best character for wheat raising in the County.  To the raising of wheat and grain generally he has given his principal attention.  Nearly all of his farm is utilized by cultivation.  The place is well stocked with cattle, and supplied with machinery and farm buildings, and everything is at hand needed on a well conducted farm.  He was married at Stockton to Miss Lotta Heffner, and has four children.  He built his residence in 1868, at a cost of $4,500.  A view of his farm and residence will be found elsewhere.

THOMAS MINAHEN was born in Ireland April 15, 1842.  His parents emigrated to America in 1848, and settled in New Hampshire.   Mr. Minahen came to California in 1862, and has resided chiefly in San Joaquin County.  He purchased the place on which he now resides in 1869, and has since purchased another.  He owns 400 acres of good fertile land, all under cultivation.  He has supplied his place with machinery and tools required on a first class farm, erected buildings necessary to an enterprising farmer, stocked his place with good cattle, etc., and is doing a profitable farming business.  In October 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Ida E. Cozens, of this County.   They have two little children.  The excellent house that serves them as a home was erected in 1875, costing about $2,500.  A view of Mr. Minahen’s residence is given on another page.

ALFRED PARKER was born at Nantucket, Massachusetts February 16, 1846.  Here he lived until six years of age, when he came to California with his parents, weathering Cape Horn, and arriving in San Francisco March 11, 1852.  He is a son of R. B. Parker, who came to California in 1850, and who now resides in Stockton.  The first eight years of his business life he spent as clerk in his father’s store at Stockton.  In 1872 he went to Bellota, Douglass Township, seventeen miles from Stockton, where he has since engaged in the business of general merchandising.  In 1875 he purchased a choice lot of Berkshire swine, and has paid considerable attention to the breeding of that class of animals ever since.  He has taken several premiums at the State Fair at Sacramento, and at the San Joaquin County Fair at Sacramento.  He has been the post-master at Bellota since 1874.  He married Miss Ella Terry, daughter of J.H. Terry, of San Joaquin County.   They have three children.  A view of his place will be found elsewhere. 

JOHN PATTERSON was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1825.  He came to California across the plains, arriving at Placerville on the 8th of August, 1850.  After spending three months in the mines, he came to San Joaquin County, where he has since been engaged in farming.  He acquired the place on which he now resides in 1857, and has since then made it his residence.  His farm is situated in Douglass Township, about one-fourth mile from Linden, and contains 226 acres of land, all of which is under cultivation.  He considers the soil in the vicinity of Linden the best adapted to the growth of wheat and barley of any in San Joaquin County.  In addition to raising grain, which has been his chief interest, he has given some attention to fine stock, principally horses.  In 1857 he was married to Miss Eleanor Prather, who was born in Knox County, Ohio, November 28, 1829, and came to California in 1853.  A view of his place is given elsewhere.

WARREN O. ROBISON was born in Genesee County, New York, November 14, 1823.  He came to California in 1853, and settled in Calaveras County, which place he made his residence until May, 1858, at which time he removed to San Joaquin County and purchased his present ranch in Douglass Township.  He has now 680 acres of land (having sold 320 acres in 1878), all under cultivation, being used for the production of grain, principally wheat.  The place is well supplied with all the necessaries and conveniences required in this class of farming.  His house was erected in 1871 at a cost of $5,000.  In November 1878 Mr. Robison moved into Stockton, and took up his residence on the corner of California Street and Mormon Avenue.  A view of his ranch is given in this work.

WASHINGTON TUCKER was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 9, 1848.  When but four years of age he came with his parents to California, and settled in San Francisco.  After arriving at maturity, he lived near Stockton for about two years and then came to his present home in Douglass Township.  He owns 480 acres of land, about one-half of which is being cultivated; it is about three and one-half miles from Linden, and thirteen miles from Stockton.  His farm is well improved with fine farm buildings, and supplied with all requisite machinery for conducting a general farming business.  He is chiefly interested in the raising of grain, principally wheat.  In connection with his own farm, he is tilling 2,300 acres of land, owned by J.W. Johnson.  The land lying north of the Calaveras River is not considered nearly so good as that south of the stream.  He was married at Stockton, August 23, 1872, to Miss Luella Hall.  This lady died November 9, 1874.  Mr. Tucker was united in marriage December 10, 1876, to Ida Cowell.  He has two children.  A view of his farm is given elsewhere.

 

 

 

Transcribed by Susan Vomocil.

Source: “History of San Joaquin County 1879” by Thompson & West.  Pages 111-113.

© 2012  Susan Vomocil.

 

 

 

     

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