BIOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPITIVE

MATTER PERTAINING

TO OUR ILLUSTRATIONS FROM

ELLIOTT TOWNSHIP.

1879

 

 

 

 

 

 

THOMAS CLEMENTS was born in Ireland, and came to California in 1857.  His wife was also a native of Ireland, and came to America while still quite young.   They have had five children, three of whom are still living.  The ranch which Mr. Clements owns is situated in Elliott Township, and was first improved by Judge Terry.  It was purchased by Mr. Clements in 1871.  The ranch is a large one, containing fifteen hundred acres, and is well improved.  It is situated on the Mokelumne river, and along the bottom lands is raised some fine alfalfa grass.  The farm is well stocked and has a fruit orchard.  Mr. Clements makes a specialty of raising and preparing for market each year a large quantity of hops.  In addition to this, he raises wheat and other grains.  A view of his place, including hop-fields, will be seen on another page.

JEREMIAH COTTON, of Lockeford, was born in Columbia County, New York, on the 2d of October, 1825.  He embarked for the Pacific slope in 1863, coming by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, and landing in San Francisco about the 15th of May, 1863.  He came from there direct to San Joaquin County, and engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed until 1867, when he retired from active labor, and has since been enjoying his leisure in the village of Lockeford.  He owns three lots in that place.  He was married November 18, 1877.  A view of Mr. Cotton’s beautiful residence is given on another page. 

HORACE F. HARTWELL was born October 31, 1823, in Rutland County, Vermont.  In 1836, he moved to Indiana, and three years later to McHenry County, Illinois, which place he made his home until April 1, 1860, at which time he started across the plains for California.  He arrived in San Joaquin County in August of the same year, and settled in Elliott Township, where he has since continued to reside.  His home farm contains 160 acres and lies about three miles south of Staples’ Ferry.  He also owns 280 acres on the Mokelumne river.  The land is of an excellent quality, yielding an average of about eighteen bushels of wheat per acre.  On the river farm stands a house that was constructed in sections at Boston, shipped around the Horn, and set up in this place early in 1850.  It is two stories high, thirty by forty-eight feet in size, and at that time was the best in the vicinity.  It was used as a hotel for some time.  On his farm also stands an immense oak tree, eight feet in diameter, under which Gen. Fremont camped, March 25, 1844.  Mr. Hartwell has constructed considerable levee for the protection of his land from floods.  He built his house in 1870, at a cost of $1,000.  He was married in McHenry County, Illinois, in 1842, to Miss Mary J. Smith, a native of New York state.  They have three children.  A view of his farm is given elsewhere.

THOMAS P. HEATH, of the firm of Heath & Boody, was born in Hampstead, New Hampshire, April 13, 1816.  The land on which he now resides, in Elliott Township, was purchased by him from the State in 1854 at one dollar per acre, which price he at that time considered pretty high; he now values it at fifty dollars per acre.  Since locating this land he has followed the business of farming, and his experience with the tule land demonstrates the value of that soil.  His farm lies twelve miles from Stockton, on the Calaveras river, and contains 160 acres of excellent grain land, that last year averaged him twenty bushels of wheat to the acre.  The soil is of the best in the County for wheat and grain raising, to which it is devoted.  He also owns, in partnership with his brother-in-law J.B. Boody, 1,200 acres of land.  He was married, in September, 1858, to Miss Kate Maloy, of San Joaquin Co.  A view of his place is given elsewhere.

J. WRIGHT JOHNSON was born in Patrick County, Virginia, March 20, 1827.  In 1852 he went to Aspinwall, New Grenada, where he was clerk for the Panama R.R. Co. for about one year.  He then came to California, arriving in San Francisco March 5, 1853.  He lived two years in Alameda, Alameda Co., and then went to the mines in Calaveras Co.  He pre-empted eighty acres of land, where his house now stands, October 9, 1858, but has since accumulated by purchase, until he now owns in Douglass Township a large tract of land, six miles in extent, north and south, and between two and three miles wide, containing 8,000 acres.  He purchased 4,000 acres of this land in 1872, from Charles McLaughlin, who obtained it on a R.R. grant.  It was then worth five dollars per acre; now valued at twenty dollars.  He is very largely interested in stock-raising, principally sheep, of which he now has a band of 6,000 on his ranch.  He has some of the finest imported bucks on the coast.   Besides his residence there are on the ranch ten tenant houses, barns, etc.  He owns the right to use in San Joaquin Co. the “Gilz” machinery for boring wells.  Among the contemplated improvements are an elegant mansion, to be erected at Round Timber Grove, about two miles north of his present residence; also a dam and large reservoir for furnishing water to his large bands of stock, and other extensive improvements.  He was married in San Francisco in May 1878, to Miss Phoebe F. Moase, a native of New York City, who came to California in 1875.  He attended the Centennial Exposition in July, 1876.  A view of his ranch is given in this work.

BENJAMIN F. LANGFORD was born December 27, 1827, in Smith County, Tennessee.  He came to California by way of Panama, landing in San Francisco, January 6, 1850, from the steamer Columbus.  He came through to Stockton, and went to the mines at Douglass Flat, in Calaveras County.  He went into the business of selling goods at Garrote, Tuolumne County, in October, 1850.  He purchased the land in Elliott Township, on which he has since resided, in the winter of 1850-1.  He lived in Virginia City, Nevada, three years, and built the first house on B. Street in that City, in 1860.  In that year he was one of the owners of what have since become the Bonanza mines.  In 1863 he went to Mexico, and put up a mill on the Panaco river.  He was married to Miss Katherine Cain, at Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, California, in February, 1871.  They have two sons.  He owns 3,000 acres of land in San Joaquin County, and 8,000 acres in Fresno and Tulare Counties.  He has given considerable attention to stock-raising, especially fine sheep.  He owned the ram “Napoleon”, which was raised in New York, and exhibited at Paris and at the Sacramento Fair in 1860, at which place he purchased him for $1,500.  He also purchased from Wm. Landrom, of Monterey County, one-half interest in three Cashmere bucks for $2,400.  He has also been interested in the breeding of blooded horses.  A view of his ranch is given elsewhere.

DR. DEAN J. LOCKE, of Lockeford, son of Luther Locke, was born in New Hampshire, April 16, 1823.  He attended the Medical College of Harvard University.  He came to California in 1849, as the Surgeon of the Boston and Newton Joint Stock Association, making the trip across the plains in five months.  He practiced medicine a few months in Sacramento, and came to San Joaquin in the winter of 1850-1.  His business has been that of a Physician, General Merchant and Farmer.  The land on which the Town of Lockeford now stands was government land, thought it was claimed under a Spanish grant by D.J. Staples, whose claim was purchased by D.J. & E.H. Locke.  Mr. Locke owns 1,000 acres of land here and 480 acres in Calaveras County.  In addition to this he has a stock ranch in the State of Nevada.  He was married May 30, 1855, at Abington, Massachusetts, to Miss Delia M. Hammond.  They have twelve children now living.   A view of Mr. Locker’s (sic) fine place is given on another page.

GEORGE S. LOCKE, of Lockeford, was born at Langdon, New Hampshire, October 30, 1830.  He came to this state via Panama, and settled in San Joaquin County in 1852.  His principal occupation has been farming.  He worked for his brothers D.J. and E.H. Locke, the first two years after coming here.  The latter brother died January 28, 1858.  He owns 330 acres of land on the Mokelumne river, which is used chiefly for raising wheat.  The farm was first preempted by his brother, E.H. Locke.  Geo. S. Locke was part owners of the Steamer “Pert” that plied on the Mokelumne river at high water, between San Francisco and Lockeford, landing on his farm.  He spent the winter of 1856-7 in New Hampshire.  He was married on the 15th of May, 1859, in San Joaquin County, to Miss Susan L. Hammond of North Abington, Massachusetts.  They have now six children living.  Mr. Locke is a son of Luther Locke, who came to California in 1855.  A view of Mr. Locke’s place will be found elsewhere.

PETER MARTELL was born in Montreal, Canada, September 21, 1839, and came to California by the Panama route in the year 1855.  In 1859 he returned to Canada on a visit, remaining a year.  He was married in San Joaquin County, California, in 1864, to Miss Mary J. Bruce.  They have two children.  His occupation in California has been chiefly that of farming.  His farm contains 240 acres of rich grain land, in Elliott Township, on which he raises large quantities of wheat and other grain.  He has improved his farm with barns, granaries, sheds, etc., and supplied it with all the tools and machinery required by a practical farmer, for the successful raising of grain.  A view of this farm will be found on another page.

J. F. McDOWELL, Elliott Township, was born in Columbia, Ky., November 18, 1819.  In 1840 he moved to Hillsboro’, Montgomery County, Ill., where he worked at carpentering for a few years, then engaged in farming at Van Buren.  He came across the plains in 1852, settled in San Joaquin County, and worked as a carpenter.  In 1856 he took up one-half section of land on the Mokelumne river, and has subsequently purchased more, until now he owns 598 acres of fine upland, on which he raises wheat, barley, corn, and alfalfa hay.  He also raises horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs.  His land always yields a crop, and needs no irrigation.  He cultivates 300 acres, and uses the balance for pasture; has five acres of orchard, where he has all kinds of fruits raised here, and five acres of vineyard.  He was married in 1843 at Van Buren, Ill., to Miss Elizabeth J. Hodge, who died September 15, 1852.  They had five children, three now living.  In 1863 he was married at Lockeford, in this County, to Miss Margaret Montgomery.  They have one child.  He built his residence in 1870, at a cost of $5,000.  A view of his place will be found elsewhere.

PHILLIP L. MEGERLE was born in Richland County, Ohio, in October, 1840.  He came to California across the plains in 1853, the journey occupying six months and fifteen days.  He settled in San Joaquin County, and has since resided there.  He purchased his present residence in 1875.  He has 160 acres of fine grain-land, lying in Elliott Township, well stocked, and supplied with all the necessary tools, machinery, barns, sheds, etc., required on a first-class grain-farm.  Wheat is his staple, though not the only crop.   He was married at Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, Cal., October 8, 1867, to Miss Theodocia Boyce.   They have five children – three daughters and two sons.  A view of Mr. Megerle’s place is given elsewhere.

MRS. A. C. MERRILL was born December 14, 1830, in Strafford County, N.H.  She came to California via Panama in 1856 to join her husband, who had preceded her in 1852.  Mr. Merrill was born at Lovell, Maine, in 1825.  When eighteen years of age he removed to Lancaster, N.H., where he lived three years.   They were married at Lawrence, Mass., March 10, 1850, and have one son and one daughter.  Mr. Merrill worked about nine months in the mines at Diamond Springs and Murphy’s Camp.  He worked for Capt. Smith for some time, and took the place where Mrs. Merrill now resides in payment.  The farm contained 380 acres of excellent grain-land, and lies in Elliott Township.  Mr. Merrill died at his residence in San Joaquin County, April 13, 1876.  A view of this place is given in this work.

WM. H. MILLER was born in Lincolnville, Maine, May 27, 1818.  He arrived in California from Bangor, Maine, May 23, 1853, the trip around the Horn having occupied six months.  He spent about two years in the Camp Seco mines in Calaveras County, during a portion of which time he kept a boarding-house.  During the period included between 1857 and 1875, he owned and improved four ranches in Calaveras County.  In 1875, he came to San Joaquin County, and settled at Staples’ Ferry, on the Mokelumne river, three miles from Lockeford, and fifteen from Stockton.  His farm is in Elliott Township, and contains fifty acres, forty of which are under cultivation.  He raises grain and vegetables.  To the production of the latter, the land is especially adapted, lying along the river and being a very rich soil.  Mr. Miller’s first experience in raising vegetables in this country was in San Francisco, immediately after his arrival.  He cultivated four acres of ground on Third street between Bryant and Brannan.  He married his first wife, Sarah S. Lawton, in Maine, in 1838.  She died, leaving one daughter, who is still living.  His second wife, Mrs. Lucy S. Bailey, was born at Dexter Maine, in February 1819.  A view of Mr. Miller’s place will be found in this work.

H. H. THURSTIN was born in Erie County, N.Y., January 17, 1825.  He made the long and tedious trip across the plains in 1850.  He settled in San Joaquin County in the same year, and has since been residing there, following the business of a farmer very successfully ever since.   He was married in San Joaquin County, California, in 1856, and has four children.  He now owns, in Elliott Township, 1,115 acres of excellent land, and also 2,600 acres in Merced County, 620 acres in Fresno County, and 500 acres in Lassen County.  These large farms are devoted chiefly to grain raising.  His ranch in San Joaquin County is well stocked with cattle and furnished with all the barns, buildings, etc. required on a first-class farm, and supplied with all the machinery necessary to the successful and economical raising of grain.  A view of this place will be seen on another page.

JOHN H. TONE was born in the State of New York, which was also the native place of his wife.  They have six children, all of whom were born in California.  Mr. Tone has a fine large farm of 620 acres, which was first improved in 1850, and purchased subsequently by its present owner.  The farm is well cultivated, wheat being the chief cereal, well stocked with cattle, and furnished with machinery for farming purposes.  It is located in Elliott Township.  On the farm stands a fine brick house, which was erected by Mr. Tone in 1873.  The house, farm buildings and grounds will be seen in the accompanying view.

E. WHIPPLE was born in New Hampshire.  Mrs. Whipple was born in Rhode Island.  They had one son, born in 1844, who now resides on the farm with his father.  Some time after the death of Mrs. Whipple, who died in Boston in 1845, the father and son came to California.  A farm of 320 acres was located in 1851 by Messrs. Putnam, Howard and Whipple, 260 acres of which were shortly afterwards purchased by Mr. Whipple.  The improvements on the farm, barn, buildings and machinery are first-class.  The farm is well stocked and in good condition for profitable working.  Mr. Whipple manufactures considerable wine, which has a wide-spread reputation on the Pacific coast.   A view of his house and grounds will be found elsewhere.  They are situated in Elliott Township.

 

 

 

 

 

Transcribed by Susan Vomocil.

Source: “History of San Joaquin County 1879” by Thompson & West.  Pages 124-126.

© 2012  Susan Vomocil.

 

 

 

     

GOLDEN NUGGET LIBRARY'S SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY DATABASES

 

GOLDEN NUGGET LIBRARY INDEX