San
Joaquin County
Biographies
CHARLES JORY
Among the large manufacturing
enterprises which have constituted important factors in the attainment of
Stockton’s present prestige along industrial lines is that conducted by the
firm of Charles Jory & Sons, manufacturers of agricultural implements and
tools. Since its inception the
undertaking has enjoyed a remarkably rapid growth, due in large measure to the
business ability and untiring efforts of its founder, Charles Jory, who is
numbered among Stockton’s foremost citizens.
He was born near Salem, Oregon, September 15, 1848, son of Hugh Stephens
Jory, pioneer of 1847 in Oregon, who crossed the plains with ox teams. He was born in New Brunswick, and with his
parents left Illinois for the trip to Oregon.
He went to Illinois and married in 1857 Mary Budd, born in that
state. Both died in Salem, Oregon, the
former in 1912 and latter in 1915, leaving two sons, Charles and Oliver, the
latter in Salem. Charles acquired his
education in the public schools of that vicinity, afterward serving an
apprenticeship to the blacksmith’s trade.
In 1877 he made a trip to California, working for a year in Marysville,
at the end of which time he returned to Salem, where he followed his trade
until 1885. On February 22 of that year
he located at Stockton, securing employment with Tom Powell and S. L. Gaines,
who were building a few harvesters on South Aurora Street. Later he became connected with the Holt
Manufacturing Company, working in their blacksmith shop, of which he was afterward
made foreman, and he continued to fill that position until 1903, when he
embarked in business independently. He
opened a small shop at the corner of Aurora and Lafayette streets which he
equipped with the necessary machinery, and began the manufacture of
agricultural implements and tools. The
venture proved a success from the start and he secured the contract to build
the Fresno Scrapers for the Holt Manufacturing Company, making many thousands
of these, while he also manufactured machinists’ and blacksmiths’ tools. The superiority of his workmanship secured
for him a large trade and in 1918 he was obliged to seek larger quarters,
purchasing an entire block at Aurora and Taylor streets, on which he erected a
modern factory building 100 x 100 feet in dimensions, installing there in the most
improved equipment. He purchased from
the Holt Company all the stock on hand used in making the Fresno Scraper, which
he now manufactures independently, and he also makes plow moulds, in addition
to which he has the contract for the construction of the Throop Land Leveller for the H. C. Shaw Company of Stockton. An indication of the growth of his business
is shown in the fact that when he established the enterprise he employed three
helpers, while he now has from fifteen to twenty assistants. He was a close friend of Benjamin F. Holt,
with whom he worked in the experimental shops of the company, and is an expert
mechanic, while he also possesses marked creative ability and has invented some
minor appliances which are still used in the Holt shops. When he founded his present business in 1903,
Mr. Jory’s two sons, Charles T. and William S.,
became partners in the concern, which is conducted under the style of Charles
Jory & Sons. They are natives of
Oregon and are also skilled mechanics, both having been employed in the Holt
shops, where they gained valuable experience, and they have aided materially in
promoting the success of the undertaking.
Charles T. married Miss Ora Goodrich and William S. married Frances McKenzie
and both reside in Stockton.
At Salem, Oregon, in 1881 Mr. Jory
married Miss Sarah E. Patterson, who was a native of Iowa, and her demise
occurred on May 11, 1913. Mr. Jory is a
man of resolute purpose and marked strength of character and his life record is
one in which notable business ability and the recognition and utilization of
opportunity are well balanced forces.
His enterprise and initiative spirit have found expression in the
development of a large industrial enterprise and he has been active in pushing
forward the wheels of progress in Stockton.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
763-764. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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