San Joaquin County
Biographies
JAMES WALLACE KERRICK
JAMES WALLACE KERRICK, the
present incumbent of the office of Treasurer of San Joaquin County, was born in
Kentucky, October 22, 1832, his birthplace being in Jefferson County, twelve
miles from Louisville. The family was an old one in Kentucky, his grandfather,
Harrison Kerrick, a Revolutionary veteran, having settled in the Blue Grass
State when the home had to be protected from the Indians by the settler’s rifles,
when Kentucky acquired its title of the “Dark and Bloody Ground.” The father of
our subject was also born in Jefferson County, and there married his wife,
whose maiden name was Rachel McKernan. She was born in Virginia, but her
parents moved to Kentucky when she was a mere child. James Kerrick, father of
our subject, was a lawyer by profession.
J. W. Kerrick, with whose name this sketch
commences, was reared in his native county to the age of seventeen years and
received his education there, in Gallatin County, Illinois, in Missouri, and in
Arkansas. He traveled considerably throughout the western country, and in the
early 50’s removed to California. He was one of a party organized at
Independence, Missouri, for the purpose of making the long journey across the
plains, consisting of 148 men, thirteen women and eleven children, with an
outfit of twenty-six wagons. Mr. Kerrick was elected captain of the company.
They proceeded from Independence to Fort Kearny on the Platte river, thence to
Fort Laramie, thence via Sublette’s cut-off, Steamboat Springs and up the
Humboldt river, where they left the main route and proceeded into California
via Sonora, being the first company to choose that route. They ran out of
provisions, and were forced to subsist on their cattle alone for some time.
When they got to “Relief Camp,” they received a contribution of supplies, which
had been made up and sent out to them by the citizens of Sonora and vicinity.
They obtained what they required by paying a dollar a pound for it, but the
supplies would have been welcome at any price. On arriving at Sonora the train
disbanded, and Mr. Kerrick, settling in Tuolumne County, remained four years.
He was for a time engaged in hauling lumber from the mountains to the miners on
the Tuolumne river, but never received any remuneration for his labors. He
located a piece of land fourteen miles this side of Sonora and was for two or
three years engaged principally in hay-raising. In 1857 he came to San Joaquin
County, of which he has been a resident ever since. Collegeville on the
Mariposa road occupies a portion of his ranch. January 17, 1868, he was married
to Miss Kate Urell, a native of Iowa. They have seven children living, viz:
John W., who is teaching in Stanislaus County; J. H., who is proprietor of the
Stockton Pharmacy; Alice, Delia, Charles, Walter and Evelyn. Two have died,
namely: Mollie and Kittie.
Mr. Kerrick has always taken an active
part in public affairs, and has held a high place in the councils of the
Democratic party. In 1882 to (sic) took a trip to the Eastern States, and while
in Kentucky received information of his nomination for Assemblyman from this
district. He was chosen for that position by the people of the county at the
ensuing election, and served with credit during the regular and extra sessions
of 1883. He was chairman of the committee on overflowed lands, and a member of
those on county government, and agriculture. At the general election of 1888 he
was chosen to fill the important position of treasurer of San Joaquin County,
and it is conceded by all that the office has never had a more efficient or a
more popular incumbent.
Mr. Kerrick is a gentleman of the old
school, and the combination of courtesy, dignity and geniality, which
distinguish him, have won the esteem and respect of all with whom he has come
in contact.
Mr. Kerrick’s fine ranch in this county
contains 400 acres. He also has considerable land interests in Butte and Yolo
counties.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 250-251. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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