San Joaquin County
Biographies
GEORGE SAMUEL LADD
GEORGE SAMUEL LADD, a
merchant of Stockton and farmer of San Joaquin County, was born in Danville,
Vermont, May 28, 1833, a son of Seneca and Pamelia Ladd (see sketch of J. S.
Ladd). The subject of this sketch was sent to the seminary of the New Hampshire
Conference at Sanborton Bridge to be fitted for college, but becoming infected with
the gold-fever at the age of eighteen he left school and set out for California, coming by way of Cape
Horn. Arriving in San Francisco in due time he proceeded at once to the mines. After
the arrival of his father in 1850 he joined him in mining, in Tuolumne County, at which they were fairly successful, and returned
with him, arriving in Danville, Vermont, in July, 1852. A few months later, accompanied by
his youngest brother, Ira W., he again set out for California, by the Panama route, arriving in Stockton, January 14, 1853. He followed mining for a time and
in 1854 went into the freighting and commission business with his brother, John
S. After closing the freighting and commission business George S. became a
partner of George West and S. Newell, in the sale of manufactured products of
West’s vineyard, continuing in that relation to the present time. He also
bought and sold farms in different localities, and in 1890 owns several in this
and other counties of the State and Oregon. He was connected with the schools of the city of Stockton as director or Superintendent from 1867 to 1888, and
was a member of the city council three years.
Mr. Ladd was married in Stockton, May 28, 1856, to Miss Abigail Bourland, born in Arkansas, January 30, 1840, a daughter of Alne and Rebecca (Cook) Bourland,
both natives of Alabama, where also they were married. They moved to Arkansas, settling at Fort
Smith where they resided
several years. In 1854 they set out for California and the mother died of heart disease on the journey in Surprise Valley, Nevada, the survivors arriving in Stockton, September 22, 1854. Grandmother Abigail Bourland reached the age of
ninety-six and other members of the family also lived to an advanced age. Mrs.
Ladd is a member of the First Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Ladd also has
been a constant attendant for many years, being a member of the choir for
twenty years.
Mr. and Mrs. Ladd are the parents of four
living children (sons): (1) George Edwin, born May 11, 1857, married in
Stockton November 26, 1884, to Miss Mary Evaline Van Vlear, born in the city of
Stockton, in 1860, has two children, Jannette, born August 21, 1886, and Edwin
Hubbard, born December 6, 1887. (2) Walter Eugene, born May 27, 1859, married
February 5, 1885, to Miss Lucy Estella Ayres, born in San Joaquin County,
December 9, 1862, has two children, George Allen, the survivor of twin
brothers, born March 25, 1887, and Walter E., Jr., born April 2, 1889; (3)
Joseph Marshall, born December 31, 1864; (4) Ira Bourland, born May 28, 1868.
Mr. George S. Ladd is a member of Stockton
Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., and has been a member of the order since 1856. Was
State Commissioner of Yosemite valley under Governor Perkins’ administration.
George Allen has been a member of Charity Lodge, I. O. O. F., for eight years,
and Walter E., a member of Truth Lodge, I. O. O. F., for five years.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 362. Lewis Pub. Co.
Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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