San
Joaquin County
Biographies
GEORGE SAMUEL LADD
For a period covering only a little
less than fifty years George Samuel Ladd was actively identified with the
interests of Stockton, where he arrived January 14, 1853, and was from that
time associated with educational, real estate and commercial enterprises until
his death, April 25, 1902. Not only does
this era cover almost the entire period of the American occupancy of
California, but in addition it represents the epoch of progress and development
of the Pacific coast resources, which prior to the discovery of gold had been
unknown to the world. Shortly after the
discovery of gold, he started for this region, full of courage and ambitious to
make his own way in the world, unmindful of hardships and perils by the
way. He never regretted his decision to
leave New England for the more fruitful regions of the west, but rather
rejoiced in the privilege of aiding in the upbuilding of this great state.
Descended from an old New England
family, George Samuel Ladd was born in Danville, Vermont, May 28, 1832, being a
son of Seneca and Pamelia (Estabrook)
Ladd, and a brother of John S. and Ira W. Ladd, also pioneers of
California. His earliest education was
obtained in the seminary at Sanbornton Bridge and there he was fitting for
college when he heard of the discovery of gold in California. At once all of his plans for the future were
changed and he began to prepare for the long journey to the new gold
fields. With his father he took passage
in 1851 on a vessel which made the trip by way of Cape Horn to San Francisco,
where they landed after an uneventful voyage.
They at once set out for the mines in Tuolumne County, where they met
with fair success, but finally returned to Danville, Vermont, arriving in July
of 1852.
A few months later George S. Ladd,
accompanied by his youngest brother, Ira W., came to California by the Panama
route, and reached Stockton on January 14, 1853. In addition to mining interests he became
interested in the freighting and commission business with his brother, John S.;
later he became a partner of George West and Sidney Newell in the manufacture
and sale of products from the West Vineyard.
From time to time he had bought and sold farms in various counties of
California, as well as in Oregon, and his ventures had proved of financial
benefit to him and had enabled him to accumulate a considerable property. At the time of his death he left in addition
to his business property in Stockton, land in Fresno and San Joaquin counties,
and property in Oregon, all of which has greatly increased in value. Fraternally he was a member of the Odd
Fellows, which he joined in 1856, and belonged to Stockton Lodge No. 11 and was
also a member of the Pioneer Society of San Joaquin County. He was a staunch Republican. For three years he was a member of the city
council of Stockton and also officiated as the state commissioner of the
Yosemite Valley. For more than twenty years he was a member of the choir of the
First Presbyterian Church of Stockton.
A record of the career of George
Samuel Ladd would be incomplete were no mention made of his association with
the educational development of his county and state. From early manhood he held a life certificate
as a teacher and during his residence in Tuolumne County served as school
trustee. In 1867 he was appointed superintendent
of the schools of Stockton, and this position he held by appointment until the
first election under the new charter, when he was duly elected to the office,
holding same until 1880. Under his
administration the local schools were brought to a high standard of excellence
and the building of modern structures begun.
Perhaps no work he accomplished in the position was more important than
that of recommending a revision of the school law and manual outlining the
duties of pupils, teachers and superintendents, which recommendation was
adopted.
The marriage of Mr. Ladd took place
in Stockton May 28, 1856, and united him with Miss Abigail Bourland, a native
of Arkansas, born January 30, 1840. Her
parents, Alne and Rebecca (Cook) Bourland, were born,
reared and married in Alabama, but shortly after their marriage removed to
Arkansas and settled at Fort Smith, where they remained for a number of
years. During 1854 they started for
California across the plains and proceeded as far as Surprise Valley without
misfortune, but while camping there the mother died of heart disease. The survivors arrived in Stockton September
22, 1854. A brother, Lafayette Bourland,
now of Woodland, Yolo County, aged ninety years, had come in 1853, and met the
family and conducted them to Stockton.
The maternal grandmother, Mrs. Abigail Bourland, lived to be ninety-six
years old. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd were the
parents of four sons. The eldest, George
Edwin, was born May 11, 1857, and married in Stockton November 26, 1884, Miss
Mary Evaline Van Vlear, who
was born in Stockton in 1860. They were
the parents of two children, Jeanette and Edwin Hubbard. George Edwin is now deceased. The second son, Walter Eugene Ladd, born May
27, 1859, and his marriage, which occurred February 5, 1885, united him with
Miss Lucy Estella Ayers, who was born in San Joaquin County, December 9,
1862. They were the parents of six
children, four of whom grew to mature years:
George Allen, Walter E., Elmer A. and Juliette. Walter Eugene is now deceased. The two youngest sons of the Ladd family are
Joseph Marshall and Dr. Ira Bourland.
Joseph M. was born December 31, 1864; he is a resident of Stockton,
where, August 17, 1905, he married Louise Poppelwell,
a native of England, but a resident of Stockton since she was five years of
age. Ira B. Ladd was born May 28, 1868;
after his graduation from Cooper Medical College he practiced his profession in
Stockton and held the position of county health officer. He married, first, Mrs. Mollie E. (Grattan)
Cross. His second marriage united him
with Miss Mabel Elliott and they had two sons, Ira M. and Bourland E. Ira B. Ladd is now deceased.
In the passing of George S. Ladd the
city lost a citizen who had been ever alert to promote her educational, civic
and commercial interests, and whose name will long be remembered as that of an
honored pioneer. Mrs. Ladd resides in
Stockton and is an active worker in the King Daughters, Red Cross and other
kindred societies; she is a member of the Philomathean club of Stockton. Like her respected and esteemed husband, she
too is generous and kind and leaves no opportunity unheeded to assist those
less fortunate than herself or to help promote the best interests for Stockton
and her citizens. Mrs. Ladd owns the
property in California accumulated by Mr. Ladd.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
503. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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