San
Joaquin County
Biographies
GEORGE W. LANGRIDGE
For forty-five years George W.
Langridge has been a resident of Stockton and he has never had occasion to
regret the impulse which led him to establish his home in this city, for he has
steadily progressed toward the goal of success and through the capable
management of his business interests he has also contributed in marked measure
to the commercial development of his community.
Since 1879 he has been engaged in the shoe business, being the pioneer
merchant in this line in the city, and his establishment ranks with the best in
this part of the state.
Mr. Langridge is a native of
Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Milwaukee on June 11, 1856. He comes of an old English family; his father,
Charles A. Langridge, was born in Brighton, Sussex, England, serving in the
English army as a bugler. Soon after his
discharge from the army he came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he met and
married Miss Eliza Martin, also a native of Brighton, who had accompanied her
parents to Milwaukee. In 1858, when our
subject was two years of age, the family removed to a farm near Lancaster,
Grant County, where they became prosperous farmers in that splendid farming section
of southern Wisconsin, continuing until they retired to Lancaster where they
passed their last days. On the breaking out of the Civil War, although a man of family
Charles A. Langridge responded to the call and enlisted under the colors of the
Stars and Stripes in Company I, 5th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry,
serving until the close of the war, holding a commission of lieutenant. He was a prominent Grand Army man and a
Mason.
This worthy couple had a family of
six girls and three boys, all living except one of the sons, George W. being the
second oldest. He was reared on a farm
near Lancaster, in Grant County, and attended the nearest district school,
which was three miles distant, while in the summer months he was busy with the
farm work. In 1874, when eighteen years
of age, he came to California and for two years rode the range in Plumas
County, but at the end of that time made his way back east. He was not content to remain there, however,
and in 1877 returned to California, locating at Stockton, where he has since
resided. For a short time he was clerk
for the Yosemite Hotel and for about two years was with the clothing store of Caden & Bagley.
In 1879 he purchased a half interest in the shoe store of George E.
Weller at 119 East Main Street and their interests were conducted as Weller
& Langridge until 1883, when John Garwood acquired the stock of the senior
partner and the name was changed to Langridge & Garwood. Two years later Mr. Langridge bought out his
partner and the business continued as George W. Langridge until 1920 when Henry
L. Jeffrey acquired an interest in the business, now known as the George W.
Langridge Shoe Company. Mr. Langridge
has remained at his present location for forty-three years, a record unequaled
by any other merchant in the city, and is not only its pioneer shoe merchant
but the pioneer merchant in Stockton. He
conducts his establishment along the most modern and progressive lines, and has
ever borne an unassailable reputation for business integrity, enterprise and
reliability. With the passing years his
business has steadily developed and his patronage has now reached large
proportions. He also owns a fifteen-acre
fruit ranch at McHenry’s Station, in Stanislaus County, which he purchased for
a home.
Mr. Langridge is deeply interested
in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community and for five
years served as a member of the board of managers of the Stockton state
Hospital, being appointed by Governor Gage.
He is affiliated with Truth Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., and also with
Morning Star Lodge, No. 68, F. & A. M., Stockton, Stockton Chapter No. 28,
R. A. M., Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T., and Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M.
S., at San Francisco. He is likewise a
past patron of the Eastern Star, having filled that office for three
consecutive terms. He enjoys the esteem
of many friends and fully deserves the honor that is accorded the fortunate
individual who has fought and won in the great battle of life.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
544-547. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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