San
Joaquin County
Biographies
CHARLES H. LOUIS
Among the most prominent pioneer
families of San Joaquin County is that represented by Charles H. Louis, a
native son of California, born in Stockton, April 29, 1858, the son of Samuel
and Ernestine Louis. His parents came to
Stockton in the early ‘50s and their five children were born there. The family left California in April, 1870,
removing to New York, where the father engaged in business. Ten years later he retired from active business
life, Charles H. assuming the responsibility of the business and continuing
until 1911, when he, too, retired. The
father passed away in 1907 at the family home in New York. In 1919, that beautifully wooded piece of
land, known as “Dad’s Point” was purchased by Mr. Louis and presented to the
city of Stockton as a recreation park, in memory of his father and mother,
those well-known and honored pioneers of Stockton. This tract of land consists of fourteen acres
and is located at the junction of Smith’s Canal and the San Joaquin River, and
is now known as Louis’ Recreation Park.
Mr. Louis in his reminiscences of
early Stockton writes as follows: When I
left Stockton in 1870 it contained a population of about 7,000, and I have seen
it grow into the beautiful, prosperous city it now is of some 50,000. I have made frequent trips back to my native
city, which I have always loved as did my father and mother. To me it seems the most prosperous city of
its size in California and bids fair to be one of the foremost cities in the
state and one its citizens may well be proud of. When we left in 1870, the Slough ended at
Hunter Street where the Hotel Stockton now stands, and which, by the way, in
beauty is a credit to Stockton. In those
days, the St. Charles Hotel was the leader.
The old Franklin school on Center Streets stands as it was fifty years
ago. Sperry’s mill was then a low, frame
building in front of which and facing the Slough, we boys hung our clothes on a
limb of a tree and went swimming. The
same boats, or boats of the same name, plied the river to San Francisco, the J.
D. Peters and T. C. Walker. McLeod’s
orchard was a long way from the City Hall.
Wagner’s Tannery was in existence then.
“Helvetia” and “William Tell” Gardens were the resorts then, where the
citizens went with their families to spend Sundays. Dr. Sposati and Dr.
Langdon were the leading physicians.
Holden’s drug store was at the corner of El Dorado and Center
streets. My father bought out Mr. Milco on the levee; before that he was located on the levee
next to the Sisson Stage Line, whose old-time coaches with four and six horses
took passengers to and from the gold diggings.
Hedges and Buck and Meader’s Bank existed
then. Fish Harry and Sugar Foot Joe
occupied houseboats on the Slough. Wild
ducks and geese were plentiful and sold for twenty-five cents a pair; Jerome
Meyer was chief of police. I married
Miss Fanny Hirsch of Franklin, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1881, and she was been my
devoted companion and chum all these years.
Together we have covered in our travels almost the entire civilized
world. I gave this tract of land known
as “Dad’s Point” to the city in which I was born and which I hold in affection,
and to the memory of my parents, who lived and prospered there. I do this as a matter of love and pride and
feel I could leave no better monument to my parents than this and the reward
will be rich in the knowledge that the citizens of Stockton may have a park or
recreation ground, where they can enjoy the fresh air and beautiful
scenes. I am proud of the fact that I am
a native son of California and prouder that I am a citizen of the United States
of America.” Mr. Louis lives retired
from active business in New York City, but his heart and mind ever reverts to
his native state of California.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
783. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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