San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM R. MOLL
A successful businessman of
Stockton, whose business was begun in a small way and by diligent and
intelligent effort has become a profitable venture, is William R. Moll, the
proprietor of the squab farm at 1540 South Aurora Street, where he has about
4,000 birds. He is a native son of San
Joaquin County, his birth occurring at Atlanta on February 6, 1879, a son of
Joseph and Margaret (Bedford) Moll, natives of New York and Iowa,
respectively. Joseph Moll settled in
California in 1875 and began farming in Atlanta, San Joaquin County; later he
removed to Eugene, Stanislaus County, where he farmed until he retired. His wife passed away in 1917 and he is still
living in Stockton at the age of eighty years.
William R. Moll received his education at the Lone Tree district school,
and at seventeen years of age started out for himself;
he became a steam engineer on dredges in the Bay region; then he worked two
years at Blue Lakes, Alpine County, running a hoist for the Standard Electric
Company. Returning then to Stockton, he
opened a cigar store on California Street, which he operated for ten years;
during this time he had become interested in pigeon raising, and his business
grew to such proportions, that his quarters became too small, so he moved his
pigeon farm to 1559 South Hunter Street.
In three years’ time it also became inadequate for his needs on account
of his rapidly growing business. Wishing to devote all of his time to pigeon
raising he sold his cigar business and about 1914 purchased his present
property, consisting of three lots on South Aurora Street, where he built
suitable buildings for pigeon raising and also rebuilt the house on the place
into a modern residence. He is equipped
to handle 5,000 birds at one time, which is a source of good income; his birds
have taken first prize not only at local fairs but also at different county
fairs where he has made an exhibit. He
is breeding the birds for excellency
and size so as to command the highest price in the market. He ships squads principally to Chicago and New
York City. Mr. Moll was the first
individual in California to ship dressed squabs to eastern points, his object
being to obtain higher prices. In this
he was successful as his returns were doubled. Others in his line heard of it and came to him
for advice in shipping. He is today the
largest squab breed in Central California.
In August, 1905, in San Francisco,
Mr. Moll was united in marriage with Miss Ora E. Stoughtenburgh, a native of
Stockton, the daughter of John and Mary (Davis) Stoughtenburgh, born in
Woodland, California, and Concord, Iowa, respectively. The mother died in Stockton, and the father
now resides in Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs.
Moll are the parents of one son, Irving.
Mr. Moll has been a member of the Stockton Red Men for about twenty
years.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
983-984. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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