San
Joaquin County
Biographies
RAYMOND ARTHUR NORTHROP
Fifty-eight years have passed since
the family to which Raymond Arthur Northrop belongs became identified with the
progress and development of San Joaquin County.
A native son of California, he was born at Acampo, November 13, 1898, a
son of Charles W. and Ruth (Eddlemon) Northrop, both
natives of California. Grandfather
Horace Eddlemon was born in Arkansas and came across
the plains in pioneer days, locating on a ranch a mile east of the present site
of Lodi. Later on he moved to what is
now called Christian Colony, where he farmed until he retired. There he and his wife passed away, their
demise occurring only a month apart.
Grandfather Horace D. Northrop was a native of Vermont, who was left an
orphan early in life and worked and earned his living wherever and however he
could. When be became of age, he went to
Boston and was there engaged in the oyster business for several years. In the year 1850 he started for California, but
stopped with a brother in Iowa, who persuaded him to remain there and he
purchased a farm in Jackson County. He
married Miss Roxana Wilson, a native of New Hampshire, who passed away in 1856;
then, in 1862, he married Mrs. Lydia C. Wilson, whose maiden name was Cram, and
in 1864 they crossed the plains to California, being accompanied by several
other California-bound families. In
October, 1864, they settled in San Joaquin County, where he purchased 160 acres
of choice farming land; and there their four children were born and reared,
Charles W. Northrop, the father of our subject, being the youngest. There were but two children in the family of
Charles W. Northrop and his wife. Merle
served in Company D, 363rd Infantry, 91st Division, and
was sent overseas, taking part in three different battles with that celebrated
division. After eleven months service
overseas he returned home, and is now ranching on Sargent Road. Raymond A. was educated in Houston district
school, and assisted his mother on the home farm until his marriage.
On April 18, 1920, Mr. Northrop was
married to Miss Donna B. Posey, a daughter of John M. Posey, a pioneer of the
county. Mrs. Northrop was born on the
Posey ranch west of Lodi, and was educated in the Turner district school and
the Lodi high school. Mr. Northrop is in
partnership with John M. Posey in running a forty-acre vineyard, twenty acres
of which is in full bearing and twenty acres in young vineyard; he is also a
partner in a twenty-three acre Tokay vineyard three miles east of Lodi. Three years ago Mr. Northrop built one of the
most modern residences in the Lafayette Hall district, on his home ranch, which
is under the Woodbridge irrigation system.
One child has come to bless their home, and she bears the name of June
Noreen. Mr. and Mrs. Northrop are active
members in the congregational Church at Lodi, and he is a well-known and
representative citizen of his locality.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1132. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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