San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOSE OYARBIDE
A representative of the sheep
growing industry who is now living retired from active business cares, Jose
Oyarbide was for more than a third of a century engaged in that business and
the success he attained was due to his good management and hard work. He came to Stockton from his native country
with nothing but a willingness to work, and a
determination to succeed, which has never been lost sight of during his
forty-three years of his residence in California. He was born in Basses-Pyrenees, in southern France,
July 1, 1850. His parents, Sebastian and
Antoinette Oyarbide, were farmers and Jose spent his childhood on the farm and
attended the local schools. He assisted
his father on the farm until twenty-four years of age, when he went to sea,
which he followed for a livelihood.
Arriving in California from his native land in 1880, his first job was
herding sheep for Messrs. Domingo and Peter Gastarubide,
prominent sheep men of Los Banos. He
worked for them six years and saved his money and invested in a band of sheep
of his own and began raising sheep near Los Banos, beginning with about 1000
head. He rented grazing land and at one
time had as many as 2500 head of sheep, making his home in Los Banos until
1907, when he removed to Stockton, continuing his business until 1915, when he
retired. In 1920 he purchased a
residence at 615 North Commerce Street.
He also owns a half interest in the Royal Hotel at Sonora and South
Hunter streets, Stockton.
On June 6, 1894, Mr. Oyarbide was
married in San Francisco to Miss Marion Oronos, born
near Bigorre, France, and who came to California in
1890. One daughter has blessed this
union, Mary Margaret, born in San Francisco.
She attended the grammar and high schools in Stockton, then entered
Heald’s Business College, from which she was graduated in 1916. For the past six years she has been
bookkeeper for the Monarch Foundry Company in Stockton. She is a member of the Y. L. I. in Stockton. Mr. Oyarbide has shown capability as a
business man and is a prominent and influential member of the French Colony in
Stockton. He has never regretted his
decision to leave his native land for the Golden West, where he has made good
and new enjoys the comforts gained by a well-spent life.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1622. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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