San
Joaquin County
Biographies
PHILEMON E. PLATT
An early settler of much foresight
and prominence, whose activities embraced various lines, was Philemon E. Platt,
a native of Providence, Rhode island. He crossed the plains with his parents in an
early day and settled in Sacramento County, where he received his education and
where he was first employed as a salesman in a local shoe store in the capital
city. As he grew to manhood, he worked
as a reporter on the Sacramento Record-Union; later becoming a court reporter;
he also studied law, but was never admitted to practice, although his training
was of great benefit to him throughout his business career. In partnership with W. R. Strong and Robert
Williamson, he built up the W. R. Strong Company, the largest produce shippers
on the coast at that time; he entered the firm as a bookkeeper and later was
admitted as a partner. Removing to Los
Angeles, he established the P. E. Platt Fruit Company and was the first man to
ship citrus fruit east in ventilated fruit cars, before the days of iced cars;
later he founded and became a member of the firm of Dalton, Platt &
Patterson Company. Twenty-five years ago
he located in Stockton and founded the Platt Produce Company and was the
pioneer in shipping potatoes and onions east in carload lots from Stockton; he
shipped the first trainload of potatoes, forty-two cars, November 10,
1905. Through his efforts and influence,
in part, the Santa Fe Railroad was built across the Delta and through Stockton,
and this company built the first warehouse on the Santa Fe tracks for his
exclusive use; a portion of the original building is still standing and used by
the present Platt Produce Company. While
in the citrus fruit business in Los Angeles, he was the first man to ship
Valencia orange trees, for planting purposes, to northern California; at that
time it was generally thought that oranges could not be successfully grown in
northern California.
In the Orangevale and Penryn
sections Mr. Platt financed, planted and developed several large orange groves,
and also developed several fruit and vegetable ranches, which are now very
valuable. His interest in new ideas and
inventions was shown when he was the first man in the early days of Sacramento
to have a telephone and was the first to use the typewriter and employ a
stenographer; also had installed in his office the first electric call bell
used for calling a telegraph boy from the main office. His influence for the advancement of his
locality was most pronounced; he was president of the Chamber of Commerce and
Board of Trade of Sacramento and enthusiastically gave his aid to all measures
for the progress and development of every community in which he resided. Some forty-seven years ago he erected a
residence of fifteen rooms and it is one of the old landmarks of Sacramento at
the present time.
Mr. Platt’s marriage united him with
Miss Levina A. Barrett, a native of Ironton, Ohio, and they were the parents of
four children, two of whom are now living:
Pearl is Mrs. F. J. Beaton of Los Angeles; Roscoe C. is in business in
Stockton; while Guy Thornton and Mabel are deceased. Fraternally Mr. Platt was very prominent in
both Odd Fellows and Masonic circles. He
was one of the organizers and a past worthy grand of Capital Lodge No. 87, I.
O. O. F., in Sacramento, of which his son Roscoe C. was also a member. In Masonry he was a past master, a
thirty-second degree Mason of the Scottish as well as the York Rite, a Knight
Templar and a Shriner. He passed away on
May 13, 1919; his wife continued to live at the old home in Sacramento until
her death, which occurred September 11, 1922.
After Mr. Platt’s death, a
co-partnership was formed by his son Roscoe C. Platt, under the firm name of
the Platt Produce Company, with headquarters in Stockton, with the following
officers: J. W. Barrett, manager; Roscoe
C. Platt, district manager; and F. J. Beaton, manager of the Los Angeles
office.
Roscoe C. Platt was born and
educated in the grammar and high schools of Sacramento and later became a
draftsman in the office of George C. Sellon, the
state architect at that time. In 1910 he
removed to Stockton and became a member of the original firm of the Platt
Produce Company. He is a member of the
Anteros Club in Stockton.
Mr. Platt was married on Christmas
morning, 1922, to Miss Ada Irene Dennison of Stockton, a popular and active
member of Caliz de Oro Parlor, N. D. G. W., and Alpha
Omega Sorority; born in San Francisco, she was a charter member of Columbus
Chapter, O. E S., Sacramento, and for many years one of its most active
members. In 1917 Mr. Platt volunteered
for service in the World War in the Coast Artillery at Fort Winfield Scott, San
Francisco. He was advanced to corporal,
then sergeant, remaining at Fort Winfield Scott to the close of the war.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
475. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Genealogy
Databases