San
Joaquin County
Biographies
BATTISTA RIBA
A retired San Joaquin County farmer
who has accomplished his success by hard work and consistent living is Battista
Riba, who makes his home at 138 East Sonora Street, Stockton. He was born in the province of Cuneo, Italy,
November 11, 1849, a son of Antonio and Teresa (Ferrargo)
Riba, both natives of Cuneo. The ancestors of our subject are of French
descent, and settled in Italy many generations ago. Battista Riba grew up on his father’s farm in
Italy and was accustomed to hard work.
In 1881 he arrived in America, one of a party of twelve who went to
Lincoln, Nebraska, but did not remain.
The party left directly for San Francisco, and from there Mr. Riba went
to Cloverdale, where he began clearing land and planting vineyard for a large
company; this is one of the earliest vineyards planted in California. Later he removed to Bakersfield and engaged
in the dairy business for a short time.
In 1882 he arrived in Stockton and rented a sixty-acre vineyard; his
products brought a good price and for three years he was rewarded with good
profits from his hard work. In 1886 he
made a six-month trip to his old home in Italy, and upon his return to
California settled at Delano, where he homesteaded land, which he later sold
and then removed to Tulare, where he engaged in the stock business for the
following ten years. In 1902 he farmed
near Ripon and Bellota. He also owns a
ranch of 640 acres near Farmington.
Selling the Delano ranch, he invested the proceeds in city property
located at 138 East Sonora Street, Stockton.
Mr. Riba was married in 1879 in
Italy to Miss Anna Capolino, a native of Cuneo, born
in 1863, and who accompanied her brother to America. Three children were born to them. Vincent has a wife and two children and is a
rancher at Peters; Mary Ann is the wife of O. J. Galassi,
and they have two living children; Bert married Miss Anna Campodonico and they
reside in Stockton, where he is employed with the I. X. L. Clothiers. Mrs. Riba passed away at the family home July
4, 1916. In 1888 Mr. Riba received his
United States citizenship papers and has since voted the Republican ticket.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1565. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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