San Joaquin County
Biographies
LODWICK UPDIKE SHIPPEE
L. U. SHIPPEE.--No apology is
offered here for the introduction into this work of the records of the
life-work of prominent men. In a historical volume such as this, containing the
annuals of San Joaquin County, from the time of the Spanish occupation to the
date of writing-it is vitally essential to accompany the recital of progress
with the history of the men who have had their shoulders constantly at the
wheel. Commendation is given only where it is due, that these men may pass into
history for what they were and what they did. Mr. Shippee has been to Stockton
as the main-spring to a watch, and every one of her citizens should feel a
pride in his achievements, which have redounded to their benefit. He came to Stockton
a mere boy in years, with no capital save willing hands and an active and
determined head. He made his start here, and has ever since used his gains for
the advancement of the city, county and State of his adoption. He is a native
of Rhode Island, born at a small place about ten miles from Providence. His
parents both came of old New England families, their ancestors having settled
on the Eastern coast during the seventeenth century. On his father’s side, the
founders of the family in this county were from England and from the north of
Ireland, and had settled on a place on Narragansett bay, opposite Newport, the
locality being known to this day as Shippee’s Hollow. Their descendants have
followed various avocations, but chiefly those of manufacturing, merchandising
and farming. His father, L. U. Shippee, Sr., had learned the machinist’s trade,
and his abilities, mechanical and otherwise, had secured for him such
responsible positions as superintendent and manager of large cotton and print
mills. His mother, too, was a native of the same neighborhood in Rhode Island,
as also had been her father. Her maiden name was Mary Spencer, and her parents,
who were Quakers, were of English ancestry, though the family had been nearly
as long in this country as the Shippees.
When the subject of this sketch was but
eight years old his father died and he was left without the influence of
paternal advice during the subsequent years of his growth to manhood. He had,
however, learned some of the rudimentary principles of business from his
deceased parent, that have stood him in good stead throughout his later career.
While a mere child in years, his father one day presented him with what is
generally known throughout the Eastern country as a Barlow knife. Boys of that country
generally begin to show their self-reliance and the traditional Yankee love of
barter by beginning the habit of trading at a very early age, and he was no
exception to the rule; so that the knife had soon passed out of his possession,
while in its place he had one
considerably inferior. This operation was repeated several times with similar
ill-success, when one day he was abashed by a request from his father for the
temporary loan of the knife. With head hung down he fumbled through each pocket
in turn, yet it was only after repeated encouragement that he at last
reluctantly produced the desired article. The father’s eyes were greeted with
the sight of a dilapidated-looking implement, with one rusty, broken blade.
“Why, my son,” he said, “is this the knife I gave you only a short time ago?”
After the necessary explanations had been made, the kind-hearted father told
him not to feel badly; that he would give him another knife, with the advice
that when he traded thereafter, whether for a knife or anything else, he should
always make it a rule to better his condition. It was not long afterward when
the father again had occasion to ask for the knife. This time a very superior
article was exultingly produced. “Why, it didn’t take near so long to find the
knife this time!” said the elder Shippee, who was then made aware that the boy
had obtained “boot” on his trade, as well as having a knife in every way
superior to that which his father had
given him. The lesson thus learned was never forgotten.
L.U. Shippee started to school at an early
age, but showed a disposition to get out of the class-room and do something
with himself. He was informed that he would either have to attend school
regularly or go out and work. This option was given him only as a mild form of
persuasion, without a thought of enforcing the latter part of the proposition.
That was the portion he accepted, however, and one morning he appeared at
Narragansett bay, at the door of the sheriff of the county, a gentleman asked
the boy (who was then only twelve years old) what he wanted, and he told him
that he wished to hire out to do chores. The gentleman was acquainted with his
family, and knew that he had not been sent by them to ask for such a job, even
if he had their consent, yet could not help yielding to the lad’s importunities
for a chance to work. He was engaged for seven months at $5 a month, and
informed that he would have to do just as the other employes did. Among the
duties assigned to him was that of hitching up several yoke of oxen to go to
the quarry and haul stone. Any man who has performed that labor throughout the
various seasons knows what it would be for a mere lad to execute such work.
When the damp weather had warped the heavy bows out of shape, it would require
a Herculean effort on the part of the little fellow to make the ends fit in the
yoke, and he sometimes spend half an hour at the job; yet he never once gave up
the task until it was accomplished, or even asked for assistance. These
characteristics were quietly observed by his employer, who said nothing, but
invented many such jobs for him, to try his mettle. One dark and stormy night
at about two o’clock, he awoke the boy from his slumbers and told him to go out
about half a mile from the village, catch a certain horse and bring him in.
This was accomplished, though the night was intensely dark, to the surprise of
the man, who must have felt ashamed of inventing such a test for his young
charge. The seven month’s contract was fully carried out and the $35 counted
out to the proud boy, who quickly wended his way home and exhibited his
earnings to his family. None of them had thought that he would stay more than
four or five days at the job. He had made a reputation for a worker, however,
and the next season his services were in demand at $7 a month. In after years,
when he had made a start in California and returned to visit the scenes of his
boyhood, one of the first to look him up was his old employer, who walked with
outstretched hands and said, “I want to shake hands with the grittiest boy I
ever saw.”
As his father had learned the machinist’s
trade it was decided that he should do the same, and he was started in at that
occupation with a Quaker named Pierce Peck, at Anthony, Rhode Island, his
birthplace. With him he remained two and one-half years, then went up into
Connecticut, doing repair work in mills, such as changing looms to new styles,
etc. This occupation did not by any means satisfy his ambition, as it only gave
employment to his hands, while requiring but little headwork, and it grew
distasteful to him. He was soon given an opportunity to make a change. His
father had accumulated considerable wealth during his lifetime, and had bought
a farm for each one of his eight children, the subject of this sketch being the
fifth in order of age. It was customary to rent out all of these farms except
the one occupied by the family, the children not taking possession in severalty
until the youngest became of age. Any farm that remained unrented would be
taken by one of the boys to manage for the family. In this way our subject got
his opportunity to give up the machinist’s trade and turn farmer again. He took
care of the place, bought and sold stock, etc., and had been thus employed for
about a year and a half when he decided to try his fortunes in California.
Going to New York in the early part of 1856, he took passage on the old steamer
Illinois for Panama, and, crossing the Isthmus, resumed his sea journey on the
steamer Sonora, landing at San Francisco in March. He proceeded to the mines of
Tuolumne County, but finding the diggings pretty well developed and chances not
so bright as anticipated, he set out on his return to San Francisco. At
Stockton he met an acquaintance and decided to remain. He had about $1,500,
with which he decided to go into business, and did so, in partnership with
another. Through no fault of his, the venture proved unprofitable and he closed
out after one year’s experience and obtained employment as a clerk with
Schofield & Houche (previously Bowen & Houche). After he had been with
them a year they sold out to Owen & McKee. Meantime his salary had been
raised from $60 per month to $80 and expenses. He commenced with the new firm
with $100 a month and expenses, and by persistent and early work from early
morning till late at night, made himself indispensable to his employers, so
that his pay was advanced to expenses and $200 per month. He remained with them
three years, and then took one of the members, W. F. McKee, into a new
partnership, under the firm name of Shippee & McKeee. They started on Main
street, a half block north and across the street from the present bank
building, but after one season moved across the street east from the bank site,
into the first floor of the Odd Fellows’ Association, and had subscribed money
to help in the construction of the building. The firm leased the quarters for
five years. Mr. Shippee was for eleven years at the head of that house, and
developed its business wonderfully. When they commenced, they bought out a firm
which had been doing a business of $50,000 a year. This was increased to
$175,000 the first year under his management, and when he severed his
connection with the firm these figures had risen to $275,000 per annum.
While this in itself would be considered a
very creditable achievement, it was only one of several enterprises conducted
by Mr. Shippee at the same time. Shortly after the firm of Shipee, McKee &
Co., was organized, they embarked in the sheep business, commencing on land in
Tulare County with 3,000 head. In 1877 this number had been increased to 52,000
worth $100,000, located in Tulare, Merced and Fresno counties, but on account
of the terrible drouth of that year 22,000 were lost. Besides this, large sums
were expended in fruitless efforts to save them, so that it would have been
better if the whole number had been given away in the first place. Mr. Shippee
is now running about 30,000 head of sheep in Merced County, and has two bands
in Butte County, and more in Mariposa County. His landed interests in all the
counties named are very large, there being 20,000 acres in Merced County alone.
In Butte County he has a partner, and there carries on farming on a gigantic
scale. In 1888 they raised there 100,000 bushels of wheat alone, while the crop
of 1889 will be fully as large. His sheep are of the best Spanish and French
thoroughbred stock, and high grades. During one year alone, about 1873, he
imported $60,000 worth of thoroughbred sheep from Vermont. This, however, is
but one branch of his stock interests. In horses he stands among the leaders on
the Pacific slope, he, Leland Stanford and S. B. Haggin being the largest
owners and breeders of fine horses on this coast. His cattle are also selected
from the best stock in the world. None of the great importers and breeders of
California have done more toward improving the quality of the stock in any of
these lines than has Mr. Shippee, and when all of them are considered, he ranks
at the head. This has been done, not as a source of profit, but solely for the
purpose of gratifying a natural taste in that direction, and at the same time
conducing to a creditable record for California, and his importations amount to
nearly $200,000. This large amount is constantly being added to, and each year
he imports thousands of dollars’ worth of the finest stock.
Mr. Shippee’s model ranch, six miles on
the Cherokee Lane road, is one of the sights of San Joaquin County, and
visitors are well repaid for an inspection by the knowledge there to be gained.
Not the least important of the interests
to be recognized in this connection is the well-known financial institution--the
Stockton Savings and Loan Society, of which Mr. Shippee was one of the chief
promoters, and of which he has been a director since its organization, and
president since the death of the former incumbent, Dr. J. M. Kelsey, who was
named by him for the position. The bank was organized in August, 1867, on a
then original plan. This was, in place of making it a mutual affair, so that
depositors would share alike in either profits or losses, to fix a rate of
interest on every deposit and pay that whether there were large profits or
losses, the depositors thus running no risk. The success of the plan can be
judged when it is shown that while but $10 was ever paid on each share of $100,
these shares are now worth $200. The capital stock was afterward raised from
$250,000 to $500,000, the new shares paying up $45 each, they also being now
worth $200 apiece. The stock has regularly paid a dividend of $12 a share since
organization, and besides $50,000 have been paid in extra dividends. Another
novel feature introduced on the commencement of this bank was that of making
interest payable annually. According to the system previously in vogue, parties
doing a loaning business and the banks of California generally, had been
exacting interest monthly, and in advance, which of course was no accommodation
to farmers, who got returns but once a year. It may readily be surmised with
what alacrity the farmers availed themselves of the innovation. The bank’s
standing is impregnable, and it ranks among the leading financial institutions
of the Pacific coast, its annual resources amounting to about $3,000,000.
To turn to another feature, it may be
stated that about twenty-two years ago there was not a rod of really improved
road in San Joaquin County, one day in March, 1867, a man rode into Stockton,
and, looking up Mr. Shippee, informed him that a gentleman living six miles out
of the city on the Sacramento road was about to sell a farm, and it was desired
that he should call out there at once. He started and was three hours making
the trip, the horses going down nearly to their bodies at almost every step. On
returning to Stockton, a notary public and witness were secured for making the
transfer, and another trip was made to the ranch, three hours being again
consumed, though they used their utmost efforts. Mr. Shippee at once saw that
with such roads the trade of Stockton could not be what it ought to, while
progress of the whole county was retarded. He at once began a move toward
remedying such a state of affairs, and proposed a gravel road for the highway
he has so lately traveled. When he mentioned the project to others he was asked
if he knew what such a road would cost for a distance of seven miles, and was
informed that it would be $40,000. He replied that that was his estimate, but
that the amount was small in proportion to the benefits. Some thought the
matter would end in talk, but in November of that same year people were
traveling over a fine gravel road, which was destined to be but the pioneer for
a number of others. Mr. Shippee was the first president of the gravel road
company and was re-elected to that office each succeeding year until 1886, when
it was turned over to the county as a gift for a free road. While Mr. Shippee
was among the projectors and stockholders of every one of the system of gravel
roads he never realized a dollar from these investments.
All of the interests thus far mentioned
have indeed been important enough in themselves to merit extended attention,
but it is questionable if all are not out-classed by yet another. But for the
introduction of the combined harvesters now in such extended use throughout
that vast granary, the San Joaquin valley, as well as other grain-producing
sections of California, it is highly improbable that that industry would now be
on anything like a paying basis in this State, much less in a condition to
compete in the markets of the world with the grain raisers of the Middle
States, of Europe and of India, which were rapidly driving her out of the
field, and her grain-farmers into other channels.
Through the introduction of the present
machinery California rests secure against all comers. It is not necessary to
look backward a greater number of years than can be counted on the fingers of
one hand to recall the time when the farmer who had his fields thick with
ripened grain, having successfully evaded all risks of growing, was yet at the
mercy of the men whom he might or might not be able to secure to harvest his
crops. They were all needed at once, and often, having secured at great labor
and expense, would leave their employer in the lurch if the whim struck them.
Such was the old condition. Many attempts had been able to construct a combined
harvester, always attended with failure, until it got to be a standing joke to
speak of a man engaged in the effort to make it go. Thus it was that people who
had always looked upon Mr. Shippee as a conservative man--because he had been
successful in his ventures--were surprised when, in 1881, it was given out that
he had undertaken to make a “go” of the combined harvester. His first move was
to interest a few other active men of means and enterprise and then to assist
in holding all in line while skilled labor should have an opportunity to
thoroughly test the influence of unlimited capital in reaching the great
desideratum. Money was lavished upon the enterprise with an unstinted hand, and
in 1885 those who had three years before thought Mr. Shippee had gone on his
first wild-goose chase were congratulating him upon the complete success of the
undertaking, and themselves for the great benefit they would reap from it. The
importance of this boon to California can hardly be estimated, but the
gratitude of the State is due the controlling spirit that saved his great grain
industry and renewed its vitality. While, before, the harvesting of the crop
and preparing it for market was one of the great items of expense, to-day it
costs the owner of the machine but seventy-five cents an acre to cut the grain
on the stalk and put it through every process until it is tied up in the sack
ready for shipment. Further than that, if he has no machine of his own, there
are men who have that are glad to do it for him at $1.50 per acre.
What will probably take rank as the
greatest undertaking of Mr. Shippee’s life, however, as well as one of the most
important afforded by the history of California, is yet in an uncompleted
state, though the fact of his leadership is sufficient assurance of complete
success. This is the great Stanislaus canal enterprise, to which other really
vast and much-heralded works of like character on the Pacific coast bear but
slight comparison. Even the noted Crocker-Hoffman canal pales alongside it. The
idea is not a new one with Mr. Shippee, although its real magnitude is
generally but little understood. When he had seen his dream of the exposition
building (hereafter mentioned) a reality, he turned his genuine attention to
this new scheme, which was to irrigate an almost desert plain of great extent,
and ultimately carry pure water for drinking, domestic and general purposes to
Stockton, and even to Oakland and San Francisco. In 1883 he started in with the
work, the idea then being to utilize the waters of the Mokelumne river and its
basin. When preliminaries were almost finished he found he had been sold out in
this plan. He did not allow this unexpected situation to overcome him, however,
but soon turned his attention to the Stanislaus river. The first step was the
incorporation of a stock company with a capital stock of $1,000,000, that being
about the amount required for carrying to a conclusion the present plans. When
work was well under way many of those who had apparently entered
enthusiastically into the scheme wanted to get out, and even carried their
efforts so far as to take legal proceedings with that object in view. Mr.
Shippee did not propose, however, to see the magnificent enterprise fall to the
ground in any such manner, and the determined and successful fight which he
carried on even through the courts of last resort to save the work, brought out
his indomitable character in its strongest light. No obstacles now present
themselves save those which labor and engineering skill can overcome. With a
water ditch and dam, which have been in operation thirty-five years, in its
possession to start with, the company have put in two additional dams of the
best construction, and are now engaged upon a gigantic sixty-six feet high and
sixty feet in thickness at its base. The plans include two tunnels of 1,100
feet each, twelve feet high and fourteen feet wide, with a long fall to
penetrate the solid cement rock, and at this writing one of these is nearly
completed. The canal will have to be extended forty-six miles beyond its
present length to carry out the project already undertaken, and then the water
will flow in a solid stream 100 feet in width and six feet deep throughout the
entire channel with a fall of five feet in the mountains and one foot on the
plains. The completion of this work will bring about almost a revolution in the
products of the district affected by it. That region is now only susceptible of
cultivation for grain, and even that is not a sure crop, being only profitable
in wet years. Then, too, Mr. Shippee, with his usual penetration, has foreseen
that California must place herself in a position to be independent of the
one-crop idea, as her future greatness must come from other sources than grain.
The building of the canal will make this land capable of producing almost all
semi-tropical fruits, so that as much can be earned from a few acres as is now
realized from hundreds, and even thousands, in some cases. Then, as one result,
200,000 acres of land, such as has just been described, will be susceptible of
such cultivation as to people a vast community with busy husbandmen and their
families, teeming with such products as only California’s soil is capable of
producing, and which will not have to
compete with the whole world. A vast amount will then have been added to the
wealth of the golden State, and Stockton, as the center of trade of this new
land of abundance, will reap such a reward as to bring down her blessings on
the enterprise which has brought about such results. This is no mere dream, but
a fact awaiting only its fulfillment, the inevitable logic of the situation.
In 1887 Mr. Shippee was elected Mayor of
the City of Stockton, and held that office until June 10, 1889. The great
drawback of Stockton had always been her impassable streets, and he gave his
particular attention toward remedying that condition of affairs. During the two
years that he guided the city’s affairs more permanent street improvements were
made than during her entire previous history. Mr. Shippee has been a
hard-working member and director of the State Agricultural Society for fifteen
years, and for two years its president. He has been president of the San
Joaquin County Agricultural Society for the past sixteen years, and his untiring
labors have made it what it is. The magnificent Exposition building at
Stockton, superior to any similar institution in a city of the size on this
continent, is a monument to his faithful work. When pleasantly reproached by
Sacramento people for having built their State Exposition building, and then
gone to Stockton to beat it, he replies that a man must build two houses to get
one right.
Such, in brief, is the merest outline of
the life of a central figure in the history of San Joaquin County, and indeed of
California. After a rapid review of its main features, such as this, it is
certainly an instructive lesson to turn back to that incident of the knife and
consider the father’s advice which the son has made his motto. And another one
which appears equally as prominent throughout the pages of this sketch is,
“when you touch anything, improve it.”
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County, California,
Pages 229 -235. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago,
Illinois 1890.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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