San Joaquin County
Biographies
EBEN STODDAR
EBEN STODDAR, a manufacturer
of agricultural implements, in Stockton, was born in Hingham, Massachusetts,
April 13, 1823, a son of David and Johanna (Stowell) Stoddar, both born and
deceased in Hingham. The father, born in 1786, learned the trade of mason and
became a contractor and builder, working chiefly in Boston. He died in 1866,
surviving his wife, born in 1784, about eight years. Grandfather Stoddar, born
in Hingham, and married to a native of that place or vicinity, died there, and
the wife also, both at an advanced age. Grandfather Stowell was a pensioner of
the war of 1812, and lived to be about ninety, surviving his wife several
years, she being about eighty at her death.
The subject of this sketch learned the
trade of wagon-maker from 1838 to 1841, and has worked at that and related
industries ever since with but few and brief intermissions. He was married in
Hingham, January 6, 1848, to Miss Lucy A. Bicknell, a native of that place,
born December 14, 1827, a daughter of Ezra and Lucy (Cain) Bicknell. The
father, born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, was a shoemaker by trade, and died in
1882, aged about seventy-seven; the mother, born in 1808, is still living in
Hingham in 1890. Grandfather James Bicknell was also a shoemaker, and lived to
be over seventy, and grandmother Nancy Burr (Wilder) Bicknell, was eighty at
her death.
Mr. Stoddar worked at his trade in
Hingham, and had been running his own shop some years, when he set out in 1856
with three comrades for California, leaving Boston February 1, and reaching San
Francisco by the way of Panama, before the close of the month. He then went to
mining in Tuolumne County, at Jimtown and Poverty Hill, making about $4 a day.
The novelty of gold-hunting having worn off in five months, Mr. Stoddar came to
Stockton, and went to work at his trade at $4 a day. Early in 1858 he rented a
shop, and with one journeyman was able to clear about $200 a month. Having
accumulated some money he returned to his home in Hingham, in September, 1859,
intending to remain; but the contrast between the $9 a week he could earn there
and what he had been making in Stockton when he left, together with the
difference in climate, decided him to start again for this coast. He left in
February, 1860, and three and one-half years later was rejoined by his wife and
daughter, who left New York September 3, 1863, and arrived in Stockton before
the end of the month, being met in San Francisco by Mr. Stoddar. On his arrival
in 1860, he went to work at his trade for Webster & Brother, and afterward
for the H. C. Shaw Plow Works about fifteen years. In 1887 he rented his
present shop at No. 418 California street, and is doing fairly well. He has
never been sick and is hale, cheerful and active for his years. He was a member
of the Masonic order twenty years ago, but has allowed his membership to lapse.
Mr. and Mrs. Stoddar have one daughter,
Lucy Ellis, born in Hingham, October 3, 1850. She was married in Stockton in
1870, to Thomas Olin Crawford, a native of Maine. Both were teachers in this
city, and in 1876 moved to Oakland, where Mr. Crawford has been principal of
the Lincoln school about ten years, and superintendent of the Blind Men’s Home
some eighteen months. In 1888 he opened a private school in that city, known as
Crawford’s Academy. They have one daughter, Eva Ella, born in Stockton,
December 31, 1872. She is still prosecuting her studies under her parents’ care
in Oakland.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County, California,
Pages 630-631. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago,
Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Genealogy Databases