San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN FREDERICK TONS
Coming to America as a lad of
fourteen from his home in Bremen, Germany, where he was born April 3, 1847,
John Frederick Tons on reaching New York was employed for some years in the
grocery store of his uncle there. In
1868 he set out on the long journey to California via Panama, and for a time he
was engaged as an attendant at the State Asylum at Stockton. Later he became district agent for the Weiland Brewery of San Francisco and then for the Rainier
Brewery, his territory comprising San Joaquin, Calaveras, Tuolumne and
Stanislaus counties. He was connected
with this line of business from 1874 to 1916 and he became one of the
best-known men in the Valley, with a wide acquaintance in every section. His first location in Stockton was on Weber
Avenue near Center Street and later he established his headquarters at 933 East
Lafayette Street. Mr. Tons was a member
of the volunteer fire department connected with the State Hospital and belonged
to the Red Men, the German Order of Foresters and the Turnverein, to whose
ranks his passing away on December 17, 1916, came as a distinct loss.
On May 17, 1874, Mr. Tons was
married to Miss Johanna Barkhorn, who was born in
Calaveras County, a member of a pioneer family there. Her father, John Barkhorn,
came to California via Cape Horn in 1849 and settled at Angels Camp, Calaveras
County, later becoming a resident of Stockton.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tons: John; Edna, the wife of James Mallott of Oakland; George; Ida M., the wife of John J.
Burrows of Stockton; Edward; Alma, married Elden Willis of Stockton. The eldest son, John, was born at Stockton
June 7, 1881, and at the age of fifteen joined his father in business,
traveling throughout this district for fifteen years. He continued his father’s interests for two
years after the latter’s death, but since 1918 he has been manager of Gianelli’s grocery at Sutter and Market streets. His marriage united him with Mrs. Bessie
Travers, a native of Ireland, and he is a member of the Red Men, Stockton Lodge,
No. 218, B. P. O. E., and the Commercial Travelers Association.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1509. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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