San Joaquin County
Biographies
PUTNAM VISHER
PUTNAM VISHER, one of the
leading citizens of Stockton, is a native of New York State, born on the Mohawk
river, about four miles from Schenectady, November 16,
1836, his parents being Sebastian and Elizabeth (Putnam) Visher.
His ancestors were among the early settlers of the Mohawk valley, where the
families were well known and prominent. He spent his boyhood days in the
vicinity of his birthplace, and in 1852 accompanied the family to California to
join his father, who had come to this State in 1849, and had been engaged in
mining for a time on the Sacramento river just above
Auburn, but afterward locating in San Joaquin County. They left New York city on the 5th of July, 1852, on the large
steamer Ohio, which carried 1,400 passengers.
They crossed the Isthmus of Panama, part of the way by rail, part by
boat, and the remainder on mule-back, and resumed their sea voyage on the
steamer Columbia, landing at San Francisco on the 13th of August.
They at once proceeded to Stockton, where they arrived on the following day,
and where the father of our subject met them. Putnam Visher
took charge of a ranch on the San Joaquin which belonged to his father, and
conducted it for some time. He was four months of twenty-one years of age when
he left home to start in life for himself, and his capital was $10. He came to
Stockton, borrowed $3,000, and went down to Monterey, where he bought a band of
cattle. He brought them up here and sold them, and then took a lot of sheep on
shares for A. W. Root & Brother. His next investment was in ranching in
this county, which lasted a year and four months, and during that time he drove
an ox team hauling hay to the mountains and lumber
back. At the end of the time mentioned, Mr. Visher
found himself “broke,” and had to start in again, having lost $2,800. He
obtained employment as a superintendent of a levee that his father was building
on the San Joaquin river, which engaged his time and
attention for about six months. He then got a six-horse team, and commenced
hauling freight to Aurora, Nevada. Four months later he turned out the team,
and took a job driving an ox team at a logging camp near Aurora. He drove a
month for $75, then
caught up his own team, went to Folsom, and loaded up with freight for Reese
river. After getting there he was swindled out of the freight money, and his
ill-fortune was completed by the death of all his horses but two. He then took
a job digging a ditch, the contract amounting to $1,840. About the time the job
was finished, the merchant who was having the work done failed, and all he got
in payment was a four-mule team. He located in the town of Washington and
commenced hauling poles, but after he had teamed awhile the best mule of his
four was stolen. In 1863 he embarked in the butcher business at Washington, and
in the fall of the year, his brother John coming by the place, he sent his
three mules, one horse and a wagon, by him into California. Later in the same
year, he went to farming on Dry creek, in Stanislaus County, three miles from
Modesto, in partnership with his brother. They were together two years, then our subject bought his brother out. He farmed one year
alone, then sold the ranch. He then rented a ranch from J. L. Grover in San
Joaquin County, on the French Camp road, and remained there two years. He then
took his stock and went across the San Joaquin into the Coast Range. Eight
months later he sold his stock, then bought 160 acres
of land seventeen miles south of Stockton. He commenced farming that, and the
same season bought 140 acres more adjoining his last purchase. He next bought
320 acres additional in the northeastern part of the county, and farmed the
entire 1,100 acres in the several pieces mentioned until 1884, when he removed
into Stockton. He is yet largely engaged in farming and stock-raising, but
since June, 1885, has been owner of the Hunter street
Barley Mills, which he has sever since operated with success.
Mr. Visher
was married in this county, September 17, 1866, to Miss Lucy H. Gardner, a
native of Maine, who died in September, 1870. By that marriage there is one
child, viz: John Foster Visher.
Mr. Visher’s present wife was formerly Louisa Wolf, a
native of Ohio, born in Greene County, about seven miles from Dayton. By this
marriage there are two children, viz: Hattie May and
Mary Myrtle.
Mr. Visher
has served as president of the Young Men’s Christian Association. He is a
member of Morning Star Lodge, F. & A. M., and of A. O. U. W. Lodge No. 23.
In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and is known as an ardent worker in the
cause. He is a zealous supporter of the Methodist Church in this county, and
has very often lent a helping hand when the various congregations were in need.
He was one of the prime movers in the erection of the building of the Atlanta
Methodist Episcopal Church. He came to the rescue of the mission started by the
Central Methodist Episcopal Church, gave it splendid financial aid, and it was
named the Visher Chapel. He is now one of the most
prominent and active members of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church of
Stockton, is a trustee and member of the official board, and one of the
building committee which has in charge the construction of the splendid house
of worship now under way on San Joaquin street.
Mr. Visher’s
career is a lesson to young men, in that it shows how success may be achieved
even though one is beset with misfortune, and after many set-backs, if only one
perseveres, and does not allow reverses to overcome him.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 477-478. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
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