San Joaquin County
Biographies
W. H. WIEDMAN
W. H. WIEDMAN, proprietor of
the Bon Ton Coffee and Lunch Rooms, started in business in Stockton in October,
1881, on Levee street, between El Dorado and Center. In April, 1882, he removed
to a place opposite the old post office on Center street. In December, 1885, he
removed to his present location, at No. 210˝ Main street. Here he has built up
a fine trade, his place having a reputation for neatness and attention
unexcelled in Stockton.
Mr. Wiedman is a native of Berkeley
County, Virginia, near the village of Girardstown, which is at the head of Mill
creek, and about midway between Winchester and Martinsburg. He was born on the
27th of September, 1820, his parents being Abraham and Mary
Catherine (Auspach) Wiedman, who removed to Virginia from Berks County,
Pennsylvania. When our subject was ten years old his parents removed to
Champaign County, Ohio, and there he grew up to manhood. Both his parents died
there; his father in 1838, and his mother in 1841. W. H. Wiedman resided in
Ohio until the spring of 1845, when he removed to Iowa, locating at Dubuque,
where he resided until 1847, following teaming. He then removed across the
county line into Jackson County, Iowa, where he farmed until 1853. In the
latter year he and William Hughes, outfitted with three teams apiece, and
started with their families overland to California. They left home on the 8th
of April, 1853, and went to Kanesville, where they crossed the Missouri river.
They proceeded by the route on the north side of the Platte river, and via
Sublette’s cut-off, etc., into California, bringing up at Uniontown, El Dorado
County. Some incidents of their trip are worthy of relation here. During the
first part of the trip, their principal obstacle was high water. When they
reached Elk river, they learned that the ferry was five miles farther up the
stream than where they had expected to cross. Mr. Wiedman and his party were
the first ones to arrive there; but before the boats got ready to operate,
there were thousands waiting. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, they were ready to
cross, but just as the boat got to their side, a terrific rain and hail storm
set in, accompanied by thunder and lightening. There was a big bend in the
river, and there the wagons were drawn up. By 7 o’clock the water covered that neck
of land to a depth of three feet, and an hour later it was nearly up to the
wagon beds. They then commenced to run them up on higher ground, twenty-five or
thirty men taking one wagon at a time. The rain continued incessantly until
about daybreak next morning, and the day dawned upon a very distressed lot of
people. Mr. Wiedman got out his tent and pegged it down, put up his cooking
stove, cut down a snag of ash, and cutting it up built a fire. A warm breakfast
was got, including hot coffee and other things which would be especially
relished on such an occasion. When they had finished eating, they told the
other people to go in and cook for themselves. The wet and shivering emigrants
gladly availed themselves of this kind offer, and in such numbers that it was
noon before all who came had finished eating. About noon the sun came out, and
it was never more welcome. Their cattle, which were loose, had scattered on
both sides of the river, the whole country around being one vast sea of water.
They gathered up what stock they could then, and Mr. Wiedman found his cattle
all together. One man caught hold of the tail of an ox and was drawn across the
river by the animal. The people drove to a good camping ground that day, went
into camp, and then renovated everything, while waiting to get across the
river. They got the boats in shape again after great difficulty, seventeen yoke
being required to pry up one of them. They lay there eight days before they
could cross the river, and all this time the emigration was coming up. The
stream ran very swift, and while the crossing was made in safety, it was only
accomplished after immense difficulty, and many experiences, amusing and
otherwise. When they had reached the Loupe Fork of the Platte river, they also
had serious difficulty, in crossing. Mr. Wiedman waded the steam thirteen times
getting things across, making the last trip of that number about sundown. Then
he found he had everything across except a favorite cow, and another trip was
necessitated, in his tired and drenched condition, to get her. Two or three
days later another terrible thunderstorm set in, and along about two o’clock in
the morning Mr. Wiedman was awakened by feeling water around him. He called to
the others, and it was then seen that there was two or three inches of water
all around them, as they lay in the wagon beds. One of the boys jumped out of
the wagon into the sea of water about, which was waist deep. On getting up they
looked for their cattle, and found them about a mile and a half away. They
started on and got on to high ground some eight miles farther on. Another time,
they encountered a creek which they could not ford, and they stretched a rope
across, and utilized it to transfer themselves and their effects to the other
side. It was about noon when they reached Wood river. It had not risen, and
they built a temporary bridge across. They gave the owners of two wagons the
privilege of crossing on it for a jug of whiskey, and had considerable fun over
it, as the parties met with an amusing mishap.
When they brought up at Uniontown, El
Dorado County, Mr. Wiedman decided to locate there. He went to mining, and for
two years was successful. He then went into a ditch-digging speculation with a
company, and lost all he had, and more. He remained about the mines until 1860,
when he went to Bodega, Sonoma County, and commenced ranching. He afterward
embarked in lumbering, and did well. He again went to ranching, but had a bad
year, although he came out even, selling the crop in mid winter. He moved his
family into Petaluma, and during the excitement of 1863-’64, went to Nevada,
and remained sixteen months. He then returned to Petaluma, and there worked at
different occupations. He then worked in the mountains of Tehama and Butte
counties, lumbering. From there he came to Stockton, and engaged in the
restaurant business, as previously mentioned.
Mr. Wiedman was married in Dubuque County,
Iowa, February 5, 1846, to Miss Mary A. Higgins, a native of Waldo County,
Maine. They have three children, viz: Emma E., wife of L. Dean, of Reno,
Nevada; Alice and Nettie.
Mr. Wiedman is a genial entertainer, and
this, with his proper business methods, have made his business a success.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 603-604. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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