San Joaquin County
Biographies
ALEXANDER BROTHERS.
Among the prosperous and enterprising representatives of the agricultural interests of San Joaquin County, the three Alexander brothers, John, Thomas, and Christ, have given ample evidence of the progressive spirit and up-to-date methods which make for success along every line of worthy endeavor. John and Thomas, twins, were born June 10, 1884, and Christ was born April 16, 1890, at Cephalonia, Greece. They are sons of Zesus and Diamond (Vandoros) Alexander. The parents were farmer folk in their native land, and their nine children were reared on the farm, where they all received practical experience in agriculture. The nine children are: Angelus, Stephen, Thomas and John (twins), Andrew, Christ, Anna, Angelina, and Alexandria—all residing in Greece with the exception of the three brothers referred to in this sketch. All three brothers received a good education in the grammar and high schools of their native country. When John Alexander was about sixteen years old he left home and went to Palestine, where he attended school for a year; then he went to Port Said, Egypt, and for seven months worked in a clothing store. Giving up his position, he traveled throughout Egypt for a short while, and then returned to his home in Greece for a visit, after which he went to Athens and worked for two years. He then went to the English colony of the Sudan, Africa, where he worked in a grocery store for a year and a half. Returning to Athens, he met his brother Christ and together they came via Marseilles and La Havre, France, to New York City, where they were met by their brother Thomas. Thomas Alexander left home when he was nineteen years old and went to Constantinople, where he worked in his uncle's large dry-goods store for about six months, then removed to Cardiff, Wales, where he worked for a few months. He then made his way to Rio de Janeiro and from there to Buenos Aires, where he served in the Argentine navy for two years. Leaving here, he came to New York City, and joined his brothers there. The three brothers worked in New York City for about a year, and then removed to Denver, Colo., where they found employment in various hotels for two years. Thereafter the three of them went to Chicago and there learned the barber trade, which they followed for two years; they then returned to Denver and followed their trade for a year and a half, and in 1910 came to San Francisco and established their own shop, which they conducted for one year. Then they moved to Redwood City and opened a shop, which they ran for five years. In 1916 the three brothers came to San Joaquin County and leased the A. W. Franklin ranch, seven miles west of Lodi, and engaged in farming for a year.
On September 19, 1917, Christ Alexander entered the United States Army and was sent to Camp Lewis and placed in Company L, 363rd Infantry, training for six months; and then was sent to Camp Green, N. C., where he received two months intensive training. From Camp Green he went to Camp Mills, N. Y., and was here transferred to Company C, 59th Infantry of the 4th Division. From Camp Mills. N. Y., his company sailed for France via Liverpool, England, and upon their arrival were immediately sent to the front and were in the Chateau-Thierry and Aisne-Marne offensives. In the Vesle offensive he received a severe shrapnel wound in one of his legs. He was sent to a hospital, where he remained for eleven months, and then was returned to the United States and, on July 8, 1919, was discharged from the Letterman Hospital, San Francisco, and then returned to his home in San Joaquin County. He then entered a vocational training school, where he studied dentistry, but at the end of six months was obliged to give it up on account of the strain on his wounded leg; he then tried to work at his trade in Lodi, but was obliged to give that up also. In 1919 his brothers, John and Thomas, had bought a twenty-acre vineyard one-half mile north of Victor, and in 1921 they purchased a forty-acre vineyard five miles northwest of Woodbridge; here Christ Alexander went to work, and has partially recovered the use of his wounded leg. The Alexander brothers have set twenty acres of the forty-acre ranch to young vineyard, and have further improved it with a six-inch pump and a fifteen-horsepower motor for irrigation purposes. They came to America empty-handed; but taking advantage of the splendid opportunities offered in the New World for advancement, they have worked their way steadily upward to prosperity.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1440
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
RALPH P. MORRELL.
Many of Stockton's finest and most substantial structures are the handiwork of Ralph P. Morrell, the pioneer architect of the city, which he has seen develop from a town of 12,000 inhabitants until its population now exceeds 50,000. He is a native son of California, his birth having occurred at San Francisco, February 5, 1867, and his parents were Oliver L. and Margaret (Holmes) Morrell, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New Bedford, Mass. In 1850 the father came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, locating in San Francisco, where he built and operated the first furniture factory in the city. He established his plant at the corner of Fremont and Market streets and was numbered among the pioneer business men and upbuilders of the city.
Mr. Morrell attended the Lincoln grammar school at Fifth and Market streets in San Francisco, and after their lessons for the day were ended the boys would frequently devote their energies to digging up Indian beads and other trinkets on the present site of the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. He also remembers when there were plank sidewalks on Market Street and the first railroad station was located at the intersection of that thoroughfare with Seventh Street, his reminiscences of San Francisco's early days being most interesting. In 1879 he came to Stockton, where he attended the public schools, and afterward completed an apprenticeship in furniture designing and decorating, becoming very proficient in that line. Later he embarked in business on his own account, erecting a large planing mill on Lafayette Street in March, 1890, and at the same time he began his work in architectural drawing. The mill was afterward destroyed by fire and Mr. Morrell has since devoted his attention to architectural work, in which he has been very successful. The greater part of the business blocks in Stockton were designed by him and also a large number of fine homes, for which he has likewise selected the furnishings. His reputation has spread beyond the boundaries of Stockton and he has drawn the plans for public buildings and private residences in cities from Bakersfield to the northern part of the state and he has also done architectural work in Nevada, being widely known in this connection. In fraternal circles he is well known, belonging to Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E., and to Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F. He occupies a position of leadership in his profession and his work, which is of high character and standard excellence, is a credit to the city and a feature in its substantial improvement.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1443
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.