San Joaquin County
Biographies
JAMES LEONARD ALLEN.
The owner of an alfalfa ranch comprising 162 acres on Muller Road, Roberts Island, James Leonard Allen was born near Hannibal, Mo., April 27, 1867, a son of William H. and Catherine (Triplett) Allen, both natives of Missouri. The grandparents on both sides were pioneers of Marion County, Mo., coming there in the early days and homesteading the virgin soil, the Allen family, of German ancestry, coming from Kentucky, while the Tripletts were of Scotch descent and early settlers of Virginia. James L. remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two, when he went to the lumber camps of Puget Sound, Wash., and eastern Oregon, remaining there until 1890, when he embarked for San Francisco, coming directly from there to Turlock, where he first found employment with the Turlock Irrigation District, then went to work on the Hickman ranch at Hickman for one season. The following four years were spent as foreman on the large Patterson ranch on the Merced River. In 1895 Mr. Allen bought a tract of 240 acres near Snelling and by subsequent purchase added to it until he had 720 acres which he devoted to grain farming, meeting with success. He continued here until 1912, when he had an opportunity to dispose of his holdings at a good profit. He then removed to Merced and leased the Central Hotel, conducting it for two years. In 1914 he came with his family to Roberts Island and purchased the tract of land that is now his home. At the time of his purchase the prospect was far from attractive, but through careful planning and hard work, he now has the ranch in alfalfa and under irrigation. Mr. Allen markets his hay independently and over a period of six years he has received from $12 to $25 per ton. Mr. Allen's ranch is in the Woods Irrigation District and he has taken an active part in its development.
Mr. Allen's marriage, which occurred at Snelling, Cal., November 30, 1902, united him with Miss Elizabeth Grubb, a native of Madisonville, Monroe County, Tennessee, and the daughter of Daniel H. and Sarah (Carson) Grubb, honored pioneers who were for many years residents of Snelling. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of one son, Lorin C. Allen, attending Stockton College of Commerce.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1566
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
WILLIAM C. ALLEN.
It would be impossible to estimate the wealth that has been added to San Joaquin County through the development of irrigation, and so to those men who have been instrumental in the working out and installation of economical irrigation systems much credit is due. Among them may be numbered William C. Allen, of Lodi, who for many years has been engaged in this line of work. Descended from California pioneers, associated with Stockton from its earliest days, Mr. Allen is a native son of that city, his parents being Charles C. H. and Harriet (Morton) Allen, the former a native of Boston, Mass., while Mrs. Allen was born in California; her mother, Mrs. Catherine Morton, having come to Stockton with Captain Weber's party, thus being among the first white women there. The father, who came to Stockton when it was but a village, was for many years before his death associated with the Holden Drug Company.
Three children were born to this honored couple: Mrs. Katie Kemp of Lodi, Cornelius Allen of Oakland, and William C. Allen of this sketch. After finishing his education in the public schools of Stockton he learned the plumber's trade with E. A. Whale in Stockton, later conducting a fruit store on Market Street there. He then went to San Francisco where he worked at his trade with Mangrum & Otter, going from there to Lodi, where for nine years he was associated with the plumbing department of Henderson Bros. Much of his work has been the installation of pumps and engines for irrigation, his experience covering a wide field in this line, so that he is an expert in irrigation matters.
About four years ago Mr. Allen became agent for the Krogh deep well pump and the Crocker-Wheeler motor, and since then he has installed more than 400 of these pumps in the Lodi district. A first-class pump which has given complete satisfaction, the Krogh deep well turbine pump is designed to be placed in bored or drilled wells without the use of pits. The pump is located down in the well at such a depth that the impellers are submerged when the pump is idle, so that it is self priming, and one type has a tube surrounding and enclosing the shaft and bearings, protecting them from contact with heavy gravel and coarse material carried in the water. Mr. Allen has made pump installations on the ranches of C. F. Woodruff, Earl Fruit Company, Claude Van Gilder, Louis Sanguinetti, Ed Hutchins, J. S. Stuckenbruck, Charles Buck and the Western Fruit Company ranch at Galt, all of whom can give testimony to the expert quality of Mr. Allen's workmanship.
Mr. Allen's marriage, which occurred at San Francisco, June 2, 1909, united him with Miss Eleanor Huber, the daughter of August and Frances (Harriet) Huber. Her father was a business man in San Francisco and her parents died there. Mrs. Allen was educated at St. Vincent's Convent in San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of two sons, Albert and Noel Allen.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1566
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JOHN ANGERINA.
Since 1885 John Angerina has been identified with the agricultural interests of San Joaquin County and the residents of Stockton are particularly indebted to him for the fine fruit and produce which he has delivered to them for many years. He was born at Montemurro, near Potenza, Italy, November 21, 1864, a son of Antone and Catherina (Aliena) Angerina, both natives of the same place and both are now deceased. An older brother of our subject was a soldier in the national army of Italy. At nineteen years of age John Angerina decided to try his fortune in America, so left family, friends and native country for the New World and located in New York, where he spent two years. In 1885 he left for the West and settling in San Joaquin County found employment on a ranch near Ripon, where he remained for four years, and purchased seven and a half acres near French Camp with his savings. Within the next eight years he was able to buy out the interest of his partner in this tract of land so that he is now sole owner of it. He devotes all of his attention to the production of fruits and vegetables, for which he finds a ready and profitable sale, owing to their superior quality.
The marriage of Mr. Angerina occurred at Stockton in January, 1897, and united him with Miss Vincenza Amadola, also a native of Italy, born in the vicinity of Milan, who came to Stockton, Cal., with her parents, where they still reside. They are the parents of seven children: Catherine, Mrs. Joe Russo, has two sons and resides in Stockton; Antone; Louis served four and a half years in the U. S. Army; John, George, Thomas, and Theresa. The family are identified with the Catholic Church at Stockton and fraternally Mr. Angerina is a member of the S. E. S. of Stockton. He has systematically developed his ranch until it is a model of neatness, the main reason for the quality and quantity of the products of his orchard and garden. Recently he erected a comfortable residence on the ranch, which enhances its value and where the family reside in comfort. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for he found good business opportunities here of which he took advantage, and as the years have passed his labors have been crowned with success.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1567
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.