San Joaquin County
Biographies
VIRGIL ANTONINI.
An experienced and successful rancher, Virgil Antonini is a native of the Province of Genoa, where he was born at Castiglione, Italy, November 17, 1891, the son of Giabotta B. and Carlotta Antonini, both of whom are still living in that sunny southland. Four children made up the family, Virgil being the eldest; his sister Louisa has come to reside in California, while Henry and Anna have remained in Italy. Virgil's father was a road supervisor, and he made sure that the lad enjoyed the best of grammar school advantages in his native land. At the age of eighteen he came out to the United States, and was fortunate in early making his way to the Pacific Coast, where he soon found in California all the essentials of a Golden State. Reaching Stockton, he took up farm labor, and for about ten years worked for wages. He was industrious and also thrifty, and when he could, he joined a partner and purchased his present ranch of twenty-two acres. This ranch has peaches, cherries and grapes, all choice fruit, and is amply irrigated. His partner is Dr. J. V. Craviotto, the ranch being under the direction of Mr. Antonini. They believe that they own one of the finest farms of the size in San Joaquin County, and they purpose to so develop it that it shall stand in the front rank of California acreage.
At Stockton, on October 3, 1917, Mr. Antonini was married to Miss Rosie Capurro, a native daughter, having been born at Fair Oaks, a suburb of Stockton. Her parents were Frank and Mary (Repotta) Capurro, her father having been a native of Italy who had come out to California about twenty-five years ago, when he settled at Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Capurro had four children, and among these our subject's wife was the second in the order of birth. Mary, now Mrs. Pagano, was the eldest, while Matilda, who became Mrs. Leandro, was the third. The youngest child was named Carrie. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Antonini: Louis and Raymond. Mr. Antonini belongs to the Italian-American lodge called Giardenieri, and he is a member of the Moose of Stockton.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1567
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
GEORGE L. BARBER.
A well-known citizen and prominent agriculturist of northern San Joaquin County is George L. Barber, who is an equal partner with his brother, Edward H. Barber, in a valuable ranch of 425 acres three miles northwest of Thornton, devoted to general farming and dairying. He was born in Summer Hill, N. Y., January 22, 1870, a son of George H. and Catherine (Potter) Barber, the former a native of New York, of English descent, who served in an Illinois Regiment in the Civil War. At the age of four years George L. Barber accompanied his parents to Stockton, Cal. Here the father remained for a year. He then tried farming in Sonoma County for one year, and then returned to San Joaquin County, where he eventually purchased 100 acres of land three miles northwest of Thornton, a portion of the present holdings of the Barber brothers. Both parents are now deceased. The father died in 1907 at the age of seventy-seven, and the mother was fifty-five when she passed away.
The education of George L. Barber was begun in the district schools of California. When he was thirteen years old, he returned to New York and lived with his mother's people at Utica, where he attended the grammar school. Later he entered the Geneseo State Normal School. After teaching school for a year, in 1890 he returned to California, to the home ranch, which is now equally owned by himself and his brother, Edward H. Barber.
The marriage of Mr. Barber occurred on May 4, 1903, uniting him with Miss May Chamberlain, a native of Oregon, and a daughter of Henry K. and Lucy (Levitte) Chamberlain, natives of Illinois and Massachusetts, respectively, and both from families of Revolutionary stock. Her father was a farmer by occupation, who came to Oregon and took up government land, and later went into the sawmill business. When Mrs. Barber was two years old, her mother died; and five years later her father was killed, leaving a family of eleven children, seven of whom are now deceased and four living. Those living are: Lucy, Mrs. Sherman Alford, of Stockton; Nettie, Mrs. George Alford, of Mountain View; Emma, Mrs. Ralph Snell, of Mountain View; and May, Mrs. Barber. Annie, now deceased, was Mrs. Hansen, of Fresno. Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of four children: James Henry, Edward L., Phillip Sherman, and Robert L. Mr. Barber has served as trustee of the New Hope school district.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1567
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
ARLINGTON CAFETERIA.
HENRY BURK.
Known throughout Central California as the "House of Good Eats" the Arlington Cafeteria has been built up into a prosperous business by Henry Burk and his associates. Since 1912 Mr. Burk has given his entire time and attention to building up an institution that reflects much credit to his abilities as a manager and to the city of Stockton where such an establishment is appreciated. Henry Burk was born near Frankforton-Main, Germany, December 12, 1874, and came to the United States when a young lad, arriving at Chicago on July 22, 1889, where he had a brother engaged in the produce business. Henry worked for this brother ten years and mastered every detail of the produce business. He made a decided change when he came West and engaged in the hotel business in Spokane, Wash., which he continued until he came to San Francisco and once more engaged in the produce business. After spending two years in Lovelocks, Nev., Mr. Burk came to Stockton on November 19, 1912, and with C. G. Berlin as a partner, bought the Arlington Cafeteria from F. A. Parker, who had established the business a year previous.
When the new management took over the business they had a patronage of from 600 to 700 people; this has more than doubled as from 1,400 to 1,500 people are served daily at this location. The space occupied by the cafeteria has been enlarged several times and each time modern methods and equipment were added to bring everything up to the highest standard and simplify labor. The management manufacture their own ice; have their own bakery; have installed a modern heating system for winter, and have a cooling system for summer, fresh air being circulated every few minutes by what is known as the Wash Air System; have installed two Crescent dishwashers with a capacity of 4,000 dishes per hour, and after being washed all dishes are sterilized in water at a temperature of 150 degrees. Fifty people are employed and it takes the entire output of a 120-cow dairy to supply milk and cream, and 1,000 hens for the eggs that are used daily. Only the very best the market affords is served to the patrons of this ideal eating place and every courtesy is shown by owner, management and employees. The public is cordially invited to inspect the kitchen where every sanitary device is found to prepare and care for the food consumed by the patrons of the Arlington Cafeteria.
In January, 1918, George W. Burk, a nephew of Henry Burk, bought an interest in the business. He was born in Chicago, in June, 1890, and received his schooling and business training in that city and it was there he became a Mason. After acquiring his interest he easily mastered the details of the cafeteria business and demonstrated his fitness in the management of various departments. He is a member of the Stockton Elks and the Rotary Club. Charles A. Schroeder is the assistant manager and since 1919 has shown himself a very capable man in caring for the responsibilities that are thrust upon him. On July 1, 1920, Henry Burk purchased the interest of Mr. Berlin and with the hearty cooperation of George W. Burk and Charles A. Schroeder carries on one of the important enterprises of Stockton.
In 1895 Henry Burk's parents came from Germany to make their home in the United States. His father died on June 22, 1914, in Stockton, and now his mother, aged eighty-two years, is living in contentment at the home of her son Henry at Stockton. While living at Spokane, Wash., Mr. Burk was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Brown, a native of Minnesota, and she shares with him the esteem of a large circle of friends. After an absence of many years, Henry Burk made an extended European trip, his travels taking him to many places of historical interest in Europe, as well as in America.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1568
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.