San Joaquin County
Biographies
SAMUEL R. ARTHUR.
The name of Samuel R. Arthur is closely connected with the history of the medical profession of California and more especially with Lodi, having practiced for twenty-two years in the city. He is a native of California, having been born in Stockton on April 14, 1874 ,a son of Richard and Anna (Alles) Arthur, both natives of England. His father made his first trip to the United States in the late '50s and located in Indiana; he then returned to England for a time and when he returned to the United States in the early '60s he located in California, going direct to the mines; but later settled in Stockton where he engaged in teaming and contracting. There were four children in the family, three of whom are now living. Dr. Edgar A. Arthur residing in Stockton; Mrs. E. M. Tremper; Ethel, who was a teacher in the Stockton high school is deceased, and Samuel R. Arthur, the subject of this sketch. Both parents are now deceased.
Samuel R. Arthur attended the public schools of Stockton and upon leaving the Stockton high school he pursued a special scientific course in a private school, after which he entered the University of California and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1899 with the degree of M. D. He then became an interne in the San Joaquin County Hospital and in 1900 located in Lodi, forming a partnership with Dr. Hull, the association continuing until 1905 when Dr. Hull removed to Stockton. Eminently successful in his chosen profession. Dr. Arthur has also been active in land development, having planted a thirty-acre vineyard east of Acampo, which he sold at the end of four years. At the present time he is the owner of two fine ranches in the Escalon district consisting of 117 acres, on which he maintains a fine herd of Holstein dairy cows, besides raising Poland China hogs. His ranches are planted to alfalfa and vineyard, on which he raises very fine grapes which are one of the most profitable crops of the San Joaquin Valley. He has brought his ranches to a high state of cultivation. He makes his home in Woodbridge and is a member of the school board of that district.
Dr. Arthur's marriage united him with Miss Lillian Freeman, a native of Kansas, but reared and educated in California and they are the parents of two children, Samuel R., Jr., and Grace Wynette. In his fraternal association, Dr. Arthur is past master of the Woodbridge lodge of No. 131, F. & A. M., a member of the Stockton Knights Templar and of the Stockton Elks. He is past noble grand of the Woodbridge Lodge No. 98, I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Knights of Pythias of Woodbridge, and is a member of the State and County Medical societies and of Lodi Parlor N, S. G. W.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 657
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
OSCAR W. ECKSTROM.
Five years ago Oscar W, Eckstrom became actively identified with farming pursuits in San Joaquin County, when he purchased twenty acres at the corner of Schutte Lane and Waterloo Road, where he set out a new orchard and by his steady industry and perseverance he has made his way to a front rank among his fellow-citizens in the Linden section of the county. He was born near Saratoga, Cal., August 15, 1885, a son of John J. and Minnie (Roos) Eckstrom, both natives of Sweden. John J. Eckstrom served three years in the army of his country prior to coming to America in 1876, locating in Gladstone, Ill. Eight years later, in 1884, he removed to California, locating near Santa Clara, where he engaged in fruit raising. In 1896 he located at Linden, Cal., where he was employed by D. W. Miller. He had purchased twenty acres, which he devoted to general farming and orchard. In 1917 he sold the same and removed to Palo Alto, where he is now living retired. Oscar W., the second oldest of their three children, received his education in the public schools and while still a young boy began to do ranch work for neighboring farmers. In 1912 he went to Siskiyou County and engaged in mining, later engaged in the same occupation in Shasta County and spent about five years there, being fairly rewarded for his work.
In 1913 at Stockton, Mr. Eckstrom was married to Miss Isadora Whitcomb, a native of Vermont, a daughter of Charles M. Whitcomb, who removed to Linden, Cal , in 1910. Mr. Whitcomb passed, away a year afterward, survived by his widow, who makes her home on the twenty-acre home place left her by her husband. Mr. Eckstrom cares for his own twenty acres and also that of Mrs. Whitcomb, the products of these ranches being peaches, almonds, apricots, prunes and plums, besides considerable hay and grain. Mr. Eckstrom uses a tractor for the cultivation of his land and irrigation water is supplied by a fifteen-horsepower motor. Locally he is identified with the California Prune and Apricot Association, California Peach Growers, California Canning Association, and the California Almond Growers.
Fraternally he is a past grand of Scio Lodge No. 102, I. O. O. F., of Linden, and with his wife is active in Opal Rebekah Lodge in Linden. He is a well-known and popular citizen, and in many ways has performed a useful part in the life of his community.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 658
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.