San Joaquin County
Biographies
HENRY CHRISTOPHER BECKMAN.
One of the most prominent agriculturalists and business men in Lodi is Henry C. Beckman, a man thoroughly conversant with all departments of that greatest of California industries, agriculture. A native of the state, he has given his best years and most generous efforts to the welfare of his particular lines of business and the advancement of all interests of the public and state. He resides on his fine estate near Lodi, which is also his birthplace. He was born on August 23, 1867, a son of Christopher and Mary (Langhorst) Beckman, both natives of Westphalia, Prussia, Germany. His father, Christopher Beckman, was thrown upon his own resources at an early age and learned the practical lessons of life by experience and actual contact with affairs, so that he deserved the more honor for his success. In 1849, accompanied by a younger brother, Henry, he sailed from Bremen, Germany, and in about fifty-five days landed in Baltimore. After a short time in Pennsylvania they moved to Wisconsin, where he was employed in the pineries and also in steamboating on the Mississippi River. His father, William Beckman, had joined them; and in 1853, with his father and his brother, he crossed the plains with ox-teams and wagons. They were over six months en route, and on their arrival took up their residence in San Joaquin County. He located on the ranch now owned by our subject and farmed until the time of his death. His widow survived him for twenty-one years. They were the parents of three children, but only one son, Henry C. the subject of this sketch, survives. Christopher Beckman became a very prominent citizen of his locality, where he served for several years as trustee of the Henderson school district. In politics he gave his support to the Democratic party, and fraternally he was a member of the Masons at Lodi. He was a respected member of the German Lutheran Church at Stockton. Christopher Beckman died on April 27, 1890, and his wife on April 25, 1911, and both were buried on April 29, twenty-one years apart, in the Woodbridge cemetery.
Henry C. Beckman grew to manhood in his native county and received his education at the Henderson district school and the San Joaquin Valley College at Woodbridge. His fine home place near Lodi, consisting of 400 acres, is the old home place. Here he built a fine residence in 1902, one of the most commodious and pleasant rural homes in the locality. He also owns the Thomas Yolland place, of 400 acres.
On May 20, 1896, at Woodbridge, Mr. Beckman was married to Miss Jessie Spenker, a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Schliemann) Spenker, natives of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Holstein, Germany, respectively. Joseph Spenker was reared on a farm and came to America in 1854, landing in New York, where he remained three days. He then spent a few years in traveling, settling finally in Illinois. From there he started for California in 1859, crossing the plains with ox-teams and arriving at Murphy's Camp on September 16, 1859. By hard work and economy he became, within a few years, a large landowner and a prominent citizen of San Joaquin County. Mr. and Mrs. Beckman are the parents of three children: Anita, Vera and Joseph C.
Since the organization of the First National Bank of Lodi, Mr. Beckman has been a member of the board of directors, and he is now serving as a vice-president of this institution. Until the World War, Mr. Beckman had supported the principles of the Democratic party, but now he is an ardent believer in and supporter of the Republican party. In 1890 he was made a Mason in Lodi Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M. The family are members of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Lodi. There is no more loyal citizen of San Joaquin County than this native son. who favors progressive measures and gives active cooperation to many movements for the public good. His name has thus become a synonym for patriotism in citizenship, for straightforward dealing in business, and for reliability in friendship.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1327
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
AUGUSTO BELLUOMINI.
A progressive, experienced and very successful rancher is Augusto Belluomini, proprietor of the Delta Farm, on Upper Roberts Island, embracing about 173 acres on Middle River, about ten miles southwest of Stockton. He was born in Tuscany, in the province of Lucca, Italy, on January 19, 1882, the son of Carmilindo Belluomini, a native of Italy, who had come out to California in 1874 and settled near Marysville, where he had a brother-in-law, C. Del Porto, a '49er, who had become well-to-do in the farming and stock business. Carmilindo Belluomini remained in California about seven years, during which time he did well on his farm, when he returned to his native land, carrying back with him a fair-sized fortune. He had married Zaira Del Porto, also a native of Italy, in 1872, and had left her and the family in the old country. Three sons were born to them. Angelo came to America at the age of eighteen, became a well-to-do rancher in the Delta section, and died, with an excellent record for usefulness to the community; Augusto is the subject of our story; and Vincente is a Delta rancher. The father passed away in 1899: and his widow lives, retired, in Lucca, aged seventy-four years. In the winter of 1921-22 she enjoyed a visit from her son, Augusto, who made a trip to Italy, being away from California for about four months.
It was in 1892 that Angelo left Italy for California, making direct for the Pacific Coast and settling in Sacramento; and after devoting himself for a few months to farm labor, he went into the Kennedy Mine, at Jackson, in Amador County. When a boy of sixteen years of age Augusto made the voyage to Melbourne, Australia, and there spent nine months, when he returned home, and the next year, in 1900, he followed his brother to the Golden State, and after an adventurous trip, he also went into the Kennedy Mine, where he remained for two years. Coming to Stockton in 1902, he remained a year on a Delta farm.
The next three years were spent in San Francisco, where he joined his brother, Vincente, in the transfer and express business, until the great fire, following the earthquake, swept everything away. He then went to Oakley, Contra Costa County, bought twenty acres of bare land, on which he started a vineyard: and three years later he was able to sell this at a good advantage. In 1910, he moved back to Stockton, and ever since he has been a successful Delta rancher. In 1918 he bought his present rancho, and in addition to cultivating this acreage, he farms extensively on adjacent lands.
In Jackson. in 1902, Mr. Belluomini was married to Miss Childa Bagniski, a daughter of Louis and Esther Bagniski—the latter now a retired resident of Palo Alto,—both natives of Lucca, Italy, who came to California in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Belluomini have three children: Inez, Eleanor and Ernest. Mr. Belluomini. who was made a citizen at Stockton, is a stanch Republican.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1327
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.