San Joaquin County
Biographies
GORDON L. BENEDICT.
A resident of Lodi since his fourth year, Gordon L. Benedict has been identified with its activities since his school days were over, and has contributed much to its commercial progress through his association with the fruit packing industry, now being a partner in the firm of Pope & Benedict. A native son, Mr. Benedict was born at Burson, Calaveras County, November 20, 1890, the son of George L. and Katie Benedict, the former a native of New York, Mrs. Benedict being a native daughter of Humboldt County. The father located in the Lodi district in 1894, and there followed farming until his death, Mrs. Benedict also having passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. George L. Benedict were the parents of two children, William and Gordon of this sketch. After attending the Salem grammar school at Lodi, he completed his schooling at the Lodi Union high school, and in 1909 started in the fruit packing business with the San Joaquin County Table Grape Growers' Association at Lodi, learning all branches of the business, later becoming assistant secretary of the company. In 1920 he formed a partnership with Demas R. Pope, as Pope & Benedict, representing the E. J. Foley Company of Fresno as district agents, and in 1920 they shipped out 319 cars of fruit and grapes. In January, 1921, this firm became the representative of the T. H. Pepper Company for the Lodi district, one of the largest fruit packing firms operating in the San Joaquin Valley, and since then they have built up a rapidly increasing business. In addition to his activities as a member of this firm, Mr. Benedict is secretary of the Lodi Shippers' League.
Mr. Benedict's marriage, which occurred at Stockton, united him with Miss Ruth E. Hunt, who was born in Sacramento. Cal., the daughter of W. A. and Villa Hunt, and they make their home at 241 South Hutchins Street, Lodi. Prominent in the fraternal life of the community, Mr. Benedict is secretary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Lodi, a member of the Stockton Elks, and of Lodi Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M., and with Mrs. Benedict is a member of the Eastern Star.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1565
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
CORNELIUS CLARK.
Since an early period in the development of California, Cornelius Clark has resided within the borders of the Golden State, and is now an esteemed resident of San Joaquin County. He is a native of Lawrence County, Ohio, born on August 18, 1853, a son of Wilson and Margaret Ann (Hereford) Clark, the father a direct descendant of Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, while the mother was the daughter of General John Hereford, who served under General Washington. The family of Herefords were originally from Herefordshire, England, and are descendants of the early Norman kings. Grandfather John Hereford was twice married and was the father of two large families. Mrs. Margaret Ann Clark was the youngest of the second set of children and died at the age of forty-five years, while the father, Wilson Clark. lived to be eighty-seven years old. There were six children in their family: Anon Barnes, John A., Mary, Cornelius, the subject of this review, Sarah E. and Charles.
Cornelius Clark received his education in the public schools of his native state and came to California in 1881, first settling at Petaluma. where he remained
until 1898, when he came to Lodi and purchased ten acres of land on the corner of Wyandotte Avenue and Cherokee Lane, a portion of the Larson subdivision, where he was the first settler and built the first house on the tract; later he sold this to his brother and bought another ten acres farther east on Wyandotte Avenue, and here he built a house and resides at the present time.
The marriage of Mr. Clark occurred on August 18, 1904, and united him with Mrs. Mary J. (Woodruff) Lee, a daughter of Jackson and Lila (Roberts) Woodruff. Mrs. Clark is a native of Adams County, Ill. On April 27, 1864, she started to California in a train of emigrants and drove an ox-team across the plains, coming via the Salt Lake route and on November 5 of that year arrived in California. Soon after arrival, her husband, Mr. Lee, was taken ill and they returned East and remained there until his death in 1900. Returning to California she was married to Mr. Clark. Besides his agricultural activities, Mr. Clark is engaged in the egg production business, having several hundred laying hens and pullets, and is a member of the Poultry Breeders' Association and also of the Farm Bureau.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1565
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
CHARLES ABERSOLD.
Well known for his connection with the business interests of the town of Mossdale, San Joaquin County, Charles Abersold is the proprietor and half owner of a store and garage, located on the Lincoln Highway, which has proven a most successful venture, for he operates a lunch room in connection with his store; also the long distance telephone station. His partner, S. Mauro, is in charge of the garage, while Charles Abersold looks after the store and lunch room. He was born near Beach City, Ohio, March 27, 1875, and received a good grammar school education. After leaving school he worked for the Eagle Machine Shop at Bucyrus, Ohio, and later was employed in the railroad shops in the same city. In November, 1904, Mr. Abersold came to California, direct to Lathrop, where his brother, C. C. Abersold, whose sketch also appears in this work, had settled ten years previous. C. C. Abersold first engaged in the hotel business at Lathrop and Charles worked in his employ there as a clerk for five years. After a trip back East he returned to Lathrop and again worked in the hotel, after which he was employed on the Stockton division of the Western Pacific Railroad. From 1914 to 1917 he ran the gas station and store at the San Joaquin bridge, which he sold out in 1917, and, in 1918, in partnership with S. Mauro, established his present business, which has been a success financially and a boon to the travelers on the highway. In politics Mr. Abersold is a Republican and he is the owner of considerable stock in the Coast Tire & Rubber Company of Oakland. His usefulness in affairs and his energy and ambition give him a broad and bright outlook for the future.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1566
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.