San Joaquin County
Biographies
ELI J. BLANCHARD.
A leading business man of Stockton who has forged his way to prosperity and success is Eli J. Blanchard, who conducts a wallpaper and paint store at 616 East Main Street; he is also a leader in interior and exterior decorating. He was born in Montreal, Canada, on June 19, 1860. In 1883 he left his native home and located in Arizona and for three years followed various occupations until 1886 when he went to San Francisco and there learned the trade of painter. He located in Stockton in 1891 and for four years worked for Matteson & Williamson Mfg. Company; then in 1895 started in business for himself as a painting contractor. One of his first large contracts was the painting of the old pavilion, formerly one of the landmarks of Stockton. His business grew steadily as the city grew, until now he is among the leaders in his line; he keeps from ten to thirty-five men busy all the time. Among his more recent work of interior and exterior decorating are the Wilhoit Building, the Hotel Bronx, Hotel Sutter, Hotel Philson, Hotel McAllister, two school houses, etc. He has made a specialty of fine residences and has been the contractor for a large number of them. In the spring of 1909, he opened a paint and wallpaper store, which is well stocked with a full line of up-to-date paints and wallpaper. When Mr. Blanchard arrived in Stockton he had very little capital and what he has accomplished during these years has been due to business-like methods and the quality of his work.
Mr. Blanchard's marriage united him with Miss Harriet A. Binnington, a native Californian, and they are the parents of four children; Thomas T. is the manager of his father's store; Amy is a trained nurse; Mrs. C. C. Marsh; and Leah, attending the University of California at Berkeley. Fraternally he is a member of the Truth Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., the Elks, and is active in the Rotary Club.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1271
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JUDGE WARREN H. ATHERTON.
One of the youngest men in the state of California to be appointed city justice, Judge Warren H. Atherton has already attained a position of prominence among the members of the Stockton bar, his signal rise in the legal profession coming as a due recognition of his ability and the thoroughness of his training, gained through his application and persevering study. Judge Atherton is a native son of California, born at San Francisco, December 28, 1891, gaining his education in the public schools there. In 1908 he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, as a clerk in the office at Port Costa, Contra Costa County. With a decided bent toward the legal profession, he had already made up his mind to enter the practice of law, and so began by studying at night, pursuing this course until October 20, 1911, when he came to Stockton and entered the law office of H. R. McNoble. Here he studied diligently so that he was admitted to the bar on January 8, 1913, becoming Mr. McNoble's partner the following year.
On October 13, 1917, Mr. Atherton patriotically gave up his law practice to enlist in the service of his country, entering Company D, 363rd Infantry, as a private. He became first sergeant, and was commissioned first lieutenant while in an American training camp, and transferred to the ordnance. Soon after arriving in France he was advanced to the rank of captain, and saw service in the tank corps, having charge of the distribution of caterpillar tractors in France, and in command of one of the ordnance parks there. After nearly two years in the service, he received his honorable discharge on September 3, 1919, returning to Stockton, where, on October 1, he formed a law partnership with M. P. Shaughnessy, as Shaughnessy & Atherton. On December 15, 1920, he was named Justice of Stockton, and this post he has fired most efficiently, being exceptionally well qualified for its duties. Judge Atherton has made a special study of bond issues and is considered an authority on this important subject, as related to municipal financing. He was selected by the city to conduct its bond proceedings in recent issues, among them the issue of $1,275,000 for the Stockton school district, the $1,760,000 issue for the Stockton Municipal Auditorium and City Hall, and the $1,500,000 issue for the Calaveras Dam project.
On July 7, 1917, Mr. Atherton was married to Miss Anne M. Holt, daughter of the late Benjamin Holt, the inventor of the famous caterpillar tractor, and whose genius and worth gave him a place of highest honor among Stockton's noted citizens. Judge Atherton took a prominent part in the organization of the local post of the American Legion and is very popular in its ranks, being a member of the executive committee during the year 1920.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1271
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
WILLIAM F. BARNICOL.
Stockton owes much of its present industrial prosperity to the efforts of those who control its large manufacturing enterprises, among them William F. Barnicol, founder and president of the Sterling Iron Works, one of the leading productive industries of this part of the state. He was born at Belleville, Ill., and after completing his public school course learned the trade of a machinist, being employed by the Lentz Wire Nail Company at Belleville, where he gained a thorough knowledge, and in 1889 he came to the Pacific Coast, taking charge of the A. S. Halliday Wire Nail Works at San Francisco, Cal. He continued to fill that position until 1903, when he came to Stockton and was placed at the head of the machine shop of the Shippee Harvester Works, where he remained for a year, and then entered the Stockton Iron Works, with which he was identified until he founded the Sterling Works, being associated with four others in the enterprise. Their first place of business was a small shop 50 by 100 feet in dimensions, at 326 South California Street, and for a year they devoted their attention to repair work. Later they engaged in building gas engines and since 1914 have manufactured the famous Sterling pump, which was invented and perfected by the partners in the firm. It ranges in size from one to ten inches and is used extensively in agricultural districts and in industrial plants. Under the capable management of Mr. Barnicol, the president of the company, the business has expanded from year to year and in 1920 they manufactured and sold 600 pumps, their sales for the year amounting to $270,000. The other officers are R. N. Bachelder, vice-president, and W. W. Wilson, secretary and treasurer. They make twelve different styles of pumps and all are thoroughly tested before they leave the plant, which is equipped with a testing laboratory, in charge of an expert engineer. Complete pumping plants have been installed by the company on many ranches in the valley. The California Packing Company has four of their pumps in use, while the California Vineyards have eleven.
Mr. Barnicol is a member of the San Joaquin Lodge of Masons and he is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Charity Lodge, No. 6. He is bending his efforts to administrative direction and executive control and has so directed the efforts of those in his employ that maximum results are obtained at a minimum expenditure of time, labor and material. In his business career he has ever closely adhered to the rules which govern unabating industry and unswerving integrity and his influence is one of broadening activity and strength in the field in which he is operating.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1271
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.