San Joaquin County
Biographies
MRS. MARIE OTT COOPER.
An honored pioneer resident of San Joaquin County, Mrs. Marie Ott Cooper has been privileged to see and have part in the development that has come about in the past half century, making this one of the progressive and prosperous sections of the Golden State. She was born near the River Neckar, Wurtemberg, Germany, January 23, 1858, the daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Trick) Wille, both natives of that place and well-to-do farmers; the father was born on December 26, 1833, and the mother on December 6, 1835, and they resided in their native land until 1878, when they came to America. They were the parents of four children, of whom three now survive: Mrs. Anne Schneider of Stockton; Mrs. Marie Ott Cooper of this sketch, and Mrs. Barbara Gasser of Eureka, Cal.
Mrs. Cooper was educated in a private school at Reutlingen, Germany, and on August 7, 1875, she was married to Martin Ott, who was one of San Joaquin County's prominent early settlers. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, February 8, 1837, and in 1853 came with his father and brother to America, settling in Detroit, Mich., where Martin Ott clerked in a mercantile establishment until 1858. Starting to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, he arrived at San Francisco in June, 1858, and remained there for nine months, when he went to Tuolumne County, where he engaged in mining until 1867. He then came to San Joaquin County and bought 200 acres of land on the San Joaquin River and farmed for a time, but on account of ill health he removed to San Francisco. After two years he returned to his farm where he began cultivating the virgin soil and became extensively interested in raising chicory, and with Carl Dangers established the San Joaquin Chicory Factory on the San Joaquin River, being engaged in this business for twenty-seven years. He made his home on the ranch until his death on January 11, 1897, passing away at the age of sixty, a man of sterling worth, beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. April 4, 1875, he started back to his old home in Wurtemberg and there, as stated above he was married in 1875 and then returned to California with his bride. Mr. and Mrs. Ott became the parents of four children; Minna, a graduate nurse, resides at Stockton with her mother; Fred W., a rancher and deputy county assessor, is represented elsewhere in this work; Emma, who graduated as a nurse at Mt. Zion Hospital in 1903, resides at home; Leonore married H. Barstow; they have a daughter and reside in Berkeley.
Mrs. Ott's second marriage united her with A. D. M. Cooper of San Francisco and San Jose, the noted artist and authority on the American Indian who is well known on both sides of the Atlantic. About fifteen years ago Mrs. Cooper built a commodious residence at 127 West Willow Street, Stockton, and here are to be found some of Mr. Cooper's finest canvases and many Indian curios of great value. A member of the Lutheran Church since her early girlhood, Mrs. Cooper gives much time to its activities and is a generous contributor to its benevolences.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 856
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
CHARLES PROFIT ANDERSON.
Among the successful vineyardists of San Joaquin County, Charles Profit Anderson has made a decided success of his viticultural activities and his home place near Ripon, known as the Cannan vineyards, has long been known for the excellency of its table grapes, principally Tokays. He is a native of. Stockholm, Sweden, born August 15, 1864, a son of Lars and Annie (Anderson) Anderson, both natives also of Sweden. Lars Anderson was born in 1817 and in 1865 came to America. The family consisted of nine children: Ellen, Martin, Betty, Fannie, William, Annie are all deceased; Peter T. resides in Washington state; Nels L. owns a fine citrus ranch at Lindsay, Cal., and Charles Profit, the subject of this sketch. Lars Anderson located at Chicago, Ill. and later removed to Gladstone in the same state. He was a Republican in politics and received his U. S. citizenship at Oquawka, Henderson Co., Ill. The father passed away in 1885, survived by his wife who passed away four years later, in 1889.
Charles Profit Anderson entered the public school at Gladstone, Ill., at the age of six years and finished school at the age of thirteen and at eighteen years of age he left home to make his way in the world. He selected acting as his vocation and his first appearance was in Chicago as an Irish comedian, receiving a salary of sixty dollars per week and expenses; then while in Minneapolis, Minn. he signed up with Sells Bros. Circus for $125 per week and all expenses and during 1885-6-7 received $500 per month for his work and traveled all over the world. After completing his contract with Sells Bros., he took up the study of electrical engineering and entered the shop of Thomas A. Edison at Schenectady, N. Y. where he spent four years; then he went to New Orleans and was employed four months in the installation of an acetylene plant. He then entered business for himself and removed to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he constructed a large light and power plant and also installed an electrical system for a large storage plant.
On November 30, 1891, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ella Stewart, a native of Texas, a daughter of James and Eugenie (Gazelle) Stewart, an old New Orleans family, of French descent. After his marriage, Mr. Anderson removed to Fort Worth, Texas, where he became general manager of the Standard Light & Power Corporation at Fort Worth where he remained for five years. Being advised by his physician to engage in outdoor employment he moved to Edmond, Okla., where he purchased 480 acres of land which he farmed to wheat and also engaged in stock raising on a large scale. At the time of the Galveston storm and flood Mr. Anderson lost $6,000 and soon thereafter sold his place and removed to Missouri, locating near Forsyth, and there bought a ranch of 1,000 acres where he extensively raised cattle and hogs. Again Mr. Anderson suffered severe reverses and in 1903 he disposed of his holdings and removed to California, and in going about from place to place was impressed with the advantages of the Ripon section of San Joaquin County, so purchased 160 acres near the town. For two years he was hampered by ill health, but the California climate proved beneficial and he was able to accomplish splendid results in viticulture and he is considered a pioneer in this industry in the Ripon section. His first experience in setting out a vineyard was on thirty acres of his home place where he got a ninety-five per cent stand, thus proving the adaptability of the climate and soil for grapes. Mr. Anderson also owns two other ranches—one or eighty acres near Avena, San Joaquin County, and the other one of twenty acres in Sacramento County, and both places are being rapidly developed.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of six children: Olive Ruth, the wife of Wellington Manley, employed in the registry department of the Sacramento postoffice and they have two sons; Ella DeVie married William Smith and they reside in Los Angeles; Vera C. is the wife of Virgil Merritt and they reside in Williams, Arizona; Charles Arnold is foreman at the Ford garage at Colusa; Eugenie G. is the wife of James Smith and they reside at Sacramento; Zenobia J. is at home with her parents. In politics Mr. Anderson is a Republican and a stanch advocate of prohibition and fraternally is a charter member and a commander of Samson lodge, K. P., of Chicago. Mrs. Anderson is a talented woman, a graduate of Corpus Christi College, Texas, and takes an active part in all civic affairs of her locality and is a member of the executive committee of the South San Joaquin County W. C. T. U. Mr. Anderson finds great pleasure in fishing as a means of recreation and is classed as one of the best anglers in the county.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 861
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.