San Joaquin County
Biographies
JUDGE DANA P. EICKE.
The life story of the present mayor of Stockton, Judge Dana P. Eicke, presents an interesting and varied record, which has run the gamut of farm boy, miner, prison guard, railroad policeman, detective, lawyer, judge and mayor. He was born in Placer County, December 9, 1879, and when still in his teens went to work as a miner, working in the gold, copper and borax mines of Canada and Mexico. When he was twenty-four, he returned to California and was appointed prison guard at Folsom by Governor Pardee, where he passed through some exciting experiences. He went through the famous riot and attempted jail break of 1904, when convicts seized a captain and several guards and used them as shields against bullets in their attempt to break away. Judge Eicke aided in preventing this wholesale delivery that had been carefully planned, ten men being shot during this break in eight minutes. In 1908 Governor Gillette appointed him to the state railroad police and he was one of the posse that captured the China Mail robbers near Suisun; he was then chosen by the Southern Pacific to gather evidence for its legal department in criminal cases.
With a decided inclination toward the legal profession, and through his association with C. M. Gill, a prominent attorney of Stockton, Judge Eicke took up the study of the law, burning the midnight oil in Mr. Gill's office to such good purpose that he was admitted to the bar in February, 1914, practicing in the Superior, Supreme and U. S. Courts. In 1918 he was elected judge of the police court of Stockton and while on the bench he attracted nation-wide attention through his method of dealing with automobile speeders, articles having appeared in many of the Eastern papers.
The following is quoted from a Buffalo, N. Y. paper:
"Solomon in all his wisdom could not have devised a brighter scheme for punishing speeders than that of the genial police court justice of Stockton, Cal., Dana P. Eicke. Speeders no longer come into Judge Eicke's court smirking, 'What's the fine, Judge?' The Judge doesn't fine speeders any more. Instead he locks up the speeders' machines. Judge Eicke launched this unique campaign against speeders some time ago and since that time he has locked up a number of cars. He started out with a motorcycle and a tin Lizzie and followed up with big machines. His first victim was a young Stanford University law student. 'You're learning the ways of the law, young man,' said the Judge, 'and it isn't costing you a cent. But you will have to walk for a week. The bailiff is hereby ordered to lock up your car in the fire engine house for seven days.' One day a taxicab driver appeared before His Honor. `You are sentenced to thirty days in jail,' said he sternly. 'However, I will grant you your liberty on condition that you turn over your machine to the bailiff for that same period.' `Your honor, I will pay a fine, but the taxicab is not mine,' said the driver. `Very well, then,' said the Judge. 'You shall surrender your license to the bailiff and you shall not so much as step inside of an automobile for thirty days. If you are seen in a machine within that time, you will go to jail. This court does not fine speeders any more.'
The novelty of Judge Eicke's plan struck the humor of the people and it was the talk of the town, and, incidentally, speeding decreased 100% while he was on the bench. Before his election to the judgeship, Judge Eicke was appointed prosecuting attorney for the State Board of Pharmacy by Governor Johnson. During the World War he was appointed by the Government as appeal agent for San Joaquin County, and he received an honorable discharge from President Wilson for the faithful performance of his duties and also honorable mention from Governor Stephens. He was also one of the four-minute speakers and did much effective work in this capacity. Judge Eicke has always been prominent in Republican politics and at the November election in 1920 he was elected Mayor of Stockton, and this high office he had filled with distinction.
Judge Eicke was married in 1910 to Miss Florence Taylor, a native daughter of Amador County, and a descendant of a pioneer family, her father having crossed the plains in 1849, Judge Eicke's father having come to California around the Horn the same year. Three children have been born to them, Jane, Willis and Caroline. Judge Eicke is very prominent in fraternal life and is a member of all branches of Masonry, including the Shrine; also of the Eagles, Elks, Moose, Red Men, Mooseheart Legion, Ad Club of Stockton and the State Automobile Association. Mrs. Eicke is a member of the First Christian Church, the Christian Women's Board of Missions, and of the Eastern Star.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1275
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JOHN V. BARE.
Among the successful growers, packers and shippers of fruit of Lodi, is John V. Bare, who from a small beginning has achieved his present outstanding success. He was born in Visalia, Tulare County, Cal., on February 14, 1881, a son of John and Clara (Parker) Bare. His father, a native of Indiana, crossed the plains with an ox team in 1849, and settled in Tulare County where he engaged in farming. Mrs. Bare is a native of California, a daughter of John Parker, a seafaring man who came into Monterey Bay as cabin boy on a sailing vessel in 1837 and spent the winter there; he made other voyages to California in 1847 and 1849.
John V. Bare was educated in the public schools of Visalia and when a young man took up professional baseball as a livelihood; he was second baseman on the Visalia team and was in the Northwestern League, playing in Spokane, Wash., and Butte, Mont. In 1904 he came to Lodi to play on the local team, playing in California in the winter and the Northwest in the summer. In 1907 he became district manager for the Producers Fruit Company of Lodi and served in that capacity for seven years, when he entered business for himself as a packer and shipper. His idea was to give the consumer the best fruit, packed in the most attractive boxes and labeled, and he was among the first to pack fruit in that manner. He started business on a borrowed capital of $500, and his business has grown until it has reached large proportions. Later he bought crops in the field and packed and shipped them. He then bought eighty acres near Galt but later traded it and bought his home place of 320 acres, located about two miles west of Woodbridge, which he has brought to a high state of productivity and it is considered one of the finest places in the northern part of San Joaquin County. In 1920 he added 130 acres to his holdings which is also a full bearing vineyard, thus making a total of 450 acres. He packs and ships all of his fruit under the "Bare Brand" which is well known throughout the eastern markets.
The marriage of Mr. Bare united him with Miss Jettora Watkins, a native of Sacramento, Cal., and they are the parents of one daughter, Bonnie. Fraternally, Mr. Bare is a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E. Progressive and enterprising, Mr. Bare at all times is willing to give of his time and means, as far as he is able, to all worthy objects that have for their aim the upbuilding of the county and state in which he takes so much pride and where his ambition has been realized.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1275
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.