San Joaquin County
Biographies
JACOB J. KNOLL.
A well-known citizen and vineyardist of San Joaquin County is Jacob J. Knoll, who has worked his way upward from a humble financial position to one of independence, and is the owner of a ten-acre vineyard one and a half miles southeast of Victor. He was born in South Russia near the city of Odessa, December 24, 1890, a son of Jacob and Christina (Werner) Knoll, both natives of Russia, who came to the United States when their son Jacob was a boy of six years. They settled in Wells County, N. D., and there the father homesteaded a large tract of land; later on he sold his North Dakota property and removed to San Joaquin County, Cal., and purchased vineyard land, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, so that he is among the most wealthy of the vineyardists in the vicinity of Victor today.
The education of Jacob Knoll was obtained in the public schools of his vicinity; but from a lad he assisted his father on the home farm, where he was obliged to work early and late. He remained at home until he was nineteen years old, and then went to Canada in 1909 and homesteaded a quarter-section of land lying along the Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan, near the town of Moose Jaw. There he raised grain, remaining until 1919, when he sold out and came to California. Here he purchased ten acres on the crossroads, about two miles southeast of Victor, the vicinity of his father's vineyard.
At Moose Jaw, Canada, on January 7, 1912, occurred the marriage of Mr. Knoll and Miss Christina Wahl, also a native of South Russia, and the daughter of Adam and Magdalena (Settler) Wahl, both natives of South Russia. Adam Wahl came to America with his family in 1897, and settling in Wells County. N. D., near Sheridan, homesteaded a tract of land. Later he sold out and went to Canada, and taking up a claim near Woodrow, farmed to grain for ten years. Again selling out, he came to California and is the owner of a seventeen-and-one-halfacre vineyard south of Lockeford on the Jack Tone road. There are five children in the family, of whom Mrs. Knoll is the eldest, the others being Katherine, who is Mrs. Young of Tracy; Jacob, Adam, and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Knoll are the parents of four children: Martha, Irene, Anna and Alice. Mr. Knoll's vineyard consists of two acres of Tokay grapes and four acres of wine grapes in full bearing, and the balance is in young vines, with ample space for buildings.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1211
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
A. E. ANDERSON.
An esteemed citizen whose good fortune in attaining to a comfortable retirement is a real satisfaction to his many friends, is A. E. Anderson, the proprietor of a store and hall, and also a small Delta farm embracing three and one-half acres at Anderson's Corner, on Tracy Road, in the Middle Division of Roberts Island. He was born in Vestelige, Smoland, Sweden, on February 6, 1852, the son of Andrew Peter Anderson, a farmer, who had married Johanna Rebecca Anderson, and they had eight children.
Our subject attended the public school and received a good education in his boyhood and youth. Then he went to work on his father's farm and continued there until he had saved enough money to come to America. He joined his uncle John, and they arrived at New York in the fall of 1866, from which city they went direct to Lockridge, Jefferson County, Iowa. There the young man found work on a farm, and then he spent the following years in Biggsville, Ill., where he worked for three years. After that he returned to Iowa and took up ranching there. In 1867, his parents and family moved to Iowa from Sweden.
In 1880, A. E. Anderson went to Nye County, Nev., and located near Belmont, where he spent about four years as a farmer. Four years later, he came to Tyson, in San Joaquin County, and established a roadhouse and store, which he conducted successfully for twenty-two years. In 1911, he bought land on Roberts Island, and soon after moved his family there. He has built up a good business at his new place, and holds the esteem and respect of the community. He is a Republican in politics.
In 1886, Mr. Anderson was married at Stockton to Mrs. Willa Anna (Smith) Parley, who had crossed the great plains when a baby with her parents in 1852, and four children have been born to them. Ada is the wife of Ray Freeman of Lodi, and they have two children, J. E. and Sybil. The second is Eva; May is the wife of Charles Guggolz of Lodi, and the youngest is Elsie.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1211
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
J. N. ASHER.
An enterprising merchant and successful business man of Stockton, J. N. Asher is half-owner of the Center Street Feed & Barley Mill, a substantial and prosperous business, and his progressiveness and thorough capability in this industry have advanced him to an influential place among the business men of the city. He was born in Rolla, Mo., August 25, 1865, his parents being farmer folk in that locality, and he was reared on the home place and attended the district school of that section. In 1890, accompanied by his wife and three children, Mr. Asher left Missouri for the West and located in Stockton the same year. He had married Miss Lulu E. Beets, a native of Tennessee, born of Scotch parents, and they are the parents of eleven children: Corie F., Mary E. and Margaret L., born in Missouri, while Leslie, Charles N. (deceased), Le Roy, Mary (deceased), Emmet, Maxine, Claude and Esther were all born in San Joaquin County.
Mr. Asher began farming on Littlejohn Creek near Farmington and was so occupied for seven years; then he removed to Stockton and purchased property on West Washington street and began work at the Crown Mills, remaining there for eight years, gaining a knowledge of the mill business that has been indispensable during the succeeding years; he then assumed charge of the barley mill for the Sperry Milling Company, where he spent twelve years. In 1916 he entered the mill business on his own account and bought a half-interest in the Center Street mill and his advancement has been gained through a recognition and improvement of opportunity. Mr. Asher has full charge of the plant, and oversees the scientific process of preparing poultry foods, etc. Thirteen years ago, Mr. Asher built his residence located at 93 Moss avenue, which has been the center of many delightful social affairs. Mr. Asher is a Democrat in politics and fraternally is a member of Truth Lodge, I. O. O. F., in Stockton.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1212
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.