San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN R. LUBECK.
A man who has had much to do with the building up of the city of Tracy is John R. Lubeck, for a number of years chief engineer of the pumping plant of the West Side Irrigation District, with headquarters near Bethany, Cal. He was born in Smoland, Sweden, on June 24, 1868, and received a good elementary education in the schools of his native land. His father, Adolph F. Lubeck, was a prominent and well-known manufacturer of Fredericksfors, Sweden, where he owned and operated huge smelters in that district. Serious financial reverses, suffered by his father in 1874, made it imperative that John R. find work; this was the beginning of his self support and his first position was as an apprentice to the machinist trade, which occupied him for four years. He was nineteen when he went to sea on the S. S. Romio; in 1889 he was transferred to an English ship and sailed the seven seas, stopping at various ports of interest, and also being privileged to visit the interior of the different countries. When he was twenty-two years old, he received a second chief engineer's license with an unlimited license on merchant vessels. In 1890 Mr. Lubeck stopped off at New York and went to Hartford, Conn., where he remained for seven years as engineer for the transportation corps for the Hartford and New Haven Transportation Company; in 1898 he became an employee of the Standard Oil Company, serving as chief engineer on different oil tankers on the Atlantic seaboard; then in 1902 he became chief engineer on Walter Jennings' private yacht, "Tuscarora," making a world cruise covering a period of three years. Upon his return to the United States he took a cruise on the yacht "Clapsico" of the West Indies, which was both interesting and instructive. Desiring to come to California, he brought the Standard Oil Tanker "Maverick," with Borer No. 91, in tow all the way (13842 miles) from New York City to San Francisco, Cal., through the Straits of Magellan, eighty-two days on the trip, landing at San Francisco January 2, 1907. Coming to Tracy he secured a position as chief engineer at the Standard Oil pumping station near Tracy, remaining in that position until 1917, when he enlisted for service in the U. S. Navy and served throughout the duration of the war as a lieutenant. After his discharge from the Navy, Mr. Lubeck returned to Tracy where his services were required by the West Side Irrigation District, which had just been completed and where he was put in charge of the pumping plant and by new and economical methods, many of which have been adopted by the district, the plant at Bethany has been of great benefit to the farmers of that section.
Mr. Lubeck's marriage united him with Miss Elizabeth Widerquist, a native of Sweden who was reared in Brooklyn, N. Y., and who came West in 1907, and they are the parents of two children: John R., Jr., and Florence. Mr. Lubeck is a member of the American Legion, a past officer of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Tracy, and a member of the Masonic Lodge of Richmond, Cal., No. 347. He is a heavy stockholder in the manufacture of the Lambert Solid Tires and has done much in the way of introducing them in Central California. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the West and, utilizing the opportunities here offered, has made a name and place for himself.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1212
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JOHN J. CAMPODONICO, SR.
A pioneer in the fruit packing and shipping industry of San Joaquin County, who also made a marked success of horticulture, was John J. Campodonico, who passed away on April 4, 1899, aged fifty-four years, honored and beloved by his friends and business associates. He was born in the Province of Genoa, Italy, and was twenty-five years old when he arrived in San Francisco. From there he came to Stockton by river boat, and his first business venture was in market gardening in the Morado section, near Stockton. Later he became a successful orchardist and farmer, in time packing and shipping his own fruit, with V. Solari as a business partner. He left a large estate, which has since been divided.
Mr. Campodonico's marriage occurred in 1875, in Stockton, and united him with Miss Maria J. Lagorio, who was born in Italy and was fifteen years old when she arrived in Stockton with her brother, D. Lagorio, a retired merchant residing in Stockton at the present time. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Campodonico: Frank, a rancher; Angelo; John J. Jr.; Victor; Flora, now Mrs. Forgacci; Emile, deceased; and Mrs. Anna E. Riba. Mrs. Campodonico resides at the old home at 705 East North Street, Stockton. Mr. Campodonico was a naturalized citizen and a stanch Republican in politics.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1215
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
FRANK F. ATHEARN.
A very progressive and successful ranch owner is Frank F. Athearn, who has some 460 choice acres about one-half mile north and one-half mile east of Clements, in which town he was born on July 5, 1873, the son of Lucien and E. N. (Putnam) Athearn, both representatives of well-known pioneer families. The father, Lucien Athearn, was a native of Indiana, and came across the wide plains to the West in very early days, while the maternal grandfather came around the Horn. Lucien Athearn went inland to the mines, and then settled near the present location of Clements. He acquired about two sections of land on the river, and in time became an extensive grain rancher. He leased out some of his river-bottom land, and there Chinamen grew hops. His father was Prince A. Athearn. and when the first schoolhouse in this section was built, in part on his land, it was named in honor of him the Athearn school. Four children made up the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Athearn: Clements, Frank F., and W. P. Athearn, and Walter, deceased. Lucien Athearn attained his seventy-seventh year, and his devoted wife was seventy years of age when she died.
When Frank Athearn was seventeen years of age he left home and began to make his own way. Since then he has traveled through Nevada and California, working in mines and doing prospecting. In 1905 he came back to Clements and started ranching. He has 140 acres of the old home place, and also 320 acres about three miles to the south of Clements. He raises hogs and poultry and ships eggs to the market, having about 400 chickens, twenty-five head of sheep and twenty lambs, 100 head of hogs, and eighty head of old and young cattle. In his agricultural enterprises Mr. Athearn has a partner, Barre E. Gersbacker, living with him. He takes a live interest in the political questions of the day, and endeavors to do his duty as a citizen.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1215
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.