San Joaquin County
Biographies
CHARLES E. NEEDHAM.
When Charles E. Needham passed away, San Joaquin County lost an influential and progressive citizen, one who had resided in the county since 1867, when he removed from his native state of Vermont to California and settled near Banta, where he took up a homestead. He was born in Vermont, December 1, 1829, a son of Charles and Minerva (Porter) Needham. The ancestry of Charles E. Needham is traced in a direct line from Anthony Needham, an Englishman, and his wife, Anna Potter Needham, who were charged as Quakers on June 25, 1658, and were duly persecuted. They were the progenitors of the Needham family in America, which has been traced in a direct line through succeeding generations to the present time by H. C. Needham, a well-known attorney of New York City. The Needhams were men of military habits and, despite his Quaker faith, Anthony, Sr., was corporal of the Salem Old Troop in 1665, and in 1675 he served during King Philip's War as a lieutenant under Captain Nicholas Manning of Salem. He had a son Anthony, and it is said that he was the first white settler within the present town of Wales, Hampden County, Mass., where he settled in 1726. The next in line was Jeremiah Needham, born in 1741 at South Brimfield, Mass., where he was town clerk in 1765. He was also a sergeant in Capt. Daniel Winchester's company, Col. Ruggle's Woodbridge's regiment, serving from August 17, 1777, until November 29 of that same year, with the Northern Army; he was also a private in Capt. John Carpenter's company of guards from June 24 to August 4, 1779, and was stationed at Springfield, Mass. Jeremiah had a son of the same name who moved to Vermont in 1805. The next in line was Charles Needham, the father of our subject, born in 1800, who moved to DeKalb, Ill., in 1854, where he engaged in raising Morgan horses from the famous Black Hawk stock; in 1855, with his son, he opened up Gibson's Addition of 320 acres to DeKalb, and he also played a prominent part in the early development of agriculture in that state.
Charles E. Needham married Miss Olive L. Drake, born in Crown Point, N. Y., but they both grew up on Lake Champlain and he crossed the ice in winter to do his courting. In 1862, leaving his wife and three children in the East, he crossed the plains to California and engaged in ranching in Santa Clara County, but being a strong abolitionist, he determined to go East to lend his aid in freeing the slaves. He did return to Illinois intending to join the Northern forces but his three children were of tender years and he was persuaded that his first duty was to his wife and family. With his wife and family, he set out with an emigrant train for the Golden State, as soon as he could, and it was en route that their fourth child, James Carson, was born at Carson City, Nev. They reached their destination at Mayfield, Santa Clara County, in the latter part of 1864, and Mr. Needham resumed his ranching operations. He was a strong Whig and Republican and was a personal friend of Gen. John C. Fremont. It is said that he wept bitterly when he heard of the defeat of Fremont for the presidency in 1856, and he never shaved his beard thereafter. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Needham: James Carson Needham, a prominent citizen of Modesto, an ex-congressman and at present judge of the Superior Court of Stanislaus County; Harry B., employed in the U. S. Customs office in San Francisco; Cyrus H., a rancher at Patterson; Myrta L. is the wife of W. G. McKean and resides in Berkeley; Lillian V. is the wife of William E. Holman, a rancher near Farmington, San Joaquin County; Luella G. became the wife of James T. Holman and also lives near Farmington. Mr. Needham was public-spirited in citizenship, was trustworthy in business, faithful in friendship, and in his home was most devoted to the welfare and happiness of his family. Many were his good qualities and few his faults. He loved truth and justice and represented a high type of our American manhood.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 555
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
STEPHEN B. COATES.
The late Stephen B. Coates was born near Toronto, Canada, in January, 1847. He spent most of his career in serving the printer's craft in Canada, the States and in California. He mastered the rudiments as a youth in Ingersoll, Canada, followed typography in Silver Cliff, Colo., in the olden days, and located in Stockton in February, 1883, growing up with the Golden State.
Mr. Coates first on his arrival in Stockton identified himself with the Independent, as job printer, and, advancing to the foremanship, remained sixteen years with this publication until he terminated his business activities. In 1900 he became a director of the Farmers & Merchants Bank, an institution he helped at organization by investing in its stock in October, 1888, continuing as a director until his demise. He also served his city as a member of Stockton's Council in 1902-04. His political affiliations were Republican.
Mr. Coates married Miss Phyllis Harris, a native of England; and of this union one son, James Y., was born. Fraternally Mr. B. Coates was an Odd Fellow a half century, since his initiation in Canada in 1871, and in Stockton he was a valued member of Truth Lodge. His church activities center in Stockton Episcopal Church, of which he was vestryman. He died February, 1921, being survived by his widow who died in April, 1921.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 556
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
CHRIST ALBRIGHT.
Like many others of his native land, to Christ Albright, one of Lodi's prosperous citizens, America beckoned as the land of opportunity, as his immigration here at the age of eighteen testifies. Born in the state of Baden, Germany, three miles from the French border, on December 3, 1859, his parents were farmers and when not busy with the farm work our subject attended school until he was eighteen years of age when he sailed for America. He first settled at Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio, and hired out as a farm hand; then he went to the pine woods of Minnesota and Michigan and worked in the lumber camps, also in the iron and copper mines; in 1880 he went to Yankton, Dakota Territory, but finding that city not to his liking, he returned to Michigan. In 1885 he removed to Dakota Territory, and located in McIntosh County, where he took up government land and there he farmed successfully for twenty-two years. His farm consisted of 1400 acres and was one of the best in the county; 400 acres were devoted to the raising of wheat, flax, oats and barley, the balance being devoted to cattle-raising. He was among the first in the state to raise Aberdeen-Angus cattle, exceptionally fine beef cattle that command the highest prices, and was very successful and prosperous. For a number of years he resided in Ashley, the county seat of McIntosh County and became a prominent figure in Republican politics, serving as justice of the peace in 1887; then for six years he was county supervisor; in 1894 he was elected county auditor and served for ten years in that capacity; then he was elected state senator for one term.
Deciding to give up political life, Mr. Albright refused to run again for office and in 1909 sold his farm and removed to California, settling in Lodi with the intention of retiring from active life. When the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Lodi was organized on May 10, 1916, he was prevailed upon by his friends to become its president. The bank was organized with a capital of $25,000 in the commercial department and $5000 capital in the savings department and the bank has shown a hearty growth and is doing a fine business. A report of the condition of the bank on April 28, 1921 shows a paid-up capital of $96,000 with a surplus of $26,200; during the past three years the bank has paid eight per cent dividends. The officers and directors of the institution are as follows: Christ Albright, president; Lot Lachenmaier, vice-president; Edgar B. Doering, cashier; directors, Peter Joens, H. C. Lang, Henry Nelson, and John Mettler, Jr.
The marriage of Mr. Albright united him with Miss Barbara Baurer, a native of Germany, born in the same district as her husband. They are the parents of one son, Samuel, who is in the garage business in Lodi; he served four years in the U. S. Navy. Mr. Albright was a member of the Ellendale, Dickey County, N. D., lodge of Masons, but is now a member of the Masons lodge in Lodi. His religious faith is that of the German Lutheran Church and he has served as treasurer of this body. Mr. Albright has an assured place in the affairs of the community, through his efficiency and dependability and as the leading spirit in a growing banking institution, is an important factor in the progress and prosperity of the central portion of California.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 556
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.