San Joaquin County
Biographies
CORNELIUS SWAIN.
When Cornelius Swain passed away at his Stockton residence, March 26, 1904, San Joaquin County lost a venerable and progressive citizen and a pioneer of 1853. Having come to the county among the early settlers, he at once became identified with the best interests of this section of the state; and throughout his career he gave constant evidence not only of his individual success, but of a broad-spirited citizenship which meant the welfare of all people and institutions with which he came in contact. He was a man of irreproachable character, earnest in the serious affairs of life, kind and helpful in the family circle, and recognized for his honesty and sterling integrity in all his relations with mankind. For many years, in fact throughout the greater part of his active career, he engaged in the various departments of farming on his ranch located about six miles from Stockton on Cherokee Lane, where he had been one of the early settlers in 1853. A native of Nashville, Tenn., he was born February 17, 1826, being a son of John and Mary (Armes) Swain, natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania, respectively. In 1830 the family migrated to Franklin County, Ill., where he lived until the age of eighteen, when he returned and lived a number of years in Tennessee. In 1850 he moved to Jackson County, Mo., which was his home until his removal to California.
While a resident of Jackson County, Mo., on March 4, 1851, he was married to Miss Juliza C. Davis, born January 1, 1829, a daughter of Anderson and Hannah N. (Head) Davis. Her father, a native of North Carolina, resided for some years in Kentucky before his removal to Jackson County, Mo. Her mother, who was born in Virginia, went with her parents to Jackson County in the very early days of that part of the state. Her paternal grandfather, John Davis, had served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Swain were the parents of six children: John A.; Joseph H.; Mary; Charles, deceased; George; and Jesse, all born on the home ranch in San Joaquin County, with the exception of John A., who was born before they left Missouri.
On April 28, 1853, Mr. Swain, with his wife and one son, left his Missouri home, and with ox teams drove over the broad western prairies to California, being just five months on the journey, arriving on September 28, 1853. They camped first on the spot where the Eldorado Brewery now stands. Later in the same year they located on the ranch on Cherokee Lane, about six miles from Stockton, which has ever since been known as the Swain ranch, and on which Mr. Swain made his long and prosperous record as an agriculturist. His ranch was covered with a thick growth of brush, which he cleared. He fenced and farmed the property, planted a family orchard, and engaged in raising fine horses and mules. This was the family home for forty-two years, until 1895, when he and his wife removed to
Stockton and made their home at the pleasant place at 2 East Flora Street, where they both remained until they passed away, Mr. Swain in 1904 and his wife in 1908.
In the early days Mr. Swain had a contract to cut and bale 200 tons of wild oats and hay for G. Joseph, who engaged in teaming with mules to the mines. The hay was cut with a hand scythe and baled by hand, and Mr. Swain received fifty dollars per ton for it. Mr. Swain was well known in Masonic circles, being affiliated with Morning Star Lodge No. 68 and Chapter, at Stockton. He was popular and held in high esteem throughout the county, and had once been a candidate for the office of county treasurer. Mr. Swain was one of the organizers and for many years served as trustee of the Davis school district, the schoolhouse being located on a part of his ranch. He was one of the promoters of the Farmer's Union, and served as director of the San Joaquin Valley Bank. He and some of his friends were the first to build a good gravel road out of Stockton, and for years it was a toll road.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 528
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
CHRISTOPH M. BATTERMAN.
A useful and prominent citizen, whose success as a grain-farmer has given him an enviable influence in helping to shape the destiny of San Joaquin County as a great agricultural region is Christoph M. Batterman, who resides near Banta. He was born at San Francisco on May 1, 1868, and when a mere babe-in-arms was brought into San Joaquin County by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. C. Batterman, pioneers and community builders of the West Side. They were natives of Germany, and brought with them the industrious and thrifty habits and that knowledge of agriculture for which their native land was so long famous; and they were not long in acquiring the home-ranch near Banta.
When, therefore, our subject reached his fourteenth year, he went to work on the farm; and there he has been engaged as a successful agriculturist ever since, having as a boy received a good common-school education. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-nine years old, and then, at Mt. Eaton, near Hayward, in Alameda County, he was married to Miss Anna Rippe, who first saw the light near San Lorenzo, and enjoyed a good training in the common schools in Alameda County. Her parents, Christian and Doris (Dunker) Rippe were also natives of Germany, and they settled in California in 1877. One son, Henry C. Batterman, was born to this fortunate union, and he is attending the West Side Union high school. The father of our subject passed away at Tracy on October 17, 1918, preceded, on May 19, 1905, by his devoted wife.
Mr. Batterman now owns the western half-section of No. 24, a portion of which is cut off by the townsite of Banta; and as he cultivates the soil there, bringing forth exceptional crops and maintaining a modest ranch of permanent attraction to all well-versed in agricultural pursuits and problems, he prosecutes his arduous labors with greater satisfaction, recollecting that he is continuing to operate what has been the widely-known Batterman homeplace since the late nineties, long the center of a generous hospitality, shared by many an appreciative guest, neighbor, fellow-citizen, and wayfarer.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 528
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JOHN A. SWAIN.
A prominent citizen of Stockton, and among the oldest residents of the city, is John A. Swain, who has been identified with the city's agricultural and other interests throughout his active career. The family home is located at 336 West Acacia Street, and his excellent farming estate is located on the Lower Sacramento Road, about three and a half miles north of Stockton. This ranch, which has so long been under his careful management, contains 480 acres, twenty acres of which is in vineyard, while the greater part of the remaining acreage is given up to grain raising. This is a model country estate and Mr. Swain is known as one of the most successful ranchers in the county. When Mr. Swain settled thereon in 1877 it was almost entirely unimproved, much of the land being covered with dense underbrush that had to be cleared before it could be cultivated; and it is owing to his energy and progressiveness that it has been brought into its present fine condition.
Mr. Swain belongs to a well-known San Joaquin County family, his father having been an early settler of the county. His birthplace was at Westport, Mo., a town that is now a part of Kansas City, although his parents had settled in that vicinity before the latter city begun its existence. He was born January 13, 1852, being a son of Cornelius and Juliza C. (Davis) Swain, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Missouri. Cornelius Swain, who passed away at his Stockton home, March 26, 1904, had crossed the plains to this state in 1853, being accompanied by his wife and one child, the latter being John A. This journey was made with ox teams, and it was five months before they arrived at Stockton. Cornelius Swain was a carriage maker, having learned the trade at Nashville, Tenn., and followed it in Missouri. On reaching San Joaquin County he settled on Cherokee Lane, six miles north of Stockton, being one of the early settlers of that locality, and he remained there until his removal to Stockton in 1894. He lived his last years in his city home. His widow, who was born January 1, 1829, survived him until 1908. Cornelius Swain was a Democrat in politics, and fraternally was a prominent Mason. Six children were born to this worthy pioneer couple: John A.; Joseph H.; Mary; Charles, deceased; George, and Jessie.
John A. Swain, having come to California when a little more than a year old, has spent practically all his life in this state. He was reared to man's estate on the home farm in San Joaquin County. After his public school career he attended the San Joaquin College at Collegeville, an institution no longer existent, and he subsequently spent two years as a student at the California State University, then located at Oakland, but now in Berkeley. Following the completion of his education, he farmed the home place for a time, and with the money that he had saved took a trip through the South, visiting Los Angeles, San Diego, Fort Yuma and Tuscon, Arizona. Not being satisfied with the country and conditions, he returned to Stockton and told his father that he had decided to take up farming. Since that time he has devoted his time and attention chiefly to agricultural pursuits in their several branches, and is now known as one of the leading men in this occupation. His father gave him a half interest in the 230-acre home place on the Lower Sacramento Road, which is now a portion of his fine estate located north of Stockton. About thirty years ago, Mr. Swain set out a twenty-acre vineyard of black grapes, which is still producing good crops. This was one of the first vineyards to be planted in the district. On March 3, 1878, Mr. Swain was married to Miss Mary E. Bunch, a daughter of the late John Bunch, who crossed the plains to this state in 1864. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swain. John C. is engaged in farming the home place, under the able supervision of his father. Susie S. is now Mrs. Marcrea; and Ethel, Mrs. Victor N. Walsh, resides in San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Swain are the grandparents of five grandchildren. For many years Mr. Swain served as a trustee of the Lincoln school district. Fraternally he is affiliated with San Joaquin Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M., at Stockton, and he is a member of the Christian Church in that city.
Mr. Swain recalls many incidents of the early days of Stockton and relates interesting experiences of those pioneer times. The whole country around Stockton, which was then a city of tents, was covered with dense growth of underbrush, which had to be cleared before plowing and planting could be done. Antelope abounded on the plains and wild game birds were plentiful. He has resided in San Joaquin County sixty-nine years, and with his estimable wife enjoys the respect and esteem of the entire community.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 533
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.