San Joaquin

County History

History of San Joaquin County, California with Biographical Sketches - Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1923

CHAPTER XXIII

POST AND RAILROAD TOWNS

        IN the history of the world nations have arisen, grown to great strength and influence in the affairs of the world and then passed away. So is it with the towns of a state. They were founded, grew to more or less importance in the community in which they were located and having filled their place in the county's history, they passed from memory or they became sleeping landmarks of the past. San Joaquin County has had several of the villages, some are forgotten, some are but skeletons of their former self, and some linger along hoping for a revival of the days of "49". Clements, Lockeford, Waterloo, Liberty, Elliott, Mokelumne City, New Hope, Collegeville, French Camp, Linden, Woodbridge, Banta, Atlanta are all towns of the past, post road towns built up and maintained by the staging and teaming of the early days and the farming community. Now staging and teaming is dead and the farmers no longer require community centers, for they ride to town on the steam or traction cars, or sail over the roads in their automobiles.

French Camp

        One of the oldest of these towns is the historic village of French Camp. We remember that the Hudson Bay Company had their trappers at that point in 1837, and that in 1844, Benjamin Kelsey and his family located for a season. After the discovery of gold and the founding of Stockton, it became quite a trading point for the Southern mines, because of the fact that teams and stages could travel from that point to the mines, either, summer or winter. In fact the winter roads were much the best as the rains packed the sand and made durable roads. Because of its trade some persons believe it would be a rival of Stockton. "Because of Stockton's mud," said the Republican as late as March, 1861, "Quite a number of small craft were employed at present in conveying goods from this city to French Camp. Teams do not attempt to come within four miles of town at present, because of the bad roads, and they pay four dollars per ton to have the goods brought to the camp, where the teams can receive it. A gravel road to French Camp even with a high toll upon it would be a great saving to the teamsters besides giving us one driveway out of town." The French Camp turnpike was built to the village soon after this item was published, and the camp then became a memory. One of the first settlers at the camp was Richard W. Noble and his family, who located there in 1852. Previous to this time Mr. Noble, who had a store at Mariposa, erected an adobe house at French Camp, at a cost of some $14,000. It was built on a knoll in the town; the building with its wall three feet thick being used as a storehouse for his goods. Soon after this he and Archibald Stevenson formed a partnership and opened a store and public house. Then the store of Le Barron & Company was opened and the merchandising place of N. McKinstry. In 1850, Lansing & Snell opened a hotel and store. And about the same time a man named Earle started a blacksmith shop and bakery. Goods for these places during the winter were transported there up French Camp Slough, and the first man to navigate the stream was E. W. Atwood. He began the navigation of the slough in a yawl, carrying about 1,500 pounds of freight and four passengers. Then the little steamer Mint began running to that point, carrying passengers and freight. The first religious service was held in the home of Colonel Lansing. The following year, 1851, a schoolhouse was erected by subscriptions from the farmers and Stockton citizens and it was used for all public assemblies. A second story was added and this was used for a hall for the Sons of Temperance. In 1853, there were two hotels in the place doing big business, and five lines of stages started from that point.

Ripon

        Ripon, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, is the most southeasterly town in the county, the district bordering on the Stanislaus River. About twenty miles from Stockton it was first settled up in the early '60s, most of the settlers locating along the river. Two of the earliest settlers in the Ripon district, were, W. H. Hughes, who took up a preemption claim in 1857, and Perry Yaple, who located there in 1861, previously owning a barley grinding mill in Stockton. Hughes owned the land where Ripon is now located. When the railroad came through in 1872 he gave them the right-of-way and a depot site. The company erected a small station, and named it Stanislaus station. This station was in use until February, 1912, when it was replaced by the present larger structure. For some length of time Stanislaus City, as some called it, was the terminus of the road then being built in Fresno. The company built a cattle corral, and it was the shipping point for a large amount of stock, including the cattle of Trahern & McMullen and also for the large amount of wheat and barley grown upon the sand plains, the grain being shipped in flat cars to Stockton or Point Costa for storage.

        The nucleus of the town was started in 1874, when a man named A. B. Cook came from San Diego and opened a store. Not pleased with the name Stanislaus City, he renamed it Ripon after his birthplace in Wisconsin. Cook was an enterprising fellow and he had the Government establish a post office there under the name Ripon, and was appointed postmaster. Subsequent postmasters were Perry Yaple, Jr., and E. C. Dickerson. The postoffice was always in some store and the place changed owners several times, each new owner being appointed postmaster. Some of the merchants of Ripon were, Henry Bowman, B. F. Yaple, Frank Hutchingson, and E. C. Dickerson and J. H. Little, who erected a store in 1884. The town at this time was of considerable size containing a hotel, blacksmith shop, school, two large warehouses, and 14 residences, but the writer complained about the tardiness of the supervisors in constructing a bridge across the Stanislaus River. There was no transportation, except by toll ferry, and he declared a free ferry or bridge would bring a good deal of trade that way. Of the substantial buildings in Ripon the first brick building was erected by Perry Yaple, who burned the brick in the summer of 1886. It was a two-story building, the Odd Fellows occupying the second story. This lodge, Mt. Horeb, No. 58, was instituted in Sonora May 27, 1856, by Grand Warden L. L. Alexander. After the discontinuance of gold mining, the lodge began losing its members until scarcely enough members were left to hold the charter. At this time one of the members, Wm. E. Garatt, removed to Ripon and through his efforts the lodge was removed from Sonora to Ripon. The lodge now has 121 members in good standing. Progressive Rebekah lodge No. 229, Ripon, was instituted March 30, 1906 by the Grand Warden Ella Van Court, assisted by Ann Sorenson of Modesto, district deputy grand president. There were eleven charter members, thirty-eight initiated that evening. When instituted the lodge number was 209, but returning its charter some years ago it later was again reorganized and given the new number. The town with its 500 inhabitants had several church denominations and buildings, among them the Dutch Reformed, Swedish Mission, Congregational, Dunkards, Christian Science, Free Methodist and Catholic. Along about 1884 the Woman's Improvement Club, first organized to clean up and care for Ripon cemetery, next turned their attention to the erection of a church building, for the use of the several denominations in the town. They collected by subscriptions and entertainments about $800. This was not sufficient money for a building. Then the United Brethren of Lathrop, a branch of the Dunkards, proposed to erect the church provided the citizens of Ripon obtained the lot. The terms were agreed to and the Brethren taking the $800 erected a church edifice at an additional amount of $1,500. The building was erected and used by the different creeds for several years. Then the Congregationalists erected a church of their own, followed soon after by the other denominations. Finally all of the denominations erected buildings, and the United Brethren church was unused for several years. The Free Methodists now hold services there.

        The first school was held in an old shack which had been used as a residence. The partitions were torn out and wooden desks and seats put in. Some years later the district was divided, River district being on the south side and Ripon district on the north side of the railroad track, and a new schoolhouse was built. This schoolhouse at one time was located in the grove of locust trees, now growing near the town. They were planted by E. C. Dickerson and Oly C. Kroh to protect the school building from the heat of the sun. The first teacher in these schools was George Hanscom, then living in Modesto. He was followed by Miss Ida Kemp, May Esterbrook, E. C. Dickerson, and J. L. Moulton, the two last named marrying two of their pupils, the Yaple sisters. Ripon was up-to-date with its school service and in 1911 the citizens voted a bond issue for the building of a large handsome school structure. The building was completed in 1912 and dedicated, February 22, with appropriate ceremonies, the principal of the school Thomas H. Uren presiding. Five years later a union district was formed and May 4, 1917, the splendid high school was erected.

The Ripon Finch Murder

        Probably the greatest sensation in Ripon was the killing of Phillip Finch by the Rev. James Wells, December 12, 1884. The cause was a difficulty of long standing and seems that in the eastern states Finch had seduced Wells' half-sister. Wells came to California and located at Ripon and Finch followed him and obtained work in the warehouse; at one time he boarded and lodged with Wells' family. Just previous to the shooting it was reported to Wells that Finch had threatened his life. Wells at this time was teaching the Ripon schools on the main street, located where now stands the First National Bank. About 4 o'clock on the day of the murder, Finch was walking towards the schoolhouse and some of the men on the street remarked, "Now there'll be trouble." As Finch came near the school­house Wells came out of the building and walked up to Finch. After a short talk, those watching the affair saw Wells draw a revolver and shoot at Finch four times. Two of the shots took effect and Finch was taken into John T. Bloomer's store. He was attended by Dr. B. M. Brainbridge but died shortly afterwards. As two of the witnesses of the murder John B. Matthews and Thomas Fredericks ran to the scene, Wells exclaimed, "I am sorry I had to shoot you, boy, you have been following me for years. You seduced my sister and this morning you insulted my family." Sheriff Cunningham hearing of the murder by telegraph, hastened to the scene, arresting Wells and bringing him to Stockton jail. Wells was indicted by the grand jury for murder, and his trial came up February 25, 1885, in the Masonic Hall as the old court house had been condemned as unsafe. He had sold his little house in Ripon to pay his attorneys, James A. Loutitt and Wm. Dudley. The prosecuting was represented by the district attorney, Ansel Smith, assisted by Joseph C. Campbell. The jury went to their room on the evening of February 28, and the following morning reported that they could not agree, standing seven to five for acquittal. At a subsequent trial Wells was acquitted.

Manteca

        Manteca is one of the progressive towns of San Joaquin County and its progressiveness is shown in the fact that in 1910 with a population of 100 it now has a population of nearly 2,000. Like all of the county towns its first settlers were honest, hard working farmers, who located in the district to till the sandy soil and raise wheat, hay and barley, the profitable crops at that time. It is not positively known who were the first settlers, but a man named "Billy" Jenkins is said to have located in that section of the country as early as 1858 on 320 acres of rand. About the same time Wm. H. Lyons, a young Stockton attorney, took up some land there on a soldier's warrant. He did not live there, but took up the land on speculation. Joshua Cowell in 1863 located a half-section of land which included the present town of Manteca and building a little home began raising wheat and barley. Later when those crops were unprofitable he and his fellow ranchers began raising rye. In 1864 Peter Clapp, James Reynolds, Alvin Shedd, and George and Orsemus Sperry and Cutler Salmon, located in that township and became prosperous ranchers. The settlers were few in number, and although neighbors they lived several miles apart, for each farmer eventually owned large tracts of land. They defined the boundaries of their lands by means of deeply dug ditches making an embankment on the inside.

        A man named Martin in 1864 built a little residence of brick in that locality and later it was occupied by Peter Clapp. The house now sheathed with wood is in the limits of the town. Another old time building of sixty-seven years ago is the former home of George Sperry. The Southern Pacific in 1870 built a line of road from Lathrop to Ripon, then the center of the grain growing district. Joshua Cowell gave them the right of way and the company erected a small freight platform and station where now stand the present depot erected 1910. The station was known as Cowell's station. His brother had a warehouse about a mile below, called Cowell's warehouse, and as there was a confusion of names, the railroad company named the station Manteca, a Spanish word meaning butter. It had a prophetic meaning for today Manteca is the largest butter producer in the county. Joshua Cowell, now eighty years of age, justly called the "Father of Manteca," started a small creamery in 1896. It was not a success. A merchant named J. J. Overshiner in 1898 erected a small building across the track from the depot and opened a general merchandising store, and in connection there was a butcher shop. The Manteca-Rochdale store was opened in 1901, and the following year a blacksmith opened, where now stands the Bank of South San Joaquin. Another butcher shop was opened corner Yosemite Avenue and Hogan Road. John A. Boberg in 1909 started the Manteca lumber yard and taking in Carl Palm in 1911 they opened the Manteca hardware store. The first brick building was erected by Joshua Cowell in 1911 on the southwest corner of Yosemite Avenue and Hogan Road at a cost of $9,000; the Odd Fellows leased the hall in the second story. Cowell in 1913 erected a much handsomer two-story brick building diagonally opposite the first building, the one now occupied by the Jacob store. The Odd Fellows in 1913 purchased a lot for $1,200 opposite the Cowell building and erected a handsome building at an approximate cost of $12,000. Renting the lower story, the upper story was fitted up especially for lodge work. The property is now valued at $20,000. As early in 1914 J. W. LeTourneau, Johnson & Carlon, McPherson & Son were in the general merchandising business; Woodward & Douglas, Olsen & Hansen, Woodward & Hines, were selling real estate; Brow's drug store; Manteca Lumber Company; the Wiggin and the Manteca Hotels; Cowell's Stable; W. H. Harrell blacksmith; meat market; Cadwell's barber shop; bakery; paint shop; plumber; cannery and creamery; planning mill; Mrs. Baker's ice cream parlor; Dr. R. H Goodale, physician; Dr. Moore, dentist; telephone exchange, Wells Fargo agency, post office and two banks.

        There are five different denominations and churches in Manteca, including the Methodist, Union or Baptist, Christian, Catholic and Christian Science. The Union Church, first used as a Brethren or Dunkard Church, was built in 1912 in North Manteca, the Manteca Improvement company having given them two lots for that purpose. It is now used as a Union Baptist Church, the present pastor being the Rev. A. P. Brown. The Methodist Church is on West Yosemite Avenue. On the same avenue stands St. Anthony's Catholic Church. The first services were held in Cowell's hall by Father McGough, this being a mission church in Stockton parish. The church was dedicated June 18, 1916, and Father Marchisio has been in charge since the dedication. In October, 1919, St. Anthony was set apart as a parish.

        The first teacher of the district school was Miss Wodward, the school being some distance from Manteca. This was in 1867. She had pupils of all ages, one of them being Joshua Cowell, then a young man of twenty-five years. In the meantime Manteca had become quite a settlement, and in 1912 the school was removed from its former location on the river to the brick building now occupied by the Jacobs store. The building was erected by Mr. Cowell. A few years later a fine eight-room grammar school was erected at a cost of $30,000, and a large twenty-room Union high school is just completed in East Manteca at a cost of $200,000.

        The town has two banks, each being located in its own brick building on Yosemite Avenue. The first Bank of Manteca was located in a brick building erected by Joshua Cowell. It was incorporated November 28, 1911, with a paid up capital of $25,000. The first president was Joshua Cowell and the directors, Fred Norcross, Joshua Cowell, J. N. Norcross, Ed Powers and John Boberg. Some two years ago the bank increased their capital stock to $100,000 changed the name to First National Bank, and moved to a building erected especially for their use. The Bank of South San Joaquin was incorporated May 18, 1918, with the following officers: Frank Guernsey, president; P. L. Wisdom, vice-president; Hugh Campbell, secretary, treasurer and cashier; Arbor Barth and George Williams, assistant cashiers; and J. J. Overshiner, J. M. Lindsey, John A. Boberg, J. J. Napier and the officers as directors.

        The town has several secret societies, including Tryon Lodge of Masons, who meet in the hall of the pioneer Cowell Building; the Woodman of the World, organized March 11, 1921; the Loyal Order of Moose, instituted August 25, 1920; the Odd Fellows organized December 2, 1911; Phoebe A. Hearst Parlor, N. D. G. W., instituted April 12, 1919, and Manteca Rebekah Lodge No. 332. These lodges all meet in the Odd Fellows' Building. The Phoebe Hearst Parlor officers were installed by Grand District Deputy Mamie Peyton of Stockton and her grand officers.

        The Manteca water works was started by A. Bucilleri, who used large quantities of water in his cannery; a large iron tank was erected on the west side of the railroad together with a pumping plant and arrangements made to supply the citizens with water for domestic and fire purposes. Three-inch pipes were laid to the street corners and to these pipes hose can be attached. The present fire department is composed of two companies with Elwood Leventon chief engineer and E. W. Sullivan and A. G. Pennebaker, assistants. Including these officers the following are the fire fighters: George W. Swanson, George E. Buthenuth, Benny Fauls, L. F. E. Costa, J. C. Kerr, J. W. Parr, John Jewart, Henry Hyman, Budd Hinkson, C. E. Field, Milo Monson, L. J. Delmege, Jack Greenberg, M. Litchfield, D. E. Stewart and H. B. Alger.

        Fred W. Wurster, a Stockton boy, published at Ripon a little newspaper called the Irrigation Bulletin. It was devoted almost entirely to irrigation projects. In 1909 the plant was removed to Manteca and sold the following year to Fred Holman. He changed the name to the Manteca Bulletin. A rival newspaper called the Enterprise was started in 1916 by J. B. Dixon, who sold out in 1917 to a Mr. Bessac. In 1918 the paper was consolidated with the Bulletin. The Bulletin is a four-page weekly with a circulation of 1,000 copies and is at present owned by J. D. Dean, who bought the plant in May, 1918.

        East Union Cemetery, where lie the bodies of many of the pioneers who located in Manteca section, was set apart for a burial place in 1872, Alvin Shell at that time giving to the association a small tract of land. Some twenty years later, 1893, Joshua Cowell deeded land just opposite the cemetery for a church, and the Union Church Society erected a small temple of worship. The society was organized in 1887 with Mrs. Emily F. Cowell, president; Mrs. Luda S. Reynolds, secretary; and Mrs. Anna Reynolds, treasurer. Burials were made in the cemetery from time to time, but as the years passed no care was taken of it and it became a disgrace to the community. Finally the society determined to improve the grounds, they having in the meantime obtained the church lots, making five acres in all. Obtaining money by subscription the grounds were cleaned up and a handsome gate and arch of cement and marble erected at the entrance. In the pillars supporting the arch there are marble tablets on which are engraved the family names of sixty of the pioneers.

        The progressive citizens of the town wisely, as early as 1909, organized a Board of Trade with the following officers: F. F. Langford, president; F. M. Cowell, vice-president; E. N. Pierce, secretary; and Joshua Cowell, treasurer. Through their efforts in 1818 Manteca was incorporated as a city of the sixth class. The first elected officers were: Joshua Cowell, mayor; C. E. Littleton, F. M. Cowell, Andrew Veach and H. S. Erstad, trustees; George H. Singleton, clerk; J. F. Scott, attorney; E. H. Jeffries, engineer; John Boberg, treasurer; and Maro Litchfield, marshal and tax collector. In the second election R. E. Leventon was elected mayor and E. Kepple, F. E. Stetler, R. P. Fuller and J. E. Heeber, trustees; F. M. Roundtree, marshal and tax collector; E. Powers, treasurer; Daisy E. Duvall, clerk.

        Were it not for irrigation this article of Manteca could not have been written. It is true that the Spreckels $2,000,000 beet sugar mill, employing some 300 men during the beet grinding season, gave Manteca an uplift, but it was the water that came flowing into their fields in 1903 that meant prosperity. On November 21 they celebrated the event at a small station five miles southeast of Lathrop. It was a proud day in the life of H. W. Cowell who, with Nate Harrold, spent his fortune in pushing ahead the project. The farmers from the surrounding country came in crowds to the celebration, and over 200 Stockton citizens attended, accompanied by a band.

Lathrop

        Lathrop is a town of the past, a silent reminder of the time when Stanford and Company endeavored to found a town as a rival to Stockton, but they did not figure on Stockton's waterway to the ocean, which built up the city to a population of 10,000 before there were any railroads in existence. The company laid out the town August 1, 1887, subdividing the tract west of the railroad hotel into sixteen oblong blocks. Up to this time it had been known as Wilson's station. The company named it Lathrop in honor of Stanford's brother-in-law, Charles Lathrop. Every inducement was made to have settlers locate there, as it was a terminal point for trains, thus causing many railroad men to move their families there, and the stopping there for twenty minutes of each passenger train for meals in the railroad hotel. This hotel, one of the largest in the state at that time, was built at a cost of $50,000. It was placed in charge of H. A. Bloss, the popular hotel man, who had been conducting the eating place at the Stockton depot. The hotel was opened to the public May 10, 1871, with a grand ball and a sumptuous supper. Merchants and others began to locate there and some of them were not desirable residents to the company as they opened opposition eating places to the railroad house. As every passenger train arrived times were lively as the opposition hotels would solicit patronage. Then the company prohibited all solicitations on their property, and there were several fights and lawsuits. Passengers, however, continued to patronize the cheaper hotels. Then the company won out by running a long line of box freight cars on the sidetrack just before the arrival of every passenger train. Lathrop reached its highest growth in 1879. At that time it had a population of about six hundred, with three hotels, two restaurants, two general merchandising stores, a school, Knights of Pythias lodge, a Dunkard and a Catholic church. In February, 1886, the hotel caught fire and was totally destroyed by fire. The railroad then transferred their round­houses to Tracy and made that town the terminal. That was the death blow to Lathrop.

The Murder of David S. Terry

        Soon after the rebuilding of the hotel Lathrop became famous through the killing of Judge Terry by David S. Nagle, a body guard of U. S. Supreme Justice Stephen J. Field. The two judges had been enemies since they sat together on the Supreme bench of California. Terry at one time publicly denounced Judge Field as "the most corrupt judge ever on the bench." In 1883 a woman named Sarah Althea Hill claimed by a secret marriage to be the wife of Senator William Sharon, a wealthy mining man formerly of Nevada. Sharon denied the marriage, and to prove it the case was contested in 1884 in the San Francisco court. Her attorneys were David S. Terry and George W. Tyler, a former county judge in San Joaquin. She won out, as her marriage contract was declared valid. Sharon then removed his residence to Nevada, so as to bring the contest before the Federal Court, Chief Justice Field, presiding. Frank G. Newlands, the son-in-law of Senator Sharon, was a close friend of Chief Justice Field. In the meantime some curious events occurred. Sharon died in November, 1885; in the following month, Mrs. Cornelia Terry died broken hearted, and in less than two months, January 8, 1886, Terry married Sarah Althea Hill. Mrs. Terry now claimed Sharon's property as his heir, and the contestant was Frank Newlands. The case was tried in the U. S. District Court before Justice Field in September, 1888. It was a curious condition of affairs, Terry pleading his wife's case against Sharon's son-in-law before Justice Field, Terry's sworn enemy, and Newlands' warm friend. During the trial Mrs. Terry sprang up from her seat and exclaimed, "Justice Field, are you going to order me to give up that marriage contract? We hear that you have been bought. How much have you been paid by the Sharon people?" "Marshal, put that woman out," commanded Field. Terry resisted the marshal and some witnesses say he drew his bowie knife. He was sentenced to six months in jail in the Alameda County prison. While in jail he said to some friends, "When I get out of jail I will horsewhip Judge Fields." "But he will resent it," replied his friend. "Then," answered Terry, "if he resents it I will kill him." Terry was released from jail March 3, 1889, and went to his Fresno home. August 14, 1889, Terry and his wife and Judge Field and his body guard, David S. Nagle, unknown to each other were on the Southern Pacific train bound for San Francisco. As the train stopped at Lathrop for meals Field and Nagle entered the dining room and sat down to a table side by side. A few minutes later Terry and his wife entered the room, she without her handbag, containing a revolver, which she always carried. They were conducted to a seat beyond Field, and as they passed Terry apparently took no notice of Field. Sitting down, Mrs. Terry whispered something to her husband, and immediately got up and left the room. In the meantime Terry arose from the table and approaching Field from behind slapped his cheek upon the right and the left side. This, according to the Southerner's code was the highest insult that could be given an enemy. Quick as a flash Nagle with his left hand shot Terry twice and he fell to the floor dead. The first ball pierced his heart and the second bullet pierced his ear as he fell. At that moment Mrs. Terry entered the room bearing her handbag and falling upon her husband's breast appeared to take something from beneath his vest. There was where Terry always carried his dirk knife, according to his own statement. Nagle was arrested by the Lathrop constable and taken to the Stockton jail. A warrant was sworn out and served on Justice Field by Sheriff Cunningham, but immediately he was served with a writ of habeas corpus to produce Justice Field in the U. S. Court in San Francisco. Nagle was tried in the same court on the charge of murder and acquitted on the ground that he had only performed his duty.

Farmington

        Farmington is a little settlement well named in 1859 by a man named Wm. Stamper, as it is located in the center of a vast farming district. As early as 1848 two men named David Wells and George Thayer immigrated here from Oregon and erecting a tule house took up 320 acres of land near the present site of Farmington. The place was known as the Oregon ranch. In 1852 Nathaniel S. Harrold purchased the Oregon ranch as a stock farm. He increased his holdings until he had over 5,000 acres of land. In 1868 he built a handsome two-story brick residence costing him $10,000. Another settler there in 1855 was Shubal Dunham, who also became a wealthy farmer and erected a handsome residence. Two other well-known settlers were M. J. Drais and J. F. Harrison. In 1858 W. B. Stamper took up land on the present Farmington site, and in the following year he sold his two lots to David and Wm. Sanderson who erected a blacksmith shop and hotel. Alexander Horn and L. J. Morrow then opened a general merchandising store. The store, after changing hands many times, was later purchased by O. K. Dyke and Fred M. West. When the Oakdale Railroad was built it greatly benefited the town, and in the early '90s there were three hotels, two merchandising stores, a livery stable, three blacksmith shops, a harness store, two churches and a school. There was an Odd Fellows' lodge instituted July 11, 1882, Farmington Lodge No. 296, which is still in existence, and Crescent Rebekah Lodge No. 234, with at present twenty-eight members.

        The first school was opened in a small building on the land of M. J. Drais, with Wm. Chapman as the first teacher. A new school was erected in 1889 at a cost of $6,000. Religious services were there held as early as 1853 by a Presbyterian minister, Rev. M. Crow. In 1872, through the work of the Rev. Charles Yager, a Cumberland Presbyterian pastor, a Union church was built through the subscriptions of members of all denominations, at a cost of $1,500. In 1878 the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, and in 1889 they built a $2,500 edifice.

Clements

        Clements, the most northeasterly town in the county, was founded by Thomas Clements, the biggest hearted and most generous man in that section of the country. The present site of Clements and adjoining bottom lands were purchased by him in 1871 from David S. Terry, and in 1872 Clements located on his ranch. Terry obtained this particular piece of property in 1850, the bottom lands along the river being some of the richest soil in the county.

        Terry came to this ranch after his release from "Fort Gunnybags" by the San Francisco Vigilance Committee for the stabbing of Hopkins, and he there practiced pistol shooting just previous to his duel with Senator David C. Broderick. At this time the traveled road ran along the river bottom to the ferry, and in 1854 Terry and a man named Hodge established a flour mill on the flat and called it the Lone Star Mill, Terry naming it after Texas, the Lone Star State, his birth place. The mill is said to have continued in operation until 1885 under the management of S. L. Magee. The only house in that section for many years was the Poland House built by George Poland on the well traveled road to Mokelumne Hill. It was a stage and teamsters' station, and in boyhood the writer well remembers the place, as he slept in the attic over night, while assisting in driving some cattle from Stockton to Sutter Creek. In 1878 a man named Lukins established a blacksmith shop and home at Clements and Daniel Marceau opened a saloon. After the arrival of the railroad George Ringer erected a two-story brick building as a hotel and barroom. Then Moses Bruml and Charles Bomert came up from Lockeford and opened a general merchandising store. Soon after this Bomert was the leader in forming the Farmers' Trade Union, and buying out the M. Bruml and Bogert firm they erected a two-story brick building and put in a $15,000 stock. The San Joaquin & Sierra Nevada narrow gauge railroad running from Brack's Landing through Clements to Valley Springs, originated with Jacob Brack and others. They failed in their object, lacking the financial end, and about 1884 the Southern Pacific took it over and made it a broad gauge road with Lodi as the terminus. At Clements their agent was Wm. J. Siegel, who had the manifold position of railroad agent, warehouse man, telegraph and Wells Fargo agent, and a notary public. The first postmaster was Charles Bomert, and among his successors were Miss Cecilia Gillis and her sister. Their father was the first justice of the peace.

        The schoolhouse was on the second flat, erected by P. A. Athearn in 1869. A two-story brick school was erected in 1877 on the upland about a quarter mile from the town. It was built by the cooperation of citizens. S. L. Magee deeded the land, Thomas Clements gave the brick from his brick yard, and other public-spirited men subscribed the money to purchase other building material and hauled it free of cost from Stockton. One of the first teachers was a Mrs. Hornshell. Later Amy Stowe and W. R. Stone, who later became a Stockton attorney, were teachers. Religious services were held in here by the Rev. W. H. Pascoe, a Congregational minister from Lockeford. In 1891 the Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a house of worship, and the pulpit was supplied by pastors from Lockeford. The Presbyterians had erected a house of worship the previous year at a cost of $6,000, which was dedicated Sunday morning, September 27, 1891. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by the Rev. D. S. McDonald of San Rafael, and those assisting in the dedication were Revs. M. D. Steen, the pastor of the church, J. C. Huber, president of the San Joaquin Valley College at Woodbridge, and Bishop Hott, of the United Brethren denomination.

Lockeford

        Lockeford was one of the liveliest towns in the county, and a strong Union town during the Civil War, they hung Jeff Davis in effigy, and organized a military company called the Mokelumne Dragoons, with George C. Holman as captain. Settlers began locating on the river bottom and on the bluffs as early as 1849. D. J. Staples, Dr. D. J. and Elmer H. Locke coming at that time. Charles R. Montgomery located there in 1852, and trees are still standing on his place as landmarks. Joseph Putnam, Edward Whipple, and Daniel Howard took up land near Lockeford in 1851 and gave it the name of the New England ranch, they coming from the New England States. Putnam probably was a relative of Israel Putnam, one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War. Reuben Metcalf, crossing the plains with two oxen, located on the Mokelumne River in '57, and Charles Pope located across from the Athearn ranch in '53, and Mrs. Belle Sheridan, then a girl of four years of age, came with her parents in '52, their home, the Ryan ranch, being west of the Harmony Grove church. Thomas B. Parker settled on his ranch in 1854 and Mrs. Amanda Flanders, Clarence Flanders and Mrs. Clara Howard came to California with their father, L. C. Flanders, and settled near Lockeford in 1860. The "mother of Lockeford," and one of the most patriotic women in San Joaquin County, is Mrs. Delia M. Locke. Marrying Dr. D. J. Locke in Massachusetts in 1855, then a girl of 19 years, she immediately started on their honeymoon for California and Lockeford, arriving there in July. She is the mother of thirteen children, all born in Lockeford.

        The first domicile in Lockeford was the log cabin of the Lockes on what is called Yankee Hill. It was erected early in 1851 beneath three large oak trees, still standing. When Dr. Locke returned to the town with his bride the log cabin was replaced by a neat wooden structure now standing in the Locke orchard. The present two-story brick home was built in 1865. If Mrs. Lou M. Locke's history be correct Christian Megerle built the first hotel in 1857, where now stands George Clements' house, and in 1862 Mrs. Amanda Flanders kept the Megerle House. The so-called Lockeford Hotel was moved to its present site in 1859 by a man named Clapp, its owner. The building was erected in 1857 on Bear Creek ranch by Mr. Moore and sold to Clapp. Luther Locke deeded a lot to Clapp on condition that it be opened as the Lockeford House. Captain Vincent, who had been living in a tent, erected a new house in 1857. In 1858 D. J. Locke erected a two-story adobe house to be used as a granary, with a public hall in the second story. In that hall was organized the Lockeford Good Templar Society, the Congregational Church, and the Ladies' Home Library Association. It was also during the Civil War the armory of the Mokelumne Dragoons. A wheelwright named Reed built a home in '61, which is now occupied by M. Bruml. The grandfather of J. C. Hammond built in '67 the house in which he lives. The first store was started in July, 1856, by Luther Locke. It is now the residence of N. H. Locke. It was known as the White House, the post office being in the store. In 1881 Lockeford was quite a manufacturing center; there were three firms making light wagons, two carriage painting shops, Tretheway & Daly employed four men constantly, and C. P. Grant had six men, Benjamin Steacy kept busy nine men and the J. M. Hooly saddlery and harness shop had three men.

        The first school was taught in a canvas tent on the river bottom, supported by willow poles. Mrs. Belle Sheridan, who attended this school, called it "The Rag School House." A few years later, 1856, a wooden building was constructed about half way between Staples Ferry and the town. In 1864 the building was removed to Lockeford. The population a the place increased quite rapidly, and so did the children, and in 1874 a much larger and more convenient school was erected.

        The first religious service in Lockeford was held November 24, 1861, by the Congregationalists in what was then known as the "Sons of Temperance Hall." This hall, an adobe building on the Locke property, now used as a granary or warehouse, was the public assembly place of all the people. The Congregational Church was there organized in February, 1862, and seven years later at a cost of $2,800, this amount including the bell, they erected a house of worship. It was dedicated September 19, of the same year. The first officers were: David J. Locke, Thomas B. Day, George Hommand, Thomas B. Jeffreys and Isaac Brown. It is still in use for religious services.

        The so-called Church of Christ was organized in March, 1876. They purchased a little stone building then located on the Locke grounds, and removing it to its present location anticipated an increase of their numbers. They failed to materialize and the building was sold to the Catholics. They remodeled the building at a cost of over $1,000 and renamed it St. Joaquin Church. It is now in the Lodi parish.

        The Lockes were a strong temperance family and as early as January, 1860, a Sons of Temperance Lodge, known as Live Oak Division No. 29, was organized with the following charter members: D. J. Locke, John Griffith, Jacob Hesman, Paul Dennis, John D. Wood, Peter Cahill, J. W. Simpson, John P. Hill, E. P. Megerle, John A. Simpson, R. T. Vance, H. P. Pelton, A. Hall, D. C. Fugitt, P. L. Megerle, T. J. Mofitt. In 1864 a Good Templar lodge was organized called Rescue Lodge No. 115, and this organization absorbed the temperance lodge.

        Progressive Lodge No. 134, I. O. O. F.. was instituted on May 11, 1867, by Grand Master Charles N. Fox, assisted by Past Grand Patriarch B. W. Barnes and members from Woodbridge and Campo Seco. The officers elected and installed were Peter Moore, noble grand; P. B. Wagner, vice-grand; S.. B. Sabine, secretary; and Philip Cahill, treasurer. After the installation of the officers and the initiation of fourteen candidates the brethren enjoyed a banquet in Wm. Kitt's restaurant.

        Live Oak Rebekah Lodge was instituted October 26, 1885, by Grand Master Nathaniel Cook and Grand Secretary Wm. H. Lyons. The following officers were elected and installed: Mrs. Clara Howard, noble grand; Mrs. J. Ostrander, vice-grand; Mrs. Wm. B. Piper, secretary; Mrs. M. Bruml, treasurer; Mrs. George Ruger, warden; Mrs. J. B. Thorp, conductor; Mrs. M. G. Flanders, inside guardian; and Miss M. McCloud, outside guardian.

        Vesper Lodge No. 194, K. P., was instituted February 7, 1884, with thirty-nine charter members. The first officers were: Wm. Ennis, past commander; Wm. B. Ambrose, chancellor commander; B. F. Foster, vice-commander; J. B. Throop, prelate; Luther Locke, keeper of records and seal; J. Blois, master of finance; M. Bruml, master of exchequer; C. McCloud, master of arms; C. H. Dial, inside guardian; A. V. Tretheway, outside guardian.

        During the latter part of the Civil War the town boasted of what was known as the Lockeford Dragoons. They were in existence only a time and disbanding in October, 1867, their equipment consisting of saddles, bridles, swords and uniforms, were returned to Sacramento.

        The Lockeford brass band was organized June 11, 1882, with John Wagner, Thomas Daly, W. B. Christy, D. Jane, F. Starkey, J. Curtain, J. Macgurney, Charles Baker, Thomas Baker, J. Brummel, John Blois, John Hammond, Jabez Harris, of Stockton, director. On October 11, 1890, the young men of Lockeford organized a second brass band with Henry Bruml as leader. The members were: Osias Grubs, Augustus Barker, Edward Locke, Virgil Holey, Charles Emsley, Abraham Farrington, George Hartwell, Early Farrington, Charles Maxwell, Daniel Dorsey and Charles Gilos.

Collegeville

        Another of the bygone villages is Collegeville. It was so named after the college erected there in 1866 at a cost of $8,000. The building was destroyed by fire and never resurrected. One of the first settlers in that locality was John Kehoe. Another settler was Dr. L. R. Chalmers in 1850, and he it was who caused the location there of Morris College. The settlement is on a line between Dent and O'Neal townships and as a farming center was quite a busy burg. Teaming for Mariposa all passed that point, also the stages for the mountain towns. At one time, 1879, it boasted of the usual wayside saloon, a blacksmith shop and wagon shop, a butcher shop, schoolhouse, church and eight or nine dwellings. The railroad and automobiles were the cause of its decline, and there is now a grocery store, an old schoolhouse, church and two or three residences.

Thornton

        This farming center formerly known as New Hope lies at the mouth of the Mokelumne River in the midst of some of the most fertile land in the county. The first settler was Arthur Thornton, who there located in 1855. He erected a two-story home, opened a store in which he and A. Bortland were partners. The town in 1880 boasted of a saloon, blacksmith, stable, postoffice, and several houses. When the Western Pacific Railroad passed through the town they established a station, erected a large freight depot, and changed the name to Thornton, in honor of its founder. May 12, 1880 the town was visited by one of the heaviest hail storms ever experienced in the county. In twenty minutes time the hail fell to the depth of three inches, destroying entirely the heavy fruit crops, and the lightning striking in several places destroyed telegraph poles and trees.

Navigation on the Mokelumne River

        The Mokelumne River is a stream of water that runs swift and deep during the spring of the year, fed by the melting snow of the Sierras, but in the fall of the year it is almost dry, above Woodbridge. It is, however, navigable throughout the entire year for light draught steamers, for some ten miles above the point where it enters the San Joaquin River. During the flood of 1852 Woodbridge and the surrounding country was under water and a sailing vessel went as far up stream as Lockeford. In 1857, according to Thompson's history of San Joaquin, Stephen H. Davis of Stockton, sailed a sloop called the Mary Bowers up the Mokelumne River to its junction with the Consumnes River, at Mokelumne City. He there established a lumber yard and bulling three sloops they sailed up and down the river from San Francisco to Mokelumne City. George P. Taisen purchased one of the sloops in 1860 and he continued running the vessel, but the other schooners were taken off.

        In the great flood of 1861-62 the entire country was under water and there was considerable suffering in the mountain camps because of the scarcity of food. Dr. D. J. Locke conceived the idea of chartering a steamer in San Francisco, loading it with provisions, sailing the vessel to Lockeford, and make the town a depot of supplies for the mining camp. Then Lockeford would rapidly grow as the head of navigation on the Mokelumne. Going to San Francisco he chartered a small steamer called the Fanny Ann, Captain Haggerty. The steamer was loaded with supplies and left San Francisco February 12, 1862, bound for Lockeford. Mr. Locke instructed the captain to spend two weeks time if necessary to reaching that point, as he considered it a very important business proposition, which it was, if successful. In the meantime J. H. Woods, the founder of Woodbridge, did not propose to have the rival town of Lockeford be declared the head of navigation, and he bribed the captain of the Fanny Ann to loaf on the job and cast anchor at Woodbridge. The steamer was eight days making that point and arriving February 20, the captain told Dr. Locke that he would take no chances of a shipwreck by snags in steaming to Lockeford. The goods were unloaded at Woodbridge and hauled to the mining camps by team. Woods had certainly put one over Dr. Locke, as the saying goes, and in the town there was great rejoicing. The citizens assembled in Masonic hall, speeches of congratulation were made and $200 was subscribed and Captain Haggerty offered 260 cords of wood if he would make a continuous trips to Woodbridge. He declined the offer.

First Steamer to Lockeford

        Dr. Locke was most decidedly angry because of the duplicity of Captain Haggerty, but not in the least discouraged he concluded to try again, but under different conditions.  Again visiting San Francisco he purchased a small steamer called the Pert, on condition that she make the port of Lockeford. We do not know the time taken to make the trip, but the telegraph item went out over the state, "The steamer Pert, Captain Allen, successfully navigated the Mokelumne to Lockeford on April 2, 1862. The event was celebrated with great rejoicing as the deed is done." The little steamer had on board about thirty tons of freight and sixty passengers. A large crowd of farmers from all sections of the country were present to greet the first steamer at Lockeford. Not long after this event the Mokelumne Steam Navigation Company was formed with Dr. D. J. Locke, Edwin Foster, James Talmadge and George L. Locke as directors. They purchased the Pert, paying $4,000 for the steamer, and put her in command of Captain A. P. Bradbury. They also purchased two more steamers, the O. K. and the Mary Ellen, which ran on the river for a time, but the loss of the Pert by striking a snag, blasted all of their future hopes of making Lockeford an inland port.

Woodbridge

        The first settlers at Woodbridge were the French Canadian trappers of the Hudson Bay Company, probably in the early '40s, and the first house was a log cabin built by them on the banks of the river. In 1850-51 the country in that vicinity was settled by J. P. and Roscoe S. Sargent, Jacob Brack, James Talmadge, George W. Emmerson, Mathew Webb, Elbert and Henry Chandeler. Alexander McQueen, John C. White, George W. Emmerson, J. P. Sargent in 1851 harvested a crop of barley where now stands Woodbridge. The next year August, 1852, Jeremiah H. Woods with his family located there and camped under a tree while the father erected a log cabin, in which to live. He and McQueen then purchased from the Sargent brothers the Woodbridge site and Woods, building a boat, established a ferry across the river. The place was known as Woods Ferry. Woods was one of the most enterprising men of that day, and he had in view a scheme to outshine Stockton by making Woodbridge the county seat of the new county, the head of navigation to San Francisco, and the main route of travel from Stockton to the capital city, Sacramento. He had a strong rival in Dr. Locke, but he had the advantage of Locke in location and a fertile soil surrounding the proposed town. The first thing was to get the travel, and in October, 1852, John J. Flood, E. H. Comstock and others petitioned the Court of Sessions to order a public road from Stockton by way of Woods Ferry to Davis bridge on Dry Creek. The order was made, J. H. Woods was appointed one of the commissioners to lay out the road, and in August, '53, it was declared a public highway. This road was known even as it is today as the Lower Sacramento road. The travel over the Upper Sacramento road crossed the Mokelumne River at Staples Ferry near Lockeford. This also was the stage road to the capital, but Woods, by making his place a stage station and giving the stage free ferriage, succeeded in getting the stage owners to route their travel by Woods Ferry. Another important thing, Woodbridge was made a postoffice and that gave them daily communication with Stockton and Sacramento. In 1854, said Mrs. Laura de Force Gordon, he erected a hotel for the accommodation of teamsters and travelers. In 1858 at a cost of $1,000 he built a toll bridge across the river, which not only made it quicker and safer for travel, but brought him in nearly $10,000 the first year.

        James B. Folger, John C. Thompson and H. D. Shinn located in the town in 1860, Dr. Horace Bentley in 1856, Wm. H. Devries in 1860, and Charles O. Ivory in 1867. These men married, erected homes and reared families that became socially quite prominent. The home erected by J. H. Woods is now the residence of Dr. A. E. Arthur and the Folger home is now occupied by C. L. Newton. Dr. Bentley said that when he arrived in Woodbridge there was but one store and one building, the Woods Hotel. He erected the first brick building in 1865. It was a two-story structure in which he opened a general merchandising store and with his family resided over the store. Bentley carried a stock of groceries, hardware and medicines, for he was not only a merchant but a practicing physician. He was also Wells Fargo express agent. John R. Rutledge erected a one-story brick in '68 and did a good merchandising business. Charles O. Ivory, a Stockton blacksmith. moved to Woodbridge in '67 and that made the third grocery store. John Levinsky came down from San Andreas and opened the fourth general merchandising store. The town grew like a mushroom from 1859 to 1870 and almost as quickly faded away. In December, '60, said a correspondent for the press, "Numerous buildings have been erected of a permanent character, families have settled amongst us and business has increased. Some of the improvements are MacIntosh's two-story wagon and blacksmith shop, with three forges; John Levinsky's fireproof building; J. M. Woods & Co., livery and feed stable; Graham & Perry, carpenter shop; Daniel Grist, drinks and fruit; Dan Kelley, boots and shoes; Neeley & Parr, saddletrees and harness; four saloons, and a hotel. The town in 1877 had reached its highest pinnacle and had already began to recede, for many of its inhabitants had removed to Lodi, Stockton and other points. "At this time," said Mrs. de Force Gordon, "the town possessed a fine Odd Fellows' building, a Masonic hall, three dry goods stores, a blacksmith and butcher shop, shoe store, telegraph and express office, and a flour mill. There are two churches, Catholic and United Brethren, a public school with 115 pupils taught by two teachers, and a population of about 300 persons."

        The town was platted in April, 1859, by the community and named Woodbridge as a compliment to J. H. Woods, the enterprising founder of the town. The first sale of lots was made by E. M. MacIntosh and W. Y. Smith for $500, and about the same time Henry Corsaw and John C. Thompson purchased lots, paying $400 for them. Mr. Woods and his wife gave no deeds for the sale of the lots as he had no title. It was Government land and it was not placed on sale until 1865. The citizens took no advantage of the sale and made no effort to obtain a title to their lots. Woods, we remember, was killed in 1864, and his property rights were in litigation. This neglect to preempt their land caused some curious complications. For instance in 1867 Thomas Day filed a claim on a tract of land. It included the burial place of the Masonic lodge, and they were compelled to purchase their graveyard from the preemptor of the land. In 1873 a man named A. S. Thomas preempted another piece of land containing the citizens' dead. Finally the town woke up and in March, 1873, "the citizens of Woodbridge filed their claims to what was left of the old township."

        The Messenger of Woodbridge, its sole newspaper, had a short but merry life. It was first issued May 18, 1865, by Shekells & Spencer. J. C. Spencer had been publishing the Mountain News at San Andreas, but the mining camp was being deserted at that time because of the scarcity of gold, and Spencer removed the plant to Woodbridge. In less than eight weeks the partnership was dissolved and Spencer conducted the paper alone two years and then selling out to George Crist, went to Tuolumne City and started the Tuolumne News. Then for the third time he left a dying town and going to Modesto issued the Modesto News. Crist continued the Messenger for a couple of years, he was then compelled to suspend operations as the residents were all moving to Lodi.

        The United Brethren in Christ held service in the Franklin and Mokelumne school houses as early as 1864. The services were conducted by the Rev. J. W. Harron and Elder Jackway. In 1878 they built a church at a cost of $2,700. The officers were R. Metcalf, chairman; J. A. Sollinger, secretary, H. J. Becker, R. W. Phillips; H. J. Keene and Thomas J. Pope. In September, 1878, the annual state conference was held at Woodbridge, and one of the important business events was the taking over of the Woodbridge Academy and conducting it as a religious institution. It was not a profitable business proposition and they soon retired, handing the building over to the Woodbridge school trustees for use as a grammar school.

        The Presbyterians of the town held services in the Masonic hall as early as 1867, the Rev. Joshua Phelps conducting the services. In May, 1870, they organized a church society, with Andrew Rutledge and John and Andrew Rutledge, Jr., as the elders. In March, 1875, the Rev. Wm. H. Talmage located in Woodbridge and became the pastor.

        The Methodist Church South erected a parsonage in Woodbridge and held services in the Woodbridge hall, with W. W. Winters as pastor.

        The Catholic church of St. Ann was organized in 1876 by the Rev. Father O'Connor as a mission church of the Stockton parish. They had been celebrating mass in private houses since 1874, and purchasing the one-story brick building formerly the public school, they repaired and fitted it up as a church at a cost of $1,100. It was dedicated with great ceremony November 26, 1876, by Archbishop Alemany, assisted by the Rev. Father William O'Connor.

        Woodbridge lodge No. 131, F. & A. M. was instituted May 10, 1850, with eight charter members. The first officers were: Charles Carpender, worthy master; Wm. H. Young, senior warden; Thomas Henderson, junior warden; L. F. Neeley, tyler. These officers with D. P. McNeil, C. H. Over, John H. Woods and R. H. McCracken constituted the charter members. Their first hall was a two-story building opposite the Bentley store, located on the river bank. Later they erected a two-story brick building on the present Main Street. At one time the lodge had 135 members, now scarcely more than enough to fill the chairs.

        Jefferson lodge No. 98, I. O. O. F., was instituted August 2, 1860, by Grand Master Charles O. Burton, with five charter members; Henry Hoeber was elected noble grand; Samuel H. Axtell, vice grand; Freeman Mills, recording secretary; James Taylor, treasurer; and William H. Smith. They held their meetings in the Masonic hall on the bank of the Mokelumne until 1874. At that time the John Levinsky grocery store was remodelled and a second story erected which the lodge occupied. No recital of the high spots of Woodbridge's history would be complete without mentioning the San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada Railroad, a narrow-gauge line which was projected between tidewater at Brack's Landing on the Mokelumne to the mines and timber belt in the Sierras over the mountains if found practicable. The prime movers in the enterprise were the Birdsall brothers, Thomas McConnell, Ben F. Langford and Dr. H. Bentley, all prominent residents of the district. In August, 1882, the line was ready for business from Brack's Landing through Woodbridge and Lodi to Lockeford. It was completed as far as Valley Springs in April, 1885. This road, which cost over $400,000 to build, was subsequently absorbed by the Southern Pacific. In 1861, when the Central Pacific was organized, another line known as the Western Pacific came to life. This line had a franchise from San Jose to Sacramento by way of Stockton. Charles McLaughlin secured the contract to build this line for $5,400,000, but, after getting twenty miles out of San Jose, he failed, and the road was absorbed by the Central Pacific. A later survey took the railroad through Lodi instead of Woodbridge, and this little town, which was one of the mainstays of the county, gave up its metropolitan dreams.

The Woodbridge Academy

        Woodbridge, because of its academy, was known as the "Athens" of San Joaquin county, and the academy later called the San Joaquin Valley College was a notable school of education because of the unusual large number of bright young men graduates in proportion to its enrollment. The school was founded in a very unusual manner. One day in the early 60's T. R. Burkett, then a meat dealer in the town said to C. L. Newton: "What can we do to make the town livelier," and jokingly we remarked, "We might build a high school." "That set us to thinking," said Mr. Burkett. "We concluded to make an effort to found a high school, and when Judge Thompson came into the butcher shop we requested him to draw up a subscription list in proper form for subscription to a high school fund. The judge wrote out a form on a piece of wrapping paper. I circulated the paper and got subscriptions to the amount of $5,000 but the Woodbridge people made fun of it. One day James P. Folger met us and inquired, 'How are you getting along with your high school?' Looking at the list of names he then said, 'I will cash it for ninety-five cents on the dollar, but you want $10,000 instead of $5,000. Give it to me and I will get the money.' In two weeks," said Mr. Burkett, "he had the money, and buying several acres of land we built the building and employed S. L. Morehead as teacher and principal on a five-year contract. His salary was to be a deed of the property at the end of the five years. Several complications took place, and the academy was not opened for several years, the building being unoccupied In 1879 J. A. Sollinger, a public school teacher, and member of the United Brethren denomination, in their State conference at Woodbridge succeeded in getting them to take over the building and open a college. The trustees of the school, Dr. R. Bentley, E. G. Rutledge, John C. Thompson, Jacob Brack, and Victor Jahant, readily agreed to the United Brethren's terms and the school was established. The first president of the college was Darius A. Mobley, a minister. Later he was the principal of the Stockton high school. Two of his assistant teachers were Wm. H. Kleinfolder and E. H. Ridenour, who taught there for fifteen years and for several years has been an instructor in mathematics in the Stockton high school.

        Among the first pupils are many of Stockton of today while other have played their part in life's drama and passed on. Some of S. L. Moorhead's pupils were Jennie Wiltze, Frank William, Fred and Belle Perrott, Wm. Trafton, Nathaniel Green, Avery C. White, Belle, William and Mattie Limbaugh, Edward and Alice Thompson, (now Mrs. Richard C. Minor), Fannie and Thomas Jahant, Nellie, Anna and Emma Emerson, Lottie Weber, Albert Smith, Charles Barton, Mattie and Gussie Folger (now Mrs. C. B. Hart), Laura Hart, Newton R. Fowler, Carrie Dutlin, Addie Green, Annie Newton, Frank Turner, Charles Adams, Minnie Hansen, Eddie Mitchell, Delmar Acker, George Spurgeon, Bennie and May Bentley, Loren Knight, Frank Woodruff and Edward Anderson. Among the later scholars are Avery C. White, who became a lawyer and district attorney, Edward Thompson, city attorney, Robert L. Beaslee, state assemblyman, A. L. Cowell, attorney and editor of the Stockton Mail, Mark Keppel, county superintendent Los Angeles county, and Marion DeVries, congressman and later appointed judge in the United States Court of Appeals. He resigned from all official positions a few months ago. The college closed in the spring of 1897 for lack of support, and the building was used as a grammar school. In December, 1922, the building was razed, and on the site of the historic grounds there arose a splendid $50,000 school building.

        The first irrigation in this county was that conducted by Capt. Charles M. Weber in the early '60s in irrigating lands on the south side of the Calaveras River. In 1886 Byron Beckwith conceived the idea of irrigating the land south of the Mokelumne River, and having that object in view he filed a claim of 150,000 cubic inches of water to be taken from the Mokelumne River at or near Woodbridge and carried in ditches to about 100,000 acres of land in that district. In 1888 he enlisted Ben A. Laws in the project and a dam was constructed at Woodbridge and forty miles of canal planned. One branch ran to New Hope and the main branch, ten miles in length, ran towards the Calaveras River with that river as an outlet. In the fall of 1891 everything was complete and November 12 the day of the great celebration when the water for the first time would be turned into the canals. A barbecue preceded the opening of the head gates attended by over 3,000 people. At 11:30 the Stockton Board of Trade arrived, preceded by the Stockton band, and about 1 o'clock the entire party marched to the head gates. Byron Beckwith, the founder of irrigation in San Joaquin County, opened the gates and the waters rushed into the canals. The crowd later returned to the tent. Judge James Swinnerton, the president of the day, then introduced the orator, William H. Mills, land agent of the Southern Pacific, who delivered a scholarly address.

Mokelumne City

        Probably not one pioneer out of one hundred ever heard of Mokelumne City, and but few persons today could tell its location and yet when it was founded, near the junction of the Consumnes and Mokelumne Rivers, its prospects were bright as the second largest town in the county, for it had deep water communication with San Francisco all the year round, an advantage not possessed by any other town in the county except Stockton. Parties began moving there in 1850. In August of that year the town was surveyed and many lots sold to individual parties for homes and business purposes. During one week five schooners arrived, loaded with groceries, hardware and lumber. "Schooners were constantly arriving with goods," said a writer in the spring of 1860, "and the town is increasing in size wonderfully, and several brick and wooden buildings have been constructed." In August, 1861, the town, included twenty-three houses and a hotel, erected by George Keith at a cost of $5,000, with lots selling in price from $600 to $1,000 each. It was a town of just ten years of history, for all the inhabitants then moved to Lodi.

Linden

        This little village, located in one of the prettiest sections of the county, amidst a forest of giant oaks, was first located in 1849 by a teamster named William T. Treblecock. He was hauling freight to the mountain camps and one day during the winter, while driving on the Mokelumne Hill road, he mired in the mud near the present town of Linden. Going on a prospecting search for high land he found it at the locality named. The elevation being high, he believed it a good location for a stage and teamsters' station, and that fall he built there a public house, known as the Fifteen Mile House, at that time being about that distance from Stockton. In time Treblecock sold the hotel to C. C. Rynerson, who had married Mary Wasley, a cousin of Mr. Treblecock.

        Again the tavern was sold, together with considerable farming land, 1,500 acres to Samuel Forman. Forman took in as a partner to manage the hotel Alexander C. Bertzhoff, who years after became one of the proprietors of the Stockton Independent. A general merchandising store was established there in 1856 by Thomas McCarter. He sold out in '57 to John Wasley and Rynerson, he and his brother, James Wasley, having bought land on that vicinity in 1852. In 1860 the store was sold to Edward Case and J. S. Smith, who sold to Prater & Aull. In 1861 the town boasted of Masonic, Odd Fellows and Temperance lodges, a hotel, three stores, postoffice, blacksmith and wagon shop, schoolhouse, church and flour mill. In August, 1861, the town was surveyed by the county surveyor, George E. Drew, the block laid off together with six streets, the Mokelumne Hill road being the main street. The town was named Linden, a name suggested by John Wasley.

        The first school in the district was on the Charles Hayden ranch and known as the Moore schoolhouse. In 1858 the Jefferson school district was formed and a school established in Linden. This building was destroyed by fire in 1864 and replaced by a much better school building, subsequently four other school buildings were erected, on the same site as the first house. Last year a handsome $20,000 brick building was erected and the contractor, John Lewis, was a former pupil in the school.

        The citizenship of the Linden district has always been of a high standard, not only in politics but in temperance and morality. There was a reason, it was settled up by a high class of men and they would not tolerate any lawlessness in that community. There were never more than one or two saloons in Linden, and they were abolished as soon as it was lawfully possible. The first religious service in that section was held in the Moore schoolhouse in 1855 by the Rev. Thomas Barton, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The church was regularly organized at that time with the Rev. Ira Taylor as pastor. Two years later they erected a $2,000 house of worship.

        The Methodist Episcopal Church, North, also had an organization at Linden with the Rev. H. L. Gregory as pastor, the church being dedicated July 7, 1864.

The Catholics had an organization and edifice in Linden. Erecting a new church in 1884 it was dedicated in September by the Archbishop Patrick Riordan, assisted by the parish priest, Father Cassin.

        Valley lodge No. 135, F. & A. M., was instituted July 27, 1858, with the following officers: J. C. Pendegast, worthy master; J. C. Reid, senior warden; J. H. Cook, junior warden; M. M. Gardner, secretary; Thomas T. Wasley, treasurer; W. B. Stamper, senior deacon; J. S. Haines, junior deacon; William H. Russell, tyler, and the following additional charter members: J. H. Cook, J. E. Howland, Thomas T. Brook and J. W. Jarred.

        The Odd Fellows lodge of Linden, Scio No. 102, was organized June 13, 1861, by Deputy District Grand Master Calvin C. Covell of Stockton. The following officers were elected and installed: John  Wasley, noble grand; Thomas MacCarter, vice grand; Isaac Smith, secretary. The additional charter members included Charles W. Leach, Andrew Showers, C. W. Martin and Charles Oxtoby. All of these lodges met in the second story of the school building, but on the evening of February 11, 1865, while the Good Templar lodge was in session, the building caught fire from an overheated stove and was destroyed. The second story of the brick warehouse was then converted into lodge rooms and handsomely fitted up at a cost of $4,000. The Masons and Odd Fellows still occupy this hall. They have only a working membership, for the pioneers are dead and the majority of the young men have moved away.

The Linden Flour Mill

        The Linden flour mill, conducted under three different names, has had numerous change of owners. It was built in 1854 by John Doak and N. Burroughs and in 1857 they sold out to Rynerson & Wasley. In 1865 the mill was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt, again went up in smoke in 1868. In 1871 the Linden Flour Mill Company was organized and they erected a brick mill costing them about $35,000. The mill turned out 120 barrels of flour a day, but competition made the running of the mill a losing game and it has been idle many years.

Escalon

        Before the advent of the railroad, the traveler in riding over the French Camp road to the Stanislaus River would notice far out on the plains a large two-story brick house. It was surrounded by trees and shrubs, barns, granaries, and was the only house for miles around. It was the home of "Johnny" Jones, who crossed the plains in 1852 and pitched his tent where Escalon now stands, the country at that time being Government land covered with sage brush. He acquired the amount of land allotted to actual settlers and started to farm it, planting the first grain ever grown in the Escalon country, seeding it broadcast and dragging it in with brush. The yield was heavy and sold for five cents a pound. He began raising cattle for market and purchasing more land until he possessed a small kingdom, 8,000 acres, a tract of land over three miles square. It was no unusual sight to see from six to twelve-horse teams plowing over the field where Escalon now stands. In 1867 he built the brick house for his family residence at a cost of $12,000. The bricks used for it were made by his brother Richard, from a field east of Sexton station, on the Tidewater Railroad. In those days all freight carried from Stockton to the mines above Sonora went via the French Camp road, and many of the teamsters boarded and lodged at his farm. The plains were the homes of many antelope, which he often served on his table.

        Escalon is a Spanish word meaning stepping stones. What relation it has to the town is difficult to imagine. James W. Jones, the founder of the town, is said to have seen the name in a book in the Stockton Free Library and pleasing him he gave the name to the place. His father died in 1893, leaving quite a fortune. He willed the old home place to James W. together with the adjoining 1,000 acres. The land at that time was not of any great value, but in the following year along came the Valley Railroad, recorded in another chapter, and the land began to increase in value. As soon as Mr. Jones was assured of the railroad crossing the land he engaged a surveyor and laid off the town. The boundary lines run nearly north, south, east and west, but the streets run diagonally, thus some blocks are square, others oblong, some are rectangular and several blocks are triangular in shape.       

        John McGinnis, in recording some of the first events in Escalon says, "In the month of August, 1894, I was accosted, in Stockton, by a promoter of the townsite, Mr. Harlon, and was prevailed upon to make the trip to Escalon. The four-horse stage was brought forward by the hostler and James Jones, popularly called 'Jim,' took the ribbons. Leaving there about 9:00 o'clock A. M., driving out the old French Camp Road, we arrived at the Jones home place, the brick house, about noon. With hospitality, an attribute of the Jones family, we sat down to a feast, fit for a king, and did full justice to it. We afterwards walked over and viewed the townsite, east of the then only graded roadbed. It was graded by a railroad company called the 'Valley Road.' We then passed through a thrifty vineyard, the very first vines to be propagated by Johnny Jones--`Jim's' father. We then passed the Jones' blacksmith shop just east, across the road from where the Tidewater depot is now located. I again visited Escalon in 1900. There was then a depot, a store had been built but had not opened for business, the pioneer saloon, and a temporary hotel on the Jackson property, also used as a dwelling and postoffice, Mrs. Jackson being postmistress."

        As soon as the town was surveyed Mr. Jones built a good sized hotel to accommodate the prospective buyers who came by stage from Stockton, which was located about where the Presbyterian Church now stands. The first Santa Fe train rolled into Escalon in the spring of 1896. The postoffice and the first store were started by Mrs. Charles Jordan, wife of the station agent, on ground now occupied by the Tuolumne Lumber Company. The second store was built by Nelson Leighton, a large two-story building facing the railroad with a hall above used for social functions. Mr. Leighton installed in his store the first telephone switchboard in Escalon. The first warehouse was built by David L. Jones and John A. Coley in 1897, and another was built later by Haslacher & Kahn, of Oakdale. The first long distance telephone was installed in John Coley's residence; and he was the first real estate agent and grain dealer in the town, and built many of the dwellings for rent and sale.

        The Escalon Commercial Club, formerly known as the Escalon Board of Trade, was organized March 11, 1911, with the following officers: A. St. John, president; C. H. Sheldon, vice-president; H. L. MacPherson, secretary; and R. N. Haines, treasurer. They carried out successfully a Fourth of July celebration in 1913, were active in the formation of the irrigation district, saw the Union high school erected, installed a lighting system; succeeded in getting the supervisors to lay some splendid streets, the town not being incorporated, and held a successful community fair in 1917. The following are the past officers of the club elected in June, 1912: H. L. MacPherson, president; S. J. Irvin, vice-president; O. A. Fish, secretary; and W. F. Searcy, treasurer; September 8, 1914, H. L. MacPherson, president; J. H. Martin, vice--president; E. W. Bidwell, secretary; A. Kerr, treasurer; October 16, 1916, H. L. MacPherson, president; E. W. Bidwell, vice-president; H. L. Morgensen, secretary; and Dr. J. M. Carr, treasurer; March 10, 1917, John R. Martin, president; S. R. King, vice-president; H. A. Bierschal, secretary; and C. Moorehead, treasurer.

        The school was first opened near the celebrated lone tree as early as 1878. It was in session only six months of the year, with an enrollment of 31 boys and girls, with an average attendance of 15 pupils. After the founding of Escalon the school district was divided, and a new district school started in the new town. The trustees of the new district, two of them, W. A. Owens and J. A. Coley, succeeded in getting the people to bond the district for a small sum and the money was used in purchasing a lot about 1903 and erecting a two-room schoolhouse. The first teacher, Miss Stella Reynolds, had formerly taught the Lone Tree school, with splendid success. The school has had a steady and substantial growth during the past decade and in 1914 it was found necessary to provide larger accommodations for the pupils. The citizens cheerfully voted more bonds, the present grammar school grounds were purchased and a handsome building constructed of hollow tile. The number of scholars continued to increase and last year an additional four class rooms were built at a cost of $18,000. The entire building was then covered with mastic. One of the features of the additional rooms was an assembly hall seating about 400 persons which can be used as a public auditorium. Mrs. Grace Taylor Pearce has been principal for the past nine years and under her administration the school has been placed on the accredited list of the county.

        It was not until 1916, says Prof. Oliver E. Irons, that the citizens realized the necessity of a high school. The Escalon Commercial Club took the matter in hand and carried on an active bonding campaign. Although they put in plenty of hard work the proposition was defeated by just three votes. In 1919 the club was more successful and at the bond election, May 16, the bonds for a high school carried by a large majority. Immediately a school board of five members were elected, namely, W. L. Cooms, C. A. Smith, H. L. Morgansen, Otto Peterson and H. H. McKinney, and they have held their offices elected time and again up to the present date.

        The Jones club house was secured and school was started in September with Mr. F. W. Denny and Mrs. A. Cowan as instructors. Mrs. Cowan resigned in mid-year and her place was taken by Miss Orr. The total enrollment the first year was thirty-five. In the second year the enrollment of seventy-five pupils overtaxed the seating capacity of the club house and the citizens of the district voted a bond of $85,000 for suitable high school rooms. The building was completed early this year with the following teachers in charge: Oliver E. Irons, principal; Paul B. Boehnecke, Miss Nydia Jensen, Miss Minnie Smith, Miss Ruth Williams, and Miss Stella Barnett, under whose able instructions all classes are progressing rapidly.

        The Methodist Church has the distinction and honor of being the first church in Escalon. All other churches now found in Escalon have branched out of this church, so declared the Rev. C. G. Zierk. The church was organized in the Lone Tree section in 1893, during the pastorate of the Rev. John Stevens, later for five years pastor of the Central Methodist church of Stockton. While the church was at Lone Tree Corners, it was on a circuit with Farmington, Atlanta, Riverbank and Oakdale.  It remained at Lone Tree Corners until September 1908, when the building was moved to Escalon. This building stood on the site of the present church until it was torn down to make room for the new structure, which was completed and dedicated on Sunday, April 10, 1921. Since it has become a separate charge the following pastors have been appointed here: U. L. Walker, L. H. Sanborn, Luther Speers, Smith, McWilliams, A. Z. Bose, S. L. Lee, G. W. Grannis, L. H. Jenkins and C. G. Zierk.

        The Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized November 15, 1909, by the Rev. Phillip Andreen of San Francisco, assisted by David Magunson of Stockton. Subscriptions were obtained in November, 1911 and a building was erected, just west of the old school house in 1913. It was dedicated in the summer of the following year, 1914. The following pastors have been in charge: the Rev. W. X. Magnuson, 1912, Dr. P. E. Berg, 1913; Rev. C. Anderson, 1916; Rev. N. P. Anseen, 1921; Rev. O. W. Westling, 1922.

        The Presbyterian Church was organized November 10, 1913, with the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Campbell, Miss Margaret Campbell, Miss Helen Campbell, Mr. S. H. Irwin, Mrs. Minerva H. Erwin, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Bidwell, Mrs. O. A. Fisk, Miss Leona Kelley, Miss Hazel Delley, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Clough, Mrs. J. G. Voorhies. Of the original members, ten remain and are living in and around Escalon, three have moved away, and one is deceased. Services were first held in the Community hall, but in 1915 the trustees purchased the pioneer grammar school building and fitted it up for church purposes. The first pastor, Rev. E. B. Davidson, served until October 1, 1915, and during the succeeding two month the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. A. M. Wood, then the Rev. I. B. Surface was pastor until December 1, 1916. In March, 1917, the Rev. A. L. Bone took charge and installed the following year. He is the present pastor.

        The Swedish Mission congregation have the prettiest little house of worship in Escalon. It was erected in 1921 through the hard work of the congregation and dedicated October 9 of that year. For many years they held services in the home of one of their members, J. W. Rydquist, with William Anderson as their leader. Most of the congregation and member are farmers and they come from a long distance to worship.

        Several years ago a few people interested in Christian Science met in private homes to read the Lesson Sermons together. Some moved away and these meetings were discontinued. On February 1, 1919, new interest was added by Scientists who had moved in, and it was decided to hold regular Sunday services. These services were held in the Jones club house until it was leased to the high school, then the Community Hall was rented. Continual growth ensued and incorporation papers were filed with the Secretary of State on November 17, 1920. A Sunday school was organized in February, 1921. In December, 1921, an architect was engaged to draw up plans for a bungalow style of church. His plan was accepted and the Scientists now have a pretty little house of worship on the Jones tract, on the corner of the French Camp Road and the Boulevard.

        The Catholics of Escalon have no local church building, but they attend mass in the Atlanta Church some four miles west of Escalon. Atlanta was founded soon after the Civil War and so named after the famous war song describing General Sherman's march "From Atlanta to the Sea." A number of Irish families had settled in that vicinity and occasionally Father Wm. B. O'Connor of St. Mary's Church would visit Atlanta and celebrate mass in the homes of the parishioners. In the spring of 1878 land for a church and cemetery was donated by John O'Malley, and a small church known as St. Patrick's was dedicated June 23, 1878, by Archbishop Alemany, who the same day dedicated the church at Modesto. Among the contributors to the church were: John O'Malley, Michael Carrol, Peter Vinct, Cornelius Lamasney, Patrick Brennan, Daniel Brennan, Thomas Brennan, Wm. March, Michael McCormack, Laurence Hearty, Dennis O'Neil, John Murphy, Henry Sharky, Vincent Brignolia, Michael Donnelly, Patrick Sexton, John Gannon, Esper Due and others. Atlanta was in the Stockton parish in charge of Father O'Connor, but in the early '80s it was transferred to the Modesto parish. Years later Father O'Connor had Atlanta again under his charge, and he was succeeded after his death by Father Wm. McGough. During his administration the old edifice was repainted and remodeled, and some handsome stained glass windows put in that had been in the St. Agnes chapel, Stockton. In 1918 the Atlanta church was transferred to the Manteca parish, which included the two places named and Lathrop. Father Marchisio is in charge, with headquarters at Manteca.

        A little town like Escalon is fortunate in having a progressive paper like the Escalon Tribune, now owned and edited by Oscar H. Neil, who published an excellent historical edition of Escalon in December, 1921. The paper was started by F. S. Thornton in 1912; later his brother purchased a half interest and they conducted it until 1915. Then they sold the plant to S. L. Morgensen, who in turn sold it to Louis Mayers. He engaged Oscar S. Neil as manager of the paper and in December, 1917, he took charge. The Tribune at this time was badly run down. Mr. Neil in giving the history of the paper frankly stated, "In September, 1918, the farmers bought the Tribune for us. In September, 1921, we became sole owner, proprietor, giving the farmers a chattel mortgage on the plant. In January, 1920, we installed a six-column quarto press that can be geared up to print 1,800 papers an hour. In June, 1920, we installed a 30-inch paper cutter and in September, the same year, a Mergenthaler linotype. The local circulation has doubled."

        The Escalon Water Company is the result of a small body of men who formed and joined together for the purpose of supplying the town with water. The company sold stock at ten dollars per share and none could obtain the water unless they were shareholders. Later the shares were bought up by capitalists and the company incorporated under the name of the Escalon Water and Light Company. They installed an electric motor, ran water pipes through the main portion of the town and erected a high steel tank. In 1919 they installed a new motor of twenty-five horsepower with an automatic switch, the pump delivering 350 gallons a minute.

        The town has an excellent body of about thirty volunteer firemen, organized in 1913, but a very poor apparatus for extinguishing fires. In December, 1920, the volunteers were reorganized and at that time they elected Frank Sieglekoff chief and Barney Berlinken and Harry Carlson, first and second engineers. Perl Waltz was elected captain of the hose company and George Nelson captain of the chemical tank. The fire alarm for many years was bell set on a tower in Escalon park. Recently they made a big improvement by installing a siren, operated automatically by an electric motor.

        The Escalon Women's Improvement Club was organized in November, 1911, in the Athletic club house now called the Community hall. At that time about sixty women assembled and organized under the name suggested. They held their meetings in the Woodmen, Leighton and other halls until January, 1915, when Miss Alice Jones deed them the old two-story brick home together with two and a half acres of land surrounding it. Several hundred dollars were expended in fitting up the place and they now have fine headquarters. Their first work was in the building of an engine house on the corner of a lot owned by Mrs. Martha Pickens. In 1914, by permission of the Santa Fe Railroad, they filled up the unsightly hole on their property near the depot, and planting trees and rose bushes made a pretty park. They were among the first to suggest the building of good roads and every year they inaugurated a clean-up day. They saw that the child labor laws were enforced and installed public drinking fountains, and after the town became dry pressure was brought to bear for the removal of the large liquor signs that had long disgraced the town.

        Gustafson-Thompson Post, American Legion, was organized April 27, 1921, with thirty-two charter members. Over sixty ex-service men were present from Ripon, Modesto, Lodi and Stockton. The following are the charter members: Frank Swass, Dayton C. Flagg, B. Berlingen, F. P. Feliz, H. N. Daubenbis, H. M. Carlson, O. H. Bergen, J. T. Boone, Z. W. Ridley, S. E. Bixler, Louis Betti, Charles Schneider, Alfred W. Adams, Galen L. Albertson, Roy B. Light, Jacob L. Monk, Grover Mahon, John M. McLean, Henry Dughi, Ray Drew, Ernest Kiffe, Claude V. Biggs, John Westgate, Gunner Wiotti, Lloyd Liesy, Edgar Littlefield, Otis C. Powell, R. J. Harder, Otis Lease, C. E. Burnett, Hugh S. Litzenberg and Delmar Von Glahn.

Ellis

        Somewhere in this history I state that railroads can build up or ruin a town. Ellis, which gave Tracy its initial growth, is an illustration. Today you can scarcely see where stood the town, but it is a part of country history and briefly we will notice it. Ellis received its beginning from a place called Wickland. It was a small settlement founded in 1861 on Old River; and was the point where vessels came to load with coal, and the inhabitants of Wickland believing that Ellis would soon be a prosperous town moved to that point. The town grew quite rapidly and in November, 1870, it contained some forty-five or fifty buildings of all descriptions, including two hotels, a store, blacksmith shop, warehouse, saloon and livery stable, but ten years later it was practically deserted.

Tracy  

        Along about 1878 the Southern Pacific Railroad built a branch road to San Francisco, by the way of Martinez, and extended the road along the West Side of Fresno, making a junction at Tracy. They made this a terminal railroad point and the "laying off" place of hundreds of their employees. This gave the town a permanent foundation, and nearly all of the inhabitants of Ellis moved their business houses and homes to Tracy. Among the first hotels were the Tracy Hotel, conducted by Edward Waschuth, the Castle Hotel moved up from Ellis and the San Joaquin Hotel, managed by Charles Ludwig. The town began to build up slowly, but sure, and in 1888 Front Street was almost solidly lined with business houses for nearly a half mile. A fire swept through June 19 of that year and destroyed entirely the business part of the city. Starting in Mrs. Mary Mannis' restaurant near the corner of North D and Front streets, it destroyed four buildings belonging to Mrs. Anna Fairchild, the Mann restaurant, Mrs. Kepler's vegetable stand, D. Silverstein, dry goods, Edward Curran, Commercial Hotel, Peter Kalni, saloon, C. A. D. Burschke, four stores, Lydia Cox, millinery, C. A. Deglisy, grocery store, and postoffice, Charles A. Slack, Arlington hotel, Fabian & Co., general merchandise, Henry Ludwig, saloon, Odd Fellows' building, Henry Statemeon, saloon, Grant Wilson, dry goods, Dr. J. L. Murrell's office, F. O. Housken's office and law library, Cunale Bros., general store, Mrs. Maurice Byrne's bakery, Ernest Gieseke, livery stable.

        The buildings were all of wooden construction except the Odd Fellows' three-story brick. It was believed that this building would check the fire but the wind was so strong it carried the flames over and around the building and it was soon on fire in the upper stories. The Odd Fellows were among the heaviest losers as they lost all of their paraphernalia and furniture entailing a loss of over $15,000.

        In 1910 the city was surveyed and laid off by City Engineer Robb and the plan was approved July 22 by the trustees. The town covered considerable ground, 6,600 feet north and south, and 4,500 feet, east and west. It was incorporated in 1910 as a city of the sixth class with a population of 2,000. The first city election took place in April and the following officers were elected: Abe Grunauer, mayor; Dave R. Payne, Wm. Schmidt, Charles Canole and James Lamb, trustees. In the second election, April 8, 1912, the women voted for the first time and the entire set of officers were re-elected. The officers elected in 1914 were: D. R. Payne, Nelson S. Dwelly, W. G. Lang, Thomas Garner, Fred Penny, O. E. Lee and W. J. McArdle, trustees; J. D. Van Ormer, treasurer; and Ben R. Clark, who later resigning, Geo. Frerichs was appointed clerk. The present officers are Nelson S. Dwelly, D. R. Payne, W. G. Lang, Thomas Garner, and Sullivan, trustees; Geo. L. Frerichs, clerk; and J. H. Canale, treasurer. The city hall, a very pretty two-story brick, was erected in 1917 at a cost of $15,000. In the rear of the city hall is housed the fire apparatus, a $6,000 La France chemical and motor pump, together with a large steam engine purchased from the San Francisco fire department for $150. It is held as a reserved engine and will play five heavy streams of water. They have a volunteer department, a fire alarm system and a siren run by motor power.

        In 1868 a few of the families of Ellis met one day, says Thomas Garner, and organized the Willows district school, and by subscriptions built a small schoolhouse. In 1878 the school had an enrollment of thirty-six scholars. At that time the exodus from Ellis to Tracy took place and the inhabitants in moving took the schoolhouse with them. It was moved to a lot then owned by Dr. Luce. Sometime later the Pacific Improvement Company deeded the school trustees two lots for school purposes. The school was moved to those lots and in time an additional room was built. Still the cry was more room and it became necessary to rent outside rooms. In 1910 the trustees decided to call for bonds for an up-to-date building to cost in the neighborhood of $35,000. The bonds were voted by the citizens at a special bond election and carried by a big majority. On October 27, 1911, the cornerstone was laid by the Odd Fellows under the auspices of Summer Lodge No. 177.

The Tracy Carnival

        The three days carnival in October, 1910, was only one of the many joyful events of the progressive city. The citizens had voted Vesta Ludwig as queen of the carnival, and she appointed Ruth Groinmett, Ella Miller and Lila Hart as her maids of honor. On arrival at the throne the Queen was welcomed to the city by the Rev. W. L. Fredrich and after the coronation C. G. Goodwin as chairman of the executive committee presented the Queen and her attendants purses of money as the gifts of the people. Mayor Abe Grunauer then tendered her the keys of the city and she then read her proclamation to the people bidding them have a good time during her reign as Queen, the fun ending Saturday with a masquerade ball.

        The Presbyterians were the first religious denomination in Tracy, dating back to 1878, when the worshippers assembled in the homes of their members. In the fall of 1886 they erected a small wooden edifice at a cost of $2,000, and it was used as a union church for several years. Last year they erected a neat little brick edifice, the brick being obtained from the old brick pottery at Carnegie. The members and other persons assisted in the good work, and the building was erected at no great cost. The Methodists, either the German or English, held services in that district long before the founding of Tracy. After the Presbyterians erected their edifice of wood, the German and English Methodists united and held religious services in the Presbyterian Church.

        The Catholics also had their services. Father O'Connor of St. Mary's parish visited Tracy once a month, and mass was celebrated in the railroad section house. In 1888 James Egan, Dennis Looney and Edward Kern, interesting themselves in the erection of a church, obtained subscriptions for that purpose and purchasing a lot a pretty little building was erected. St. Bernard's Church was erected on the site of the old building in 1911, Father Moran being in charge of the parish.

        The Lutherans were holding services in Tracy twenty-two years ago, Rev. Koenig from San Francisco visiting the town monthly. They erected a small edifice, which was much too small for their use in 1921. In that year they erected a concrete house of worship at a total cost of $7,600, the building costing $6,000. It was dedicated in March, 1922, by the Rev. George C. Jacobson of Stockton, who was the pastor from 1908 to 1918.

        A building of which the Tracyites may well be proud is their Union high school, erected in 1917. A union high school district was formed, namely, the Tracy, Carnegie, Naglee, Jefferson and Lammersville districts and cheerfully voted bonds of $100,000 for a high school. The building, the fourth of its kind in the county, is located on a twelve-acre tract east of the town and faces the State Highway. Built in the mission style of architecture it  contains eighteen classrooms together with a large auditorium seating nearly 1,000 people and a meeting place for the Farm Bureau and any public and civic event. It was dedicated May 1, 1917, Dr. J. S. West, "the father of the West Side high school," receiving much praise for his untiring efforts for a broader and higher education. After a parade all marched to the new building and entered the auditorium. The president of the board of trustees, William Schlossman, as chairman of the meeting, called upon the Odd Fellows to dedicate the building. After the performance of the beautiful ceremony, Grand Master Clinton H. McCormick delivered an address appropriate to the occasion. On December 7, 1922, there was another interesting educational event, the dedication of Tracy's second fine grammar school building. Located in the western part of town, it is of brick construction finished in stucco and occupies an acre and a half of ground. It is designed in the unit system with a handsome assembly hall, class room, gymnasium and all other rooms in the latest improvement.

        Sumner lodge No. 177, I. O. O. F. was instituted in Ellis September, 1870, by Grand Master C. W. Dannals, assisted by Past Grands Dean Woolf and Levinsky. It was instituted with five charter members, each one elected to office except John C. Bonney. The first officers were: H. L. Atherton, noble grand; Martin Lammers, vice grand; E. Wacksmuth, secretary, and E. B. Stiles, treasurer. That evening they initiated Phillip Fabian, R. A. Murphy, Jr., Olaf Nelson, William S. Law, and Charles Herring. September 1, 1921, they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the lodge with a street parade, some seventy members in line, led by the Tracy band, followed by a program in their hall.

        Few Odd Fellows have had the trials of Sumner lodge, their building destroyed by fire not once but twice, in 1875, and in the big fire of 1898. Their first home in Ellis was in a small wooden structure owned by Herring, the lodge renting the second story. This building vas burned in 1875. The lodge then erected a two-story building and moved it to Tracy in 1878. The lodge increased in membership and wealth, and in 1896 they erected on Front Street a handsome three-story brick, one of the prettiest buildings in the county. In the fire of  '98 their building was completely gutted with a loss of $15,000 and only $7,500 insurance. As they had not paid in full for the building it was a severe loss, but with undaunted hearts they resolved to rebuild, and in time erected the present handsome structure. It was mortgaged in part to John Garwood of Stockton, but as soon as the crops of 1900 were harvested, Martin Lammers took over the mortgage, which was cancelled April 30, 1921, when the lodge celebrated the 102nd anniversary of American Odd Fellowship, the mortgage being burned with great ceremony.

        The name of Samaria Rebekah lodge No. 193, was one of several names suggested by Past Grand Rudolph Gnekow, a very active Stockton Odd Fellow. While attending the installation of the officers of Sumner lodge in January, 1891, he observed that quite a number of the women of Tracy were the wives and daughters of the Odd Fellows. He suggested that they institute a Rebekah lodge in the county. It was instituted April 29, 1891, by Deputy District Grand Master George Schuler, assisted by Hoyle Greenwood as grand marshal and S. M. Spurrier, grand secretary. The following officers were elected and installed: Mrs. Mary Castle, noble grand; Ella McNeil, vice grand; Caroline J. Buschke, recording secretary; James C. Allen, financial secretary, and James Martin, treasurer. The officers were installed by District Deputy Grand President Mrs. Marion Greenwood, assisted by Etta Tinkham as grand marshal, both from Lebanon lodge, Stockton.

        Tracy Parlor No. 1866, N. S. G. W., was instituted on Thursday evening, September 29, 1922, with the following officers: George L. Frerichs, past president; James E. Shields, president; Henry Brink, recording secretary; W. M. Lewis, financial secretary; W. S. Peck, treasurer; John Fredericks, marshal. A banquet was given at the San Joaquin Hotel, after the installation. Among the toasts offered as "Our State," W. B. Nutter, of Stockton, "Tracy Parlor, No. 186," J. E. Shields of Tracy; "Stockton Parlor," E. M. Bransford of Stockton; "How a Successful Parlor Should Be Conducted," Ewald M. Grunsky; "The Ladies," George Housken of Stockton.

        West Side Lodge No. 118, K. P., was instituted March 10, 1885, with about twenty-five members. The first officers elected and installed were Martin Loomis, past chief chancellor; Charles Ludwig, chancellor; J. S. Moulton, vice-chancellor; Wm. Schult, pre­late; Wm. Pruser, treasurer; J. S. Moulton.

        The West Side Irrigation District began operations in 1918. The total cost of construction was $495,000. It has a bonded indebtedness of $42.26 an acre. Its source of supply is Old River, really the San Joaquin. The intake canal is 550 feet in length, 25 feet wide on the bottom and carries a depth of 6 feet at low tide. The upper canal pumps, four in numbers each throws 10,000 gallons an hour, with a combined capacity of approximately 125 acre feet every 24 hours. This canal is seven miles long, 10 feet wide on the bottom and has 14.41 miles of laterals. At the lower canal are three more huge pumps with a capacity of 96 acre feet every 24 hours. This canal is nine miles long, with a six-foot bottom and has 10.71 miles of laterals. The water from these canals will irrigate over 30,000 acres of land in what is known as the West Side, Naglee, Burk and the Banta Carbona districts. To celebrate the event the Tracy Chamber of Commerce sent out invitations to all the country round about and to the leading irrigationists of the state. It was a great May 22, 1921, and after the visitors had been taken over the thirty-five miles drive in viewing the canals they assembled at the high school building, where the following program was given: Selection by high school orchestra; address of welcome, Assemblyman B. S. Crittenden; address, A. L. Cowell of Stockton; selection, high school orchestra; address, R. T. Evans, treasurer Federal Land Bank of California; address, Dr. Elwood Meade, chairman land settlement board of California; selection, high school orchestra; address, C. E. West, appraiser Federal Land Bank; address, Frank Adams, irrigation manager of Department of Agriculture.

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler