California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 WILLIAM J. STOCKTON. As a representative of the intelligent and hardy pioneers who came to Los Banos at an early period of its settlement, and have since taken a conspicuous part in the development of town and city, we take pleasure in giving to the readers of this volume a brief sketch of William J. Stockton, a well-known and active citizen of this part of Merced county. As a general farmer and grain raiser he has been for many years intimately as- sociated with the agricultural interests of this section, and as a blacksmith has been connected with its manufacturing prosperity. As a public official he has held many positions of prominence and responsibility, in each and every case discharging the duties devolving upon him with commendable punctuality and fidelity. A son of Samuel Whiteside Stockton, he was born, Janu- ary 2j. 1848, in Marion, Williamson county, Ill. His grandfather, Robert Stockton, a native of Virginia, served in the war of 1812 as a commissioned officer. He subsequently settled on a plantation in Alabama, removing from there to Mt. Vernon, Ill., as a pioneer. Born and bred in Alabama, Samuel Whiteside Stockton became familiar with the various branches of agriculture when young, but began life for himself as a manufacturer of bells in Marion, Ill. In 1859, accompanied by his wife and their four children, he came across the plains to California, settling first in Marin county, and later in Nevada county, where he followed mining for awhile. Locating then in Colusa county, he carried on farming at Grand Island for a few seasons, being afterward similarly employed in Santa Cruz county. He died in San Jose at the age of sixty-seven years. He married Nancy Pope, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Benjamin Wood Pope, a native of Tennessee. She survived her husband, and now resides in San Jose. Of their eleven children, six are living, William J., the firstborn, being the special subject of this sketch. Living in Marion, Ill., until eleven years old, William J. Stockton there acquired his ele- mentary education. With his parents he moved, in 1859, to California, coming by the Truckee route, and being six months and ten days crossing the plains with ox-teams. In the public schools of Nevada county, he continued his studies, completing his early education at the Watsonville Academy, studying for two years under Professor Van Dorn. He subsequently learned the blacksmith trade with his father, who had a smithy on his farm, and when of age entered into business with his father, with whom he continued in partnership until 1872. In that year Mr. Stockton rented land in Los Banos, and as a grain-raiser and blacksmith built up a large business, farming a thousand acres of land much of the time. In 1890, when the town of Los Banos was started, Mt. Stockton moved his smithy to its present site, and has since been busily employed, being the leading blacksmith of this vicinity. Several years ago, Mr. Stockton purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, lying three miles south of Los Banos, and. in partnership with W. L. Garrison, planted it all to alfalfa. He has made improvements of an excellent character on the place, and pays especial attention to dairying, keeping about one hundred head of cattle. In 1890 he embarked in the undertaking business, being the pioneer in that line of industry. He has since attended the Barnes School of Embalming, and has acquired proficiency in the art, which is so essential and in such general use throughout our nation. Mr. Stockton has four children, Mrs. Belle Garrison, Alice, William J., Jr., and Alma Marion. In the management of town and county affairs he has taken an important part. For many years he served as justice of the peace, giving eminent satisfaction to all concerned in that capacity ; also was county supervisor a number of terms, and for four years was county coroner and public administrator. He was made a Mason at Hills Ferry, and is now a member of Los Banos Lodge No. 312, F. & A. M., which he served as master three terms ; he also belongs to Yosemite Chapter No. 12, R. A. M., and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Polit- ically he is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party.