California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

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


 JASPER N. STUHR. To whatever country the Dane transfers his citizenship he brings the 
qualities of thrift, economy and perseverance that make his native land a power among larger 
and greater European countries. In the career of Mr. Stuhr in California these traits have been 
manifested and have made him an influential factor in the commercial growth of Stanislaus 
county. Varied as are his interests, he maintains a close oversight of all. In Newman, where he 
has his home and business headquarters, he represents twelve old-line insurance companies, 
including the Liverpool-London Globe, Home of New York and German-American. Since about 
1892 he has acted in the capacity of notary public. As a member of the firm of Williams & Stuhr 
he negotiates important real estate transfers and handles the Acme colony tract, comprising 
seven hundred acres of alfalfa land, now laid out in twenty-acre lots. Through his 
instrumentality w-as organized the Realty Development Company of Newman and he now acts 
as president of this important organization, having for its object the growth and prosperity of 
this part of Stanislaus and Merced counties. To him also belongs the credit of having taken the 
initiative in the establishment of the first creamery in this vicinity, thereby making the dairy 
business profitable fur farmers of the county. 

A resident of California since 1872, Mr. Stuhr was born at Erteberg, on the island of Alsen, 
province of Schleswig, Denmark. His father, Joachim H., a native of the same island, and a 
merchant by occupation, served in the Schleswig-Holstein war of 1848-51, and was a sutler in 
the army in 1864. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, dying in 1901 at his island home. His 
wife, who had died there in 1888, bore the maiden name of Dorothea Iversen, and was a 
daughter of Nicholi Iversen, a farmer and member of a very ancient family of the island. The 
paternal grandfather of Mr. Stuhr was Christian Stuhr, of German ancestry, and for years 
engaged in the coasting trade as master of his own vessel. In the family of Joachim H. Stuhr 
there were eight children, three of whom are living. Jasper N. was born November 5, 1854, and 
received a grammar school education at Erteberg. When sixteen years of age he went to the 
island of Lyo, Denmark, where he secured work on a farm. Crossing the ocean to America in 
1871, he proceeded direct to Chicago, and the next year came to California. After some four 
years of work in the lumber yard at Salinas, in 1876 he went to Hill's Ferry, Stanislaus county, 
where he followed farm pursuits. In 1877 he began to work on the old canal as a section 
foreman, remaining in the position until 1885. The next year he returned to Denmark and spent 
a year with old friends, coming back to the San Joaquin valley in 1887 and resuming work on the 
canal. 

Shortly after the founding of the town of Newman Mr. Stuhr in 1888 opened the first lumber 
yard here, acting as manager for the San Joaquin Lumber Company. For four and one-half years 
he continued in the same position, retiring when the yard was sold to other parties. His next 
venture was as real estate agent, in which work he continues to the present time. Under the 
firm title of J. M. Lathrop & Co. he began in the business, later was alone, and since 1900 has 
had Mr. Williams as a partner. One of the enterprises which now engages his time is the 
supervision of fifteen hundred acres lying ten miles southwest of Newman, on which he and 
his partner are building a canal from the outside canal. Ever since coming to this locality he has 
been an indefatigable worker for the development of the valley by irrigation and improvement. 
Realizing the importance of a creamery, he organized the New Era. which was the first 
creamery started in this locality. While filling the office of secretary he assisted in building the 
structure utilized by the creamery company for its plant and situated two miles south of 
Newman. This industry was the nucleus of local creameries and established the dairy business 
upon a profitable basis for the first time in the history of the region. Later he organized and 
bought stock in the Acme creamery, three miles north of Newman, which company he served 
as secretary. At this writing the shipments from creameries in the vicinity of Newman amount 
to $1,000 per day. What this means to the stock raising and business interests of the 
neighborhood only those familiar with previous conditions can conceive. It has wrought a 
transformation in the dairy industry and has indirectly promoted other lines of activity. Without 
doubt no movement has been more productive of benefit to the people of Stanislaus county 
than the establishment of the creameries here. 

The marriage of Mr. Stuhr took place in Salinas, and united him with Miss Annie Kathrine 
Iversen, a native of Schleswig, Denmark. They are the parents of four children, Christine 
Dorothea, Alfred J., Jasper N., and Ivy R. As a member of the county central committee and in 
other ways Mr. Stuhr has been an active worker in the interests of the Democratic party. He 
holds the office of secretary of the Newman Board of Trade, and is serving his third term as a 
member of the board of county horticultural commissioners. In his native land he was reared 
and confirmed in the Lutheran religion, to which he has always adhered. Fraternally he is 
identified with Dania Lodge, Woodmen of the World, and Hill's Ferry Lodge No. 236, F. & A. M., 
in which he was made a Mason, and which was transferred to Newman on the founding of this 
town. No citizen has been more interested than he in the promotion of the welfare of 
Newman. Through his able service for three years as postmaster, and in many other ways, he 
has aided the interests of the city and been a contributor to its material progress.