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Page 1: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

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SAN-JOAQUINThe San Joaquin Historian

Quarterly Journal of Volume VIII New Series Number 2The San Joaquin County Historical Society Summer 1994

Robert Shellenberger Editor

Published by

The San Joaquin County Historical Society Inc

Micke Grove Regional Park PO Box 21

Lodi CA 95241 (209) 368-9154 (209) 463-4119

Timothy J Hachman President Gary Christopherson President-Elect Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F McMaster Vice-President Alan H Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

The Society a non-profit corporation meets the fourth Monday monthly except July August and December Membership includes subscriptions to the San Joaquin Historian and the monthly newsletter News and Notes Additional copies may be purchased at the Museum

The Society operates the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park in partnership with San Joaquin County The Society maintains an office at the Museum

Well researched and documented manuscripts reshylating to the history of San Joaquin County or the Delta will always be considered The editor reserves the right to shorten material based on local interest and space considerations Inquiry should be made through the Museum office

San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

Michael W Bennett Director

copy 1994 San Joaquin County Historical Society Inc

This Issue Olive Davis again reminds us of both San Joaquin

Countys agricultural heritage and its contributions to farm technology with her story on the the Stockton Gang Plow

It seems so simple now doesnt it Yet it was revolutionary in its time and encouraged the developshyment of scores of other mechanical aids for the farm culminating in local perfection of the the combined harvester and the track-laying tractor

The fabrication of these implements ranked Stockton as second in the state in manufacturing at the turn-of-the-century

These inventions made large scale farming practical and assured that California and the emerging farms of the Great Plains would not fall into the pattern of the IIforty acres and a mule agriculture of the East and the South

We found the reminiscences of Brynhild Brandstad Parker to be absolutely charming It is local history at its best picturing farm and family life and illustrating the attitudes and challenges of immigrants in the last century We heartily recommend you share her story with your children and grandchildren

On The Cover Yes we certainly do have better pictures of oldshy

time threshers in our archives but this one has a special story as you will see on Page 15

Summer is grain harvest season Summer is also the season to recall that prior to our irrigation miracle San Joaquin County (and all the Great Valley) were devoted almost entirely to grain production and once earned the appellation Bread Basket to the World

We think this rig is a Centennial Be sure to let us know if we are wrong

Courtesy of Marit Parker Evans

Page 2 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

An Agricultural Revolution

The Stockton Gang Plow by

Olive Davis

1850 THE H C SHAW

Plo~ Works 1880

nANn PLOYS AND EXTRAS No 20] find 203 EI Dorado Streot Stockton

THE STOCKTON CANC PLOW Oer 200c) or J c SbawB Improved Patent Stockton Gang Plows Sold In Fivo YearB

(dllflll and (111 Slcd oIWlf~ JlllrrnW4 El( nllckpoundyo ~rower rdrll~ (]111 EtrnR fOT nil Plol1 nnd Mnchine~ 1 Ill Hili fr h pl~l IWI ry YImiddotAHi III thi valltmiddoty C1fclld for (lrClllllr 1~1lt1 prito Ii it Alwll)1J on hUlid Il ~ 1111 ~tl)lk ot Sill l llttwi

At a distant point in time ancient man discovered The United States Department of Agriculture he could better determine his own destiny by planting Bulletin No 425 entitled Chronological Landmarks in seeds and growing his own food Mankind took a American Agriculture lists many of the early giant step forward when some food gatherers and developments of the single plow It was in 1784 that hunters became farmers First simple sticks were John Small invented the iron plow in England It did used to poke holes in the ground for the seeds Then not take long for the idea to spread to the new world metal points were added and finally animals were for on June 26 1797 the first patent for a cast-iron utilized to pull crude wooden plows This process plow was granted in the newly organized United took thousands of years to develop States of America John Newbold of New Jersey held

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 3

Page 4 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

this early patent Jethro Wood patented an iron plow with interchangeable parts in 1819 as Ohio Indiana and Illinois opened up new lands

Following the American Revolution new lands were opened and these single plows were used by the frontiers-men to prove homesteads and set up farms By 1837 John Deere was manufacturing single plows with steel shares and smooth wrought-iron mill boards

Just fifty- nine years after Englishman John Small invented the iron plow the real break-through in the mechanization of agriculture came about with the joining of plow shares so that one man and his beasts of burden could plow more than one furrow at a time This was an invention by T Wiard of East Avon New York He was issued patent number 3356 on November 14 1843 Often referred to as a gang-ofshyplows it created a stir but did not receive wideshyspread acceptance The reason was given by one former New Englander who had moved to California in the 1850s He recalled that in his home state each hundred square feet of field contained more than a thousand large stones A single driver could never man-handle a heavy gang-of-plows through rocks and stumps

Early California Plows Apparently the iron plow had not even arrived in

California by 1846 according to Rev Walter Colton of the U S Navy An entry in his diary on October 20 1846 tells the story

The mode of cultivating land in California is eminently primitive In December or January they take a piece ofwood in the shape of a ships knee dress it down a little with a dull axe and spike a piece of iron to the lower point A pole by which the oxen draw runs from the inner bend of the knee to the yoke This pole has a mortise about eight inclles long made slanting and about a foot from the after end a piece ofwood about hoo inches by six runs up through the plough (Sic) and pole and is so wedged into the mortise of the pole as to make the plough run shallow or deep as required But if the ground happens to be hard the plough will not enter an inch and if there are roots in the ground it must be lifted over or will be invariably broken Such is a California plough such a fair specimen of the arts here At least one of the old wooden plows was

converted into a gang plow at some point in the future We found a photograph of a plow with four wooden plow points fastened to a single log in the in the California Room of the California State Library The picture is very old and faded but the background

indicates it could have been in any number of places in California (See photo on page 6)

After the gold fever died down in California many men settled on the land in the Great Valley and took up farming There grew a demand for the familiar single iron plow many of them had known back home Each year as plowing season approached California newspapers carried advertisements for single plows shipped in from the east coast

Steel Beam Brush Plows We have here a

DO U H LE STEEL DEAM PLOW THAT IS A WORLD BEATER

when you have rouKh and rooty land to break up

RIGHT HAND

ONLY

Gang Plow Pioneers Yapple and Beardsley

The year that Wiard was granted his patent on the gang plow a young man Perry Yapple went into an apprenticeship to a blacksmith in Ithaca New York He completed his training and opened his own shop He closed it down in 1852 when he decided to try his luck in California He and a friend Well Beardsley traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco From there Yapple caught a river boat to Stockton and hired on as a blacksmith with the local stage company The following year Yapple quit his job and opened a blacksmith shop with Beardsley

In later years Yapple told an historian that they constructed and sold three three bottom plows in 1854 Yapple swore that these were the first gang plows constructed in California Each of these implements contained three plow shares hooked together and pulled from a single point by two or more horses This enabled one man to plow three times as much land in a day than in the past

The gang plow had found a place to succeed in Californias Great Valley The deep alluvial soil was so free of stones that Valley Indians were forced to make baked clay balls of it for use in their cooking baskets in lieu of heated rocks

The State Fair was held in Stockton in 1857 and included was a contest to select the best farms in the area A local newspaper reported that a judging committee had visited the Comstock Farm east of Stockton There they found a three bottom plow in

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 5

Pioneer California Gang Plow Date and location unknown California State Library

use which seemed important enough to give the farm a high score in the judging process

DC Matteson In 1858 D C Matteson of Stockton was issued

patent No 20647 for a Wheel-Plow This version of the gang plow had three plow shares but was supported by wheels that kept the blades from going too deeply into the soil This had been one of the drawbacks of the earlier models (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Westley Underwood In one publication Westley Underwood is given

credit for the first gang plow in California when he secured two plows from his neighbors and bolted them to his own single plow He used this plow for the first time in the fall of 1861 This obviously was not the first as Yapples first gang plows had been around for a good seven years and Mattisons patent was three years old This particular report goes on to state that the next year (1862) a New Englander John A Parry arrived in California He purchased Underweights plow and although it was late in the season planted some wheat It was reported that he used three yoke of oxen to pull this unique plow

According to this report there were three heavy timbers bolted diagonally across the beams of the three plows which made it extremely heavy

Lowell Alexander Richards An account written by Wallace Smith professor of

history at Fresno State College notes that it was Lowell Alexander Richards who placed the standards of the three plows on a single bar He claims the patent rights to this plow were then sold to H C Shaw and Madison (Sic) amp Williamson of Stockton The problem is that a research of plow patents issued to residents of this area does not reveal any of the mens names If this did happen it was some time later for as we will show H C Shaw did not acquire his business until 1873

Robert Baxter Patent office records do show Patent 67483 was

issued on August 6 1867 to Robert Baxter of French Camp California The drawings submitted with this patent show five plow shares and standards fastened to a single bar This plow was supported by two small wheels Specifically the patent was for a newly designed standard to hold each plow share (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Page 6 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

In September of 1867 the Stockton Daily Independent pulished a glowing report of Baxters new plow

These gangs are made to operate with any number of plows from two to six and with or without seed sowers and harrows as may be desired or as the strength of the teams and nature of the soil may seem to require They are also constructed with two styles of molds adapted to either sand or adobe lands

The plows are arranged in two gangs-of three or six-each gang having a seed-sower and harrow attached The seed- ower is attached in front of the gang and operated by a crank worked by the front wheel Under the seed-sowers are placed springs which can be readily bent so as to scatter the seed in any desired direction In the gang of six plows one or more of the latter can be taken off at pleasure to reduce the draught and width of the furrow as may be desired One man with four or six horses according to the nature of the ground can work this rig and when the days work is over the land is plowed sowed and harrowed The Baxter plow included another new idea The

plow share had two equal edges so that when one wore thin the blade could be turned around and the other edge used The Independent editor went on to praise the construction of the new plow for the lightness and strength of its construction He also noted it was free from braces or any other obstruction which could collect weeds which had been a big problem in other models Baxters plows were on display and for sale at Webster Bros implement store in Stockton

Henry C Shaw Employed in the business in 1857 was a young

salesman Henry C Shaw who was born and educated in New England He journeyed to California as a young man in 1851 He spent time in San Francisco Hawaii and Washington Territory before coming to Stockton to take the job as salesman for Webster Bros

He traveled up and down Californias Great Valley selling farm implements stocked by the company There is no doubt that in his travels he saw the workings of every plow available at the time

Shaw purchased the business in late 1872 or early 1873 (see Addenda No1) He managed the business and J B Webster stayed on as salesman for at least a year Baxter produced his plows until Shaw acquired his patents and others held by Webster Bros Shaw set up his own machine shop to produce the plows he sold He improved the plow even more by adding three small but wider wheels with attached mud scrapers By 1876 he had changed the company

name to H C Shaw Plow Company and issued a catalog of farm implements he carried in stock

The catalog featured a four bottom 10 inch model of the Stockton Gang Plow with reversible blades The price was $7000 for retail customers and $4550 for wholesale customers Included were various size models a warning against patent infringement and instruction on how to sharpen the plow shares (see Addenda No2) There was also a complete price list of various configurations and size plows and attachments (see illustration) The catalog boasted that the company had sold 800 of the plows in the past three years

In 1877 the company also issued an advertising card which claimed The Stockton Gang Plow-The Cheapest Simplest and Best Gang Plow in Use

In 1879 Shaw incorporated the company as H C Shaw Plow Works A final reorganization took place in 1898 when the company was incorporated as the H C Shaw Company Apparently there were other investors in the first company however Shaw was the sole owner under the second reorganization

Harness and Horsepower It had been a simple process to hitch one draft

animal to a single plow but as gang plows grew in size so did the need for increased horsepower The answer was to attach more animals which in turn created a need for new harnessing methods Wallace Smiths version of how this was accomplished is very unique and is reproduced here in its entirety

In 1868 Stephen V Porter Henry Wilander and Ransome McCapes all native of Wisconsin rented land near the present site of Manteca Irwin S Wright employed by Wilander as a teamster went to the Coast Range and procured four wild mules which he broke to the plow Wilander owned a strawberry roan broncho (Sic) mare named Hannah She and her team mate were placed at the head of these four mules A long baling rope was attached to the left ring of Hannahs bit This line was then inserted through the rings in the hames of the near pointer and wheeler and fastened to the lever of the plow where Wright could reach it easily A steady pull on the rope naturally turned Hannall to the left The other members of the team each fastened by a head-strap to the single-tree of the preceding animal followed the leaders In order to turn the team to the right a strap was fastened between the right ring in Hannahs bit and the ring in her hame This was barely long enough for her to walk comfortably A quick jerk would cause her to throw up her head and the short strap then pulled her to the right A sharp command Gee at the same time finally taught her to turn right without any undue

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 2: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

SAN-JOAQUINThe San Joaquin Historian

Quarterly Journal of Volume VIII New Series Number 2The San Joaquin County Historical Society Summer 1994

Robert Shellenberger Editor

Published by

The San Joaquin County Historical Society Inc

Micke Grove Regional Park PO Box 21

Lodi CA 95241 (209) 368-9154 (209) 463-4119

Timothy J Hachman President Gary Christopherson President-Elect Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F McMaster Vice-President Alan H Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

The Society a non-profit corporation meets the fourth Monday monthly except July August and December Membership includes subscriptions to the San Joaquin Historian and the monthly newsletter News and Notes Additional copies may be purchased at the Museum

The Society operates the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park in partnership with San Joaquin County The Society maintains an office at the Museum

Well researched and documented manuscripts reshylating to the history of San Joaquin County or the Delta will always be considered The editor reserves the right to shorten material based on local interest and space considerations Inquiry should be made through the Museum office

San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

Michael W Bennett Director

copy 1994 San Joaquin County Historical Society Inc

This Issue Olive Davis again reminds us of both San Joaquin

Countys agricultural heritage and its contributions to farm technology with her story on the the Stockton Gang Plow

It seems so simple now doesnt it Yet it was revolutionary in its time and encouraged the developshyment of scores of other mechanical aids for the farm culminating in local perfection of the the combined harvester and the track-laying tractor

The fabrication of these implements ranked Stockton as second in the state in manufacturing at the turn-of-the-century

These inventions made large scale farming practical and assured that California and the emerging farms of the Great Plains would not fall into the pattern of the IIforty acres and a mule agriculture of the East and the South

We found the reminiscences of Brynhild Brandstad Parker to be absolutely charming It is local history at its best picturing farm and family life and illustrating the attitudes and challenges of immigrants in the last century We heartily recommend you share her story with your children and grandchildren

On The Cover Yes we certainly do have better pictures of oldshy

time threshers in our archives but this one has a special story as you will see on Page 15

Summer is grain harvest season Summer is also the season to recall that prior to our irrigation miracle San Joaquin County (and all the Great Valley) were devoted almost entirely to grain production and once earned the appellation Bread Basket to the World

We think this rig is a Centennial Be sure to let us know if we are wrong

Courtesy of Marit Parker Evans

Page 2 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

An Agricultural Revolution

The Stockton Gang Plow by

Olive Davis

1850 THE H C SHAW

Plo~ Works 1880

nANn PLOYS AND EXTRAS No 20] find 203 EI Dorado Streot Stockton

THE STOCKTON CANC PLOW Oer 200c) or J c SbawB Improved Patent Stockton Gang Plows Sold In Fivo YearB

(dllflll and (111 Slcd oIWlf~ JlllrrnW4 El( nllckpoundyo ~rower rdrll~ (]111 EtrnR fOT nil Plol1 nnd Mnchine~ 1 Ill Hili fr h pl~l IWI ry YImiddotAHi III thi valltmiddoty C1fclld for (lrClllllr 1~1lt1 prito Ii it Alwll)1J on hUlid Il ~ 1111 ~tl)lk ot Sill l llttwi

At a distant point in time ancient man discovered The United States Department of Agriculture he could better determine his own destiny by planting Bulletin No 425 entitled Chronological Landmarks in seeds and growing his own food Mankind took a American Agriculture lists many of the early giant step forward when some food gatherers and developments of the single plow It was in 1784 that hunters became farmers First simple sticks were John Small invented the iron plow in England It did used to poke holes in the ground for the seeds Then not take long for the idea to spread to the new world metal points were added and finally animals were for on June 26 1797 the first patent for a cast-iron utilized to pull crude wooden plows This process plow was granted in the newly organized United took thousands of years to develop States of America John Newbold of New Jersey held

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 3

Page 4 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

this early patent Jethro Wood patented an iron plow with interchangeable parts in 1819 as Ohio Indiana and Illinois opened up new lands

Following the American Revolution new lands were opened and these single plows were used by the frontiers-men to prove homesteads and set up farms By 1837 John Deere was manufacturing single plows with steel shares and smooth wrought-iron mill boards

Just fifty- nine years after Englishman John Small invented the iron plow the real break-through in the mechanization of agriculture came about with the joining of plow shares so that one man and his beasts of burden could plow more than one furrow at a time This was an invention by T Wiard of East Avon New York He was issued patent number 3356 on November 14 1843 Often referred to as a gang-ofshyplows it created a stir but did not receive wideshyspread acceptance The reason was given by one former New Englander who had moved to California in the 1850s He recalled that in his home state each hundred square feet of field contained more than a thousand large stones A single driver could never man-handle a heavy gang-of-plows through rocks and stumps

Early California Plows Apparently the iron plow had not even arrived in

California by 1846 according to Rev Walter Colton of the U S Navy An entry in his diary on October 20 1846 tells the story

The mode of cultivating land in California is eminently primitive In December or January they take a piece ofwood in the shape of a ships knee dress it down a little with a dull axe and spike a piece of iron to the lower point A pole by which the oxen draw runs from the inner bend of the knee to the yoke This pole has a mortise about eight inclles long made slanting and about a foot from the after end a piece ofwood about hoo inches by six runs up through the plough (Sic) and pole and is so wedged into the mortise of the pole as to make the plough run shallow or deep as required But if the ground happens to be hard the plough will not enter an inch and if there are roots in the ground it must be lifted over or will be invariably broken Such is a California plough such a fair specimen of the arts here At least one of the old wooden plows was

converted into a gang plow at some point in the future We found a photograph of a plow with four wooden plow points fastened to a single log in the in the California Room of the California State Library The picture is very old and faded but the background

indicates it could have been in any number of places in California (See photo on page 6)

After the gold fever died down in California many men settled on the land in the Great Valley and took up farming There grew a demand for the familiar single iron plow many of them had known back home Each year as plowing season approached California newspapers carried advertisements for single plows shipped in from the east coast

Steel Beam Brush Plows We have here a

DO U H LE STEEL DEAM PLOW THAT IS A WORLD BEATER

when you have rouKh and rooty land to break up

RIGHT HAND

ONLY

Gang Plow Pioneers Yapple and Beardsley

The year that Wiard was granted his patent on the gang plow a young man Perry Yapple went into an apprenticeship to a blacksmith in Ithaca New York He completed his training and opened his own shop He closed it down in 1852 when he decided to try his luck in California He and a friend Well Beardsley traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco From there Yapple caught a river boat to Stockton and hired on as a blacksmith with the local stage company The following year Yapple quit his job and opened a blacksmith shop with Beardsley

In later years Yapple told an historian that they constructed and sold three three bottom plows in 1854 Yapple swore that these were the first gang plows constructed in California Each of these implements contained three plow shares hooked together and pulled from a single point by two or more horses This enabled one man to plow three times as much land in a day than in the past

The gang plow had found a place to succeed in Californias Great Valley The deep alluvial soil was so free of stones that Valley Indians were forced to make baked clay balls of it for use in their cooking baskets in lieu of heated rocks

The State Fair was held in Stockton in 1857 and included was a contest to select the best farms in the area A local newspaper reported that a judging committee had visited the Comstock Farm east of Stockton There they found a three bottom plow in

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 5

Pioneer California Gang Plow Date and location unknown California State Library

use which seemed important enough to give the farm a high score in the judging process

DC Matteson In 1858 D C Matteson of Stockton was issued

patent No 20647 for a Wheel-Plow This version of the gang plow had three plow shares but was supported by wheels that kept the blades from going too deeply into the soil This had been one of the drawbacks of the earlier models (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Westley Underwood In one publication Westley Underwood is given

credit for the first gang plow in California when he secured two plows from his neighbors and bolted them to his own single plow He used this plow for the first time in the fall of 1861 This obviously was not the first as Yapples first gang plows had been around for a good seven years and Mattisons patent was three years old This particular report goes on to state that the next year (1862) a New Englander John A Parry arrived in California He purchased Underweights plow and although it was late in the season planted some wheat It was reported that he used three yoke of oxen to pull this unique plow

According to this report there were three heavy timbers bolted diagonally across the beams of the three plows which made it extremely heavy

Lowell Alexander Richards An account written by Wallace Smith professor of

history at Fresno State College notes that it was Lowell Alexander Richards who placed the standards of the three plows on a single bar He claims the patent rights to this plow were then sold to H C Shaw and Madison (Sic) amp Williamson of Stockton The problem is that a research of plow patents issued to residents of this area does not reveal any of the mens names If this did happen it was some time later for as we will show H C Shaw did not acquire his business until 1873

Robert Baxter Patent office records do show Patent 67483 was

issued on August 6 1867 to Robert Baxter of French Camp California The drawings submitted with this patent show five plow shares and standards fastened to a single bar This plow was supported by two small wheels Specifically the patent was for a newly designed standard to hold each plow share (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Page 6 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

In September of 1867 the Stockton Daily Independent pulished a glowing report of Baxters new plow

These gangs are made to operate with any number of plows from two to six and with or without seed sowers and harrows as may be desired or as the strength of the teams and nature of the soil may seem to require They are also constructed with two styles of molds adapted to either sand or adobe lands

The plows are arranged in two gangs-of three or six-each gang having a seed-sower and harrow attached The seed- ower is attached in front of the gang and operated by a crank worked by the front wheel Under the seed-sowers are placed springs which can be readily bent so as to scatter the seed in any desired direction In the gang of six plows one or more of the latter can be taken off at pleasure to reduce the draught and width of the furrow as may be desired One man with four or six horses according to the nature of the ground can work this rig and when the days work is over the land is plowed sowed and harrowed The Baxter plow included another new idea The

plow share had two equal edges so that when one wore thin the blade could be turned around and the other edge used The Independent editor went on to praise the construction of the new plow for the lightness and strength of its construction He also noted it was free from braces or any other obstruction which could collect weeds which had been a big problem in other models Baxters plows were on display and for sale at Webster Bros implement store in Stockton

Henry C Shaw Employed in the business in 1857 was a young

salesman Henry C Shaw who was born and educated in New England He journeyed to California as a young man in 1851 He spent time in San Francisco Hawaii and Washington Territory before coming to Stockton to take the job as salesman for Webster Bros

He traveled up and down Californias Great Valley selling farm implements stocked by the company There is no doubt that in his travels he saw the workings of every plow available at the time

Shaw purchased the business in late 1872 or early 1873 (see Addenda No1) He managed the business and J B Webster stayed on as salesman for at least a year Baxter produced his plows until Shaw acquired his patents and others held by Webster Bros Shaw set up his own machine shop to produce the plows he sold He improved the plow even more by adding three small but wider wheels with attached mud scrapers By 1876 he had changed the company

name to H C Shaw Plow Company and issued a catalog of farm implements he carried in stock

The catalog featured a four bottom 10 inch model of the Stockton Gang Plow with reversible blades The price was $7000 for retail customers and $4550 for wholesale customers Included were various size models a warning against patent infringement and instruction on how to sharpen the plow shares (see Addenda No2) There was also a complete price list of various configurations and size plows and attachments (see illustration) The catalog boasted that the company had sold 800 of the plows in the past three years

In 1877 the company also issued an advertising card which claimed The Stockton Gang Plow-The Cheapest Simplest and Best Gang Plow in Use

In 1879 Shaw incorporated the company as H C Shaw Plow Works A final reorganization took place in 1898 when the company was incorporated as the H C Shaw Company Apparently there were other investors in the first company however Shaw was the sole owner under the second reorganization

Harness and Horsepower It had been a simple process to hitch one draft

animal to a single plow but as gang plows grew in size so did the need for increased horsepower The answer was to attach more animals which in turn created a need for new harnessing methods Wallace Smiths version of how this was accomplished is very unique and is reproduced here in its entirety

In 1868 Stephen V Porter Henry Wilander and Ransome McCapes all native of Wisconsin rented land near the present site of Manteca Irwin S Wright employed by Wilander as a teamster went to the Coast Range and procured four wild mules which he broke to the plow Wilander owned a strawberry roan broncho (Sic) mare named Hannah She and her team mate were placed at the head of these four mules A long baling rope was attached to the left ring of Hannahs bit This line was then inserted through the rings in the hames of the near pointer and wheeler and fastened to the lever of the plow where Wright could reach it easily A steady pull on the rope naturally turned Hannall to the left The other members of the team each fastened by a head-strap to the single-tree of the preceding animal followed the leaders In order to turn the team to the right a strap was fastened between the right ring in Hannahs bit and the ring in her hame This was barely long enough for her to walk comfortably A quick jerk would cause her to throw up her head and the short strap then pulled her to the right A sharp command Gee at the same time finally taught her to turn right without any undue

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 3: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

An Agricultural Revolution

The Stockton Gang Plow by

Olive Davis

1850 THE H C SHAW

Plo~ Works 1880

nANn PLOYS AND EXTRAS No 20] find 203 EI Dorado Streot Stockton

THE STOCKTON CANC PLOW Oer 200c) or J c SbawB Improved Patent Stockton Gang Plows Sold In Fivo YearB

(dllflll and (111 Slcd oIWlf~ JlllrrnW4 El( nllckpoundyo ~rower rdrll~ (]111 EtrnR fOT nil Plol1 nnd Mnchine~ 1 Ill Hili fr h pl~l IWI ry YImiddotAHi III thi valltmiddoty C1fclld for (lrClllllr 1~1lt1 prito Ii it Alwll)1J on hUlid Il ~ 1111 ~tl)lk ot Sill l llttwi

At a distant point in time ancient man discovered The United States Department of Agriculture he could better determine his own destiny by planting Bulletin No 425 entitled Chronological Landmarks in seeds and growing his own food Mankind took a American Agriculture lists many of the early giant step forward when some food gatherers and developments of the single plow It was in 1784 that hunters became farmers First simple sticks were John Small invented the iron plow in England It did used to poke holes in the ground for the seeds Then not take long for the idea to spread to the new world metal points were added and finally animals were for on June 26 1797 the first patent for a cast-iron utilized to pull crude wooden plows This process plow was granted in the newly organized United took thousands of years to develop States of America John Newbold of New Jersey held

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 3

Page 4 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

this early patent Jethro Wood patented an iron plow with interchangeable parts in 1819 as Ohio Indiana and Illinois opened up new lands

Following the American Revolution new lands were opened and these single plows were used by the frontiers-men to prove homesteads and set up farms By 1837 John Deere was manufacturing single plows with steel shares and smooth wrought-iron mill boards

Just fifty- nine years after Englishman John Small invented the iron plow the real break-through in the mechanization of agriculture came about with the joining of plow shares so that one man and his beasts of burden could plow more than one furrow at a time This was an invention by T Wiard of East Avon New York He was issued patent number 3356 on November 14 1843 Often referred to as a gang-ofshyplows it created a stir but did not receive wideshyspread acceptance The reason was given by one former New Englander who had moved to California in the 1850s He recalled that in his home state each hundred square feet of field contained more than a thousand large stones A single driver could never man-handle a heavy gang-of-plows through rocks and stumps

Early California Plows Apparently the iron plow had not even arrived in

California by 1846 according to Rev Walter Colton of the U S Navy An entry in his diary on October 20 1846 tells the story

The mode of cultivating land in California is eminently primitive In December or January they take a piece ofwood in the shape of a ships knee dress it down a little with a dull axe and spike a piece of iron to the lower point A pole by which the oxen draw runs from the inner bend of the knee to the yoke This pole has a mortise about eight inclles long made slanting and about a foot from the after end a piece ofwood about hoo inches by six runs up through the plough (Sic) and pole and is so wedged into the mortise of the pole as to make the plough run shallow or deep as required But if the ground happens to be hard the plough will not enter an inch and if there are roots in the ground it must be lifted over or will be invariably broken Such is a California plough such a fair specimen of the arts here At least one of the old wooden plows was

converted into a gang plow at some point in the future We found a photograph of a plow with four wooden plow points fastened to a single log in the in the California Room of the California State Library The picture is very old and faded but the background

indicates it could have been in any number of places in California (See photo on page 6)

After the gold fever died down in California many men settled on the land in the Great Valley and took up farming There grew a demand for the familiar single iron plow many of them had known back home Each year as plowing season approached California newspapers carried advertisements for single plows shipped in from the east coast

Steel Beam Brush Plows We have here a

DO U H LE STEEL DEAM PLOW THAT IS A WORLD BEATER

when you have rouKh and rooty land to break up

RIGHT HAND

ONLY

Gang Plow Pioneers Yapple and Beardsley

The year that Wiard was granted his patent on the gang plow a young man Perry Yapple went into an apprenticeship to a blacksmith in Ithaca New York He completed his training and opened his own shop He closed it down in 1852 when he decided to try his luck in California He and a friend Well Beardsley traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco From there Yapple caught a river boat to Stockton and hired on as a blacksmith with the local stage company The following year Yapple quit his job and opened a blacksmith shop with Beardsley

In later years Yapple told an historian that they constructed and sold three three bottom plows in 1854 Yapple swore that these were the first gang plows constructed in California Each of these implements contained three plow shares hooked together and pulled from a single point by two or more horses This enabled one man to plow three times as much land in a day than in the past

The gang plow had found a place to succeed in Californias Great Valley The deep alluvial soil was so free of stones that Valley Indians were forced to make baked clay balls of it for use in their cooking baskets in lieu of heated rocks

The State Fair was held in Stockton in 1857 and included was a contest to select the best farms in the area A local newspaper reported that a judging committee had visited the Comstock Farm east of Stockton There they found a three bottom plow in

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 5

Pioneer California Gang Plow Date and location unknown California State Library

use which seemed important enough to give the farm a high score in the judging process

DC Matteson In 1858 D C Matteson of Stockton was issued

patent No 20647 for a Wheel-Plow This version of the gang plow had three plow shares but was supported by wheels that kept the blades from going too deeply into the soil This had been one of the drawbacks of the earlier models (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Westley Underwood In one publication Westley Underwood is given

credit for the first gang plow in California when he secured two plows from his neighbors and bolted them to his own single plow He used this plow for the first time in the fall of 1861 This obviously was not the first as Yapples first gang plows had been around for a good seven years and Mattisons patent was three years old This particular report goes on to state that the next year (1862) a New Englander John A Parry arrived in California He purchased Underweights plow and although it was late in the season planted some wheat It was reported that he used three yoke of oxen to pull this unique plow

According to this report there were three heavy timbers bolted diagonally across the beams of the three plows which made it extremely heavy

Lowell Alexander Richards An account written by Wallace Smith professor of

history at Fresno State College notes that it was Lowell Alexander Richards who placed the standards of the three plows on a single bar He claims the patent rights to this plow were then sold to H C Shaw and Madison (Sic) amp Williamson of Stockton The problem is that a research of plow patents issued to residents of this area does not reveal any of the mens names If this did happen it was some time later for as we will show H C Shaw did not acquire his business until 1873

Robert Baxter Patent office records do show Patent 67483 was

issued on August 6 1867 to Robert Baxter of French Camp California The drawings submitted with this patent show five plow shares and standards fastened to a single bar This plow was supported by two small wheels Specifically the patent was for a newly designed standard to hold each plow share (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Page 6 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

In September of 1867 the Stockton Daily Independent pulished a glowing report of Baxters new plow

These gangs are made to operate with any number of plows from two to six and with or without seed sowers and harrows as may be desired or as the strength of the teams and nature of the soil may seem to require They are also constructed with two styles of molds adapted to either sand or adobe lands

The plows are arranged in two gangs-of three or six-each gang having a seed-sower and harrow attached The seed- ower is attached in front of the gang and operated by a crank worked by the front wheel Under the seed-sowers are placed springs which can be readily bent so as to scatter the seed in any desired direction In the gang of six plows one or more of the latter can be taken off at pleasure to reduce the draught and width of the furrow as may be desired One man with four or six horses according to the nature of the ground can work this rig and when the days work is over the land is plowed sowed and harrowed The Baxter plow included another new idea The

plow share had two equal edges so that when one wore thin the blade could be turned around and the other edge used The Independent editor went on to praise the construction of the new plow for the lightness and strength of its construction He also noted it was free from braces or any other obstruction which could collect weeds which had been a big problem in other models Baxters plows were on display and for sale at Webster Bros implement store in Stockton

Henry C Shaw Employed in the business in 1857 was a young

salesman Henry C Shaw who was born and educated in New England He journeyed to California as a young man in 1851 He spent time in San Francisco Hawaii and Washington Territory before coming to Stockton to take the job as salesman for Webster Bros

He traveled up and down Californias Great Valley selling farm implements stocked by the company There is no doubt that in his travels he saw the workings of every plow available at the time

Shaw purchased the business in late 1872 or early 1873 (see Addenda No1) He managed the business and J B Webster stayed on as salesman for at least a year Baxter produced his plows until Shaw acquired his patents and others held by Webster Bros Shaw set up his own machine shop to produce the plows he sold He improved the plow even more by adding three small but wider wheels with attached mud scrapers By 1876 he had changed the company

name to H C Shaw Plow Company and issued a catalog of farm implements he carried in stock

The catalog featured a four bottom 10 inch model of the Stockton Gang Plow with reversible blades The price was $7000 for retail customers and $4550 for wholesale customers Included were various size models a warning against patent infringement and instruction on how to sharpen the plow shares (see Addenda No2) There was also a complete price list of various configurations and size plows and attachments (see illustration) The catalog boasted that the company had sold 800 of the plows in the past three years

In 1877 the company also issued an advertising card which claimed The Stockton Gang Plow-The Cheapest Simplest and Best Gang Plow in Use

In 1879 Shaw incorporated the company as H C Shaw Plow Works A final reorganization took place in 1898 when the company was incorporated as the H C Shaw Company Apparently there were other investors in the first company however Shaw was the sole owner under the second reorganization

Harness and Horsepower It had been a simple process to hitch one draft

animal to a single plow but as gang plows grew in size so did the need for increased horsepower The answer was to attach more animals which in turn created a need for new harnessing methods Wallace Smiths version of how this was accomplished is very unique and is reproduced here in its entirety

In 1868 Stephen V Porter Henry Wilander and Ransome McCapes all native of Wisconsin rented land near the present site of Manteca Irwin S Wright employed by Wilander as a teamster went to the Coast Range and procured four wild mules which he broke to the plow Wilander owned a strawberry roan broncho (Sic) mare named Hannah She and her team mate were placed at the head of these four mules A long baling rope was attached to the left ring of Hannahs bit This line was then inserted through the rings in the hames of the near pointer and wheeler and fastened to the lever of the plow where Wright could reach it easily A steady pull on the rope naturally turned Hannall to the left The other members of the team each fastened by a head-strap to the single-tree of the preceding animal followed the leaders In order to turn the team to the right a strap was fastened between the right ring in Hannahs bit and the ring in her hame This was barely long enough for her to walk comfortably A quick jerk would cause her to throw up her head and the short strap then pulled her to the right A sharp command Gee at the same time finally taught her to turn right without any undue

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 4: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

Page 4 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

this early patent Jethro Wood patented an iron plow with interchangeable parts in 1819 as Ohio Indiana and Illinois opened up new lands

Following the American Revolution new lands were opened and these single plows were used by the frontiers-men to prove homesteads and set up farms By 1837 John Deere was manufacturing single plows with steel shares and smooth wrought-iron mill boards

Just fifty- nine years after Englishman John Small invented the iron plow the real break-through in the mechanization of agriculture came about with the joining of plow shares so that one man and his beasts of burden could plow more than one furrow at a time This was an invention by T Wiard of East Avon New York He was issued patent number 3356 on November 14 1843 Often referred to as a gang-ofshyplows it created a stir but did not receive wideshyspread acceptance The reason was given by one former New Englander who had moved to California in the 1850s He recalled that in his home state each hundred square feet of field contained more than a thousand large stones A single driver could never man-handle a heavy gang-of-plows through rocks and stumps

Early California Plows Apparently the iron plow had not even arrived in

California by 1846 according to Rev Walter Colton of the U S Navy An entry in his diary on October 20 1846 tells the story

The mode of cultivating land in California is eminently primitive In December or January they take a piece ofwood in the shape of a ships knee dress it down a little with a dull axe and spike a piece of iron to the lower point A pole by which the oxen draw runs from the inner bend of the knee to the yoke This pole has a mortise about eight inclles long made slanting and about a foot from the after end a piece ofwood about hoo inches by six runs up through the plough (Sic) and pole and is so wedged into the mortise of the pole as to make the plough run shallow or deep as required But if the ground happens to be hard the plough will not enter an inch and if there are roots in the ground it must be lifted over or will be invariably broken Such is a California plough such a fair specimen of the arts here At least one of the old wooden plows was

converted into a gang plow at some point in the future We found a photograph of a plow with four wooden plow points fastened to a single log in the in the California Room of the California State Library The picture is very old and faded but the background

indicates it could have been in any number of places in California (See photo on page 6)

After the gold fever died down in California many men settled on the land in the Great Valley and took up farming There grew a demand for the familiar single iron plow many of them had known back home Each year as plowing season approached California newspapers carried advertisements for single plows shipped in from the east coast

Steel Beam Brush Plows We have here a

DO U H LE STEEL DEAM PLOW THAT IS A WORLD BEATER

when you have rouKh and rooty land to break up

RIGHT HAND

ONLY

Gang Plow Pioneers Yapple and Beardsley

The year that Wiard was granted his patent on the gang plow a young man Perry Yapple went into an apprenticeship to a blacksmith in Ithaca New York He completed his training and opened his own shop He closed it down in 1852 when he decided to try his luck in California He and a friend Well Beardsley traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco From there Yapple caught a river boat to Stockton and hired on as a blacksmith with the local stage company The following year Yapple quit his job and opened a blacksmith shop with Beardsley

In later years Yapple told an historian that they constructed and sold three three bottom plows in 1854 Yapple swore that these were the first gang plows constructed in California Each of these implements contained three plow shares hooked together and pulled from a single point by two or more horses This enabled one man to plow three times as much land in a day than in the past

The gang plow had found a place to succeed in Californias Great Valley The deep alluvial soil was so free of stones that Valley Indians were forced to make baked clay balls of it for use in their cooking baskets in lieu of heated rocks

The State Fair was held in Stockton in 1857 and included was a contest to select the best farms in the area A local newspaper reported that a judging committee had visited the Comstock Farm east of Stockton There they found a three bottom plow in

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 5

Pioneer California Gang Plow Date and location unknown California State Library

use which seemed important enough to give the farm a high score in the judging process

DC Matteson In 1858 D C Matteson of Stockton was issued

patent No 20647 for a Wheel-Plow This version of the gang plow had three plow shares but was supported by wheels that kept the blades from going too deeply into the soil This had been one of the drawbacks of the earlier models (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Westley Underwood In one publication Westley Underwood is given

credit for the first gang plow in California when he secured two plows from his neighbors and bolted them to his own single plow He used this plow for the first time in the fall of 1861 This obviously was not the first as Yapples first gang plows had been around for a good seven years and Mattisons patent was three years old This particular report goes on to state that the next year (1862) a New Englander John A Parry arrived in California He purchased Underweights plow and although it was late in the season planted some wheat It was reported that he used three yoke of oxen to pull this unique plow

According to this report there were three heavy timbers bolted diagonally across the beams of the three plows which made it extremely heavy

Lowell Alexander Richards An account written by Wallace Smith professor of

history at Fresno State College notes that it was Lowell Alexander Richards who placed the standards of the three plows on a single bar He claims the patent rights to this plow were then sold to H C Shaw and Madison (Sic) amp Williamson of Stockton The problem is that a research of plow patents issued to residents of this area does not reveal any of the mens names If this did happen it was some time later for as we will show H C Shaw did not acquire his business until 1873

Robert Baxter Patent office records do show Patent 67483 was

issued on August 6 1867 to Robert Baxter of French Camp California The drawings submitted with this patent show five plow shares and standards fastened to a single bar This plow was supported by two small wheels Specifically the patent was for a newly designed standard to hold each plow share (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Page 6 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

In September of 1867 the Stockton Daily Independent pulished a glowing report of Baxters new plow

These gangs are made to operate with any number of plows from two to six and with or without seed sowers and harrows as may be desired or as the strength of the teams and nature of the soil may seem to require They are also constructed with two styles of molds adapted to either sand or adobe lands

The plows are arranged in two gangs-of three or six-each gang having a seed-sower and harrow attached The seed- ower is attached in front of the gang and operated by a crank worked by the front wheel Under the seed-sowers are placed springs which can be readily bent so as to scatter the seed in any desired direction In the gang of six plows one or more of the latter can be taken off at pleasure to reduce the draught and width of the furrow as may be desired One man with four or six horses according to the nature of the ground can work this rig and when the days work is over the land is plowed sowed and harrowed The Baxter plow included another new idea The

plow share had two equal edges so that when one wore thin the blade could be turned around and the other edge used The Independent editor went on to praise the construction of the new plow for the lightness and strength of its construction He also noted it was free from braces or any other obstruction which could collect weeds which had been a big problem in other models Baxters plows were on display and for sale at Webster Bros implement store in Stockton

Henry C Shaw Employed in the business in 1857 was a young

salesman Henry C Shaw who was born and educated in New England He journeyed to California as a young man in 1851 He spent time in San Francisco Hawaii and Washington Territory before coming to Stockton to take the job as salesman for Webster Bros

He traveled up and down Californias Great Valley selling farm implements stocked by the company There is no doubt that in his travels he saw the workings of every plow available at the time

Shaw purchased the business in late 1872 or early 1873 (see Addenda No1) He managed the business and J B Webster stayed on as salesman for at least a year Baxter produced his plows until Shaw acquired his patents and others held by Webster Bros Shaw set up his own machine shop to produce the plows he sold He improved the plow even more by adding three small but wider wheels with attached mud scrapers By 1876 he had changed the company

name to H C Shaw Plow Company and issued a catalog of farm implements he carried in stock

The catalog featured a four bottom 10 inch model of the Stockton Gang Plow with reversible blades The price was $7000 for retail customers and $4550 for wholesale customers Included were various size models a warning against patent infringement and instruction on how to sharpen the plow shares (see Addenda No2) There was also a complete price list of various configurations and size plows and attachments (see illustration) The catalog boasted that the company had sold 800 of the plows in the past three years

In 1877 the company also issued an advertising card which claimed The Stockton Gang Plow-The Cheapest Simplest and Best Gang Plow in Use

In 1879 Shaw incorporated the company as H C Shaw Plow Works A final reorganization took place in 1898 when the company was incorporated as the H C Shaw Company Apparently there were other investors in the first company however Shaw was the sole owner under the second reorganization

Harness and Horsepower It had been a simple process to hitch one draft

animal to a single plow but as gang plows grew in size so did the need for increased horsepower The answer was to attach more animals which in turn created a need for new harnessing methods Wallace Smiths version of how this was accomplished is very unique and is reproduced here in its entirety

In 1868 Stephen V Porter Henry Wilander and Ransome McCapes all native of Wisconsin rented land near the present site of Manteca Irwin S Wright employed by Wilander as a teamster went to the Coast Range and procured four wild mules which he broke to the plow Wilander owned a strawberry roan broncho (Sic) mare named Hannah She and her team mate were placed at the head of these four mules A long baling rope was attached to the left ring of Hannahs bit This line was then inserted through the rings in the hames of the near pointer and wheeler and fastened to the lever of the plow where Wright could reach it easily A steady pull on the rope naturally turned Hannall to the left The other members of the team each fastened by a head-strap to the single-tree of the preceding animal followed the leaders In order to turn the team to the right a strap was fastened between the right ring in Hannahs bit and the ring in her hame This was barely long enough for her to walk comfortably A quick jerk would cause her to throw up her head and the short strap then pulled her to the right A sharp command Gee at the same time finally taught her to turn right without any undue

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 5: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

this early patent Jethro Wood patented an iron plow with interchangeable parts in 1819 as Ohio Indiana and Illinois opened up new lands

Following the American Revolution new lands were opened and these single plows were used by the frontiers-men to prove homesteads and set up farms By 1837 John Deere was manufacturing single plows with steel shares and smooth wrought-iron mill boards

Just fifty- nine years after Englishman John Small invented the iron plow the real break-through in the mechanization of agriculture came about with the joining of plow shares so that one man and his beasts of burden could plow more than one furrow at a time This was an invention by T Wiard of East Avon New York He was issued patent number 3356 on November 14 1843 Often referred to as a gang-ofshyplows it created a stir but did not receive wideshyspread acceptance The reason was given by one former New Englander who had moved to California in the 1850s He recalled that in his home state each hundred square feet of field contained more than a thousand large stones A single driver could never man-handle a heavy gang-of-plows through rocks and stumps

Early California Plows Apparently the iron plow had not even arrived in

California by 1846 according to Rev Walter Colton of the U S Navy An entry in his diary on October 20 1846 tells the story

The mode of cultivating land in California is eminently primitive In December or January they take a piece ofwood in the shape of a ships knee dress it down a little with a dull axe and spike a piece of iron to the lower point A pole by which the oxen draw runs from the inner bend of the knee to the yoke This pole has a mortise about eight inclles long made slanting and about a foot from the after end a piece ofwood about hoo inches by six runs up through the plough (Sic) and pole and is so wedged into the mortise of the pole as to make the plough run shallow or deep as required But if the ground happens to be hard the plough will not enter an inch and if there are roots in the ground it must be lifted over or will be invariably broken Such is a California plough such a fair specimen of the arts here At least one of the old wooden plows was

converted into a gang plow at some point in the future We found a photograph of a plow with four wooden plow points fastened to a single log in the in the California Room of the California State Library The picture is very old and faded but the background

indicates it could have been in any number of places in California (See photo on page 6)

After the gold fever died down in California many men settled on the land in the Great Valley and took up farming There grew a demand for the familiar single iron plow many of them had known back home Each year as plowing season approached California newspapers carried advertisements for single plows shipped in from the east coast

Steel Beam Brush Plows We have here a

DO U H LE STEEL DEAM PLOW THAT IS A WORLD BEATER

when you have rouKh and rooty land to break up

RIGHT HAND

ONLY

Gang Plow Pioneers Yapple and Beardsley

The year that Wiard was granted his patent on the gang plow a young man Perry Yapple went into an apprenticeship to a blacksmith in Ithaca New York He completed his training and opened his own shop He closed it down in 1852 when he decided to try his luck in California He and a friend Well Beardsley traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco From there Yapple caught a river boat to Stockton and hired on as a blacksmith with the local stage company The following year Yapple quit his job and opened a blacksmith shop with Beardsley

In later years Yapple told an historian that they constructed and sold three three bottom plows in 1854 Yapple swore that these were the first gang plows constructed in California Each of these implements contained three plow shares hooked together and pulled from a single point by two or more horses This enabled one man to plow three times as much land in a day than in the past

The gang plow had found a place to succeed in Californias Great Valley The deep alluvial soil was so free of stones that Valley Indians were forced to make baked clay balls of it for use in their cooking baskets in lieu of heated rocks

The State Fair was held in Stockton in 1857 and included was a contest to select the best farms in the area A local newspaper reported that a judging committee had visited the Comstock Farm east of Stockton There they found a three bottom plow in

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 5

Pioneer California Gang Plow Date and location unknown California State Library

use which seemed important enough to give the farm a high score in the judging process

DC Matteson In 1858 D C Matteson of Stockton was issued

patent No 20647 for a Wheel-Plow This version of the gang plow had three plow shares but was supported by wheels that kept the blades from going too deeply into the soil This had been one of the drawbacks of the earlier models (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Westley Underwood In one publication Westley Underwood is given

credit for the first gang plow in California when he secured two plows from his neighbors and bolted them to his own single plow He used this plow for the first time in the fall of 1861 This obviously was not the first as Yapples first gang plows had been around for a good seven years and Mattisons patent was three years old This particular report goes on to state that the next year (1862) a New Englander John A Parry arrived in California He purchased Underweights plow and although it was late in the season planted some wheat It was reported that he used three yoke of oxen to pull this unique plow

According to this report there were three heavy timbers bolted diagonally across the beams of the three plows which made it extremely heavy

Lowell Alexander Richards An account written by Wallace Smith professor of

history at Fresno State College notes that it was Lowell Alexander Richards who placed the standards of the three plows on a single bar He claims the patent rights to this plow were then sold to H C Shaw and Madison (Sic) amp Williamson of Stockton The problem is that a research of plow patents issued to residents of this area does not reveal any of the mens names If this did happen it was some time later for as we will show H C Shaw did not acquire his business until 1873

Robert Baxter Patent office records do show Patent 67483 was

issued on August 6 1867 to Robert Baxter of French Camp California The drawings submitted with this patent show five plow shares and standards fastened to a single bar This plow was supported by two small wheels Specifically the patent was for a newly designed standard to hold each plow share (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Page 6 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

In September of 1867 the Stockton Daily Independent pulished a glowing report of Baxters new plow

These gangs are made to operate with any number of plows from two to six and with or without seed sowers and harrows as may be desired or as the strength of the teams and nature of the soil may seem to require They are also constructed with two styles of molds adapted to either sand or adobe lands

The plows are arranged in two gangs-of three or six-each gang having a seed-sower and harrow attached The seed- ower is attached in front of the gang and operated by a crank worked by the front wheel Under the seed-sowers are placed springs which can be readily bent so as to scatter the seed in any desired direction In the gang of six plows one or more of the latter can be taken off at pleasure to reduce the draught and width of the furrow as may be desired One man with four or six horses according to the nature of the ground can work this rig and when the days work is over the land is plowed sowed and harrowed The Baxter plow included another new idea The

plow share had two equal edges so that when one wore thin the blade could be turned around and the other edge used The Independent editor went on to praise the construction of the new plow for the lightness and strength of its construction He also noted it was free from braces or any other obstruction which could collect weeds which had been a big problem in other models Baxters plows were on display and for sale at Webster Bros implement store in Stockton

Henry C Shaw Employed in the business in 1857 was a young

salesman Henry C Shaw who was born and educated in New England He journeyed to California as a young man in 1851 He spent time in San Francisco Hawaii and Washington Territory before coming to Stockton to take the job as salesman for Webster Bros

He traveled up and down Californias Great Valley selling farm implements stocked by the company There is no doubt that in his travels he saw the workings of every plow available at the time

Shaw purchased the business in late 1872 or early 1873 (see Addenda No1) He managed the business and J B Webster stayed on as salesman for at least a year Baxter produced his plows until Shaw acquired his patents and others held by Webster Bros Shaw set up his own machine shop to produce the plows he sold He improved the plow even more by adding three small but wider wheels with attached mud scrapers By 1876 he had changed the company

name to H C Shaw Plow Company and issued a catalog of farm implements he carried in stock

The catalog featured a four bottom 10 inch model of the Stockton Gang Plow with reversible blades The price was $7000 for retail customers and $4550 for wholesale customers Included were various size models a warning against patent infringement and instruction on how to sharpen the plow shares (see Addenda No2) There was also a complete price list of various configurations and size plows and attachments (see illustration) The catalog boasted that the company had sold 800 of the plows in the past three years

In 1877 the company also issued an advertising card which claimed The Stockton Gang Plow-The Cheapest Simplest and Best Gang Plow in Use

In 1879 Shaw incorporated the company as H C Shaw Plow Works A final reorganization took place in 1898 when the company was incorporated as the H C Shaw Company Apparently there were other investors in the first company however Shaw was the sole owner under the second reorganization

Harness and Horsepower It had been a simple process to hitch one draft

animal to a single plow but as gang plows grew in size so did the need for increased horsepower The answer was to attach more animals which in turn created a need for new harnessing methods Wallace Smiths version of how this was accomplished is very unique and is reproduced here in its entirety

In 1868 Stephen V Porter Henry Wilander and Ransome McCapes all native of Wisconsin rented land near the present site of Manteca Irwin S Wright employed by Wilander as a teamster went to the Coast Range and procured four wild mules which he broke to the plow Wilander owned a strawberry roan broncho (Sic) mare named Hannah She and her team mate were placed at the head of these four mules A long baling rope was attached to the left ring of Hannahs bit This line was then inserted through the rings in the hames of the near pointer and wheeler and fastened to the lever of the plow where Wright could reach it easily A steady pull on the rope naturally turned Hannall to the left The other members of the team each fastened by a head-strap to the single-tree of the preceding animal followed the leaders In order to turn the team to the right a strap was fastened between the right ring in Hannahs bit and the ring in her hame This was barely long enough for her to walk comfortably A quick jerk would cause her to throw up her head and the short strap then pulled her to the right A sharp command Gee at the same time finally taught her to turn right without any undue

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 6: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

Pioneer California Gang Plow Date and location unknown California State Library

use which seemed important enough to give the farm a high score in the judging process

DC Matteson In 1858 D C Matteson of Stockton was issued

patent No 20647 for a Wheel-Plow This version of the gang plow had three plow shares but was supported by wheels that kept the blades from going too deeply into the soil This had been one of the drawbacks of the earlier models (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Westley Underwood In one publication Westley Underwood is given

credit for the first gang plow in California when he secured two plows from his neighbors and bolted them to his own single plow He used this plow for the first time in the fall of 1861 This obviously was not the first as Yapples first gang plows had been around for a good seven years and Mattisons patent was three years old This particular report goes on to state that the next year (1862) a New Englander John A Parry arrived in California He purchased Underweights plow and although it was late in the season planted some wheat It was reported that he used three yoke of oxen to pull this unique plow

According to this report there were three heavy timbers bolted diagonally across the beams of the three plows which made it extremely heavy

Lowell Alexander Richards An account written by Wallace Smith professor of

history at Fresno State College notes that it was Lowell Alexander Richards who placed the standards of the three plows on a single bar He claims the patent rights to this plow were then sold to H C Shaw and Madison (Sic) amp Williamson of Stockton The problem is that a research of plow patents issued to residents of this area does not reveal any of the mens names If this did happen it was some time later for as we will show H C Shaw did not acquire his business until 1873

Robert Baxter Patent office records do show Patent 67483 was

issued on August 6 1867 to Robert Baxter of French Camp California The drawings submitted with this patent show five plow shares and standards fastened to a single bar This plow was supported by two small wheels Specifically the patent was for a newly designed standard to hold each plow share (see photo of diagrams submitted with the patent application)

Page 6 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

In September of 1867 the Stockton Daily Independent pulished a glowing report of Baxters new plow

These gangs are made to operate with any number of plows from two to six and with or without seed sowers and harrows as may be desired or as the strength of the teams and nature of the soil may seem to require They are also constructed with two styles of molds adapted to either sand or adobe lands

The plows are arranged in two gangs-of three or six-each gang having a seed-sower and harrow attached The seed- ower is attached in front of the gang and operated by a crank worked by the front wheel Under the seed-sowers are placed springs which can be readily bent so as to scatter the seed in any desired direction In the gang of six plows one or more of the latter can be taken off at pleasure to reduce the draught and width of the furrow as may be desired One man with four or six horses according to the nature of the ground can work this rig and when the days work is over the land is plowed sowed and harrowed The Baxter plow included another new idea The

plow share had two equal edges so that when one wore thin the blade could be turned around and the other edge used The Independent editor went on to praise the construction of the new plow for the lightness and strength of its construction He also noted it was free from braces or any other obstruction which could collect weeds which had been a big problem in other models Baxters plows were on display and for sale at Webster Bros implement store in Stockton

Henry C Shaw Employed in the business in 1857 was a young

salesman Henry C Shaw who was born and educated in New England He journeyed to California as a young man in 1851 He spent time in San Francisco Hawaii and Washington Territory before coming to Stockton to take the job as salesman for Webster Bros

He traveled up and down Californias Great Valley selling farm implements stocked by the company There is no doubt that in his travels he saw the workings of every plow available at the time

Shaw purchased the business in late 1872 or early 1873 (see Addenda No1) He managed the business and J B Webster stayed on as salesman for at least a year Baxter produced his plows until Shaw acquired his patents and others held by Webster Bros Shaw set up his own machine shop to produce the plows he sold He improved the plow even more by adding three small but wider wheels with attached mud scrapers By 1876 he had changed the company

name to H C Shaw Plow Company and issued a catalog of farm implements he carried in stock

The catalog featured a four bottom 10 inch model of the Stockton Gang Plow with reversible blades The price was $7000 for retail customers and $4550 for wholesale customers Included were various size models a warning against patent infringement and instruction on how to sharpen the plow shares (see Addenda No2) There was also a complete price list of various configurations and size plows and attachments (see illustration) The catalog boasted that the company had sold 800 of the plows in the past three years

In 1877 the company also issued an advertising card which claimed The Stockton Gang Plow-The Cheapest Simplest and Best Gang Plow in Use

In 1879 Shaw incorporated the company as H C Shaw Plow Works A final reorganization took place in 1898 when the company was incorporated as the H C Shaw Company Apparently there were other investors in the first company however Shaw was the sole owner under the second reorganization

Harness and Horsepower It had been a simple process to hitch one draft

animal to a single plow but as gang plows grew in size so did the need for increased horsepower The answer was to attach more animals which in turn created a need for new harnessing methods Wallace Smiths version of how this was accomplished is very unique and is reproduced here in its entirety

In 1868 Stephen V Porter Henry Wilander and Ransome McCapes all native of Wisconsin rented land near the present site of Manteca Irwin S Wright employed by Wilander as a teamster went to the Coast Range and procured four wild mules which he broke to the plow Wilander owned a strawberry roan broncho (Sic) mare named Hannah She and her team mate were placed at the head of these four mules A long baling rope was attached to the left ring of Hannahs bit This line was then inserted through the rings in the hames of the near pointer and wheeler and fastened to the lever of the plow where Wright could reach it easily A steady pull on the rope naturally turned Hannall to the left The other members of the team each fastened by a head-strap to the single-tree of the preceding animal followed the leaders In order to turn the team to the right a strap was fastened between the right ring in Hannahs bit and the ring in her hame This was barely long enough for her to walk comfortably A quick jerk would cause her to throw up her head and the short strap then pulled her to the right A sharp command Gee at the same time finally taught her to turn right without any undue

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 7: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

In September of 1867 the Stockton Daily Independent pulished a glowing report of Baxters new plow

These gangs are made to operate with any number of plows from two to six and with or without seed sowers and harrows as may be desired or as the strength of the teams and nature of the soil may seem to require They are also constructed with two styles of molds adapted to either sand or adobe lands

The plows are arranged in two gangs-of three or six-each gang having a seed-sower and harrow attached The seed- ower is attached in front of the gang and operated by a crank worked by the front wheel Under the seed-sowers are placed springs which can be readily bent so as to scatter the seed in any desired direction In the gang of six plows one or more of the latter can be taken off at pleasure to reduce the draught and width of the furrow as may be desired One man with four or six horses according to the nature of the ground can work this rig and when the days work is over the land is plowed sowed and harrowed The Baxter plow included another new idea The

plow share had two equal edges so that when one wore thin the blade could be turned around and the other edge used The Independent editor went on to praise the construction of the new plow for the lightness and strength of its construction He also noted it was free from braces or any other obstruction which could collect weeds which had been a big problem in other models Baxters plows were on display and for sale at Webster Bros implement store in Stockton

Henry C Shaw Employed in the business in 1857 was a young

salesman Henry C Shaw who was born and educated in New England He journeyed to California as a young man in 1851 He spent time in San Francisco Hawaii and Washington Territory before coming to Stockton to take the job as salesman for Webster Bros

He traveled up and down Californias Great Valley selling farm implements stocked by the company There is no doubt that in his travels he saw the workings of every plow available at the time

Shaw purchased the business in late 1872 or early 1873 (see Addenda No1) He managed the business and J B Webster stayed on as salesman for at least a year Baxter produced his plows until Shaw acquired his patents and others held by Webster Bros Shaw set up his own machine shop to produce the plows he sold He improved the plow even more by adding three small but wider wheels with attached mud scrapers By 1876 he had changed the company

name to H C Shaw Plow Company and issued a catalog of farm implements he carried in stock

The catalog featured a four bottom 10 inch model of the Stockton Gang Plow with reversible blades The price was $7000 for retail customers and $4550 for wholesale customers Included were various size models a warning against patent infringement and instruction on how to sharpen the plow shares (see Addenda No2) There was also a complete price list of various configurations and size plows and attachments (see illustration) The catalog boasted that the company had sold 800 of the plows in the past three years

In 1877 the company also issued an advertising card which claimed The Stockton Gang Plow-The Cheapest Simplest and Best Gang Plow in Use

In 1879 Shaw incorporated the company as H C Shaw Plow Works A final reorganization took place in 1898 when the company was incorporated as the H C Shaw Company Apparently there were other investors in the first company however Shaw was the sole owner under the second reorganization

Harness and Horsepower It had been a simple process to hitch one draft

animal to a single plow but as gang plows grew in size so did the need for increased horsepower The answer was to attach more animals which in turn created a need for new harnessing methods Wallace Smiths version of how this was accomplished is very unique and is reproduced here in its entirety

In 1868 Stephen V Porter Henry Wilander and Ransome McCapes all native of Wisconsin rented land near the present site of Manteca Irwin S Wright employed by Wilander as a teamster went to the Coast Range and procured four wild mules which he broke to the plow Wilander owned a strawberry roan broncho (Sic) mare named Hannah She and her team mate were placed at the head of these four mules A long baling rope was attached to the left ring of Hannahs bit This line was then inserted through the rings in the hames of the near pointer and wheeler and fastened to the lever of the plow where Wright could reach it easily A steady pull on the rope naturally turned Hannall to the left The other members of the team each fastened by a head-strap to the single-tree of the preceding animal followed the leaders In order to turn the team to the right a strap was fastened between the right ring in Hannahs bit and the ring in her hame This was barely long enough for her to walk comfortably A quick jerk would cause her to throw up her head and the short strap then pulled her to the right A sharp command Gee at the same time finally taught her to turn right without any undue

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 7

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 8: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

D C MATTESON

WheelmiddotPlow

No 20047 Patented June 22 1858

Diagrams presented with the DE Matteson patent application in 1858 This was apparently the first gang plow with wheels to support the plow frame

Page 8 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 9: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

R BAXTER

Gang-Plow

No 67483 PatRlIUd Aug 6 1867

~2

Ytj1 ~lo

YtfI(u

crtJ) lc

(

1It_~j~t ~ J-

lrtllers~ --PW~ ) Ibrmiddot

~ f- luu - ~C-~-da r~

Robert Baxter of French Camp submitted this diagram with his patent application of 1867 Unlike previous plows this one had all of the shares on a single beam

pressure or pain She was then broken to the word Her team mate was forced to turn at the same moment by a short jockey stick extending from Hannahs hame to the right ring of tile off leaders bit In order to enable the near leader to take precedence on the turns tile off leader was held back by a check strap extending from his bridle to the near leaders single-tree

The off-wlleeler unlike the other horses was usually not fastened to the animal in front ofhim This enabled him when the plow showed a tendency to crawl out into the unplowed ground to swing out and pull it back into place Sometimes this wheeler swung out too far and failed to get back in tile furrow Then he was either crippled or killed by the heavy plow This caused a strap to be snapped into the single tree of the off pointer which permitted only a forty-five degree turn Since the rancher always walked in the hard unplowed ground it became customary to designate the horses to the left as the near horses those to the right then became the offhorses This jerkshyline form of driving a long string of work stock won favor immediately and was adopted not only by other wheat growers but replaced the old form of hitch on the big freight wagons throughout the nation California was well know for

excellent riding horses developed over the years of Spanish and Mexican rule but good draft animals were not readily available Mules produced by the California mares were difficult to handle As one historian put it these animals not only left their footprints in the sands of time on the Stockton plainsAthey) also left their marks on the broken bodies of the men whom they maimed or killed

Spring 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 9

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 10: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

Eventually good draft mares were imported from the east which produced mules which weighed up to 1600 pounds They were reported to be able to pull a plow for 25 miles during the day and had enough energy left at nightfall to run away if opportunity offered Occasionally a teamster would ride the near wheeler but most walked beside the plow

Tractors vs Mules As the use of gang plows grew so did other

agriculture needs Because a farmer could plant more grain he needed better methods of reaping and harvesting This need led to combined harvesters This in turn led to a greater need of power which led to the development of steam powered tractors The first steam tractors were extremely heavy which created other complications

Of course there were many men who did not want to see horses replaced by those ridiculous machines One of these men an old freight teamster Duke Cole of Linden California delighted in telling the story of one of the first steam tractors used to demonstrate plowing in the Stockton area

n seems a farmer who had thousands of acres to plant gathered many plows and the necessary teams in a field to start plowing Teams of green mules were as ready as they would ever be to go (The term green mules referred to animals that were new to harness or had spent months in a pasture out of harness) A local manufacture took advantage of the opportunity to show off the merits of his new steam tractor He hooked up several gang plows and started plowing but was soon stuck in the heavy adobe soil He unhooked the plows and tried to pull out of the mud but the tractor was stuck fast The tractor man consulted with the farmer and to the delight of the plowmen they decided to hook all of the mule teams in the field to the tractor and pull it out of the mud

The teams were harnessed in place and were ready to pull The steam in the tractor was brought up to pressure so the tractor power could be used to help the animals Just as everything was ready to go the tractor driver reached up and pulled the steam whistle on the tractor Each mule terrified by the sudden blast of noise hit his respective barness at the same instant Leather harness snapped as the mules bolted

Old Duke would cackle as he told bow it took two weeks to gather up all of the mules He swore that they did not retrieve enough unbroken pieces of harness to hitch one team to a gang plow

Steam engines with the water necessary to run them were too heavy These were soon replaced by newly developed internal combustion engines These

lighter engines were eventually placed on combined harvesters which in turn led to self-propelled combined harvesters Each new development created a need that was soon solved with a new or better machine The trend continues today and shows no sign of slowing down

In 1866 it took fifty or sixty man-hours of labor to produce one acre (20 bushels) of wheat By 1890 the labor factor was reduced to eight to ten hours for the same result The gang plow was a major milestone in the progress of farming It can be credited with the mechanization of agriculture This in turn no doubt contributed to the population explosion of the last hundred and fifty years for it is common knowledge that when a species food supply increases so does the specie

Although the gang plow was not invented in California it was developed into a successful working implement in the heart of Californias Great Valley The Stockton Gang Plow was the best of the lot and has never been given the credit it deserves even though it did became famous world-wide

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum has an original Stockton Gang plow that was never converted to a tractor pulled implement There is also a scale model of a gang plow in the museums Delta building

Page 10 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 11: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

Addenda 1 The 1872 Stockton city directory lists J B

Webster in the Agriculture Implement section located at 197-199 EI Dorado Street H C Shaw is listed as a clerk in the company The Webster Bross implement company had sold hardware and implements in Stockton since the 1850s

The 1873-74 directory lists H C Shaw as the operator of an agriculture implement business at 203 EI Dorado Street and J B Webster as a salesman with the Shaw Implement Company There is no record of an 1875 directory but the 1876 one lists Shaw as president of H C Shaw Plow Company This indicates that Shaw purchased the company by 1873

2 Directions for Sharpening and tempering for H C Shaw Cos Single and Gang Plows

First-Heat the point of the Share to a low Cherry red (dont heat too hot) and hammer it as sharp as desired If you get the heat too high wait before hammering until it cools to a low cherry red Heat at one time only so much as you can hammer the body of the Share should not be heated-it remains soft and strong and the fitting part is not disturbed No Cast Steel will work more kindly under the hammer than this does at the proper heat

Second-Then heat the cutting edge of Share (not too hot) and use trip hammer or sledge and hammer on anvil and draw to a sharp edge

Third-To Temper Have a good sized fire for in a small one it is not possible to have an even heat on all the cutting edges of the Share at the same time get the point the cutter and the cutting edge all to a low cherry red then (holding it bottom side up) let it into the water just far enough to partially cool these three parts then take it out and watch for the temper running down on the point and cutting edge until a good straw color or purple appears then cool off entirely

A little practice will enable the Blacksmith to give as high a temper as my be desired For very stoney ground the temper should not be too high If it appears too soft you will probably find only a thin film perhaps a thrity-second part of an inch thick through which a file will cut but go no farther The cutting edges may be ground sharp as a knife

Dont neglect to have your shares re-sharpened and re-tempered as necessary so as to prevent wear and have the plow run easily

Sample pieces of Steel for Blacksmiths to sharpen and temper sent post paid by mail gratis upon application

Always In The Dark Old-Timers will recall that blacksmith

shops were always dark Of en they had no Windows the open door providing the only light The reason of course was that the art of the smithy required he judge the temprature of heated iron or steel by its color

Read again the directions for sharpening and tempering in the addenda above for insight into the eye and art of the blacksmith

R5

The Author

Olive McFate Davis has been involved in agrishyculture most of her adult life much of it farming with her late husband Warren L Davis She is manager of Stockton Ag Expo by contract with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce She has been involved with Ag Expo since its inception in 1977

For five years Olive was a Stockton Record rural correspondent and she has spent the last twenty-five years researching and writing local ~istory IIer three published books are The Slow Tned amp Easy RR (Valley Publishers 1976) Stockton the Sunrise Port of the San Joaquin (Windsor Publications 1984) and From the Ohio to the San Joaquin (Heritage West Books 1991)

She is past president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society past chair of the Stockton Cultural Heritage Board and a member of the National League of Pen Women

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 11

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 12: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

The Reminiscences of

Brynhild Brandstad Parker

Transcribed by Marit Parker Evans

My Father bought 155 acres on Hammer Lane from the Grattan tract when Hilga and Eric were children Then RE Wilhoit the local banker at that time head of the San Joaquin Valley Bank I believe took a great liking to my father Told him of the opportunity to rent the Shippee Tract It seems my father was fearful that he might not be able to handle such a large tract 2200 acres but Wilhoit said he would back him So Father did and Wilhoit did That is why I was born in the old Shippee House which was a beautiful old place and is still standing in Morada All I remember was that porches surshyrounded the house and there was plenty of room for us amp all the relatives and Norwegians who came to this country to stay with us and learn the language I do remember the separate English garden Mr Shippee had-filled with fine and unusual specimens They said he had sent to England for some of them

We moved to the Cole house which was built in 1863 near the future Highway 88 in 1904 My father bought this in 1902 and he felt he had arrived My mother so they told me said Why is it that every home I move into the front door is so far away that everyone comes to the back door He gave land early for the 8-mile Rd and the home was now accessed from that southerly direction I was 35 years

Brynhild Marie Brandstad at Age Seven (1908)

old when we moved into this house I got up one morning amp can remember vividly water all over the floor of the sitting-room What a wonderful place I could walk barefoot amp wade in my own house I was

the only happy person My mother the cook my sister brother and I suppose some Norwegian relative (there always seemed to be someone who landed with us until they learned the language--of course a great help to my mother) were weeping amp Wailing amp waiting for the men to come amp help It seems the water tank amp pipes in the stove to heat the water had exploded This happened to everyone once in awhile The house had been neglected but not ruined by the former occupant Our family has been the only one to have had children in this house none born in the house but reared here I think there was a hand pump in the kitchen amp on the back

porch where the hired men washed before meals But Mama soon had running water piped in but no hot water in the beginning

At the end of the walks outside the fence there was an old hitching rack amp an iron one Mama planted Shasta daisies so people would use that walk when she had the Waterloo Ladies Club (It) Forced the company to use the front door Roses on the other side and geraniums by the west porch She put roses wherever she could but the Lady Banksia climber

Page 12 San Joaquin Historian Summer 1994

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 13: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

was already in place on the front porch and it is still alive My father took down the pine tree and topped the cypress trees He was afraid they would blow over onto the house The magnolia tree and locusts and fig trees were left My playhouse made from the old broken green shutters was built under the magnolia tree My mother brought a myrtle bush from the Shippee place and I now have a strong

to touch etc Gopher snakes were treated with respect-my father said they were some of the best friends he had Some visiting boys were teasing a gopher snake amp he carried the snake to the wheat field and explained to the boys why Probably scared them to death too He was 6 ft 2 in-wt 180 never varied Wore a black Stetson Uncle Nels always wore

the tan Stetson-he had blue eyes my father dark

one from a seedling of the original She also planted artichokes on the north end of the front yard She and I were the only ones who ate them There were also pomegranates

I have forgotten the Chic Sayles THE PRIVY My father asked my Uncle Ed to dig the cesspool and to build the biggest outdoor privy in the world because when one of the women go out at night all of them go So we had a three-seater One large one medium and a smaller one for me It was painted white outside and a vivid blue inside and one of our friends always called it The White House All the seats had covers Ill have you know and also a window and a New Moon cut in the side

I almost lost my shoulder during the digging of the cesspool We had an old mare named Kate who didnt do much work anymore-just odd jobs but she had been such a faithful animal my father always kept her Anyway I was allowed to ride her on her journeys back amp forth carrying up the pails of dirt Uncle Ed would pull the line the pails would empty amp Kate would amble back to the edge of the work But one day almost to the fence I fell off and Kate stepped on me I scrambled up as quickly as I could hoping no one saw me but my luck never did hold out Mama was looking out the kitchen window and saw her darling-was she killed was she mutilated or broken to bits Kate was a very large animal amp very high off the ground She stopped immediately and Uncle Ed knew something was wrong climbed up the ladder amp I was jumping up amp down screaming that I wasnt hurt amp Ed was annoyed amp worried amp thought if I couldnt hang onto the hames better than that I was to keep away Woe is me One of my big disappointments

The world around me was mine to explore I loved to play with frogs pollywogs worms-never snakes but I learned about them from my brother what not

My father asked my Uncle Ed to build the biggest outdoor plivy in the

world because when one ofthe wometl go out at night all of them go

brown eyes Papa was also reshy

sponSible for my name It seems Mama wanted to break away from the Norwegian tradition of always naming a child after family She thought Thelma would be nice -it is also a Scandishynavian name Fortushy

nately my father came in amp said Nonsense--name her Brynhild after the Norse Sagas One of the few memories I have of him was when he held me on his lap amp would either sing me Norwegian songs or recite the Norse Sagas or the poetry about Harold the Great I also remember the time he came home with the Victrola much to everyones astonishment He had bought some Norwegian records and sat in his rocking chair to listen to the Victrola in the sittingshyroom

I remember having baby lambs occaSionally helping to slop the hogs and generally getting in the way I was not allowed to watch them breaking the horses in the corral because the language was bad and Papa could not allow profanity around us He fired a man for swearing in front of me Not Withstanding I sneaked out to watch on a 5 or 6 board fence to watch them breaking the colts and learned the words anyway It is difficult to confine 1 small child to one territory on a large farm My mother tried her hand at raising small biddies and ducks and turkeys but the turkeys were a dismal failure amp she finally gave up on them They really have no sense at all

Mama always kept first aid supplies on hand liniment bandages disinfectant I even helped to roll those bandages Some kind of salve which Papa thought would cure everything Bichloride of mercury for soaking a cut or infection-perhaps other home remedies which I dont remember The peddlers we called them had all kinds of remedies Probably Watkins or who called regularly I do remember the hoarhound candy Mama made from the hoar hound weed-for colds amp I hated it She used to steep onions amp sugar on the back of the stove for colds

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 13

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 14: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

The Brandstad family poses before their home in 1907 Author Brynhild Brandstad is the little girl in the foreground Built by Joseph H Cole in 1863 it was acquired by Erik O Brandstad in 1902 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 CourtesyMarit Parker Evans

and I liked that amp it did seem to help Then the poultices Flax seed poultice was thought to be the best Bread amp milk poultice amp then there was some black stuff-very potent Mustard plasters for sore back-mustard poultice for chest colds Castor oil when all else failed

My father taught Hilga to read and write in Norwegian and she used to write letters to our grandfather in Norway He bought guns for Eric taught him to shoot and fish-said he would buy him all the ammunition he needed but he had to be the best shot and he very nearly was He also bought two thoroughbreds Mattie for Eric and Maud for Hilga Both were racing stock sorrels amp beautiful They both learned to ride and while Eric was better at that Hilga was a superb driver and could handle any horse Eric always wanted to race everybody on the Road I remember once someone complained about Eric amp Hilga amp Papa became very angry First he asked Eric if he had been racing Eric said yes Did you win Yes That pleased father amp he said I have told you not to race By the way whom did you beat Name Fine because my father had no use for that family or any part of them He tried to conceal his pleasure but Eric knew Papa always stroked his beard when he was pleased-he was proud of his

beard He really was a handsome man-as Mama said in Norwegian with pride-En kjek Karr

He also bought a beautiful bay coach horse for my mother He was named Mose-a most undignified name Neighbors told my father he was crazy to buy such beautiful animals especially for Hilga amp Eric They thought my mother would be killed But Mose was a very well trained animal amp loved my mother He was very strong amp reliable amp good to look at Papa built a large bam Wilbur Leffler told me it was the biggest barn in the county I dont know about that but I do know it could take care of 32 horses and mules The middle section was for the carriages harness equipment and there were 4 or 5 stalls with wooden floors for the carriage horses

My parents became engaged in Norway after they were confirmed-then he was studying in advanced school His uncle Ingebrik Forseth wanted to educate him amp expected him to do something remarkable but my father refused to believe in all the creed of the Lutheran Church The state church was Lutheran in 1879 The board gave him a second chance by giving him a special oral exam-but when the same question came up he still said Im sorry I cannot say I believe that So he was expelled His uncle understandably was very annoyed amp told him that he was a damn

Page 14 San Joaquin Historian Spring 1994

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 15: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

fool and he washed his hands of him So Papa being the eldest took the family silver amp pawned it for a ticket to USA It couldnt have been much for they were very poor But Uncle Ingebrik weakened and helped pay his passage so he didnt have to go steerage He settled in Stockton saying if he had wanted to be with a bunch of Norwegians he would have remained in Norway He wrote some very good letters to his uncle about his travels and impressions of this wonderful new country But one thing he could not understand he said the school system was so poor One reason why Eric and Hilga went to 8th grade in town As busy as he was he drove them in himself if weather was bad or it was necessary

He got a job with a farmer named Mosier He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few years and a foreshyman (He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his wife too) In ]889 he felt he could support a wife so he sent for Marit Vike Of course they had been corresponding all this time He suggested that she should come directly to Stockton to be married But she replied that she would go to her sister Ildrid who had come to this country a few years before and lived in Washington How do I know I still love you or that you love me So many years have passed amp if I dont feel the same I will not marry youI That must have given him a jolt but how wise of her So they had a small wedding at her sisters and came back to Stockton in 1889 to some rented place and her closest neighbor spoke only German

Papa had 75 cents left in his pocket when he first came to Stockton But how he worked Uncle Ed told me many years ago that my father would lean against the pillars on the West porch of our house and say This is the closest to Heaven 1 ever expect to be

The Author Brynhild Marie Brandstad was born on August 11

1901 at the Shippee Ranch She married William Bratton Parker on December IS 1923 They raised a family of three children Her reminiscences were written in about 1982 She died at the family home on Eight Mile Road on December 5 1985

He learned to read and write English and became a citizen in a few

years He made his brothers amp sisters do the same thing and his

wife too

The handwritten manuscript of Mrs Parker was transcribed just as she wrote it by her daughter Marit Parker Evans long-time San Joaquin County Historical Society member who currently resides in Salinas

Cover Photo Story The proud owner of the implement shown on our

cover was Erik Oleson Brandstad father of Brynhild Brandstad Parker whose reminiscences are featured above

Like many immigrants before and after him he was proud of his American success and enamored by

the new technology which was so different from what he had known in the old countryI

In about 1895 he sent this photo to family in Norway and it eventshyually found its way back again

What follows is a rough translation of what

he inscribed on the back in his native Norwegian

A picture ofmy threshing machine is seen on the other side in front are 26 horses and mules The machine cuts 20 foot wide openings and can cut and thresh 160 m (40 acres) a day with four or five mens IIelp 400 ton () bushels barley have been cut with this machine in one day and put in one big heap with six men The cutting machine is situated on the right side and can hardly be seen From the picture one can see the magnificent oak trees along the field This farm belongs to Miss Julia Weber and is managed by me I myselfam standing at front of the machine and the two on my left are (n the driver is in his seat above the horses the one lifts and drops the cutting machine in front of the piece and behind the 1nachinist (technician) This machine was bought for $1625 June 1891 and has been threshing for me and other people for almost 150000 bushels in five sessions (in Norwegian IIsame time lapse ) These sessions lasted about 40 - 50 days and begin in June every year

(signed) Eo Brandstad

Summer 1994 San Joaquin Historian Page 15

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241

Page 16: The San Joaquin Historian · Elise Forbes Secretary Robert F. McMaster Vice-President Alan . H. Johnson Vice-President Olive Davis Vice-President Robert Shellenberger Past President

Funding for the printing of this quarterly issue of the Historian was provided by the members of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum through their dues and contributions

Address Correction Requested San Joaquin County Historical

Society and Museum PO Box 21 Lodi CA 95241

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 Lodi CA 95241