San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1528
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 10/3/2009
GEORGE MASON BANCROFT
An energetic citizen of Woodbridge, to whom the community is much indebted, particularly for its fine new schoolhouse, which was built under his supervision as clerk of the school board, is George Mason Bancroft, who was born in Caledonia County, Vt., on September 23, 1876. The family of his father, Parker Bancroft, dates back to colonial days; the great historian, George Bancroft, being a cousin. Parker Bancroft married Miss Mary Ann Morrison, whose family are associated with some of the most interesting annals of Maine. He was a merchant, who died while they were living in New Hampshire, when George was only three years old; and as Mrs. Bancroft also passed away there, the lad had to get his education as best he could. At first he worked on farms in Vermont and New Hampshire, and later took work at the Groton, Vt. Mills. In 1899 he came to California, and to Acampo. Near there he labored for awhile as a ranch hand; and then, going to San Francisco, took a job with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, in the maintenance of way department, covering the line from Ashland, Ore., to El Paso, Tex., on all parts of the Western Division. He spent twenty-three years with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
Notwithstanding these necessary migrations and temporary residences elsewhere, Mr. Bancroft has always made his home at Woodbridge since he came here. In 1903 he bought a vineyard of fifteen acres, and later acquired a vineyard of twenty acres south of Woodbridge, both of which are finely irrigated.
At Woodbridge, on June 15, 1902, Mr. Bancroft was married to Miss Flora May Shinn, a native of that town, and the daughter of H.D. and Emma Shinn. Her father was an honored pioneer of the state. Mrs. Bancroft completed her education at the San Joaquin Valley College, where she was a proficient student. Three children have blessed their union: Raymond Ellwood, now aged eighteen; Elizabeth, aged thirteen; and Clarence, aged ten. Mr. Bancroft is a Republican in matters of national political import. He is at present clerk of the school board of the Woodbridge district, and has had direct supervision of the building of the new school, at a cost of about $60,000, designed to accommodate 200 or more pupils. It is modern in every respect, and will be thoroughly up-to-date in its equipment. Mr. Bancroft is a Mason, belonging to the Woodbridge Lodge, and is also a member of the Odd Fellow Lodge and Encampment at Lodi, and has gone through all the chairs of the lodge. Mrs. Bancroft shares her husband's popularity; and they are untiring in their efforts to better the social life of their community.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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