San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1359-1360
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 11/6/2009
ANGELO COSTA
Another inspiring instance of a poor boy who came into San Joaquin County with the unknown world of struggle all before him, and a boy who has since become a successful, prosperous man, thanks in part to the favoring California environment under which he grew up, is Angelo Costa, the pioneer vineyardist of Lodi, now living in comfort at 605 West Lockeford Street. He was born about twelve miles from the ancient and beautiful maritime city, Genoa, and first saw the light on a farm on January 11, 1856. His father, Antonio Costa, owned a large fruit ranch, and raised olives, chestnuts, lemons, figs, grapes and a variety of fruits; and while Angelo attended the local schools he helped his father on the home ranch, and all the while was learning much of great value to him later. Like a good, patriotic Italian youth, also, he served for thirty-two months in the Italian Army, and so did his duty by his native land before he swung away to adopt another country, with its other life and ways.
He became particularly familiar with fruit and grape-growing while working under his experienced father's guidance, and when he came out to California he was in a position to carry on the same kind of special agricultural pursuits here. He left Italy on a ship sailing direct for San Francisco, and arrived in the Bay City in 1879; and as a young man of twenty-three years of age, he located in Lodi, where he first secured work. He did not begin to get rich from the start, for his wages for the first month or two were only twelve dollars per month, and his board. His first work was in a vegetable garden, and later his pay was raised to twenty dollars per month.
Angelo worked hard and, what was quite as important, saved his money; and at the end of five long, busy years, he bought eight acres of grain land on West Lockeford Street, for which he paid $135 per acre in cash. He set out to improve the place at once, and soon built a two-story house, a barn and other outhouses; and there he has since made his home. He bought some 300 fruit trees, paying twenty-five cents for each of them, and then he planted some apples, pears and cherries; and later he set out alfalfa and wine grapes. He also installed a pumping plant on the property. He later bought land near Elliott on the Mokelumne River, in Section 17 of Elliott township, and from year to year he has bought more land, until he now owns some 455 acres.
His main ranch is improved not only with a fine irrigating system, but he has an orchard of 500 trees of the apple, pear, cherry variety, and fine pasture and grain land. He also has fifty acres of wine grape vineyard, the whole making a finely improved place which has become, as a first-class investment, a good producer. He also owns a ranch of forty acres near Woodbridge. Thirty-one years ago Mr. Costa cast his lot with the Americans by becoming an American citizen, and ever since, in developing his own material interests, he has also patriotically contributed toward the development of the country, thereby proving of service to others working side by side with and coming after him.
At Stockton Mr. Costa was married by the Rev. Father William O'Connor to Miss Tessie Peirano of Italy, and they had four children: Maria, Charles, Katherine and Angelo.
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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