San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1464
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 11/23/2009
BRUCE R. DU VALL
Classed among the successful business men of Ripon is Bruce R. Du Vall, the owner and proprietor of the Ripon Lumber Yard and mill, and in addition to furnishing lumber, his mill turns out the finished material for completed buildings. He was born and reared in the vicinity of Minto, N.D., and was fortunate in receiving a good education. His education began in the grammar schools of Minto, then three years in the high school of that place, and one year in high school in Chicago, then two years in Baltimore, Md. In 1908 he entered Cornell University, taking a course in mechanical engineering, where he remained for three years. At this time he was offered a good position with a manufacturing company at Roselake, Idaho, where he was employed for the next three years. In 1914 he came to California as assistant manager of the Ripon Lumber Company, then owned by Mr. Steele, who resides in Modesto.
The first marriage of Mr. Du Vall occurred at Ripon which united him with Miss Rhoda Strome, also born at Minto, N.D. She was a graduate of Castle School for young women at Tarrytown, N.Y., and in 1908 accompanied her paraents to California. She passed away at the family home in Manteca in January, 1919. Mr. Du Vall removed to Manteca in 1916 where he purchased the Home Lumber Company. The business grew from the time he acquired it and he erected a fine home and was well satisfied with the business outlook. During the influenza epidemic, Mr. Du Vall was taken ill and his life despaired of, and at this time his wife passed away with the dread disease. Recovering from his severe illness, Mr. Du Vall sold his business and home and returned to Ripon where he became employed with the Ripon Lumber Yard and in 1921 purchased a controlling interest in the company. In June, 1920, Mr. Du Vall was married to Mrs. Helen Gotshall, widow of Karl A. Gotshall, who passed away in 1919, survived by his widow and two sons, Robert and Paul Gotshall. Karl A. Gotshall was the proprietor of the lumber yards at Ripon and was also engaged in the stock business. Mr. Du Vall is a member of the Masons at Manteca and the Mt. Horeb Lodge of I.O.O.F., and locally is a member of the Ripon Merchants' Association. Besides his lumber and mill business at Ripon, Mr. Du Vall owns a thirty-acre vineyard north of Manteca. As a public-spirited citizen, he has interested himself in community progress and welfare and is doing his full share in the work of industrial development in his locality.
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
Copyright © 1996-2010; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.