San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1530-1531
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 1/19/2010
JOHN B. GOTELLI
A farmer and vineyardist residing five miles north of Stockton on Cherokee Lane is John B. Gotelli, who is a native son of the Golden State and has made his permanent home in San Joaquin County for the past eighteen years. He was born in San Francisco, March 10, 1889, a son of Antonio and Maria (Camicha) Gotelli, both natives of Italy, born near Parma. Antonio Gotelli came to California in 1883, and in San Francisco in 1888, he married Miss Maria Camicha; later he became an extensive truck gardener in the Mission district of San Francisco, where he bought and rented tracts of land for that purpose. He had several partners in the business and they regularly employed thirty men in the cultivation, gathering and marketing of vegetables. In the wholesaling and retailing of produce they used many teams and wagons. Selling out his holdings in San Francisco, in 1904 the family came to Stockton, and Antonio Gotelli took the contract of planting 150 acres of the old Charles M. Weber Grant to vineyard, the compensation for his labor to be seventy-five acres of this 150-acre tract of land; this ranch is under the Stockton-Mokelumne irrigation ditch. After cultivating the vineyard for five years, he obtained title as per agreement to seventy-five acres from Miss Julia H. Weber. He continued to run the place until 1914, when he rented it to his son, John B., and retired to his home at 929 North Ophir street, Stockton, where he passed away October 22, 1920, aged 62 years. He was a man who had done much to build up the horticultural interests in California. When he came to America, he was in debt $125.00. He worked in a vegetable garden for 33 months at $25.00 a month, and during all this time did not leave the ranch to go to town. He saved his money and paid his honest debts, and continuing by industry and frugality he was able at the end of five years to purchase an interest in vegetable gardens. Afterwards increasing his interest, he demonstrated his ability as a business man and in time became the manager, after which the business grew rapidly so that the partners received as dividends 300 per cent more than formerly. He was a man of much native ability and diplomacy and kept the partners together for nine years. While he was manager, the business ran along smoothly, but after he sold out dissensions arose and in less than a year all of the rest of the partners disposed of their business.
In Italy while a young man Mr. Gotelli served 33 months in an Alpine regiment in the Italian army, being stationed on the border, and during all this time he was never disciplined. His widow survives him at the age of fifty-five. There are eight children in the family, of whom John B., our subject, is the eldest; Mary is Mrs. Nave, and she resides in San Francisco; A. Nathaniel; Joseph, Frederick and Louis reside in Stockton; Jennie is Mrs. Virgil Azzaro, traveling in Europe, and Hazel lives at home. John B. Gotelli received his education in the San Francisco grammar schools and accompanied his parents to Stockton, San Joaquin County, January 7, 1905. On his arrival here he assisted his father in his vineyard enterprise, continuing with him until 1914. He leased the vineyard, and since then he has engaged in viticulture. On the death of his father, John B. became the administrator and now manages the estate. He is also interested in other properties, including both ranch and city real estate.
On January 3, 1915, in Stockton, Mr. Gotelli was married to Miss Louise S. Figone, a native of Stockton, and a daughter of John and Louise (Marengo) Figone, both parents natives of Genoa, Italy. Her father was an early settler in San Joaquin County and farmed for a number of years on the islands; he now lives in Stockton and is a glassblower for the Stockton Glass Factory. There are four children in the Figone family: Jennie, Mrs. Rossi, resides in Stockton; Theresa, Mrs. A. Nathaniel Gotelli; Louise S., Mrs. John B. Gotelli; Frank resides at Stockton. In 1915 Mr. Gotelli replaced the old house his father had placed on the ranch many years ago with a modern residence on their beautiful seventy-five acre vineyard of Tokay, Black Prince and Mission grapes. He is a Republican in politics and is a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B.P.O.E., and also a member of Stockton Parlor No. 7, N.S.G.W., while Mrs. Gotelli is a member of Joaquin Parlor No. 5, N.D.G.W. His brother, Nathaniel, married Miss Theresa Figone, a sister of Mrs. Gotelli. Mr. and Mrs. Gotelli have always been upright and honorable and enjoy the respect and confidence of their many friends in San Joaquin County.
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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