San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1323
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/23/2010
JOHN C. KELLEY
Prominent in community affairs and well known because of his active connection with agricultural interests, John C. Kelley has in his business career manifested the traits of character which lead to success. He is a man of enterprise and energy, strictly fair and just in his dealings with his fellowmen, and has won for himself a place among the substantial citizens of San Joaquin County. As superintendent of the Fred H. Rindge ranch he has shown much executive ability in the management of this vast tract of land. He was born near Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tenn., December 3, 1890, his parents, Wm. J. and Hannah M. (Ketner) Kelley, being farmers in that state.
His education was obtained in public schools and he early began assisting on the farm and when twelve years old was following a plow and doing general farm work during the summers, and after that it was only winter school for him.
Twelve years ago Mr. Kelley left his native state and came west, settling in the Imperial Valley in the fall of 1910, having only a few dollars in his pocket; he secured work on the George A. Long ranch, where he did general farm work, teaming, etc., until September, 1916, when he located in Stockton. Frederick H. Rindge was just starting his farming operations on the Rindge tract in the Delta district of the county and Mr. Kelley secured a position driving a caterpillar tractor. Within one month he was promoted to the position of superintendent of the farming operations, a position he has filled to the entire satisfaction of Mr. Rindge. Last season 8,000 acres were cultivated to barley, 1,000 acres to potatoes and 1,000 acres to corn. Deep plowing has been a factor in the development of this extensive ranch, also the use of heavier, more modern machinery; special plows were built for plowing ten to fourteen inches deep; formerly five and six inches was the depth for plowing. The Rindge ranch was the first to use fertilizer on an extensive scale, which has brought most satisfactory results. Potatoes, by use of fertilizer, yield from thirty to seventy-five sacks to the acre more than formerly; last year the yield of barley on 8,000 acres of the Rindge tract was thirty sacks to the acre. Mr. Kelley has made some suggestions for minor changes in the construction of the Holt tractor, which have been followed by the Holt Manufacturing Company with the result that they have done more satisfactory work in the Delta section; among them the use of five truck wheels instead of four on each side, which gives more general satisfaction. Mr. Kelley has had every opportunity to know the possibilities of the Delta section of San Joaquin County and has been in a position to demonstrate that the heavy soil of this section, if properly cultivated and fertilized, will produce heavier crops than any soil he is familiar with; his words of praise for the productivity of the Delta soil is not without foundation, for he knows what he can do with it under proper conditions. He is one of the most successful agriculturists in the county, and as a public-spirited citizen, he has always deserved and retained the confidence of his fellowmen.
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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