San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 479
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 3/9/2010
ERNEST W. LEFFLER
Numbered among the prominent citizens and representative farmers of San Joaquin County is Ernest W. Leffler, who was born here when this was a frontier region, giving little promise of development and improvement which were so soon to transform it and which in the course of years would make it one of the best districts of the great commonwealth. He was born near Stockton on August 17, 1861, a son of George J. and Fredricka (Hecker) Leffler. The father, George J. Leffler was a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and came to America in 1849, settling first in New Orleans, La., and in 1851 came to California and settled ten miles northeast of Stockton and here homesteaded a quarter-section of land. There were seven children in the family; George J. Jr., John F., Henry G., Francis J., Bertha, Mrs. Henry Rohrbacher, a widow residing in Stockton; Ernest W. the subject of this sketch, and Ernestine, Mrs. John Guggolz of Lodi. The father passed away at the age of sixty-four, in 1874, the mother surviving him until she was seventy-five years old, dying in 1901.
Ernest W. Leffler received his education in the Live Oak district school and attended the Stockton Business College in the '80s. He remained on the home ranch with his mother until her death, he and his brother Francis J. leasing and running it. After the mother's death the estate was divided among the children, our subject receiving as his portion, one-quarter of the ranch; he then leased his sisters' portion of the farm for a few years, and then bought it, as well as his brothers' holdings. This home place, settled by his father in 1851, was the home of the first Tokay vineyard planted in the Lodi district. The father experimented with some fifteen varieties of grapes to prove which were the best adapted to the soil and climatic conditions, the Tokay taking precedence over the other varieties. His vineyard consisted of ten acres.
The marriage of Mr. Leffler occurred in Stockton on August 16, 1890, and united him with Miss Hattie M. Mason, a daughter of Major and Sarah (Elliott) Mason. Mrs. Leffler was born in Arizona and came to California with her parents when she was only a babe, her parents settling in the Waterloo section where they farmed a half section of land to grain. She was educated at the Delphi school and later attended the Stockton Business College, when it was in charge of Dr. F.R. Clarke. Mr. and Mrs. Leffler first lived on Norton Lane; then moved to the old home place on the Eight Mile Road, about ten miles northeast of Stockton. Mr. Leffler has added to his portion of the estate left him by his parents until he now has 186 acres, ninety-four acres of which is in vineyard; fifty acres are in bearing vines and forty-four in two year, three year and four year old vines, of different varieties. About thirteen years ago, Mr. Leffler bought a twenty-acre ranch on the south side of the Eight Mile Road on which he built a house and where he now resides; he and his youngest son bought an eighty-acre piece of land between his residence and the old home place. Mr. and Mrs. Leffler are the parents of three sons: Melvin F., entered the U.S. Army in July, 1917, in Battery C, 143rd Field Artillery. He was sent to the Presidio for a short time and then to Camp Kearney where his regiment was trained. In July, 1918, he went to France, and his regiment trained there at Camp De Songe, but never got into action. They had been training about six weeks and were just preparing to take their place in the front lines, when the armistice was signed. He returned to the United States in December 1918 and was discharged at the Presidio January, 1919. He was married at Sacramento on August 3, 1920, to Miss Bertha Kinchen, a native of Texas, a daughter of J.B. Kinchen, a stockman who had moved to Stockton. They are the parents of one child, Rita Lorraine. Wilbur C. served in the U.S. Navy; Dewey E. is the youngest. The three sons all reside on the old home place and run it. Their fruit is shipped through the Blackland Fruit Grower's Association, of which they are members. In politics, Mr. Leffler is a Republican and fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Lodi.
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 © 1996-2011; 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.