San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1220-1223
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 3/24/2010
ANTONE LOUIS LOPES
An enterprising, successful dairyman whose progress has set the pace for other agriculturists in the same field, is Antone Louis Lopes, the proprietor of a first-class dairy herd of some 200 head of high-grade Holstein cattle, on a dairy farm with new modern and model barns situated about six miles southwest of Stockton, near Brandt's Ferry Bridge, on Upper Roberts Island. He has a senior and junior registered pure-bred sire from the Holstein herd of Morris & Son, at Woodland, and that speaks for itself.
Like many others who have made a success of dairying in California, Antone L. Lopes hails from the Azores, having been born on the Island of St. George, on December 15, 1881, the son of Daniel and Mary C. (Azevedo) Lopes, also natives of the Azores. The parents came out to America fourteen years ago, and now they are living in comfortable retirement at the home of our subject, where their daughter, Amelia, also resides, ardent admirers of California and her free and helpful institutions. Manuel Lopes, a brother, and Mrs. Adelaide Cotraia, of Benicia, a sister of Antone, are successful dairy ranchers of Solano County. A brother, Joseph, and a sister, Mrs. Serafina Machado, are extensive and successful dairy ranchers at Gridley, and partners of our subject. Another sister, the eldest, is Mrs. Mary Silva of San Jose.
After having passed the age of twenty-one, on July 1, 1903, Antone Lopes left home to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving in New Bedford, Mass., he immediately crossed the American continent to California and at Vallejo went to work on a dairy ranch for his brother, Manuel Lopes, and his uncle, Tony Dos Rios, who were partners, to earn money to pay $400 for three acres adjoining his father's farm. This he paid out of his wages in eighteen months and this property he still owns. With commendable courage he continued working steadily at thirty dollars per month, sixteen hours a day (two shifts) and no holidays until he decided to go into business on his own account.
He chose as a partner his brother, Manuel Lopes, of Benicia, and together they established a dairy, in 1906; but four years later, he sold his interest to his uncle, Tony Dos Rios, and removed to Butte County, and for eleven years he carried on dairying near Gridley, where he still has interests. At Gridley, he took up the study of English and went to night school, and the good fruits of this bit of enterprise, denoting in itself a promising ambition, were shown when he applied for United States citizenship and mastered the necessary examination.
December, 1921, Mr. Lopes came down to this county, having secured the lease on his present property known as the Laurence & Stephens rancho, and having much to offer, he was given a five-year lease, with very favorable terms. This farm is beautifully located, and consists of 240 acres, well irrigated, an ample supply of water being lifted from the San Joaquin River to canals, from which it is distributed by gravity, the flow covering the alfalfa fields so that the green feed is to be had the entire year around.
Since establishing himself in business here, Mr. Lopes, on account of his record for honesty and integrity of purpose was not only offered the lease of his old ranch he left at Gridley, but they begged him to take it again, so with his brother Joseph as a partner, they moved a dairy herd they had on one of the Stanford ranches at Vina to the Gridley ranch and now they are conducting a first class sanitary dairy there, having 300 head of dairy cattle. His dairy herds on both ranches are high grade Holsteins, as he has always had pure-bred sires at the head of his herd and is considered an authority on dairy cattle. Since April, 1922, Mr. Lopes has constructed his model farms, thoroughly scientific and sanitary in every respect, and there he carries on such a lively enterprise that he employs regularly at least six men. His products are shipped direct to the San Francisco market, where they find a ready sale at good prices, through the San Francisco Milk Producers, of which he is a member. So arranged is the outfitting of this model dairy that it is truly one of the show-places of 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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