San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1616-1617
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 3/24/2010
MANUEL A. LOPES
Among the enterprising merchants of the Manteca section of San Joaquin County, Manuel A. Lopes was born at the seaport town of Horta, Azores Islands, March 14, 1891, the eldest son of Manuel A. and Mary (Pementel) Lopes, both residents of Horta, where his father is superintendent of the Ben Suda Lumber Yards.
Manuel A. Lopes attended the public schools of his native city and acquired a good business training in the lumber yards and also as a clerk in a general store. At eighteen years of age, he came to America and twenty days after his decision he landed in San Francisco. His first work was on a ranch in Contra Costa County, where he remained for eighteen months and then went to Gilroy and worked on the Julius Martin place for six months. He next went to Santa Cruz County, where he worked on ranches and also as a driver for the Wells Fargo office at Santa Cruz. Later he worked in the grain fields in Merced County, and while there decided to try the lumber business, returning to Santa Cruz County with this intention, but his plans were interrupted by the World War. On May 26, 1917, at Stockton, he enlisted for service in Company C, One Hundred Fifteenth Ammunition Train, Fortieth Division. In August, 1917, he arrived in France, where he was in active service for a year; then returned to the United States and on July 2, 1919 was honorably discharged at the Presidio, San Francisco. He then went to the home of his sister, Mrs. A.B. Regello, at Danville, Cal., where he remained until November, 1919, when he came to Manteca and opened a small store at what is known as Calla Corners. Within a month his store building and complete stock was destroyed by fire. He immediately began the erection of a fine store building 28x46 feet and on completion put in a stock of general merchandise and he has done exceptionally well. Since 1920, his brother-in-law, A.B. Regello, has been a partner in the business operating as Lopes & Regello and they are members of the San Joaquin County Merchants Association.
The marriage of Mr. Lopes occurred on December 29, 1920 and united him with Miss Marie Silva, who has lived in California since 1914, and both are members of the Catholic Church. They have one daughter Norma. Mr. Lopes is a member of the I.D.E.S., of Manteca and also the American Legion.
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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