By Rachael Fleming
Photos Courtesy of the Bank of Stockton
Information obtained at the San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum
For those familiar with the city of Lodi, the name ‘Kettleman’ may sound very familiar. It is, after all, one of the main streets in Lodi, connecting Interstate 5 to Highway 99. What many individuals may not know is that this street is named after David Henry Kettleman.
Kettleman was born in Germany on February 23, 1826. At the age of 12, he immigrated to America, landing in New York and eventually making his way to California after the discovery of gold. At that time, there were only two ways to make the trip from the East Coast to the Wild West. One could travel across land through the wagon trails, or by sea, traveling all the way around South America. Kettleman chose the latter option making the tedious 149-day trip around Cape Horn, landing in San Francisco on August 3, 1849.
From San Francisco, Kettleman made his way to the gold mines of Mokelumne Hill, where he spent a year prospecting. While his success, or lack thereof, is not well documented, Kettleman abandoned the mines and moved to San Andreas opening a store, which sold equipment and sought after supplies. After a year in San Andreas, the store was relocated to the new gold mine camp “Winters Bar” on the Mokelumne River. At this location Kettleman also created a partnership with S.V. and J.P. Tredway.
With the new partnership, they were able to mine and open a new shop location back in San Andreas and at Poverty Bar and Diamond Bar. To supply their shops, they brought supplies from Stockton, transporting them by bull teams. With the addition of the bulls, the enterprise expanded their operation into the cattle business. This venture also proved to be very successful and greatly contributed to the partners ranking among the wealthiest cattle owners in California.
In addition to these ventures the partners also purchased about 7,400 acres of land west of Lodi and in Fresno County. Kettleman and his wife Margaret would travel between these locations, as well as the property in Calaveras County, until the winter of 1871. They settled in a home between Lodi and Stockton located at the intersection of Cherokee and Kettleman Lanes. It was here that they brought their children, to be enjoyed by many generations of the Kettleman family until the home was torn down in 1968.
After ending the partnership, assets were divided between the partners but despite the division, Kettleman remained active in mining and developed his interests in farming and irrigation. With irrigation in mind, Kettleman is credited as a founding member of the Mokelumne Ditch and Irrigation Company, serving as treasurer in 1875. Kettleman also believed in education and regularly gave back to the community.
Kettleman died in February 1911, but his legacy is not to be forgotten. In addition to Kettleman Lane, Kettleman City in Kings County, Kettleman Hill and Kettleman Station, are all named to honor David Henry Kettleman.
I lived on the David Kettleman Jr. ranch just north northwest of Stockton On Rio Blanco tract wher telephone cut [a waterway] ended. His daughter Verna Bancroft was a family friend of ours and would come a visit her family home on occasion. What happened to her father the loss of that ranch ? The home I lived in as a little boy is long gone but would like to see any old pictures of house and or ranch