The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
HIS DEMISE is
STOCK TONS LOSS,
L. U. Shippee Passes Away
After a Lingering
Illness.
WORRY SPEEDS THE END
All but a Small Portion of His
Immense Fortune Lost in
Late Years.
HIS WORK FOR THE CITY.
Was the Founder of Many Enter
prises and Laborer for the
Public Veal.
HIS WORK FOR THE CITY.

STOCKTON, Call, Aug. ST.. U. Ship
pee, one of Stockton's most prominent
citizens, died in his rooms in the Mckee
building in this city at 3 o'clock this after
noon, after a lingering illness. Some
weeks ago he suffered an attack OF in
f1ammatory rheumatism. The disease and
the worry consequent TO the heavy imam
cial losses he has sustained during the
past few years brought on nervous prostra-
ton. which hastened his death.
For many years Shippee was one OF the
wealthiest men in the San Joaquin Valley.
as well as one of the most influential. He
was born about ten miles from Providence,
Z. l., i'll place which is to this day known
as Shippee's Hollow. He started out early
in life to shift for himself, and when only
IL years of age he hired out to farmer to
do chores at $5 month. For seven
months, the term of his engagement, he
worked about the farm, and returned
home the proud possessor of $50. That
was his start in life, and with it he massed
great fortune. While still very young
he learned the machinist's trade, and was
was always distasteful to him, and so he
farmed one of the places belonging to his
father, and in this way saved up enough
money to come to California.
Early in 1856 he went to New York and
took passage on the old steamer Illinois
for Panama. From the isthmus he made
the voyage to San Francisco in the steamer
Sonora, and arrived there in March. He
at once started for the mines in Tuolumne
County, but he found the diggings pretty
wel1taken up and developed and resolved
to return to San francisco. On his way
back he was ind1ced by an acquaintance
to stop for time in this city, and was so
well pleased with its prospects that he re-
solved to stay here. At the time ne was
possessed of about $500, and with that
sum he engaged in business in Stockton.
His first venture was failure, and he
then secured employment as clerk with
Schofield g. Houche, which firm was SUBJ
sequently succeeded by Owen & Mckee.
Shippee's keeE business mind soon made
itself felt, and it was not long before the
business was under the name of Shippee &
Mckee.
For eleven years he was at the head of
this firm, and before he severed his con-
nection with it it was doing business of
$275, 900 year. 1t dealt in livestock and
lands, dealing largely in sheep, having ms
many as $1,000 in 1877 in Tulare, Merced
and Fresno counties. Shippee's landed
interest grew to great proportions and he
was one of the largest landhoiders in the
valley up to short time ago.
None of the great i'm porters or breeders
have ever done more to improve the
standard of livestock in this State than
did Shippee. For years he was one of the
foremost breeders of fine horses in Cal
ifornia. and as a director of the Sta tie
Agricultural Society and of the San
Joaquin Valley Agricultural Association
did much to aid racing in this State.
Shippee was one of the founders OF the
Stockton Savings and Loan Society, one
OF the strongest financial institutions in
the interior. He was also founder of the
Stockton Combined Harvester and Agri-
cultural Works, which are still known as
the Shippee works. He was likewise a
prime mover in the starting of the big
Stanislaus canal scheme. In 1887 Shippee
was elected Mayor of Stockton, and held
the Office for one term. He had previously
been member OF the City Council. Dur
ing the two years he was at the head of
the city government more permanent
street i'm provements were made than DUR
ing the entire previous history of the city.
For twenty years Shippee was director
OF the State Agricultural Society, and for
two years was its president. For an even
longer period he was hard-working MEM
ber and the president of the San Joaquin
County Agricultural Association. The
big pavilion on San Joaquin street. in this
city, was built largely through his efforts.
During the past few years Shippee has
slowly but surely lost his fortune. His
large horseracing enterprises drained his
purse, and piece by piece his many farms
were mortgaged to keep his schemes
helped to found. Ten years ago he was
reputeu to be worth more than ST. 900 900,
but to-day it is doubtful if his estate will
bring more than few thousand dollars.
At the time of his death he. still held a
number of valuable ranches, but they are
all mortgaged for what they are worth.
IN n LII M N Il III