Alameda County
Biographies
MRS.
CHRISTIANA (VAGTS) TRUE
The True Vineyard winery and stock
ranch, situated three and one-half miles south of Livermore, constitutes one of
the finest estates of its kind in Alameda county, and
the fact that it is managed by a woman furnishes another instance of the
ability of the sex in the management of important interests. Mrs. True, who,
since the death of her husband, has been the proprietor and manager of the
winery and farm, is of German birth and parentage, but has made her home in
California since early girlhood. In San Francisco, in 1878, she became the wife
of George True, who was a native of Germany, and came to the United States
about 1868, at once settling in California and taking up farm work on rented
land in Alameda county. By inheritance from his German
relatives, in 1876 he became the possessor of $14,000, and this capital was
invested in the purchase of five hundred and eighty acres, comprising a portion
of the present estate. On this tract, in 1880, he planted eighty acres of grape
vines, being a pioneer in the grape industry in this part of the state. Little
more than a year later he sold one hundred and eighty acres (including the
entire vineyard) for an excellent advance over the purchase price. It was not
his intention, however, to give up the grape business, and after selling the
one vineyard he set out another and larger one. In this way he acquired a
vineyard of one hundred and thirty acres, and since his death twenty acres in
addition have been planted in the same fruit.
The inception of the winery business
dates from 1889, when Mr. True built a small winery and his wife took charge of
the cellar. In 1893 he increased the dimensions of the winery, which was still
further enlarged in 1900 by Mrs. True, the last addition consisting of six
ten-thousand-gallon tanks. At the time of his death, November 16, 1896, when
fifty years of age, Mr. True left a well-improved ranch, a large vineyard and a
thoroughly equipped winery. Altogether his possessions aggregated four hundred
acres in land, but since his death Mrs. True has made additional purchases of
adjoining land, until the ranch now has seven hundred and fifty-four acres.
With the exception of the vineyard, the land is utilized for pasturage and the
raising of farm crops. A portion of the property lies within the limits of the
valley, while the balance is rolling land in the foothills. Mrs. True is a firm
believer in rotation of crops in order to maintain the productiveness of the
land, and in accordance with her views on this subject she changes the land
from grain to grass every few years. To utilize the pasturage thus afforded she
keeps a considerable number of cattle on the ranch. Many would find in the
management of the land sufficient to engage their attention, but she possesses
great energy, excellent health, and untiring perseverance, and besides
superintending the ranch also manages the winery and the vineyard, from which
she has an output of between fifty thousand and sixty thousand gallons of wine
annually.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 319. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.
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