Sacramento County
Biographies
LOUIS AUGUSTINE
LOUIS AUGUSTINE.--A man who, by
well-directed effort and close application, has made a success of dairying is
Louis Augustine, a native of Austria, born at Cles, in the Tyrol, in 1865. His father,
Jacques Augustine, was a farmer; and from the time he was a boy Louis learned
agriculture as followed in his native Tyrol, at the same time receiving a good
education by attendance at the local schools. In 1886 he came to Sacramento County, Cal., being employed the first
year on a dairy farm on the river, in Yolo County; and he engaged in farming
and orcharding on the American River near Mills Station. In 1892
he made a trip back to his old home for a visit. After his return he continued
farming on the American River until 1897, when he located on the Cosumnes River, leasing the Jim Elder
ranch, and there raised corn and alfalfa for a period of three years. Then, in
partnership with his brother John Augustine and George Bryte, he began
dairying, leasing both the Elder and the Bryte ranches, comprising 1,500 acres.
Establishing their headquarters on the Bryte ranch, they continued in business
until 1906, when their lease expired and they dissolved partnership. Louis
Augustine then continued with George Bryte and leased the Bryte ranch in Yolo County, operating there until
1911, when they sold. Mr. Augustine then made his second trip back home,
spending six months on an enjoyable visit to the scenes of his childhood. In
1912, with the two Bryte brothers, he leased the Bryte ranch on the Cosumnes River, their acreage then
amounting to 3,000 acres. Here they built suitable buildings, and maintained
one of the largest, most sanitary and best-improved dairy ranches in the
county, where they have milked about 300 cows, pure-bred and high-grade Holsteins, a fine dairy herd. About
500 acres are in alfalfa irrigated from an electric pumping-plant with a
capacity of 10,000 gallons a minute. For many years they manufactured cheese,
but four years ago they discontinued its manufacture and now dispose of the
milk, their creamery being equipped with a six-ton ice machine, thus keeping
the milk in perfect condition. There is a large lake on the ranch; and all in
all it is one of the finest dairy ranches in the county. Since 1921, Mr.
Augustine has turned the management of the ranch over to his son; and in that
year he again made a six months’ trip back to the Tyrol. On his return he was more
pleased than ever to get back to his adopted country, and glad he had been so
fortunate as to cast in his lot with the land of the Stars and Stripes. Mr.
Augustine also owns a comfortable residence on Stockton Boulevard, in Sacramento.
Mr.
Augustine was first married in Tyrol, in 1892, to Miss Edvigi Rossi, who passed
away in 1900, leaving two children, Emma and David. His second marriage also
occurred in Tyrol, in 1911, when he was united with Miss Mary Visintainer, whose father,
Michael Visintainer, was a lumberman. Mr. Augustine has been a close student of
the dairy industry, being one of the best-posted and most successful farmers
engaged in that branch of agriculture in Sacramento County. He is a very loyal
American, and politically is a strong Republican.
Transcribed by Vicky Walker,
8/14/07.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical
Sketches, Page 974. Historic Record
Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.