Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM BOTZBACH
WILLIAM BOTZBACH.--Well-known to the residents of Galt and
vicinity. William Botzbach has served as the efficient postmaster here since
1916, and is identified with the progressive movements of the community. He was born at Lodi, Cal., March 7, 1888, the
son of Henning and Helene (Neun) Botzbach,
the former a native of Schleswig-Holstein, while Mrs. Botzbach
was born at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, Germany.
Henning Botzbach came to California in 1882
and settled at Lodi, where he was a baker and confectioner; later he removed with
his family to Galt, where he continued in this line of business until his
death. On board the steamship coming to
America Henning Botzbach met his future wife, Helene Neun, who was a fellow-passenger on the same ship bound to
America. He went on to California, which
was the place of his destination, while his fiancée stopped in New York City,
where she secured employment for one and one-half years before coming on to
California. They were married at the M. E.
Church at Lodi, Cal., April 12, 1884. Henning
Botzbach died June 8, 1900. Mrs. Botzbach
built the modern Botzbach two-story frame hotel
building in Galt in 1906. It has
twenty-one guest chambers and Mrs. Botzbach is still
its successful and genial proprietress.
Of their five children four are now living, a daughter having passed
away.
William Botzbach received his education in the Galt grammar school
and spent a short time in the Stockton high school. When he was nineteen he started out to make
his own way, and entering the newspaper business conducted a weekly paper at
Galt called the “Weekly Witness”; later the name was changed to the “Galt
Herald” and Mr. Botzbach conducted it until 1921,
when he sold it to the present proprietor, F.W. Wing. Mr. Botzbach also
conducted the “Elk Grove Citizen” for a time, but was compelled to give it up
on account of his health.
On July
16, 1916, Mr. Botzbach received the appointment as
postmaster of Galt under President Wilson, and he was reappointed by President
Harding on October 21, 1921, a just recognition of the faithful and efficient
service he has given. Besides his own
home, Mr. Botzbach owns other real estate in Galt;
and as secretary and ex-secretary of the Chamber of Commerce there, he is a
leader in all that concerns the progress of the city. He is a member of Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P.
O. E., past grand of the Knights of Pythias of Galt,
past president of Galt Parlor, N. S. G. W., and belongs to the Patrons of
husbandry.
Transcribed by Suzanne Wood.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page
736-741. Historic Record Company, Los
Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Suzanne Wood.