HENRY FREDERICK WILLIAM DETERDING 

Henry Frederick William Deterding, deceased, was born in Hanover, Germany, June 11, 1818. At the age fourteen years he was apprenticed to the wagon-maker’s trade, at which he served three years; then, according to the custom of his native country, he was sent out to spend five years in traveling and to learn the ways of the people and earn his own living, which was to serve as a part of his education. At the expiration of this time he returned to Hanover and opened a carriage and wagon shop, where he prosecuted the business until 1845, when he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York. Proceeding on to St. Louis, he established himself there in his trade until 1851. In March of this year he started with two yokes of cattle and came overland to California, arriving in Sacramento September 24, 1851. The train consisted of five wagons, and they did not separate until they arrived at Shingle Springs, El Dorado County. On arriving in Sacramento Mr. Deterding opened a shop on the corner of Ninth and J Streets, where he carried on his trade with prosperity until April 1853. Selling out, he removed to Diamond Spring, El Dorado County, where he opened a general store, which was managed by his wife while he turned his attention to mining. This he continued until some time in October following, when he sold out his store and took a contract for hauling logs to a saw mill at Mud Springs, now the city of El Dorado. In the spring of 1854 he moved to Logtown, and again engaged in merchandising. The next fall he moved his stock to Grizzly Flat, same county, and carried on the business there until May 1857. He then bought 520 acres of land in Sacramento County, which still remains the same and belongs to two of his daughters. In the fall of 1857 he built a quartz-mill and dam about sixteen miles from Carson, Nevada, and did quartz-crushing there two years, his family meanwhile remaining on the farm here. The quartz business, however, proved to be an unsuccessful venture, as he lost the $30,000 which he had put into it. After that he returned to the farm. On this place was a hotel which he conducted, it being on the main thoroughfare for all the teaming and travel between Sacramento and Virginia City and that section of country. In 1879 business was entirely suspended and the hotel did not pay so well; but it was still kept open. The house is still standing. Mr. Deterding was successful in almost all his business pursuits, being a good manager and financier. In his political sympathies he was a Democrat. He died August 26, 1879, and his wife June 18, 1885. Their marriage occurred in the old country, in 1845; she was a native of Germany and her maiden name was Wilhelmina Rosenberg. They brought up ten children, six daughters and four sons, as follows: Mary who died while crossing the plains; Louis, who died at the age of seventeen years, June 18, 1867; Christina, who died December 14, 1885, at the age of thirty-three years; Julia, who died October 25, 1888, also at the age of thirty-three years; Charles William, Matilda, Isabella, Wilhelmina, William, who died in 1869, aged five years; and Frederick, who died June 25, 1875, aged only one month. Charles William Deterding was born at Grizzly Flat, El Dorado County, May 19, 1857, and made his home with his parents until after the death of his father. His present place of 290 acres was purchased November 14, 1883, since which time he has been employed there. Previously for six years he also worked the home place. He has had from 800 to 1,800 acres in cultivation at one time. His orchard of 140 acres comprises peaches, apricots, pears, plums, French prunes, figs, walnuts, almonds, oranges, lemons and limes, all of which are bearing. The vineyard of twenty-five acres has Tokays, Muscats and a variety of wine grapes. Fine buildings adorn the premises. October 1, 1884, Mr. Deterding married Miss Mary, daughter of John Shields, whose sketch appears elsewhere, and they have had two children: Charles, born December 10, 1885; and Mary, born February 27, 1886.