JOHN HERINGA

Sacramento County

Biographies

JOHN HERINGA

John Heringa was born March 16, 1819, in the province of Groningen, Holland, his parents being Peter and Geertje. The later died when John was but seven years of age, and the former died two years later, in 1829. In the family which survived them were two children, one son and one daughter. They both lived with their grandmother, but when John was twelve years of age he was bound out to farm work for six months in the adjoining county of Birum, at the expiration of which time he went to live with an uncle in Appingedam, and kept a dry-goods store and manufactured woolen goods. He remained with him nine years, and learned his trade (weaving), at which he worked part of time, and part of the time at farming. The following nine years he served in the army, then in 1855 he was engaged on the police force in the town of Oppenhuezen. While there he met Geertje Joustra, a native of Oppenhuezen, in Friesland, born January 29, 1835, whom he married in 1857. During the time they lived there they saved $1,100. July 19, 1868, they started for America, sailing from Liverpool and landing in Boston; thence to New York, where they arrived after a voyage of fourteen days. After stopping in New York three days, they took the steamer for Panama, thence to San Francisco, landing September 14, 1868. The next day they came to Sacramento, where a friend and countryman of theirs sold them a small ranch of thirty acres for $600. They also invested $300 in cows and started in the dairy business. Mrs. Heringa, having been reared on a dairy, understood the business thoroughly. They lived there three years, then sold the place for $1,000 and bought their present place, which consists of 160 acres, and is devoted to general farming. They continued the dairy business there and do so still, always having some good milch cows on the ranch. They have made a success of their business, having been industrious and economical. They own a ranch of 160 acres in Lee Township, which is run by their son. The have had six children, viz.: Peter, born September 27, 1859; Joseph, October 6, 1861; John June 12, 1863; Jennie, March 9, 1866, and Charles, December 4, 1877.

Transcribed by Karen Pratt.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 523. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.

Sacramento County Biographies