JOHN KAMMERER

Sacramento County

Biographies

JOHN KAMMERER

JOHN KAMMERER.--A man of splendid judgment and keen business ability is John Kammerer, successful rancher and viticulturist, a native of the southern part of Russia, born near Neidorf in the Odessa district, November 7, 1870. His grandfather Jacob Kammerer was born in Wurttemberg, Germany and located at Neidorf. The father of our subject was named Eberhardt and was a successful farmer. He was married three times, the last time to Margaret Long, who was John Kammerer's mother. The father passed away in 1884 at the age of seventy-eight, his widow surviving him until 1893. He had a very large family, there being children born of each marriage. The last union was blessed with twelve children, seven of whom grew up, John being the fifth from the oldest of these.

John Kammerer was reared on the farm and was early set to work, learning habits of industry and frugality, as was necessary in that country. When he was fourteen years of age, his father died; and after that he worked out on farms until he was twenty-one years of age, when he responded to the call to military service and served in the army from 1891 to 1895. During this time he was stationed at Bender and learned the shoemaker's trade and also studied and learned to read and speak the Russian language. He became an expert rifleman, and during his service made a record as a rifle shot for which he was given a first medal as a prize for proficiency.

Soon after his discharge from military service, Mr. Kammerer was married, on November 21, 1895, being united with Miss Eva Maria Lippert, who was also a native of Russia, born August 24, 1874, a daughter of Jacob and Christina (Schlipp) Lippert, the former cabinet-maker, who ran a furniture factory, where he continued in business until his death in 1918, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife preceded him many years before, dying at the age of forty-seven years. They had a family of fifteen children, of whom Mrs. Kammerer is the sixth in order of birth. She was educated in the public schools in the vicinity of her home. After his marriage, Mr. Kammerer followed his trade for some time. He had become deeply interested in the Land of the Stars and Stripes, however, on account of the good reports that came to him through friends, as well as through the newspapers; and wishing to get away from the oppression of Russian militarism, he decided to cast in his lot with the United States. So in April, 1898, he arrived in North Dakota with his wife and two children, having $300 in his possession after paying passage. Soon afterwards, he homesteaded 160 acres in McLean County, which he improved, fulfilling the requirements of the law, and obtained title to the property. Later he added forty acres of land to it; and this homestead he operated until 1907, when he sold to come to California.

That year he had made a trip to the Pacific Coast to look over the country, and liked it so well that he was satisfied to move. He brought with him $9,000 when he located in Sacramento County, in 1907; and here he purchased 168 acres two miles east of Franklin, which he improved. He installed three different pumping-plants, set out a fifty-four-acre vineyard, and also engaged in dairying and raising alfalfa, success crowning his efforts. In 1918 he purchased the old William Bradford ranch near Bruceville, whither he moved his family and where he now lives; while his old ranch is now operated by his son David. On the Bradford ranch he has 110 acres of vineyard in full bearing, and all in shipping grapes, making a very valuable property, to the operating of which he gives all of his attention, the place being irrigated by five pumping-plants. He is a member of the Elk Grove Vineyard Association and the Florin Fruit Growers' Association, and a stockholder of the King Tire & Rubber Company in Oakland, and the Bradford Telephone Line, of which he is a trustee.

Mr. and Mrs. Kammerer have had eleven children: Mrs. Eva Waits, of Franklin; Mrs. Catherine Weigum, of Victor; John, who is farming a part of Mr. Kammerer's ranch; David, who is running the old home place; Benjamin, assisting his father; Gotlieb, attending high school; Rheinhold, deceased in infancy; Theodore and Tobias, twins; and Edwin Gustaf and Fredrick, twins, the latter deceased.

On November 21, 1920, Mr. and Mrs. Kammerer celebrated their silver wedding at their residence, when over 100 of their friends gathered to make the evening pleasant. In 1922 Mr. Kammerer and his wife made a trip to the Dakotas, and also throughout the East, visiting the larger cities and various points of interest.

Mr. and Mrs. Kammerer were one of the three families that founded and built the Baptist Church at Franklin, the other families being those of Fred and Phillip Kammerer; and it is now a prosperous and large congregation. Mr. John Kammerer was a trustee of the church for many years, and the Sunday school superintendent as well.

As soon as Mr. Kammerer had been in this country the required time, he became a citizen of the United States. He is very loyal to his adopted country, and proud and happy in the thought that he had the good fortune to cast in his lot with the land of sunshine and flowers. He and his estimable wife and helpmate are enterprising and progressive, and give of their time and means, as far as they are able, to worthy objects that have for their aim the building up of the community and the enhancing of the comfort and happiness of its people.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 621-622. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.