CHRISTIAN KLENK

Sacramento County

Biographies

CHRISTIAN KLENK

CHRISTIAN KLENK, one of the old-time Californians now resident in Sacramento, was born in Wurtemborg, Germany, on the 6th day of January, 1823, his parents being Jacob and Dora (Wieland) Klenk, the father a tailor by trade. The subject of this sketch spent his early boyhood days at his native place, and was there educated from the age of six to fourteen years. He was very useful about horses, and after leaving school was engaged in that capacity by Herr von Schlimbach, a very prominent man, who had been with Napoleon on his Russian campaign, and belonged to the court of King William of Wurtemberg. Mr. Klenk held that position about one year, then went with the governor of the district in a similar capacity. He was with him about a year, and was then engaged by Prince Hohenlohe, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He then served two years in the army, and after the expiration of his term went back to his old vocation, this time with a nobleman, with whom he remained three years. He then came to America, on a sailing vessel from Amsterdam to New York. That was in 1849. He proceeded to Philadelphia by water, and remained there some time. In 1850 a party of sixteen (Mr. Klenk among them) organized on Vine street to go to California. They proceeded by railroad to Pittsburg, and thence by steamer to St. Louis. After a week there, purchasing provisions, wagons, etc., they went to St. Joseph, thence by Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie to Salt Lake, where they traded off their cattle and wagons and got horses to cross the desert. This was a terrible task, and they came near dying on the desert. As it was, half the party lost their lives. They proceeded by the Carson route to Hangtown, and Mr. Klenk arrived there nearly starved, very sick, and unable to walk or talk. As soon as he was able he went to work splitting wood, which almost killed him. Two weeks later he came to Sacramento, and remained here two or three months. Though still sick and feeble, he went to work at the Empire House. From here he went to Coloma, and mined there a year and a half. He then came back to Sacramento, but finding that there was nothing for him to do here he went to Redding. He was also disappointed there, and again returned to Sacramento, and from here, soon afterward, went to Wisconsin Hill, thence to Iowa Hill, where he put up a log cabin, and mined two years. He then went back to Philadelphia by water, but in 1854 returned to California over the plains, accompanied by his wife. This time he took a different route, going to Council Bluffs and joining a party there. Two days later they were attacked by Indians, with whom they had a big fight. Mr. Klenk took an active part in the melee, and, although he lost some cows at first, got them back all right. The next night he kept watch all night, and next morning they started on their way. They came to a crossing where the Indians showed fight again. The wagons were parked in double lines, and a battle ensued. The Indians lost one of their number killed, and concluded to draw off. This was the last time they gave any trouble. They proceeded by Sublette’s cut-off and down the Humboldt, and on to Sacramento, and the journey, except the Indian fighting, was a very pleasant one. He afterward went to Coloma and mined a year on the Middle Fork, and later bought a ranch on the river and followed cattle-raising there a number of years. He had a dairy also, and got as high as $1.25 per pound for butter. Before the flood he had 240 head of cattle, and after had but thirty-five left. He remained on the ranch some time after the flood, then sold out to Cox & Clarke. He purchased his present property in Sacramento in 1881. Mr. Klenk has been twice married, the first time in Philadelphia, to Miss Jennie Schmidt, a native of Waldenburg, Germany, who died in Sacramento. By this marriage there were four children, of whom two - Louisa and Charles - died crossing the plains. Those living are: Alexander and Reinhold. Mr. Klenk’s present wife was formerly Mrs. Uhl, and her maiden name was Strauss. Mr. Klenk has passed through all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and has lived to see California advance from a mere collection of mining camps to her present proud position among the States.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 750-751. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.