Sacramento County
Biographies
JOSEPH KUENY
JOSEPH KUENY.–Extensively interested in
viticulture, Joseph Kueny is also one of the owners of the Twin City Garage at
Twin City Corners, which has proved a profitable investment. A native of Shasta County, Cal., he was born at Pittville,
March 23, 1884, the son of Michael and Barbara Kueny. The father, who was a
native of Alsace-Lorraine, came to Missouri when a young man and in
1870 came to California and was for a short time at Sacramento. Later he went to
Pittville, Shasta County, where he engaged in
farming and in the butcher business. He lived to be seventy-three years old and
his widow now makes her home at Sacramento. They were the parents of
six children: Frank, Mary, Joseph, Emma, Richard and James.
Joseph Kueny attended the school at Pittville until he was twelve
years old, and then, in 1896, he left home to make his own way. He worked at Merrill, Ore., for two years and then for
a year at Fall River, that state. He then engaged in sheep raising in
Lake and Harney Counties until 1906, when he disposed of his bands and came to
Sacramento, where he engaged in the manufacture of cigars for the wholesale and
retail trade until 1915, when he sold out this business and went to ranching,
leasing 700 acres on Dry Creek, east of Galt, raising grain and stock. He also
operated the ranch of his father-in-law, C. M. West.
In 1920 Mr. Kueny embarked in the cultivation of grapes and with a partner
purchased a forty-acre ranch, about half of it being in vineyard. He sold his
interest in this place in 1921 and purchased twenty-four acres on the extension
of Cherokee Lane north of Dry Creek. This acreage
is in Mission and Zinfandel grapes and has two irrigation plants.
In 1922 Mr. Kueny built a garage at Twin City Corners and here he has as a
partner, C. D. Van Heusen, an expert mechanic, who operates the garage, where
general repair work is done and accessories are sold. Mr. Kueny continues to
devote his time to his vineyard interests. He and Mr. Van Heusen also own five
acres where the garage stands.
At Sacramento, Cal., January 22, 1910, Mr.
Kueny was married to Miss Winifred West, who was born near Galt on the West
ranch, her parents being C. M. and America (Baker) West, the father
being a pioneer of Sacramento County. He has passed away, but
Mrs. West still resides at Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. Kueny are the
parents of two daughters, Jean and Merle, and the family have
a large circle of friends in this vicinity.
Transcribed by Vicky Walker, 6/06/07.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 885.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.