FRANK KUNZ 

Frank Kunz, proprietor of the Union Nursery in Sacramento, came to this State in 1861, in time to witness the great flood of that year. After that had subsided he started in business on the south side of the cemetery. In 1862 he admitted a partner, Charles Schiminger, and they bought ten acres. His partner remained with him until he moved to his present location in 1877, since which time Mr. Kunz has been alone in his business. In 1864 or 1865, he gave up his original location to the city. He has long been prosperous in his business, doing considerable work in cut flowers and designs in the cemetery trade, and he also propagates and sells many plants, both flowering and non-flowering. He was born in the village of Zeiskam, near Landau, in Bavaria, Germany, October 22, 1833, his parents being Philip Peter and Francesca (Weigand) Kunz. His father was a farmer, having land of his own; and marketed the wheat he raised; he is still living, but Mrs. Kunz is deceased. In the family were two sons and two daughters, and there is here, in California, a brother, George H., and a sister, who is the wife of G.H. Hamann. Mr. Kunz sailed from the old country March 12, 1852, in a sail vessel, and within nineteen days landed in New York. Soon afterward he went to Jersey City and began work for the celebrated Peter Henderson, in his vegetable garden department; was there about two years, and then a little over a year in the same business for Mr. Bonekamper, then for a cousin, Frank Kunz, in Jersey City, and at Bergen Point, until he came to California, in 1856. He came by way of the Panama Railroad, sailing on the Ariel on the Atlantic side, and the John L. Stephens on the Pacific side, and was twenty-four days on the voyage. One night, when on the Atlantic side, the vessel had a narrow escape from being dashed to pieces on a rock. He landed in San Francisco August 14 or 15, the last time the Vigilantes turned out. He did odd jobs in that city – sold bouquets sent in by his cousin at Hayes Valley. Although he had his wife with him on his arrival in California, he had but $2.50 in money; and both worked out by the month to obtain a start, making $50 or $60 a month. Starting a garden in Hayes Valley, he sold vegetables. In 1859 he went to Fraser River, but remained only four days in Vancouver. There were too many there. Returning to Hayes Valley, where the big church now is, he resumed the raising of vegetables. Since then he has been for three years State gardener, under Governor Perkins. He is a member of the U.O.R.M.; of the K. of H.; has belonged to Sacramento Stamm, No. 124, U.O.R.M., going through all the chairs, and was also a member of Company G, Sarsfield Guards for nine years, and is also a charter member of the Pacific Sportsmen’s Club, organized April 1, 1881, winning the second gold medal, for which the club contested. He has not taken any active part in politics. He was married in New York July 20, 1856, to Miss Antonio Ochs, and they have five children now living, all in Sacramento, viz.: Charles F., Katie, Frank (who married Katie Clark), Emma and Hattie. They have lost four children, the three eldest in San Francisco and one in Sacramento.