Sacramento County
Biographies
JOHN MEISTER
JOHN MEISTER. The pioneer dairyman of the Capital City, is a
native of Switzerland, and was born April 17, 1920. He attended the common
schools and was brought up on a farm. In 1852 he emigrated
to the United States. After reaching this country, he found a friend who wanted
to come to the Pacific coast, and three of them came together. They were 140
days on the way and arrived in California in September, 1852. He went to the
mines for a short time and then came to Sacramento and began work in a dairy.
After two years he became a partner and afterwards bought his partner’s
interest. In 1852 his brother arrived here and became a partner with him and
they carried on the business together successfully for twenty years, and since
that time Mr. Meister has carried it on alone. His son, George A., takes an
active part in the management of the business. Mr. Meister’s first dairy was
located at Sutter’s Fort. He suffered large loss by the flood of 1862. He has
about 150 cows and twenty-five horses and is the oldest dairyman now engaged in
business in the Capital City. He owns large dairy and fruit farms east of the
city, including the well-known Smith’s Gardens. He began life without anything
and his success is owing to his own efforts. Mr. Meister has been twice married,
his first wife being Pauline Herr; she left four children: Annie, now married
and living in San Francisco; Pauline, Louise and George Albert. Mr. Meister
married Arelia Wirth, his present wife, in 1876.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 10/16/07.
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated
History of Sacramento County, California. Page 789.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.