WILLIAM J. SCHULZE

 

William J. Schulze, son of Frederick Schulze, was born near Berlin, Germany, February 4, 1835, and was nine years of age when his parents emigrated with their children to America, landing at New York. They first located at Watertown, New York, and there William learned the blacksmith’s trade and followed it about twenty years. His father is still a resident of that State; his mother died when he was ten years old. He came to California in 1857, by way of New Orleans to San Francisco. He followed his trade five months in the latter city, visited Stockton and Sacramento, and then went to the mines at Gold Hill, etc., traveling around until his money gave out. Then he started back to his shop at the Eleven-Mile House, on the Jackson road, and pursued his vocation there a year; then he established a shop on the Andy Kelley ranch, on the grant line, near Sheldon. After running that a year he went to Richland and built a shop, but the flood destroyed it and drove out the residents, and he returned and bought back his old shop on the grant line and conducted it five years longer. Sheldon was quite a town then, but after the railroad was built to Elk Grove the business of Sheldon was moved there. In 1864, owing to ill-health, he quit the shop, according to the advice of physicians, and purchased his present ranch, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 27, and the southeast quarter of section 32 of township – north, of range – east, which is five miles from Elk Grove and sixteen from Sacramento. At the time of the purchase this land was a desert-like plain, with the exception of a small amount of timber. All the improvements, therefore, that are seen upon it today are the work of Mr. Schulze’s hands, and it is one of the best farms in Sacramento County. Mr. Schulze is one of the county’s best citizens. He was married April 10, 1863, to Miss Louisa Milens, whose people were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Schulze have nine children, viz.: W.M., born January 13, 1864; Frank A., July 12, 1865; Louisa S., November 10, 1866; John L., March 10, 1868; Edmond G., December 7, 1870; Clara E., August 12, 1872; Minnie B., December 28, 1873; Herman P., December 5, 1879; Lena S., November 4, 1883. Herman P. died July 20, 1885, aged five years, seven months and five days.