Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HENRY
BOOKSIN
At the time of the revocation of
the edict of Nantes a French-Huguenot family bearing the name of Booksin fled from France and sought refuge from religious
persecution in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, where
subsequent generations resided. John Booksin, a
farmer of that region, fought in the battle of Waterloo as a member of the
famous Blucher corps. On his return home he resumed farm pursuits and
established domestic ties by his marriage to Catherine Rodhauser,
a native of the same vicinity. They became the parents of two sons and two
daughters, of whom the latter are deceased; John resides on the old homestead
and Henry alone came to America. The last named was born near Marbourg, Hesse-Cassel, October
21, 1827, and received the thorough common-school education for which Germany
is noted. At the age of sixteen he began an apprenticeship to the wagon maker’s
trade, serving four years.
At Bremen, in 1849, Henry Booksin took passage on the sailing vessel Emma and after a
voyage of sixty-five days landed in New York City, after which he worked on the
Mohawk river for two years and nine months. Meanwhile
he determined to seek a home in the far west. During 1851 he set sail on the
Eldorado for Chagres, where he crossed the Isthmus on foot and at Panama
secured transportation on the Golden Gate to San Francisco. For six months
after arriving in California he worked in the Shasta mines. Going to Colusa in
the spring of 1852 he started a wagon shop and gradually built up a thriving
trade. From that occupation he turned his attention to stock-raising and
general farming. During 1856 he secured three hundred and twenty acres of
government land on the Sacramento river, where he erected farm buildings, made
necessary improvements and engaged in raising grain and hay, also cattle, sheep
and hogs.
In all of his labors up to this time
Mr. Booksin had lacked the co-operation of a wife,
and being now in a position to establish a home, his mind turned back to a
friend in the old country. In 1857 he returned via Panama and New York City to
Havre, thence to Germany, where, in February of 1858, he married Miss Elizabeth
Krafts, a native of Hess-Cassel. With his wife he
returned to California via England, New York City and Panama. As the years went
by more than ordinary success rewarded his efforts as an agriculturist. From
time to time he added to his possessions until they aggregated more than six
thousand acres in one body, all level land, and well adapted to the raising of
grain. In no particular did he accomplish more than through his interest in
labor-saving machinery. Modern machinery was utilized in the cultivation of his
vast tracts. For many years he ran the first header ever made in America. At a
cost of more than $1,700 he bought a threshing machine in 1859 and by wise
judgment in its use found the investment a profitable one. In 1874 he sold the
entire tract and the following year came to San Jose, where in 1891 he erected
a substantial and commodious residence at No. 595 South Second street, where he now resides.
Having gained a competency through
his indomitable energy and industry, it might be expected that his removal to
San Jose would witness the retirement of Mr. Booksin
from active labors; but he is of too energetic a temperament to enjoy
continuous leisure, and his change of residence merely indicated a change in
the scene of his activities. In 1880 he purchased orchard land at the Willows,
and set out the entire tract in fruits to which the soil and climate are
adapted. At this writing he owns two exceptionally fine fruit orchards and has
two large Corliss engines and deep wells. One of the orchards comprises fifty
acres on Kertner avenue and
is planted to French prunes, peaches and cherries. Besides the above tract he
has thirty acres on Dry creek, all in cherries and apricots, and forming what
he pronounces to be the best orchard in Santa Clara county,
a statement that meets the assent of many expert judges of fruits. In 1890 he
assisted in organizing the Security Savings Bank of San Jose (later the
Security State Bank), of which he is vice-president and a director. Another
important local enterprise with which he holds connection as director is the
Home Union, a large wholesale and retail hardware and grocery establishment.
His interests are further increased by the ownership of a farm of twelve
hundred and eighty acres in Glenn county, this state,
and a farm at Colusa, both of which are operated by tenants.
When Mrs. Elizabeth Booksin died in 1866 she left four children, namely: Louis,
John and Henry, all of whom are orchardists at Willows; and Tina, the wife of
Dr. H. C. Brown, of San Jose. The second marriage of Mr. Booksin
took place in Colusa and united him with Katie Krafts,
who is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a lady possessing many estimable
qualities. While he is not connected with any denomination he attends the
church to which his wife belongs and contributes to its maintenance. From the
organization of the Republican party in California he
has been one of its stanch and constant supporters, believing its principles
and platform best calculated to promote the welfare of our nation. Since coming
to San Jose he has been identified with the Santa Clara County Pioneer’s
Association.
The unusual success which has come
to Mr. Booksin indicates the possession on his part
of unusual qualities, for he had no friends or means to help him in getting a
start, but was forced to work his way, unaided, in a country far from his
native land and among a people with whose language he was at that time
unfamiliar. When he was on the ship bound for San Francisco the only coat he
possessed was stolen from him in Panama and hence he arrived in California in
his “shirt sleeves.” To a man of industry and with good health lack of money is
not disheartening, nor does sojourn in a strange country among strangers
suffice to depress him and so it was with Mr. Booksin.
His forceful, determined disposition enabled him to make a
headway in his new home. Yet he had many hardships, many long drives in
sparsely settled regions, much to endure and much to overcome. Grain had to hauled to Marysville. Towns were far apart, and few houses
rendered cheerful the aspect of the country. Railroads had not yet brought the
west into east contact with other part of the United States, hence there was
little outside sale for the products of California. The optimistic spirit which
he possesses sustained him all through the trials of frontier existence and
brought him, in the enjoyment of a competency, to the present era of prosperity
and progress.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 303-304. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.