Santa
Clara County
Biographies
CHRISTOPHER DUCKER
For a longer period than any other
similarly employed Christopher Ducker has owned and operated a brewery in
Mayfield, with the result that his place of business constitutes a landmark and
his products have an enviable reputation throughout Santa Clara county. At present he
is a trustee of the town and one of its foremost Republican politicians. The entire western career of Mr. Ducker has
been full of energy and resource, and has embraced the many-sided interests
inseparably associated with the typical German-American.
Of interest is the fact that Mr. Ducker is
the youngest and sole survivor of four brothers, all of whom inaugurated their
self-supporting careers in California and impressed their worth upon various
lines of occupation. The brothers were
the only children of Christopher and Mary Ducker, natives of Alfstedt near
Peterkase, Hanover, Germany, and born in 1801 and 1800 respectfully. Christopher, Sr., was of rugged but humble
origin, and while pursuing his moderately successful life impressed upon his
boys the homely virtues of industry, sobriety, and practical common sense. With the departure of Christopher, his
namesake, for the United States in 1860, he saw the last of his progeny leave
the home roof, and thereafter himself [sic.] and wife
pursued their peaceful careers together until his death in 1879, her own death
occurring the following year.
Having been born in the village of
Alfstedt, Hanover, January 25, 1843, Christopher Ducker, Jr., was seventeen
years of age when he joined his brothers on the coast, sailing to New York
City, and completing his journey by way of Panama. Reaching San Francisco May 6, 1860, he soon
after found employment in the brewery of Claus Spreckles, and in 1862 became
clerk in a grocery store. Impressed with
the encouraging reports from Virginia City he spent six weeks in that locality
returning to San Francisco, where he found work until temporarily locating in
Mayfield in July, 1864. With his
brother, Henry Ducker, he started a produce raising business, himself driving
the delivery wagon which transferred the goods to San Francisco. The year 1866 found him operating a grocery
store on the corner of Eighth and Harrison streets, San Francisco, and two
years later, in 1868, he returned to Mayfield and ran a liquor business with
growing success. The scarcity of
enterprises of the kind in the locality led him to combine his former business
with brewing in 1871, and twenty-three years have passed over the head of a
concern which thus gains the distinction of having the longest consecutive
management of its kind in the country.
Mr. Ducker is distinguished among fraternalists as a zealous worker and stanch upholder of
the dignity and significance of institutions founded when the world was comparatively
young. For thirty-two years he has been
identified with the Mayfield Lodge of Druids No. 45, and also of the Royal Arch
of Masons of San Jose. In 1872 Mr. Drucker
was united in marriage with Lois Peers, a native daughter of England, and
sister of Alexander Peers, mentioned at length in another part of this
work. Of the five children born to Mr.
and Mrs. Ducker the eldest died in infancy; Lena is the wife of Samuel Vander
Voort, of Palo Alto, Cal.; Eda is living at home;
Susan died in infancy; and Vida Peers is at home. Upright in his business dealings, generous in
both his judgement and contributions to worthy causes, and faithful to
friendships and general interest, Mr.
Drucker is justly popular in his adopted town, and is one of is financially
strong and reliable citizens.
Transcribed by
Louise E. Shoemaker, August 08, 2015.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 715. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Louise E. Shoemaker.