Santa
Clara County
Biographies
RODNEY ESCHENBURG
For more than half a century Rodney Eschenburg has been identified with the industries of the Pacific slope and especially with those of Santa Clara country, Cal., and in Gilroy, which has been his home since 1889. During these years, which have been golden ones in the development of this state, he has not only witnessed the growth of his section from an unimportant, insignificant community to a place of prominence among the most thriving and industrious sections of this state but has done his part toward furthering its advancement and development. As president of the Gilroy Land Company, vice-president and director of the Gilroy Bank, and director of the Hollister Bank, he is easily recognized as one of the leading citizens of the beautiful and prosperous Santa Clara valley.
Born in the far-away city of Wilmington, Del., February 22, 1831, he is one of eight children born to John and Eliza (Rodney) Eschenburg, being well connected on paternal and maternal sides. His mother was a grand-niece of Cæsar A. Rodney, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. She also was a native of Wilmington, Del., and was one of fifteen children born to Cæsar A. Rodney, a nephew of the above named patriot. Her father was appointed minister to South America, whither he removed with his family, taking up his residence at Buenos Ayres (sic). It was while sojourning there that her marriage took place and four of her children were born. While making a visit to her old home in Wilmington, Del., her fifth child, Rodney, was born.
John Eschenburg, although a native of Hamburg, Germany, left his native land in early manhood and going to South America engaged in gathering and dealing in Peruvian bark, which he shipped to Europe, realizing a handsome profit on it. While so engaged he met Miss Rodney, whom he afterward married, and they reared a family of eight children, whose names are as follows: Emily, Ellen, John, Isabelle, Rodney, Hermann, Mariquita and Alberteen. All are now deceased except Rodney and his sisters, Mariquita, a maiden lady of Mendocino county, Cal., and Alberteen, widow of George Rodman, and who resides in Sunnyside, Wash. Emily married Colonel Banning of Wilmington, Del.; Ellen married Hugh Gallager of St. Louis, Mo.; and Isabelle died at the early age of sixteen.
During the South American revolution, Mr. Eschenburg lost the fortune he had amassed and in 1834 he moved to Mexico and for a number of years was successfully engaged in the general merchandise business. About 1839 he returned to the United States and for ten years followed farming in Madison county, Ill, about twelve miles from St. Louis, Mo. In 1849, upon the departure of the three sons for California, the remainder of the family again returned to the old home in Delaware and the following year the father also went to the far west by way of the Isthmus. Returning east in 1851 he took part of the family back with him and the mother and remaining children followed in 1856. Upon taking up his residence in California the father worked for years as a bookkeeper for Castle Brothers in San Francisco, and in 1857 moved with his family to a farm near Gilroy, the property of his son Rodney. It was not until about 1863 that Mr. Eschenburg accepted the position of secretary of the San Marcial Mining Company, and removing to Mexico he worked in that capacity until within three days of his death, which took place in San Marcial in 1865, in the eighty-fourth year of his life. He was a Lutheran by faith, although not a member of any church. At one time he was Prussian consul pro tem in the City of Mexico, during the absence of the Prussian consul. His widow survived him until 1874 and died in San Francisco aged eighty-two years.
In 1849, Rodney Eschenburg, accompanied by his brothers, John and Hermann, began the tedious journey across the plains to California, behind mule teams, making the trip in one hundred and five days. Building the first cabin at Auburn, the three brothers engaged in mining. Hermann died near Nevada City, December 16, 1850, and the remaining brothers continued to follow mining with varied success until 1858. The first money Mr. Eschenburg ever earned was unloading flour at Sacramento, Cal, from which he received $1 per hour. He put in eleven and three-fourths hours in one day, unloading sacks, each containing two hundred pounds. He followed diversified occupations for a time and cleaned the first vessel ever sunk on the California waters, the Lady Washington, which was later raised from her watery grave. About 1853, having realized some money in his mining operations, he purchased a farm about five miles east of Gilroy in the Santa Clara valley. This farm, which originally contained three hundred and forty-three acres, is in his possession today and is one of the finest and best improved dairy farms in that section. About 1858 he discontinued mining and removed to his farm, and for more than thirty years gave his attention wholly to dairy farming, being unusually successful. He then leased his farm and removed to Gilroy, where he still lives a retired life, surrounded by the fruits of his foresight and toil.
The home ties of Mr. Eschenburg date back to December 12, 1863, when he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Louise Thomas, a daughter of John B. and Fanny (Smith) Thomas, and one of a family of six children. She formerly lived in Delaware county, N.Y., being a native of that state. In 1860 Miss Thomas went to California with a sister, Mrs. John A. Perkins of Fresno, and while visiting there was wooed and won by Mr. Eschenburg. Two children have blessed their union. Of these the elder, Isabelle Madalaine, married Matthew McCurrie, and is secretary of the Humane Society of San Francisco, Cal.; they are the parents of two children: Donald Rodney and Gordon Douglas. The younger child, Hermann R., is now deceased; he married Miss Georgia Cobb of Gilroy, who is the mother of Hermann Rodney Eschenburg.
Viewed from a Christian standpoint, Mr. Eschenburg is one of the most active men in his locality. He is a charter member of the Presbyterian Church of Gilroy, which was founded in 1860, and at the present time officiates as elder, his wife also being a consistent member. In his political convictions he has ever been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and although advanced in years, his influence in the political field is far-reaching.
Transcribed
10-17-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
Source:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 835-836. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marilyn R.
Pankey.