Santa
Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE SCHREPHER
Numbered among the more
worthy citizens and capable agriculturists of Santa Clara county is George Schrepfer,
a well-known farmer, owning and occupying a finely improved ranch of forty
acres, lying one mile south of Gilroy, on the Monterey road. Reared to farming
pursuits, he has a thorough knowledge of the different branches of agriculture,
is an expert butter and cheese maker, and in the management of his business
interest has met with uniform success. A native of Switzerland, he was born
June 21, 1847, in the canton of Glarus, where his parents, John and Margareta
(Britt) Schrepfer, spent their entire lives.
The second child in a family
consisting of three boys and one girl, George Schrepfer
grew to manhood on the home farm, obtaining a practical education in the common
schools. Immigrating to the United States, he located at Gilroy, Santa Clara county, in 1872, and the following seven years was butter
maker for Henry Miller. From 1879 until 1881 he was employed in the Reeves’
Dairy as cheese maker, after which he was engaged in general farming at
Redwoods for four years. Returning thence to Gilroy, Mr. Schrepfer
run (sic) a small dairy at Old Gilroy for two years more. Then, after spending
a year in Gilroy, Mr. Schrepfer leased the Shepherd
ranch, which he managed successfully for thirteen years. Keeping a dairy of one
hundred and twenty-five cows, he manufactured the famous brand of George Schrepfer California cheese, making on an average six
thousand pounds a month, and selling mostly to the home markets. Giving up his
creamery business in the fall of 1902, he removed to his present farm, which he
had purchased in 1899, and has since resided here, carrying on farming and
dairying with good results. His land is under excellent cultivation, five acres
being devoted to fruit, and the remainder to the raising of alfalfa. His
estate, with the fine residence which he had erected, and the convenient farm
buildings, with their neat and tasteful surroundings, invariably attracts the
attention of the traveler, and indicates that the proprietor has wisely and
well employed his time and money. Mr. Schrepfer
married Sophie Eberspecker, a native of Germany. She
died in 1903, at the age of forty-seven years, leaving five children, all of
whom are living at home: George, Charles, Bertha, Rosa and Ella. Mrs. Schrepfer was a most estimable woman, highly respected and
beloved, and was a consistent member of the Christian Church. In his political
views, Mr. Schrepfer affiliates with the Republican party.
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 1260-1263. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.