San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ABRAHAM BECHTHOLD
Viticulture forms the principal
occupation of Abraham Bechthold, and the wide-awake manner in which he takes
advantage of all methods and ideas tending to enhance the
value of his property has had much to do with his obtaining the
competence which he now enjoys. He was
born near Parkston, South Dakota, on June 26, 1879, a son of Henry and Lottie (Baumbach) Bechthold, both natives
of south Russia, who came to America and settled in South Dakota where he had
three quarter-sections of land—a homestead, pre-emption and timber claim. The father passed away at the age of
fifty-seven and the mother at forty-five years of age.
Abraham is one of a family of nine
children and his opportunity for an education was very limited, the time when
he should have been in school being occupied in helping with the farm work at
home. But these duties served to make
him familiar with the routine of an agriculturist, and when ready to embark on
life’s journey alone, he decided to follow that pursuit.
On February 20, 1904, in Tripp,
South Dakota, Mr. Bechthold was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Wormsbecher, also a native of South Dakota, and a daughter
of Henry and Katherine (Buchholtz) Wormsbecher. Her
father was born in Russia and upon his arrival in the United States settled in
South Dakota, where he was married. His
wife came to South Dakota with her parents when a girl. They were farmers at Tripp until they
retired. His daughter Matilda was reared
on the farm at Tripp. After his
marriage, Mr. Bechthold farmed in South Dakota until the fall of 1907, when he
removed to California and settled on the ranch which he purchased and now
occupies. It is located about two and
one-half miles southeast of Lodi. He
first bought ten acres in vineyard, planted to the varieties of Tokay,
Zinfandel and Cornichon. Later he added
sixteen acres located on Kettleman Lane, then ten acres on Cherokee Lane near
the Union Oil Station, making a total of thirty-six acres. On each of his places Mr. Bechthold has
installed pumping plants. Two years ago
Mr. Bechthold erected a fine stucco residence and farm buildings on the home
place. Mr. and Mrs. Bechthold are the
parents of eight children: Lillie,
attending Lodi High, the only one born in South Dakota; Nettie, Alexander,
Julius, who died in 1917, over four years old; Arthur, Ruth, Walter and
Edward. In 1913 with his family Mr.
Bechthold made a trip back to South Dakota, visiting their childhood home and
friends. In 1921 he and his wife again
made a trip to their native state, also Minnesota and Canada. In politics Mr. Bechthold is a Republican.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1624. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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