San Joaquin County
Biographies
VALENTINE KAISER
VALENTINE KAISER, a farmer of
Castoria Township, San Joaquin County, was born in
Germany, December 19, 1826. He was reared and educated in the country of his
birth. In the year 1847, he sailed for New York in the vessel Konigunde, reaching there after a voyage of forty-two days.
He started for Cincinnati, Ohio, in search of his brother: upon reaching there
he found out that his brother had enlisted in the United States army under
General Taylor, and was slain in the battle at Palo Alto, Mexico.
Mr. Kaiser worked five years
in the iron foundry of Wolf Brothers.
In 1850 he married Miss
Catharine Nagle.
In May, 1853, he, in company
with eight other men, with their families, started for California, in wagons
drawn by oxen, passing through Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming Territory,
reaching Salt Lake city October 15.
After crossing the Missouri
river they did not see any white inhabitants until they reached Salt Lake City.
They were attacked by Indians in Nebraska, and were compelled to give them
nearly all of their provisions, in order to escape unharmed. Being thus
deprived of the larger part of their provisions, they could not afford to lose
any chance of securing food. On reaching the Sweetwater river,
Mr. Kaiser shot a buffalo, which was standing at some distance from him. It was
the closest shot he had had during the trip, but he brought down his game
beautifully. Upon reaching Salt Lake City they decided to remain there for the
winter, then, in the spring, they continued their journey to the “land of gold.”
Mr. Kaiser settled in Alameda
County, and rented a farm of J. Nagle. In 1845 he came to this county and
bought his present farm of 418 acres of land. It is highly cultivated and has
the best of improvements.
Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser have
twelve children, whose names are as follows: Elizabeth, Lena, Henry, Valentine,
Catharine, George, Mary, Louise, William, Emma, Lottie
and Charley.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 472. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Genealogy Databases