San
Joaquin County
Biographies
NICOLAUS KOSTER
A representative farmer and
stockraiser in San Joaquin County is found in Nicolaus Koster, whose 1600-acre
grain ranch is in the New Jerusalem School District, and who in 1919 retired to
Tracy, where he resides at No. 145 East Ninth Street. He is a native of Germany, his birth having
occurred in Holstein, on May 14, 1855.
His parents, John and Catherine Koster, were also natives of Germany,
and there Nicolaus Koster was reared, remaining in Germany until nineteen years
of age, when in 1874 he immigrated to the United States. He did not tarry long in the east, however,
but made his way direct to Nebraska and resided for a time near Omaha in that
state. In December, 1875, he came to
California, was employed for a short time near Nicolaus, Sutter County. Subsequently he spent a brief period in work
in Contra Costa County and later he removed to Oregon, where he continued,
however, for only a brief time. In 1876
he came to San Joaquin County, and throughout the intervening years has
remained here almost continuously, settling upon his present ranch in
1880. He owns 1600 acres of valuable
land all under cultivation located in the vicinity of Vernalis, San Joaquin
County. He has made many improvements
upon the property, and that it is now a valuable ranch, well equipped, is due
to his untiring efforts and capable management.
The marriage of Mr. Koster occurred
on April 9, 1885, and united him with Miss Wilhelmina C. Hilken,
of San Joaquin County, and to them have been born three children: Nicolaus passed away in 1916, thirty years of
age; William, born near Vernalis, was married to Miss Elsie M. Dorman of
Fresno, on December 23, 1920, and is the active manager of the extensive land
holdings of his father. Minnie C.
married George Goeppert, a successful merchant in San
Francisco, and they are the parents of three children: Vera, Howard, and
Tootsie. Mrs. Koster was born on May 1,
1865, in San Francisco, California, a daughter of John and Marie (Garlish) Hilken, both natives of
Bremen, Germany. Her father came to
California in 1849, engaged in gold mining and for a time made his home in San
Francisco, after which he came with his family to San Joaquin County in 1869. He settled near the present site of Tracy and
there spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1878. His wife survived until 1892. They were the parents of the following
children: Daniel H.; Gesiene
M., the widow of John Rathjen, of San Joaquin County;
Fredericka A., the wife of Harry Rhoads of the same county; Mrs. Koster; Sophia
M., the wife of the late William Schroeder; Herman; John F.; and Charles H.
L. Mrs. Koster passed away on January
24, 1921, shortly after the family had removed to Tracy, not living to enjoy
the beautiful and modern residence on East Ninth Street which had been
completed a short time before her death.
For many years Mr. Koster was a trustee of the New Jerusalem School
District, and he and his wife were identified with the Lutheran Church. The educational and moral development
of the community are matters of deep interest and concern to him, and he
is a loyal citizen who favors every project for local advancement.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
820. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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