San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN RATHJEN
One of the successful, honored and
respected citizens of San Joaquin County, John Rathjen located here at an early
day, when the work of improvement and progress was as yet scarcely begun. As the day with its morning of hope and
promise, its noontide of activity and its evening of accomplished and
successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was
the life of this worthy man, who in his business career directed his labors so
carefully and intelligently that he gained prosperity, and so honorably that he
won the confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He engaged in general farming near Banta in
San Joaquin County, where he owned 320 acres of land, on which he had made his
home since 1872, and was a representative of that class of worthy citizens that
Germany has furnished to the new world.
He was born at Holstein, Germany, on September 21, 1843, and his parents
were also born in the same locality. The
father, Hans N. Rathjen, remained a resident of the old world until 1872, when,
leaving his native country, he crossed the Atlantic to America and spent his
last days in Nebraska, his death occurring in Washington County on October 17,
1903.
John Rathjen spent the days of his
boyhood and youth in his native land and acquired a fair education. Experience and observation added greatly to
his knowledge and gave him broad practical information that enabled him to
successfully transact business affairs.
In 1865 he sailed for the United States and made his way to Scott
County, Iowa, where he remained for a short while. After visiting various portions of the west
he came to California in 1868, settling in San Joaquin County, and in 1872 he
took up his abode upon the present ranch, the home place of his wife and eldest
son, John A. Rathjen, whose sketch also appears in this work, and here he
remained until his death on June 14, 1919, making a continuous residence of
forty-seven years. His labors were
devoted untiringly to the improvement of his farm and the cultivation of his
fields, and whatever success he achieved resulted from his own efforts.
The marriage of Mr. Rathjen occurred
March 24, 1879, and united him with Miss Gesine Hilken, who was born in San Francisco, California, and is a
daughter of John Hilken. This worthy couple were the parents of six
children: Clara married Joseph Smith and
they have one son and reside in Tracy; Feda, Mrs. W.
J. McArdle; John A.; Charles is married and resides
on a ranch near Tracy; Amy, Mrs. T. A. McCloskey of San Jose; Ida married James
C. Casselman and they have one daughter and reside
near Tracy. Mr. Rathjen never sought to
figure in any public light, caring not for political preferment nor anything
else that would cause him to occupy a place in public attention, but he had the
qualities of the good and loyal citizen, and upheld the business interests and
stability of the county; and he always felt that he made a wise choice when he
determined to make San Joaquin County his permanent home.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
975. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Genealogy
Databases