San Joaquin
County
Biographies
HENRY P.
RONKENDORF
Born on December 25, 1880, Henry P. Ronkendorf first saw the light on Roberts Island, the son of Peter and Catherine (Schlutter) Ronkendorf. whose life stories are narrated elsewhere in this historical work. He attended the public schools, was graduated from York's Academy, and in 1900 entered the University of California. Three years later he left college to take a position in mining at Hodson's, in Tuolumne County, and there he spent some fourteen months in practical mining engineering. In 1904, he left California for Germany to enter the famous Mining Academy, founded in 1765, at Freiberg, and in November, 1910, after successfully finishing the prescribed course in engineering, received the M. E. degree.
On his return to the United States, he prepared actively to take up his professional work, and was due to go on an expedition to Mexico, in December, 1910, the object of the organizers being to develop the copper mines of Old Sonora; but on account of the unstable government then in charge in that country, the plan was given up. Since then, Mr. Ronkendorf has remained at home with his aged parents, and for the past twelve years he has made a reputation for himself as a successful Delta rancher. He is a member of the Farmers' Exchange Bureau of California, and in 1921 and 1922 all his farm products were successfully marketed through that agency at Oakland.
Mr. Ronkendorf has long been known for his ability as a marksman, his skill having been developed in his youth, and probably this has had much to do with the final organization, in a most successful manner, of the Roberts Island Rifle Club, which is affiliated with the National Rifle Association of America. In 1917, Peter Ronkendorf gave the land for the erection of a club house, and in 1917 and 1921, a modern indoor and outdoor range was completed there, four miles from Stockton. The annual shoots are held, as always, in the Club's ranges, for the Roberts Island Rifle Club are now the proud possessors of the most complete indoor and outdoor range of any in the state of California, if not in the West. After having served as secretary, for ten consecutive years, Henry Ronkendorf resigned, in 1922; but he has been retained as a member of the board of directors. As a member of the rifle team of 1920, our subject attended the national match in the East. and he was one of the boys that helped to bring the championship back to the Golden State.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham,
George H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page 1505. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
©
2012 V. Gerald
Iaquinta.
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