San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ERNEST MAXMILLIAN TSCHIERSCHKY
One of the early settlers in
California who has contributed his share towards the building up of the
commonwealth is Ernest Maxmillian Tschierschky,
who was born near Bunzlau, Silesia, Germany, October
3, 1836. Left an orphan when three years
of age, he made his home with an uncle in Nausholz,
where he received a good education in the public schools. After being confirmed in the Lutheran Church
when fourteen, he removed with his uncle to Stettin, on the Baltic Sea. There he naturally went to sea, as was the
custom of the youth in that port. He
made six trips before the mast in a German vessel to England. Then he went deep sea sailing in the “Mirau,” a sailer bound for New York
City, in 1858, and from that port he made seventeen trips across the
Atlantic. He also sailed in coasting
vessels, to the West Indies and South American ports. On the steamer “Liberty” he made twenty trips
between New York and Havana.
Mr. Tschierschky
was shipwrecked in the Bay of Biscay off the French coast in a sailing vessel,
but got ashore in the night. He then
traveled by land to Paris and then made his way back to Stettin. He was also in a collision in the North Sea
when their ship sunk an English vessel off the coast of England. During the Civil War he served as
quarter-master on two different government transports, the “Delaware” and “John
Rice,” out of New York City, along the southern coast, transporting troops and
supplies.
Mr. Tschierschky
was married in New York City in August, 1868, to Miss Caroline Beneker, who was born in Brennerhaven,
Germany. In September of the same year
he came with his wife to San Francisco via Panama. Landing from the old “Constitution,” he quit
the sea and located in Stockton, being employed in a lumber yard until
1870. That year the Stockton Lumber
Company was started and he entered their employ, continuing with them without
interruption for forty-one years. During
that time he was foreman for a year and then was salesman until he retired.
Soon after he came to Stockton, he
built a residence on North Pilgrim Street, and he resided there for many
years. His wife died in 1911, aged
sixty-three years. Their union was
blessed with ten children: William is
postmaster at Tracy; Frederick is in the plumbing business; Herbert is also a
plumber; Louis is employed in a planing mill; Alexander is a deputy
sheriff. The other children are Laura,
Wilhelmina, a graduate nurse, Mrs. Caroline Woleson,
Mrs. Fred Sturla, and Mrs. Grant. All live in Stockton, excepting William and
Wilhelmina, who make their homes in Tracy and San Francisco respectively.
During the years he was in the
lumber trade he was also interested in ranching, having had the foresight many
years ago to purchase land near Ripon which he devoted to grain raising and
later set to vineyard. After keeping it
for a number of years, he sold at a good profit, and later on he disposed of the remainder of his land. He had purchased the original 480 acres in
1875 for $5,000. Some men, considered
good business heads, said he was a very foolish man to pay so much; but a few
years later, after he had demonstrated it a success, the same men changed their
minds and said they guessed he understood land.
Mr. Tschierschky
was made a Mason in New York City, and then became a member of the Morning Star
Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M. He was
reared a Lutheran, and still adheres to that religious faith.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
844-847. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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