Tuolumne
County
Biographies
JOHN BAUMAN
A well and favorably known citizen
of Sonora, Tuolumne County, California, is John Bauman, the subject of this
sketch. He was born in Bavaria, Germany,
December 13, 1833, and was a son of Frederick and Margaret (Bohler)
Bauman, both natives of Germany, where they passed their lives, he dying at the
age of sixty-five, she surviving him five years. They had two sons, but our subject is the
only member of the family now living.
John Bauman was educated in his
native place, but being of limited means he decided to make his way to
America. Landing in New York with one
dollar in his pocket in 1852, it became a matter of necessity to find work,
which he soon did, on a farm on Long Island.
From there he went to New Jersey and engaged in labor at an India rubber
factory, where he was paid forty dollars a month. The habits of thrift which are taught the
young in his country came to his assistance, enabling him to save his money
until he had enough to pay his way to California, by way of the Isthmus, this
requiring one hundred dollars. He soon
found employment in a brewery at San Jose, where he was paid fifty dollars a
month, and here again he saved his wages and came to Tuolumne County. For four years longer Mr. Bauman worked in a
brewery and then made a trip to the east, again by way of the Isthmus.
When Mr. Bauman returned to
California he brought with him his wife, formerly Miss Margaret Ederer, a native of his own land. He leased a small brewery that was located in
Sonora, began brewing and in 1866 had accumulated enough to build his own
establishment. He thoroughly understands
the management of his business and has made a special brand of cream beer, which
has met with ready sale throughout the country.
His other products are considered excellent and his trade is constantly
increasing.
Mr. Bauman lost his first wife in
1875, in 1876 marrying Miss Hulda Richter. The following named children were born to Mr.
Bauman: Amelia, the wife of Fred Burden,
of Sonora; Emma, the wife of Lee Edmondson; Anna, the wife of Carl Duchow; Cenobia, the wife of J.
D. Baring; and George.
In his political belief Mr. Bauman
is a Democrat, although he considers more the man than the party in local
matters. For fifteen years he filled the
office of town trustee and the affairs were managed in the most economical and
efficient manner.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bauman is a
most comfortable one, and he possesses the respect of all of his
neighbors. He has shown in his own life
the value of industry combined with economy, and is esteemed for it.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 530-531. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.