Imperial County CA Archives Biographies.....Shenk, Adolphus M. 1882 - 
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Author: F. C. Farr (editor, 1918)

ADOLPHUS M. SHENK.—The opening of the Imperial Valley brought settlers from
every state of the union: north, south and east contributing to the citizenship
of the fertile section. Adolphus M. Shenk, one of the men who has participated
in the transformation of this region, the development of which seems almost
magical, has by his own efforts and abilities overcome the difficulties atendant
upon the settlement of a new community, and by his industry, perseverance and
capacity for affairs of breadth and importance, has worked his way to a position
of prominence and is recognized as one of the important and representative
business men of Imperial County. His birth occurred in Omaha, Nebraska, January
12, 1882, a son of John W. and Susan C. (Brooks) Shenk. His father is a native
of New York State, while his mother was born in New Jersey. The parents of
Adolphus M. were married in Cape May, New Jersey, October 27, 1867, and their
golden wedding anniversary was celebrated in Pasadena at the home of his son,
Hon. John W. Shenk, Superior Judge of Los Angeles, California. There were in
attendance four sons and two daughters. The father of the subject of this review
was born in Cobleskill, Schoharie County, New York, January 20, 1842. His wife
was Susanna Cane Brooks, and she was born in Tuckahoe, Cape May County, New
Jersey, February 25, 1844, and married by Rev. William A. Brooks, Mrs. Shenk's
father. She was always very active in missionary work and she was state
organizer of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Church in
Nebraska. Mr. Shenk's father is a graduate of the Garrett Biblical Institute,
Northwestern University, 1865, and received the degree of B. D., in 1865. He was
sent to South America and from 1866 to 1867 he was junior pastor of the M. E.
Church of Buenos Aires. He held many important offices in the church in
different parts of the country. He was editor of the Omaha Christian Advocate in
1899. He received the degree of doctor of divinity from Nashville, Tennessee, in
1889. His literary productions include "Higher Criticism and the Christ,"
published in New York in 1906. Mr. Shenk was spending the winter in Los Angeles
of 1899-1900. In April of 1900 he and his wife, accompanied by Sam Ferguson, a
real estate man, took the Southern Pacific tram for the Imperial Valley. They
drove from Flowing Well and crossed the Colorado Desert and camped forty miles
from the railroad, where Calexico is located, the next day. Rev. Shenk took up
sixteen hundred acres of land, a half section for himself and wife and his three
sons, being the first locators of government land in Imperial Valley. Adolphus
M. acquired his education in the public and high schools of Omaha, after which
he took a business course, graduating from the latter. He took up stenography
and followed office work two years. January 12, 1901, he came to Imperial Valley
and settled on his land where he became identified with ranching, turning the
first water on lands for the purpose of irrigation and growing the first crops.
Mr. Shenk served on the school board and as a city trustee. He took an active
part in creating the County of Imperial. He is now identified with the business
interests of Calexico and maintains an office in the postoffice building and
specializes in real estate, farming and loans. Mr. Shenk was united in marriage
to Bernice B. Riddle of Santa Rosa, California. To this union have been born two
children, Joyce and Janet. Mrs. Shenk takes an active part in the social circles
of Calexico, and is a member of Eastern Star and the Improvement Club of
Calexico. Mr. Shenk has the distinction of being the second postmaster appointed
in Calexico, and served in this capacity for five years. He was manager for two
years of a general merchandise store and since his retirement from the store has
engaged in the general brokerage business and handles a large percentage of the
loans of Imperial Valley. Fraternally Mr. Shenk is affiliated with the Masonic
Order, being a member of Blue Lodge and Chapter. He is also a member of the I.
O. O. F. Lodge.

Additional Comments:
From:

THE HISTORY
OF
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
EDITED BY
F. C. FARR

IN ONE VOLUME
ILLUSTRATED
Published by ELMS AND FRANKS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918


Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco


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