Merced-San Francisco-Santa Clara County CA Archives Biographies.....Vasche, Joseph 1826 - 1912
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 4, 2006, 10:23 pm

Author: John Outcalt (1925)

JOSEPH VASCHE

   Numbered among that intrepid band of pioneers who came to California in the
stirring times when gold was discovered we find the name of Joseph Vasche, who
had come across the plains behind slow-moving oxen to reach the land of
opportunity and share in the wealth that seemed to be obtainable here. He and
his hardy band met with the usual trouble that the immigrants experienced with
Indians, though no record has been made that any of their party were killed or
injured. Upon arriving in this state he followed mining for a time, and although
a mere boy, he participated in the stirring times of the Vigilante Days in San
Francisco. He turned his attention to the more secure method of gaining his
independence and engaged in the sheep business, continuing until about 1875,
when he disposed of his flocks and went to San Jose and was engaged in the
mercantile business for six years. The future of Merced County appealed strongly
to him and he returned here and invested his money in 2100 acres of land at
Athlone, which he developed into a fruitful ranch with diversified products,
though he was one of the large grain raisers here.

   Joseph Vasche was born in Germany in 1826, came to America when he was but
fourteen years of age, grew up in Missouri until 1848, and then began his
journey to the unknown West. In 1871 he was united in marriage with Miss
Margaret Bielenberg, the wedding taking place at the famous old "stone house"
above Plainsburg. They had one daughter, Josephine, Mrs. Ringnalda, now
connected with the schools in Los Angeles. The wife and mother died in 1872,
after which Mr. Vasche toured Europe. In 1874 he was married to Maria Halenkamp,
born in Germany and who became the mother of ten children, four of whom remain
at home. The children are: Pauline Lines, deceased; Gertrude, supervisor in the
schools of Merced County; Joseph, Henry, Francis (deceased), Elma (deceased),
Fredrika, Florence; Karl, who saw service in Siberia during the World War; and
Harold, who also was in the service of his country when the armistice was signed.

   Mr. Vasche died in 1912. He was a Democrat in politics and cast his first
vote for Franklin Pierce. It is to such men as Mr. Vasche that the generation of
today owe much of their prosperity for he was among the early trail-blazers in
California.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
WITH A
Biographical Review
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
JOHN OUTCALT

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925

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