Napa County CA Archives Biographies.....Weinberger, J. C. 1830 - 1882
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 29, 2007, 6:02 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

J. C. WEINBERGER, deceased.—One of the most complete and conveniently arranged
wineries and wine cellars in the vicinity of St. Helena was found to be that
erected a short distance north of the town by the late J. C. Weinberger, and now
carried on by his widow, under the management and superintendency of Captain C.
T. McEachran, her brother-in-law. The buildings are of the fine, light-colored
sandstone of the valley, are two stories in height and about 80 x 100 feet in
size, presenting a fine appearance from the road. The vineyard is 100 acres of
the most approved varieties of wine grapes, and present a very fine, clear and
thrifty appearance. They are about half and half on hill and bottom land. The
annual make of wines is about 100,000 gallons, chiefly dry wines, while in the
distillery, which is conducted in connection with the winery, about 5,000
gallons of brandy are made. In order to make so large a production, large
quantities of grapes are purchased from growers in the valley, in addition to
those grown in the vineyard. On the property is also a fine-appearing orchard of
some 300 trees, comprising, pear, fig, etc. From ten to twenty men are employed
according to the season. The wines of this cellar are noted for their high
merit, and are chiefly taken as fast as they become aged by regular customers in
New York, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Texas and other Eastern points, being in
constant demand. The greatest possible care is taken in every process connected
with the manufacture of wine, each step being in the hands of experienced men,
the uniform excellence of the product being no doubt due to this fact.

  We copy herewith entire the sketch of the life of Mr. Weinberger that appears
in the history of Napa County: "Mr. Weinberger was born in Weissenburg, Bavaria,
July 13, 1830, and is the son of Christian and Madaline (Rebesberger)
Weinberger. He resided at his birthplace until 1848, during which time he was
educated at the common schools. At the age of fourteen he began the
confectionery trade, which he followed until March, 1848. He then came to
America, landing in New York the latter part of May. He remained there and
worked at his trade until 1853, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he
worked but a few months only, when he went to Indianapolis and began business on
his own capital. He remained there until 1865. He then purchased a farm, in
connection with W. H. Ragan, and began the fruit and nursery business, which he
followed until 1870. In 1869 he paid California a visit, and was so pleased with
the country that he returned to Indiana in 1870, and settled up his affairs, and
came back to California to make his permanent residence. He came to Napa Valley,
and located at his present place, a short distance above St. Helena, and has
since paid his entire attention to the manufacture of wine. He is an active
member of the St. Helena Viticultural Society.

  He was married January 27, 1860, to Miss Anna Von Dokkun, of Cincinnati, who
was born in Paris, France, November 5, 1838. By this union there is one
daughter, Minnie, born December 27, 1861. Mrs. Weinberger died in 1866. He
married, secondly, Miss Hannah E. Rabbe, a native of New Albany, Indiana, born
October 7, 1840. They have had children as follows: Emily D., born January 23,
1875, is deceased; Hannah, born June 7, 1876; Marie, born July 4, 1878, is
deceased; and John C, born March 4, 1881.

  Mr. Weinberger died in March, 1882, being foully shot down without provocation
by a miscreant. His death was felt to be a public misfortune, for although
quiet, unostentatious and modest, there were few indeed more generally beloved
by the community. He was public-spirited, energetic and enterprising, very
thorough in all his dealings and aided much in every good work. He was the first
to erect a stone wine cellar in the valley, a portion of which was completed in
1876, all his investments being made with an eye to the future. The business,
since his death, has been carried on by Mrs. Weinberger, as her husband would
have expected, and she has met continued and satisfactory success as a
consequence. She still resides in the handsome residence, surrounded by
well-kept grounds, erected by her late husband. He was a prominent member of the
Masonic order, being a Royal Arch Mason. He was a stockholder in the Warehouse
Association' of St. Helena.

  Miss Minnie Weinberger is now the wife of Mr. Zierngibl, the manager of W. B.
Bourn's great wine cellar, married in 1885.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/napa/bios/weinberg591gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/

File size: 5.7 Kb