Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Abele, Alois Henry 1858 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 10, 2005, 2:06 pm

Author: Tom Gregory

ALOIS HENRY ABELE

    The measure of success which has rewarded the painstaking efforts of Mr.
Abele is the measure of his ability. Adversity handicapped him in youth. Almost
before he was able to lisp the name of "father," that parent was taken from the
home by death. Later the mother married again, but died while still a young
woman. Orphaned and hampered by poverty, the young lad began to earn his
livelihood at an age when most boys are in school. His education has been
obtained almost wholly by self-culture. Experience has been his teacher. The
loneliness of his position developed within him self-reliance and perseverance.
When he started out for himself he learned to give way to no discouragement
however great. As a result of his earnest endeavors he has acquired a finely
improved ranch of about fifteen hundred acres, containing three substantial
barns and a large granary, attractive shade and ornamental trees and a neat
residence for the occupancy of the family. When it is considered that this
estate has been secured by the unaided efforts of the owner, it will be realized
that he is a man of unusual force of character and energy of will.

    The founder of the family in America was John Abele, a native of Wurtemberg,
Germany, and by trade a wagon-maker and cooper. During the year 1854 he crossed
the ocean to Canada and found employment in the manufacture of wagons. Returning
to Germany in a short time he there married Annie Yost, who was born and reared
in the same village as himself. Accompanied by his wife he went again to Canada
and resumed work at his trade. While the family were living near Hamilton,
Canada, a son, Alois Henry, was born February 7, 1858. The following year the
father, in search of a less rigorous climate, came to California and, being
pleased with the country, sent back for his family, who joined him in Yolo
county in 1860. He opened a wagon shop at Cacheville and undoubtedly would have
attained a fair degree of success, had not he died in 1862 at the age of
twenty-eight years. After a subsequent marriage his wife died in San Francisco
while in that city for medical treatment.

    Among four children Alois Henry Abele was third in order of birth. With such
meager preparation for life as a brief attendance at country schools afforded,
at the age of fourteen years he entered the employ of Dave Schindler, remaining
with him for ten months, was later in the employ of Mike Bemmerly for two years,
and still later was employed as driver of a team and wagon for Schuerle &
Miller, brewers, at Woodland, holding the last-mentioned position for five
years. On October 3, 1882, he was united in marriage in Woodland with Miss Mary
E. Weber, who was born at Stuttgart, Germany, and came to this country in 1876
with her mother, Mrs. Bertha Weber, settling at Woodland, where she remained
until her union with Mr. Abele. The young people purchased and settled upon
three hundred and sixty acres of land near Dunnigan. This he placed under
cultivation and improved with a neat set of farm buildings. The residence stands
in Yolo county six and one-quarter miles south of Arbuckle and eight and
one-quarter miles northwest of Dunnigan. From time to time he has added to the
dimensions of the ranch until now he owns fifteen hundred acres in the home
place, wheat and barley being the principal products. An excellent grade of
stock is kept on the home place. Business methods are utilized in the harvesting
and marketing of the crops and in the entire management of the land, so that the
returns are gratifying to the owner. Mr. Abele was the first man in his section
to set out and raise the spineless cactus for stock food and fruit. To
demonstrate their enterprise and interest in all movements that tend to build up
the county Mr. and Mrs. Abele, when the company that is planning the electric
railroad through the valley asked for a right of way over their ranch, gave it
freely.

    The family of Mr. and Mrs. Abele numbered eight children, but Annie died in
childhood and Clara E., Mrs. Spencer, who was popular in a large circle of
acquaintances, passed away in 1906. Bertha M. is the wife of John Keehn, of
Woodland. Agnes L., Mrs. W. G. Myers, resides near Arbuckle, while Victoria K.,
Amelia D., John Shirley and Alois Henry, Jr., still remain at the homestead.
Ever since he attained his majority Mr. Abele has voted with the Democratic
party in national elections, but in local issues he supports the men whom he
considers best qualified to represent the people regardless of their political
tenets. Mr. Abele and his family are members of the Catholic Church at Woodland.
His interest in educational progress led him to accept the position of director
and later he was made clerk of the school district, so that his connection with
the public schools has been protracted through a period of some twenty-seven
years. At different times he has served on the grand and petit juries.
Throughout the county he is honored as a man of broad views, untiring-energy and
sagacious judgment.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
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
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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