Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Germeshausen, Joseph 1836 - ************************************************ 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 December 5, 2005, 4:40 am Author: Tom Gregory JOSEPH GERMESHAUSEN More than fifty years have brought their interesting series of progress since first Joseph Germeshausen arrived in Woodland. The city that now spreads its thriving expanse of commerce over the valley held little at that time to arouse the admiration of a newcomer. A few small houses gave homes to the pioneers who, in the midst of primeval surroundings, were endeavoring to earn their livelihoods. On every hand could be seen the great forests with their wealth of timber and their abundance of game. Frequently deer in considerable numbers appeared within the town limits. A skilled marksman was able to keep his family supplied with venison as well as other game during the season. When the environment of that period is contrasted with the improvements characteristic of the twentieth century, an appreciation is aroused in behalf of the early settlers whose rugged self-reliance and keen foresight rendered possible present conditions of prosperity. Not the least important of these pioneers is Joseph Germeshausen, who was born in Prussia, Germany, March 25, 1836, grew to manhood upon the home farm, attended the schools of his native land and in 1856 crossed the ocean to New York City, landing with little money and less knowledge of our language and customs. It was possible, however, for the sturdy young German to secure immediate employment and he continued in the metropolis until 1861, when the opportunities of California attracted him to the west. Associated with his brother, Barney, he went to Leavenworth, Kans., and bought a mule team and wagon, also laid in an abundance of supplies for the long overland journey. It was his good fortune to accompany a train of thirteen wagons that encountered no vexatious delays and no hostility from Indians, but pushed forward with such persistence that they reached Virginia City, Nev., in four months from the time of leaving Leavenworth. A short stop in the western mining town was followed by removal to Yolo county during the fall of 1861, when Woodland was seen for the first time and the surrounding country carefully inspected. It is significant of the favorable impression created in the mind of Mr. Germeshausen by the appearance of Yolo county in its then undeveloped condition that he immediately took up land and started to raise grain. The tract which he selected comprises three hundred and twenty acres and lies in close proximity to Plainfield, its distance from Woodland being about nine miles. From that early period to the present he has continued to own and superintend the same property. For years he occupied the ranch, tilled the soil, sowed the grain, harvested the crops and, indeed, with his own energetic hands managed the entire place, but eventually he removed to Woodland in 1882, and the ranch is now occupied and operated by his youngest son, Daniel. After he moved into the city he purchased the Yolo brewery from Miller & Schuerle, and later he organized the Yolo Brewing Company, of which he continued to be the president as well as the manager until a few years since, when he retired to private life, relinquishing to others the supervision of the important industry he had fostered and enlarged. He still serves as a director in the First National Bank of Woodland, in which for years he has been a holder of a large amount of stock. Ever since making a study of political questions in this country Mr. Germeshausen has voted with the Republican party and supported its principles with unwavering zeal. He came to this county a young man, unmarried, and it was not until some years later that he established domestic ties, his marriage in 1868 uniting him with Miss Mary Selma Beck, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, but from early life a resident of Woodland. They are the parents of seven children now living. It was their misfortune to lose two of their sons, Joseph, Jr., and William, when they were about twenty-seven years of age. The surviving sons remain in Yolo county: Beno is clerk at the Pacific house, this city; Edwin is a blacksmith in Woodland, and Daniel is the manager of the old homestead. The eldest daughter, Lena, is the wife of Fred Ewert, of this city; Selma, Mrs. Abele, resides near Cacheville; Katherina is Mrs. Gumbinger, of Woodland, and Minnie married Ben Harling, also of this city. 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] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/germesha85nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb