Yolo-Napa County CA Archives Biographies.....Wilkendorf, August 1867 - 1889
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 22, 2006, 9:20 pm

Author: Tom Gregory (1913)

AUGUST WILKENDORF

    Three continents gave a home to Mr. Wilkendorf at different periods of his
life, Europe having formed the environment of his earliest memories, while
Australia afforded him a livelihood during early manhood and America was the
scene of his latest and most successful efforts. In his native land of Prussia
he had attended the German schools and learned the shoemaker's trade, but when
the time came for him to make his own way in the world he decided to go to
Australia. The mines of that country were his first place of employment, but no
special good fortune rewarded his labors, and in a short time he turned his
attention to the butcher's trade, which he followed in the city of Melbourne.
Meanwhile having heard of the progress of the Civil war in the United States, he
determined to come hither and enlist as a soldier, but when at the end of a long
but uneventful voyage he landed at the port of San Francisco he found the
struggle so near a close that recruits were not enrolled. It was then the latter
part of 1864, but a few months before the end of the Rebellion. When he found
that he must abandon all hope of service as a soldier he turned his attention to
mining and for a time worked in the quicksilver mines at Knoxville in Napa county.

    Coming to Yolo in 1868, Mr. Wilkendorf bought a raw tract of one hundred and
sixty acres situated six miles southwest of Woodland. From that time until his
death in August of 1889 he devoted his attention undividedly to the improvement
of the property, which he increased by subsequent purchases until it embraced
four hundred and eighty acres. To this ranch in 1869 he brought his bride, who
was Miss Margaret Klipple, a native of Germany and a woman of industrious
disposition, energetic and capable, devoted to her family and her home and of
great assistance to her husband in his efforts to secure a competency. They were
the parents of six children, namely: Mrs. Bertha Hucke, Herman A., Mrs. Agnes
Clover, Frederick A., Otto F. and George I. After becoming a citizen of
California Mr. Wilkendorf gave his support to all movements for its advancement
and proved himself to be loyal and patriotic. Fraternally he held membership
with the Order of Chosen Friends and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

    Since the death of this old resident of Yolo county two of his sons, Herman
A. and Otto F., have together carried on the old homestead, and in addition they
have entered upon the care of other lands, so that at this writing they have
twenty-six hundred acres of tillable land under their supervision. The old
homestead is being developed into a stock ranch, with dairying as a special
industry and alfalfa as the principal feed for the cows, twenty-five in number.
Fifty head of mules are kept, many of these being necessary to the care of the
land and the harvesting of the crops. Modern machinery adds to the equipment of
the ranch and reduces the number of hired hands necessary to the place. Hence
they use a sixty horse-power traction engine for all farm purposes, as well as
gathering the crop with a combined harvester. Both of the brothers are excellent
judges of stock and thorough believers in the value of stock raising as the
leading occupation for landowners, their opinion being that the carrying of
stock not only keeps the land in better order, but also brings enlarged returns
in the direct receipts from the sale of the increase. They have devoted their
time so unreservedly to the management of the large area under their charge that
they have had little leisure to participate in local enterprises or public
affairs, but they are highly honored socially and the older brother is also
prominent in the order of the Herman Sons, besides being a member of all the
branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


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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