San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1244-1247
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 10/9/2009
OTTO BILLIGMEIER
Classed with the successful viticulturists of San Joaquin County, Otto Billigmeier is the owner of a beautiful and productive vineyard property northwest of Victor. He was born in McIntosh County, N.D., on February 28, 1895, a son of Samuel and Katherine (Hinz) Billigmeier, natives of southern Russia. His father, Samuel Billigmeier, came to the United States from Russia and settled in North Dakota, where he homesteaded a 160-acre farm and there engaged in farming. In April, 1902, he brought his family to California and first located at Lockeford, where they remained for one year; then he moved to Lodi and bought a twenty-acre ranch near Victor, which he set to vines. Mrs. Billigmeier passed away on January 23, 1923. There were ten children in the family: Christina, now Mrs. Christiansen, of Lodi; Matilda, deceased; Paulina, Mrs. Hepper, of Lodi; Tilly, Mrs. Rathjan, of Lodi; Sarah, Mrs. Dewey, of Stockton; Leah, Mrs. Olson, of Stockton; Esril, who served in the World War, and now resides at Livingston; Otto, the subject of this sketch; Robert, of Lodi; and John, living at home.
When a lad of seven years, Otto Billigmeier accompanied his parents to Lockeford. He attended the Lockeford, Alpine and Victor district schools, which afforded him a good education, and with the knowledge gained on his father's ranch he was able, at the age of eighteen, to start out for himself. He worked at odd jobs throughout the county for about four years, and then he and his brother Robert bought a twenty-acre vineyard. On November 2, 1917, Mr. Billigmeier entered the service of his country and was sent to Camp Lewis, where he remained for a short time. He was then sent to Camp Mills, N.Y., and was placed in Battery C, 146th Field Artillery, and was sent overseas on December 24, 1917. Landing in Liverpool, England, he went to Winchester and Southampton, and then across the Channel to Havre, France. His regiment was sent to Bordeaux, where they trained until July, 1918, then sent to the Alsace front, and afterwards to the St. Mihiel salient. Mr. Billigmeier was in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse, and the Argonne, and also at Montigny, near Stenay. After the Armistice was signed, his regiment was in the Army of Occupation, and remained at Grenzenhausen, in Germany, for about six months, and he was military police interpreter for the regiment. In June, 1919, they set sail for the United States, and Mr. Billigmeier was discharged at the Presidio at San Francisco, July 1, 1919, and received the Victory medal with five bars from his Government, and then returned to his home in Victor.
On February 11, 1920, in Lodi, Cal., Mr. Billigmeier was married to Miss Bertha Schmierer, a daughter of John and Katherine (Motz) Schmierer, who brought their family from North Dakota to Lodi, where the father was a vineyardist. Mrs. Billigmeier was born in McIntosh County, N.D., but received her education in the Alpine and Victor schools, where she and Mr. Billigmeier were schoolmates. Their union has been blessed with two children, Marjorie Lois and Stanley Harold. On his return from the service, Mr. Billigmeier resumed farming, his brother Robert having cared for their place, and soon afterwards they bought a ten-acre place adjoining, but in 1922 they divided the property and dissolved partnership. Otto built a modern bungalow on his ten-acre vineyard, and purchased another ten acres, so he now has twenty acres of vineyard and orchard. Politically, Mr. Billigmeier is a Republican, and fraternally, he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men of Lodi and the Lodi Post No. 22, American Legion. Mr. and Mrs. Billigmeier are members of the Evangelical Church in Lodi, where Mrs. Billigmeier is the organist and Mr. Billigmeier sings in the choir.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN 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
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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