San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1629-1630
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/25/2010
THEODORE KNECHT
Numbered among the vineyardists of San Joaquin County is Theodore Knecht, who resides on his ten-acre vineyard on Almond avenue, south of Lodi. He is a native of South Russia, his birth occurring on September 12, 1872. His parents, Ferdinand and Katherine (Malke) Knecht, both natives of Russia, engaged in farming in their native country. On June 12, 1885, when our subject was twelve years old, the family arrived in the United States and settled in Edmunds County, S.D. There were five children in the family when they arrived in Dakota as follows: Theodore, Emanuel, Lydia, Mollie, and John. Two boys, Frank and Adolph, were born in Edmunds County. At the time of their arrival in South Dakota there was little chance of making a living and they were obliged to gather straw to burn for fuel, and our subject helped his father gather the dried cattle bones on the prairie to sell so as to buy food for the family. Later the father filed on a homestead, a timber claim and a preemption, and there he lived until 1917, when they came to Lodi, where the parents both live.
Theodore Knecht knew nothing but hard work from the time he was old enough to handle farm tools, and his schooling in the United States covered a period of two months, but this has been greatly supplemented in later years by reading and experience. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, then he homesteaded a quarter section of land in the same county as his father's property, which he devoted to the raising of grain.
The marriage of Mr. Knecht occurred at Milltown, S.D., on February 14, 1896, and united him with Miss Katherine Boerge, a native of Krem, South Russia, who came to the United States when she was about sixteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht lived on their homestead until 1918, meantime adding another quarter-section of land, which is still owned by Mr. Knecht. In 1918 Mr. Knecht and children removed to Lodi, his wife having died on March 3, 1918. He bought his present ten-acre vineyard on Almond avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht had five living children: Emma, Mrs. Judith of Sacramento; Mary, John, Elsie and Samuel are at home. Mrs. Knecht was a devoted wife and mother. In politics Mr. Knecht is a Republican and he attends the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Lodi.
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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