San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1216
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/27/2010
FREDERICK KUCKUK
An experienced, enterprising and unusually successful rancher is Frederick Kuckuk, who is farming Delta land about thirteen miles southwest of Stockton, on Upper Roberts Island on Middle River. He was born in the principality of Lippe-Detmold, on October 25, 1857, a son of Frederick and Augusta (Peiper) Kuckuk, and was reared on a farm, enjoying the best of educational advantages as the son of well-to-do and affectionate parents. On November 18, 1884, he was married to Miss Lena Elbracht, a native of the nearby Westphalian Bielefeld, and the daughter of G. Henry and M. Elizabeth (Meyer zu Hadelager) Elbracht, sturdy farmer-folks. In 1886, Mr. and Mrs. Kuckuk came out to America and spent six months at Cairo, Ill., but they came out to California, and in the spring of 1887, arrived at Williams & Bixler ranch on Union Island.
Mr. Kuckuk commenced ranching on the lower reclamation of Union Island, establishing himself there with a partner, Will Schmidt, now the banker at Tracy; and in 1888 he plunged the first plow to disturb the soil of the newly-reclaimed lower division, and from the start met with fair success. The following year, the prospects were bright for a very good crop; but a break in the Grant Line levee caused a fatal loss. He then tried farming on the middle division, but gave it up to move to Roberts Island, at the same time that he rented a large farm in Napa Valley and farmed in both places until 1896.
In 1917, Mr. Kuckuk moved to his present home, where he has had almost phenomenal success in the operation of 300 acres devoted to the stock business—the raising of hogs, sheep and cattle, alfalfa and grain, and also some of the finest bronze turkeys ever seen in this section. He makes a specialty of the Poland-China hogs, crossing with pure-bred Berkshire, which mature for market in six months time upon his delta ranch; and he has established an enviable reputation for himself as an agriculturist. He enjoys the esteem of all who know him, and the devotion of a wide circle of friends. He has seen many remarkable changes in the Delta region, and has personally undergone many hardships due to farming in such a district.
In Judge Smith's Court at Stockton, Mr. Kuckuk was made a citizen, and since then he has marched with the Republicans, as has also his wife. He has two children: Frederick, Jr., is now a prosperous rancher at Paradise, West Side, San Joaquin County; and Louise, who was the first white girl born on Union Island, is now the wife of H.Z. Bardin, whose life-story is elsewhere related in this volume.
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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