San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1473-1474
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/28/2010
G.W. KUESTHARDT
A period of twelve years covers the time in which G.W. Kuesthardt has accomplished much in the way of development work in the Ripon section of San Joaquin County. As an expert deep-well driller he has succeeded in developing hundreds of wells throughout California; he has also developed two ranches, one of forty acres near Ripon and one of twenty acres, which was formerly a part of the Hughes estate, west of Ripon, where he has erected a fine residence and where he now lives. He was born near Arnsburg, Germany, May 28, 1866, a son of G.C.W. Kuesthardt, born in Hessen, Germany. The father was a finely educated man and was in charge of a children's home at Arnsburg, Germany, for twenty-four years and passed away while in the discharge of his duties in 1876, survived by his widow and eight children. One son, Samuel Kuesthardt, came to America and located at Toledo, Ohio, where he was ordained as a minister in the Lutheran Church. Following the father's death, G.W., our subject, and his mother left Germany for America, arriving in October, 1876, and went directly to Toledo, Ohio, to visit the son and brother Samuel; then they went to Minnesota where they visited at the home of Rev. J.C. Clubsteak, a brother-in-law of our subject, and remained in Minnesota for about one year. Returning to Toledo, Ohio, G.W. entered school and there completed his education. After his school days were over, he learned the cabinetmaker's trade and then went to Norwalk, Ohio, where he found employment in an organ and piano factory, working at his trade until 1884. In 1885 he and his mother came to California, locating in Los Angeles, where he followed carpenter work and at the same time developed a ten-acre orchard near Pomona, and he and his mother resided there until 1906.
From 1896 to 1906, Mr. Kuesthardt followed deep-well drilling in Southern California with marked success. In 1905 he made a visit to Stockton and decided to transfer his activities to San Joaquin County, so in 1906 he removed to Ripon, where he bought forty acres close to town and one acre within what is now the business section of Ripon. Mr. Kuesthardt has equipped his well-drilling outfit with the most modern appliances which greatly facilitate his work, and he has been very successful in his line of work. Among his larger deep-well drilling contracts were those for the Simon Newman ranch, the Associated Pipe Line Company, and other large properties, corporations and municipalities. Mr. Kuesthardt bought twenty acres south of Ripon, which he subdivided; this is known as the Sunnyside subdivision, and today many of the finest homes in Ripon are located here; later he bought twenty acres of the Hughes estate west of Ripon, where he has erected a fine residence, which is his present home.
At Pomona, in 1900, Mr. Kuesthardt was married to Miss Mabel F. King, born near Sheldon, Ill., a daughter of George R. and Mary (Bonzell) King, both natives of Illinois. Her parents removed to Dakota and later came to California, locating in Pomona about 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Kuesthardt are the parents of three children: Ruby, Ella, and Roger. In 1888, while residing in Los Angeles, Mr. Kuesthardt received his final U.S. citizenship papers and has since voted the Republican and Progressive tickets. After four years of experimentation and propagation, Mr. Kuesthardt has perfected what is known as the “Honey Persian” melon. During the season of 1922, he produced over 150 tons of marketable melons from fifteen acres.
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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