Santa Barbara County Biographies

ALBERT J. BOESEKE

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

ALBERT J. BOESEKE was born at Schwedt, on the Oder River in the State 
of Prussia, January 6, 1828; was educated in the common schools and learned the 
trade of tinsmith. In 1848 he was mustered into the Prussian army, and after three years 
of active service he was discharged. He then worked two years, and emigrated to America 
in 1853, landing at New York. In 1855 he went to Muscatine, Iowa, as a pioneer, and 
started in business, remaining until 1865, when he crossed the plains to California, by
way of Salt Lake City, bringing with him his wife and three children, and was nineteen 
weeks on the journey. He first began work at San Francisco, but, not liking the climate, 
and hearing through friends of the more salubrious climate of Santa Barbara, he came 
to that city, where he established himself and has since (1890) remained. He first 
opened a tinshop and gradually ran into hardware, and then, by taking in a partner, 
trouble began, as the partner defaulted and Mr. Boeseke lost heavily. He then sold out 
to Smith & Edwards, and, after settling up the old business, continued a one-third  
interest, which he held until 1889, when he felt that his health was failing, and to close 
up his affairs sold out his interest. He has been a; hard-working man, and through thrift 
and economy and the natural increase in values, has attained a comfortable competence. 
He was married at Comanche, Iowa, in 1858, to Miss Eliza Fluehe, a native of Ham- 
burg, on the the Elbe River. They have six children living, He is a member of the F. 
& A. M. and of the Odd Fellows. He says with great pride that he is a strong temper- 
ance man and does not use tobacco, and neither of his four sons either smoke or 
drink. Mr. Boeseke has many interests in town, as the accumulation of his years of 
prosperity; and who is more worthy to enjoy than the hard-working pioneer ? 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.