Kings County Biographies

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler


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


 
HENRY BORGWARDT, SR.
 
            There is probably not a citizen of the Kern valley who has spent a 
more busy life, or taken a more active part in the pioneer development of 
Central California, than the venerable Henry Borgwardt, Sr., as will be seen by 
the following sketch.  He was born at Lubeck, Germany, July 30, 1832.  He left 
his native country at twenty-two years of age, as a sailor before the mast of a 
merchant ship from Hamburg.  He sailed around Cape Horn and made the port of San 
Francisco in July, 1854.  Here he decided to abandon seafaring life and sought 
employment on land.  After filling for a time a situation in a hotel in 
Greenwood valley, El Dorado County, he engaged in mining, and led the life of 
the average miner for about five years, with success, good, bad and indifferent. 
 In 1859 he made a new departure, and entered into the dairy business at 
Greenwood, on a somewhat extensive scale.  He milked from fifty to sixty cows 
and sold the milk in the mining towns and the district lying along the Middle 
Fork of the American river, receiving $1 per gallon for the same.  The historic 
drouth of 1864 brought the dairy business to a close.  He then engaged in mining 
in Nevada and other points until 1869, when he located on Poso creek, in Kern 
County, and engaged in sheep-raising.  Here he continued for thirteen years, and 
the story of the sheep-herder�s lie and that of his family in that new and then 
unsettled region of the country, as related to Mr. and Mrs. Borgwardt, is full 
of interest as illustrating the fact that the pastoral life of the shepherd is 
not entirely one of dreamy poetry, even in the lonely hills and valleys of 
Central California. Skulking, treacherous, thieving Indians with big mouths for 
mutton were ever and anon in the background, ready to help themselves or without 
ceremony make their wants known at the point of the tomahawk or poisoned arrow.  
At times, when found necessary, the herds must be driven into the mountains for 
better grazing, and who should remain home for days and ofttimes weeks to care 
for the �little ones� and guard the premises from the rangers of the dusky red 
man but mother and younger boys?  Chapters could be written in giving the 
thrilling experiences of these pioneers of Kern County.  They remained at Poso 
creek until 1881, and then sold out their stock business and located at 
Bakersfield.
            In 1881 Mr. Borgwardt purchased eighty acres of land adjoining both 
the town plats of Bakersfield and Sumner, a portion of which has been surveyed 
into villa lots and sold.  Mr. Borgwardt married Miss Caroline Peterson, a 
native of Denmark.  She was a passenger on the ship on which her husband sailed 
to America, and they were married soon after their arrival in San Francisco, in 
November, 1854.  The union has proved a most happy one.  Through storms upon sea 
and storms upon land she has been at his side to sympathize and counsel with him 
in his reverses and rejoice with him in his successes.  Mrs. Borgwardt is a lady 
of intellectual accomplishments. She received a thorough education in both the 
Danish and German public schools.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Borgwardt are well versed 
in the affairs of their adopted country, and their hearts and lives have been 
full of good works and deeds.  Their union has been blessed with nine children, 
six of whom are living.  The complete list is:  Mary, the eldest of the family 
and an accomplished young woman, died June 3, 1888; Henry L., the present 
sheriff of Kern County, is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Andrew died June 
10, 1878; William, born December 1, 1860; Dora, born May 18, 1863, and died a 
month afterward; Charles, born August 30, 1864; Francis, October 11, 1866; 
George W., born June 18, 1868; and Morris, October 7, 1871.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Borgwardt made a trip to Europe in 1889, spending six months and enjoying a 
visit with friends and relatives they had not seen for thirty-five years.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 
California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892  p. 511-512