San Joaquin County Biographies


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



 
THEODORE HENKE.
 
        A successful grain farmer, highly esteemed as one of the pioneers who 
contributed much, at the expense of years of toil and much personal sacrifice, 
toward making the prosperous and attractive San Joaquin County of today, is 
Theodore Henke, whose ranch interests are near Vernalis. He was born in 
Pomerania, near Berlin, Germany, on June 11, 1864, and spent his early years on 
his father's farm, enjoying some of the superior educational advantages for 
which his native land has so long been famous. In October, 1882 he came to 
America, and located on a farm at La Crosse, Wis., where he spent about three 
years prior to his coming to California. He remained in San Francisco until 
1887, working at the carpenter's trade; and having taken up that handiwork, he 
made himself one of the most painstaking and accomplished of journey�men, always 
giving satisfaction by his honest labor. He had received, in blood and 
home-training, a priceless legacy from his parents, his father being Charles 
Henke, a native of Berlin, Germany, who passed away in that city on February 8, 
1906, while his mother, who is still living in Pomerania, at the age of 
ninety-two, was Wilhelmine Basko before her marriage. Our subject was preceded 
to San Francisco by his brother, August, who came out to California in 1884.
        In 1889, Mr. Henke took up grain farming near Vernalis, and he has owned 
his ranch since 1905. In 1889, too, he was married to Miss Eliza Gerlach, who 
was born in New York City, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. and Mary (Kruse) 
Gerlach, both of whom are now deceased, who were sturdy pioneers in Stockton and 
on the West Side of San Joaquin County. Three children have sprung from this 
fortunate union. Herman was born on September 14, 1895, and gave great promise 
to his many friends; but he was killed in an accident near Vernalis during the 
harvest season of 1916. Then came Olga, and after her Theodore, Jr. Besides his 
fine tract of 466 acres of grain-land, Mr. Henke owns valuable residence 
property in Tracy, evidence of his prosperity, the fruit of long industry and 
unimpeachable integrity. He was admitted to citizenship at Stockton in 1887.
 
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p   1131       
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.