San Joaquin County Biographies


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



 
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 lifestory is elsewhere related in 
this volume.
 
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p    1216      
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.