Sacramento County Biographies

JOHN MEISTER

Transcribed by: Nancy Pratt Melton

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

      

SACRAMENTO TOWNSHIP.
Page 287.
 
	was born in the Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, April 17, 1820; 
was in the dairying and farming business there until 1852, when he came to the 
United States, coming direct to St. Louis via New Orleans. Only staying a few 
days at St. Louis, he proceeded to Jefferson City, where he, with two of his 
countrymen, purchased an emigrant outfit and started across the plains to 
California; after 142 days they arrived at Placerville. After a short experience 
in gold-washing with the cradle, he embarked in the dairy business at 
Sacramento, with 30 head of cows on the unoccupied lands about Sutter's Fort. In 
the spring of 1855, his brother Jacob, who had lately come from Switzerland, and 
he commenced the dairy business, and time year succeeding they bought 945 acres 
across the American River, 4 miles north of Sacramento, and largely increased 
the dairy and stock business. In 1863 he bought the block of land on 16th and D, 
and then built his residence, which is shown on another page, and also at the 
same time erected there his large barn to house his cows during the winter 
months. In 1874 the brothers bought the piece of land 105 acres, near the Tivoli 
House, Sacramento, for a dairy; in 1876 John Meister and his brother Jacob 
dissolved partnership, the former keeping the Tivohi farm and the latter time 
farm across the river; John keeping the dairy business to the present time. Mr. 
Meister married Miss Pauline Herr, formerly of Baden, Germany, January 28, 1858. 
She died November 28, 1872. The children were Albert, Annie, Pauline, and 
Louisa, all now living at home. November 7, 1876, Mr. Meister again married Miss 
Aurelia Wirth, formerly of Switzerland. A view of his place is given in another 
page. 
 
Source: History of Sacramento County, California With Illustrations 1880 by 
Thompson & West.