California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


THEODORE H. SCHUKNECHT.� Among Fresno County's success- 
ful men of the later period is Theodore H. Schuknecht, who owns two ranches 
of forty acres each in the Lone Star section, and sixty acres in Tulare County. 
Mr. Schuknecht was born near Waterloo, Iowa, February 24, 1868. His father, 
Christopher, and mother, Fredericka (Rahn) Schuknecht, were both born and 
married in Germany, and immediately after marriage came to America. They 
became the owners of a 160-acre farm, and also of a hardware store in Tripoli, 
Iowa, which they operated in connection with the farm. They raised a family 
of thirteen children, of whom Theodore is the sixth. Three girls and five 
boys are still living. Ten grew to manhood and womanhood. 

Mr. Schuknecht spent his boyhood days in Iowa, attended the common 
schools, and spent a short time at the high school. At the age of nineteen the 
whole care of the home place fell upon him, because of an accident to his 
father, who was gored by a mad bull, and died at the age of fifty-five. His 
mother died in Iowa at the age of sixty-three years. 

In 1892 Theodore Schuknecht was married to Miss Mabel Bennett, 
whose parents, E. C. and Amelia (Dickey) Bennett, were likewise early set- 
tlers of Iowa. They were originally from Connecticut and Pennsylvania, re- 
spectively. Mr. and Mrs. Schuknecht have one child, Randolph, who grad- 
uated from the Fowler High School. 

Mr. Schuknecht owned a farm of 160 acres in Iowa and farmed there un- 
til 1907, when, desiring to get away from the rigorous winters of Iowa, they 
moved to the Pacific Coast. He had his heart set on the Rogue River Valley, 
Ore., and consequently bought tickets for Medford, Ore., but when he arrived 
there he was afraid of the damp climate, on account of his son, who was in 
feeble health. He decided to see more of the country before he settled down. 
and so came to Fresno County, Cal., looked over the country and took an 
option on forty acres, which has become his home. He then made an extended 
trip through Southern California, but returned to Fresno and began to im- 
prove his place. This was twelve years ago. Four years later he bought 
another place of forty acres adjoining on the north, and in 1917 bought sixty 
acres at Orosi, Tulare County. The two ranches near Lone Star are devoted 
to Thompson seedless and muscat raisins, while the ranch at Orosi is devoted 
to malagas and emperors ; there are eight acres of black mission figs and 
eight acres Valencia oranges, the balance being devoted to the home build- 
ings and to alfalfa. He rents out the two ranches at Lone Star, and with the 
aid of hired help takes care of the Orosi ranch himself. 

His raisins are very choice. A certain woman made a business for several 
years past of supplying particular and discriminating customers in the East 
with choice layer raisins put up in fancy packages. She bought them from 
the painstaking growers, and for two seasons sold the raisins bought from 
Mr. Schuknecht, and grown on his ranches in Fresno County, to the White 
House, at Washington. D. C, so that his product has found its way to the 
table of President Wilson. 

Mr. Schuknecht is a progressive and wide-awake man. In politics a Re- 
publican, he has a keen insight into political matters, and fights graft and 
grafters. He helps along every worthy object, stands four-square behind the 
government, and patriotically supports its war measures. He is interested 
in the Raisin Growers' Association, and has served as member of the school 
board of the Lone Star district. He and his family are members of the First 
Presbyterian Church at Fowler. Mrs. Schuknecht supplies all that is needed 
in the home-maker, and her worth is known outside the family gates.