California Biographies
Bihler, William

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Bihler, William. Born in Eppingen, Baden, Germany, May 16,1828. Emigrated, with
parents, to America, when only nine years of age, and settled in Baltimore,
where he was educated. Early in life he embarked in business, as butcher, which
he continued until 1848, when he came to California, via Cape Horn, arriving in
San Francisco in October of the above year. Here he followed his former
occupation until the Fall of 1850, when he came to this county. About one year
later he purchased a ranch in Sonoma valley, where he remained until 1859, when
he purchased his present-ranch of eight thousand acres, located in Vallejo
township, in an easterly direction from Lakeville, where he has since resided,
carrying on farming, stock-raising and dairying, on a very large scale. He also
owns two and one-quarter leagues of land in Salt Point township. To Mr. Bihler
belongs the honor of bringing to this county the best bred stock in the country.
The first importation from England was his draught stallion, "Young England's
Glory," in 1858; the second importation was in 1870, when he brought, in
connection with some other fine stock, four full-blooded Durham heifers, and a
Durham bull. In 1861 he imported four fine jacks; known to be of the best blood
of any in the country. Mr. Bihler has done more to advance and elevate the
interest in blooded stock in this county than any other man, and all praise is
due to him for his labors in this direction.

Source: HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, Alley, Bowen & Co. 1880