California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JOHN HENRY DANKER. Well known as a pioneer settler of California, and as the owner 
of a finely improved ranch, which is located two miles southeast of Newman, John Henry Danker 
is especially deserving of personal mention in this biographical volume. One of the foremost 
agriculturists of this part of the San Joaquin valley, he has accumulated much wealth in his 
chosen vocation, his homestead property, with its substantial and convenient buildings, and its 
large dairy, from which he derives a good annual income, giving visible evidence of his in- 
dustry, good management and success. A native of Germany, he was born August 3, 1837, 
in Elmshorn in the Duchy of Holstein, which was also the birthplace of his parents, John and 
Ann (Munster) Danker, being the youngest of a family of twelve children, eleven of whom grew 
to years of maturity. 

Brought up in his native town, John Henry Danker began life for himself at the age of 
eleven years, herding cattle during the summer seasons, and attending school winters. 
Subsequently engaging in seafaring pursuits, he was employed in foreign trade for two years, 
and for one year hunted seals off the coast of Greenland. Sailing from Hamburg August 5, 
1855, Mr. Danker started for America. Off Cape Horn the vessel was for six weeks and 
three days in a terrible gale, and driven seven hundred miles out of its course. They stopped 
four weeks in Valparaiso, arriving in San Francisco March 8, 1856, having been more than 
seven months on the ocean. Securing work on a ranch, Mr. Danker mowed hay and milked 
cows in that section of the city that is now builtup with substantial brick houses. Subsequently 
removing to Contra Costa county, he worked as a farm laborer in San Ramon from 1869 until 
1879. Coming then to the San Joaquin valley, he rented land on the west side, prior to the 
building of the canal, and engaged in farming on his own account. 

Purchasing his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 1879, he worked hard to im- 
prove it. succeeding so well that it was soon numbered among the most valuable estates 
in this part of the county. For many years he carried on general farming, raising large crops 
of hay and grain, by thrift and judicious management accumulating a large share of this 
world's goods. He is now living somewhat retired from active pursuits, renting his ranch, 
which is sowed mostly to alfalfa, for dairy purposes. Mr. Danker is a man of keen foresight 
and sound judgment, and occupies a secure position in the consideration and respect of his 
fellowmen. In his political views he is a stanch Republican, and in his religious beliefs is a 
Lutheran.