California Biographies
Gerckens, J. H. L.

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Gerckens, J. H. L. Born in Holstein, Germany, on April 15, 1838. Came to America
in 1861, and remained in New York city ten days, when he sailed on board the
"Northern Light" for California. From Panama he took passage on the "Harazota,"
and arrived in San Francisco July 4, 1861. After farming in Alameda county for a
year and a half, he came to Sonoma county, and was engaged in cutting hoop-poles
for eight months, when he returned to Alameda county and worked in the harvest
field one season. He again repaired to this county, and labored in the copper
mines for eight months at Cloverdale. He then went to the gold mines in Idaho,
remaining one year. We next find Mr. Gerckens engaged in dairying in Marin
county, and one year later was again a resident of Sonoma county, settling in
Vallejo township, where he purchased a farm. Here he resided until February,
1877, when he leased his farm, came to Petaluma and became an equal partner in
the management of the Union Hotel.

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