California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

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


LOUIS KORTUM.  Son of L W. and Ida Stave Kortum, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, August 25, 
1846, and resided in his birthplace.  Schwerin.  until 1871, first attending school until sixteen years of 
age, and then engaging in the wine and general merchandising business. He remained in this for four 
years; then he clerked for two years, and then engaged with his brother in the same business, 
continuing in it until he came to America, arriving in New York in June, 1871. He went direct to Chicago, 
where he visited for some time with his friends, and then engaged in business there for six months. In 
August, 1872, he started for California, arriving in this State in the same month, first locating in Los 
Angeles in the employ of Messrs. Kohler & Frohling, of San Francisco, remaining in this place nearly 
four years. He next moved to Cucamonga, in San Bernardino County, where he sojourned for three 
years. He then moved to Napa Valley and located in Calistoga, where he has since resided, and is now 
the proprietor of Kortum's wine cellar, of which a full account appears elsewhere in this work.