California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

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


ANDREAS OTTO. Unusual interest attaches to the name of Andreas Otto, for it was he who built 
the first mill in the United States for the manufacture of sugar, and, although many attempts 
had previously been made, he was the first successfully to manufacture sugar from the beet. 
His knowledge of the refining and making of sugar was gained in Germany, where for 
seventeen and one-half years he engaged in the business near Magdeburg on the river Elbe. 
He was born near that city May 6, 1825. being a son of Peter and Maria Sophia Otto, natives of 
Germany, where the former was interested in general farming and the stock business. At the 
age of eighteen Andreas Otto entered a sugar-mill near his home for the purpose of learning 
the business, which he studied in every department, finally becoming foreman and 
superintendent of the plant. At the time of the revolution of 1848 he entered the German 
arm)' and for three years served as a soldier, returning to the mill at the expiration of his 
service. 

On coming to the United States in 1867 Mr. Otto settled at Fond du Lac, Wis., where he lived in 
a block house and built a crude mill. which was the first of its kind in the country. Sixteen acres 
of his land was under sugar beets, which he used in the manufacture of sugar. People ridiculed 
his enthusiasm on the subject of sugar beets, and declared his mill would be a failure. One old 
man, in particular, scoffed at the idea of making sugar out of beets. After the season's crop was 
harvested he manufactured some sugar. When, the old man came he was shown the product, 
and on tasting found it excellent. Not knowing it was beet sugar, he asked where it had been 
purchased. His surprise was great on being assured that it was a product of beets. At first he 
was incredulous, but finally was convinced that he had tasted genuine beet sugar. The success 
of the mill became known elsewhere. Papers contained glowing accounts of the 
manufacturer's success in the new industry. As a consequence he received letters of inquiry 
from all parts of the United States asking for information concerning his methods of making 
sugar. 

Upon the solicitation of people in California who were interested in the manufacture of sugar, 
Mr. Otto was induced to come west in 1870. Messrs. Flint, Dyer, Hutchinson and others formed 
a company and built at Alvarado the first mill in California. For five years Mr. Otto had charge of 
this plant. At the expiration of that time it was removed to Santa Cruz and rebuilt on a larger 
scale, with a capacity of fifty tons of beets per day. As manager he remained in Santa Cruz for 
five years, but during the entire time there was constant dissension among the stockholders, 
which finally resulted in the disintegration of the corporation. In 1880 Mr. Otto was engaged by 
Claus Spreckels to go to the Sandwich Islands, where he built a sugar mill at Paahau, and 
engaged in the manufacture of sugar from cane. The mill had a large capacity, and was 
successfully operated. During the period of his residence there, in 1882. he invented and 
patented a machine for saving the sugar from the waste scum that had been turned into the 
ocean previously. By reason of this new machinery the mill was enabled to turn out more sugar 
from the same amount of cane than any other mill on the island. He also built tanks to hold the 
syrup so the sugar that theretofore had been wasted would become crystallized and saved. His 
patent covered only ten years, and therefore brought him little financial profit, but he has the 
satisfaction of knowing that it is now in universal use to the benefit of all sugar refiners. 

After six years on the Sandwich Islands. Mr. Otto returned to California. In 1882 he had 
purchased eighty acres on what is now East avenue, four and one-half miles from Fresno, and 
in 1886 he settled on the place, which has since been his home. All of the improvements now 
noticeable here are the result of his energy and careful oversight. It was his ambition to make 
of the property one of the most valuable in all of this section, and in this hope he has not been 
disappointed. The residence that he erected is a comfortable and attractive abode. Orchards 
and vineyard have been set out, and through an excellent system of irrigation have been made 
to bear abundant harvests. A special feature of the estate is the dairy industry, for the 
management of which he has a steam pumping and cooling plant. Of recent years he has 
rented the place to his son, Ewald R. Otto, who is profitably conducting the dairy business. 
While living in Germany Mr. Otto married Miss Elizabeth Elise Wienbeck, a native of the same 
province as himself. They became the parents of eight children, five of whom are living, 
namely: Emil R, who is connected with the packing house in Fresno ; Emma, wife of George 
Noble, of Yisalia ; Bertha, who married Thomas Givens ; Rosa, Mrs. George W. Cartwright ; and 
Ewald R., who rents the home place.