Title:

Autobiography and Reminiscence of Johann Eduard Knoche, San Jose, Cal., 1901.

[Institutional Records Digitization Project: Reminiscences of Early Pioneers: 1900-1904]

Creator/Contributor:

Knoche, Johann Eduard, 1819-1903, creator

Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p. 67-100, Vol. 3. This is a typed transcript, bound into a volume, of the member's autobiographical reminiscence created as an institutional record for the Society of California Pioneers. The transcription includes a reference to a photograph of the member in a set of bound volumes. It appears that the photographs in this set were dispersed throughout the regular photography collection, but the photographs referenced in the related materials may or may not be these same photographs. This reminiscence (1846-1890) details Knoche's journey to California from New Orleans via Montevideo, Uruguay under siege. Knoche heard stories of life in California on board, mainly that California was lawless, encouraging passengers on the ship to arm themselves for San Francisco. Knoche discusses his businesses in S.F., landlords, costs of goods, and working as a waiter and a miner. Finally paragraphs discuss the burning of the El Dorado and Parker House in S. F., the last "Bull and Bear Fight" in San Jose, an attempt at pear andsilk farming, James Lick and the state of currency in California, with a note that states "more details of San Jose history was published in the early '80s in the 'San Jose Pioneer', Vol. 3 No. 2, 3, and 4."

Date:

1901 (issued)

Subject:

Knoche, Johann Eduard -- 1819-1903

Pioneers -- California -- Biography

Voyages to the Pacific Coast

Voyages and travels

Frontier and pioneer life

Gold mines and mining -- California -- Personal narratives

Gold mines and mining -- Social Aspects -- California.

Banks and banking -- California -- History

Gold standard -- United States -- History -- 19th century.

Currency question -- United States -- History -- 19th century.

Montevideo (Uruguay) -- Description

Montevideo (Uruguay) -- History -- Siege, 1843-1852.

San Francisco (Calif.) -- History

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader

Autobiography & Reminiscence of Johann Eduard Knoche, San Jose, Cal., 1901. The Society of California Pioneers

Johann Eduard Knoche, born on March 1st, 1819 in Salzderhelden, Germany, trained as a gold and silver smith. In 1846, he came to New Orleans, leaving in 1849 with other gold-seekers for California on the bark, "Montgomery" via Montevideo and Valparaiso. Working as a gold and silversmith on Kearney Street, he was flooded out and then opened a street coffee stand with a partner who soon left for the mines. Knoche followed but returned to S.F. shortly afterward. During 1850 Knoche worked as a dishwasher, a waiter and then a goldsmith. In April 1850, Knoche left with 4 other Germans for the mines via Pacheco Pass. With no success, he decided to head further south but lost his provisions in a fire. Returning to Aqua Frio, with his previous partners Knoche worked the mines of Mariposa for 4 weeks and returned to S.F. to start a beverage supply business in San Jose. Knoche's next business was in farming a portion of the Stockton Ranch eventually failed

Type:

Autobiographies.

[34] p. ; 35 x 21 cm.

English

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Origin:

California

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader.

Collection:

The Society of California Pioneers collection of autobiographies and reminiscences of early pioneers