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William Benitz | Page last modified: |
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William Benitz | Page last modified: |
William Benitz
ca.1855, age 40
(Source: John C. Benitz)
Josephine Kolmer/Benitz
ca. 1855, age 25
(Source: John C. Benitz)
Fort Ross was very isolated, almost all contact with the outside world was by sea. In 1867, William sold Fort Ross and moved the family to Oakland, where the children could attend proper schools and he had better investment opportunities.
Fort Ross from the south (2002)
Editorial Jottings by the Way-side....Passing over a spur of the mountain clothed with a heavy forest of redwood and fir, we entered an opening from whence we looked down upon Fort Ross, on the level plain below.
...
As we descended the slope toward the Fort we felt as if approaching a spot entitled to a prominent place in the antiquities of our State. The Greek church of Russian architecture that forms one corner of the quadrangle; the two-story octagonal sentry houses of solid hewn timber, forming the diagonal corners of the palisade, and with loop-holes for cannon and small arms; and the massive gates which protect the front entrance; conjured up to our mind conjectures of the scenes of which it was the theatre, long, long years ago.
Having a letter of introduction to Mr. Bennettz, we dismounted and the ponderous gate yielded to our pressure and swung back creaking upon its rusty hinges. All the appointments inside, were in keeping with those without; strength and durability predominating over the ornamental. The substantial dwelling; the out-houses ranged around the square; the well in the centre; the four huge mastiffs of the St. Bernard and Newfoundland breed that fondled around us as we approached the dwelling; completed a picture that came nearer our conception of the surroundings of some of the old Feudal Barons than anything we ever experienced before. We presented our letter to Mr. Bennettz, who is a very intelligent German, and he at once extended to us the hospitality of his mansion. Mr. Bennettz lives in a world by himself; having a domain that extends from the mouth of Russian River, eighteen miles up the coast, and untenanted except by his vaqueros, who are stationed at various points to take care of his stock. His isolated position deprives his children of the advantages of a public school; but to atone for this he has employed a private teacher; competent to impart instruction in both the English and German languages.
William was active in Sonoma county organizations:
Memberships are shown in date sequence...
Proceedings of the |
Wm. Benitz, elected a Vice President |
Wm. Bennettz, Salt Point |
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William Benitz |
“ Wm Benitz, |
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This collection of William’s books shows he was interested in travel and the political movements in Germany. The books came to us from Silvia Ucko, a grand-daughter of William’s daughter Josephine (m. John Schreiber). These are probably only a few of his books.
Per the dates of publication (1845-1853) and the book-store labels on the inside cover of several books, we surmise William bought them in San Francisco in the 1850s. Per city directories, this German book store at 179 Street existed in the 1850s. The store still existed into the 1860s, but with different owners.
The books are printed in German Fraktur (Gothic) script, an obsolete script we found difficult to read. However, the Google Translate application does a fine job.
The books are damp-stained. In some, William wrote his name “W. Benitz” on the front fly-leaf, in others someone else, most likely a grandchild, wrote “W.O.B.” using a blue ballpoint pen (invented in the 1950s), in others the initials are in black ink. In some the fly-leaf is embossed with: “Llao Llao” (a hotel/resort that opened in 1939, in Bariloche, Argentina). (Note: William did not have a middle name, his initials were: “W.B.”.)
US Civil War: 1861-1865
THIS PAGE IS UNDER RE-CONSTRUCTION...
© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)
