Kings County
Biographies
HENRY BORGWARDT, SR.
There is probably not a citizen of the Kern valley who has spent a more busy life, or taken a more active part in the pioneer development of Central California, than the venerable Henry Borgwardt, Sr., as will be seen by the following sketch. He was born at Lubeck, Germany, July 30, 1832. He left his native country at twenty-two years of age, as a sailor before the mast of a merchant ship from Hamburg. He sailed around Cape Horn and made the port of San Francisco in July, 1854. Here he decided to abandon seafaring life and sought employment on land. After filling for a time a situation in a hotel in Greenwood valley, El Dorado County, he engaged in mining, and led the life of the average miner for about five years, with success, good, bad and indifferent. In 1859 he made a new departure, and entered into the dairy business at Greenwood, on a somewhat extensive scale. He milked from fifty to sixty cows and sold the milk in the mining towns and the district lying along the Middle Fork of the American river, receiving $1 per gallon for the same. The historic drouth of 1864 brought the dairy business to a close. He then engaged in mining in Nevada and other points until 1869, when he located on Poso creek, in Kern County, and engaged in sheep-raising. Here he continued for thirteen years, and the story of the sheep-herder’s lie and that of his family in that new and then unsettled region of the country, as related to Mr. and Mrs. Borgwardt, is full of interest as illustrating the fact that the pastoral life of the shepherd is not entirely one of dreamy poetry, even in the lonely hills and valleys of Central California. Skulking, treacherous, thieving Indians with big mouths for mutton were ever and anon in the background, ready to help themselves or without ceremony make their wants known at the point of the tomahawk or poisoned arrow. At times, when found necessary, the herds must be driven into the mountains for better grazing, and who should remain home for days and ofttimes weeks to care for the “little ones” and guard the premises from the rangers of the dusky red man but mother and younger boys? Chapters could be written in giving the thrilling experiences of these pioneers of Kern County. They remained at Poso creek until 1881, and then sold out their stock business and located at Bakersfield.
In 1881 Mr. Borgwardt purchased eighty acres of land adjoining both the town plats of Bakersfield and Sumner, a portion of which has been surveyed into villa lots and sold. Mr. Borgwardt married Miss Caroline Peterson, a native of Denmark. She was a passenger on the ship on which her husband sailed to America, and they were married soon after their arrival in San Francisco, in November, 1854. The union has proved a most happy one. Through storms upon sea and storms upon land she has been at his side to sympathize and counsel with him in his reverses and rejoice with him in his successes. Mrs. Borgwardt is a lady of intellectual accomplishments. She received a thorough education in both the Danish and German public schools. Both Mr. and Mrs. Borgwardt are well versed in the affairs of their adopted country, and their hearts and lives have been full of good works and deeds. Their union has been blessed with nine children, six of whom are living. The complete list is: Mary, the eldest of the family and an accomplished young woman, died June 3, 1888; Henry L., the present sheriff of Kern County, is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Andrew died June 10, 1878; William, born December 1, 1860; Dora, born May 18, 1863, and died a month afterward; Charles, born August 30, 1864; Francis, October 11, 1866; George W., born June 18, 1868; and Morris, October 7, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Borgwardt made a trip to Europe in 1889, spending six months and enjoying a visit with friends and relatives they had not seen for thirty-five years.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 511-512
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ROWEN IRWIN
was born in Putnam County, Indiana, in 1858. His father, Isaac A. Irwin, a Baptist minister, moved to Johnson County, Nebraska, in 1868, and there followed an agricultural life. Rowen obtained his education in the common schools of Nebraska, and at the age of twelve years evinced a taste for the law. To him the court room was so attractive that he would frequently steal in and give up his meals in order to remain and listen to a legal argument. At the age of fourteen he began reading law, and at eighteen entered the law office of Irwin & Selby, Tecumseh, Nebraska. After remaining there about two years the close confinement began to tell on his constitution, and for the benefit of his health he came West, locating in Josephine County, Oregon, where he mined and taught school about one year.
In 1879 Mr. Irwin came to California and located at Hanford. Here he continued the study of law until 1882, when he was admitted to the bar. Since that time he has been located at Hanford, but his business has by no means been confined to the county in which he resides. He is a devotee of his profession and engages in no side issues. Beginning with general law, his business is leading into a criminal practice, in which his successes are proof of his marked ability.
Mr. Irwin was married in Hanford, in 1884, to Miss Mary B. Deardorf, a native of California, and their union has been blessed with two children – Florence and Edgar Brutus.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 521-522
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler