The Valley of Heart's Delight
OTTO ABEL
Santa Clara Valley
Fruit Grower
SURNAMES; Michel, Baumgarntner,
An enterprising rancher of the Santa Clara Valley, who by industry and
perseverance has succeeded in accumulating a substantial competence, and
comfortable home, is Otto Abel, who owns a fine orchard on the Homestead
Road. He was born in the Rhine Province, Germany, June 22, 1865, the
son of John and Eva Abel, both natives of that county, and there he was
reared on a farm and received his education, remaining at home until he
was eighteen years old, when he left home, bound for America and
California. He settled first in the Sacramento Valley and did farm work
for ten years near Marysville, Cal., then removing to the Santa Clara
Valley he bought ten acres on the Foxworthy Road. For five years he
farmed this place and worked for neighboring farmers, thus enabling him
to pay for his ranch. He resided on this place for twelve years, then
disposed of it and rented a fifteen-acre fruit ranch, and ran this for
two years; then in 1907 he bought the thirty-acre orchard on the
Homestead Road. This ranch was set to prunes, but was an old orchard
and Mr. Abel pulled out the old trees and planted in anew; also built a
new house and other buildings, making substantial and attractive
improvements.
Mr. Abel's marriage occurred in the fall of 1894 in Sacramento and
united him with Miss Eva Michel , a native daughter of Adam and Margaret
Michel. Both parents were natives of Rhine Province in Germany, and
were farmers there. They are the parents of three children; Anna, now
Mrs. H. J. Baumgartner, residing on a ranch; Lawrence resides in
Sunnyvale; and Edward lives at home with his parents. Mr. Abel disposed
of ten acres of his ranch in 1915; retaining the balance of twenty acres.
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California,
published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 1396
Santa Clara County- The Valley of Heart's Delight
July 20. 2005