CHRISTIAN M. KLOTZ—W. A. ALLEN
BIO-Sawyers
SURNAMES: PEOPLES, ALLEN, HARPER
A native of Germany. Christian M. Koltz was born in Stein, Baden,
in 1827, and received his education in that district. When he was still
a young man he came to the United States, first settling in New Jersey.
and there he married Miss Margaret Peoples. a native of Belfast, County
Antrim, Ireland, of Scotch descent, who came to the United States in
1849. In 1861 the family removed to California and located at San Jose,
in 1864. after a visit to Germany, they took up their residence in
Bridgeport, Conn., remaining until 1867, when they returned to
California and San Jose, where they have continuously resided. Mr.
Klotz was engaged for a short time in gardening and then started a
winery in San Jose; he also set out a twenty-acre vineyard near
Saratoga. He died in 1889 and his widow survived him until 1896. They
had two children, Christina, now Mrs. Allen of Saratoga, and John, who
died in 1893.
Christina Klotz was born in San Jose, and in 1894 was married to Samuel
Harper, a native of Belfast, Ireland, after which they took up their
residence on the Klotz ranch. Mr. Harper died in 1913 and in 1915 Mrs.
Harper married a second time, being united with William A. Allen who
was born in 1851 in Buffalo, N. Y., where he was reared and educated.
At the age of twenty-one he came West and was engaged as purser with
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company for twenty-five years. A son of Mr.
Allen's by a former marriage, Milton S. Allen, enlisted in the Marines
and passed away at Mare Island in November, 1918. Mr. Allen was
prominent in Masonic circles, being a Knight Templar and a Scottish
Rite Mason. He passed away on January 12, 1917, a genial, kindly
gentleman, who was mourned by a large circle of friends. Mrs. Allen
resides on the homeplace, located on the Mountain View Road, which
consists of twenty acres in full-bearing orchard.