Bernard Kloepfer 1860 -1944

The following references to Bernard Kloepfer are from "Joys and Tears of Yesteryears" by Anna Luneman Baldwin ,1975::

The next wedding in the Kloepfer family was Bernard’s on New Year’s Day, 1890. On that day, he claimed Alice Friedman as his bride. She was the daughter of John and Wilhemina (nee Kleinhaus) Friedman of Jay Hawk. The marriage to this gentle and lovely girl took place in her parent’s home. Alice passed away in 1899. She left two children, Walter and Elizabeth. Barney lived in Jay Hawk for a number of years and after Walter married, he made his home with Walter and his wife, Jeanette (nee Errecart) in Orangevale. During Walter’s boyhood, his father and his uncle August looked after his welfare. Elizabeth Kloepfer, the grandmother, took little Elizabeth in. When she died in 1903, Nora and Will Richardson, friends of the family who lived down in the flat northwest of Trescott Flat, cared for Elizabeth. The Richardsons had a small home at one time on the end of the Luneman land below and to the west of the barn on a level piece of land. Little Elizabeth’s stay at the Richardson’s did not work out well and so the Friedman’s took her in.

The families of other settlers of old rest nearby, among them Alice Friedman who was the wife of Bernard Kloepfer. She rests near the family plot, however her marker is gone and I was unable to find the exact location.

Bernard Kloepfer is buried at Folsom, California.

Photograph of Bernard Kloepfer

Alice Friedman 1866 - 1899

John emigrated from Baden Baden, Germany to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he married Wilhemina Kleinhaus. Two children were born to them in that city, Fredolina in 1850 and John two years later. Shortly after that he came west and settled on 168 acres of land in Jay Hawk on the Deer Valley Road, north of the present post office, which he homesteaded with Peter Fleming, also a native of Germany. Peter's wife was a native of Wales. A few years elapsed before John returned to the east and brought his wife out. Four more children were born to the couple. They were August in 1862 and Mary the next year; Alice in 1866 and Paul was born two years later. These children attended school with the Kloepfers in the upper room over Etzel's Pinchem-Tight General Merchandising Store.

Alice married Bernard Kloepfer on New Year's Day, 1890, in the Friedman home. She was delicate and frail and made a lovely bride. The couple set up housekeeping in a small cottage near the Friedman home. Two children were born to them; Walter in 1894 and Elizabeth two years later. Alice, whose health was poor, passed away in 1899. She was buried in St. Michael's Cemetery on the Starbuck Road. Bernard never remarried.

The families of other settlers of old rest nearby, among them Alice Friedman who was the wife of Bernard Kloepfer. She rests near the family plot, however her marker is gone and I was unable to find t exact location. Just beyond and closer to Green Valley Road, one se the piled rocks that served as cornerstones of the church, mute evidence of what once was. Let your mind wander and one hears t strains of the organ as Mary Ellen (Mrs. Delmont Blair) Smith renders Thomas Aquinas's "Lord, Accept the Gifts We Offer" and the German chorale of "Oh God, Almighty Father. " The thoughts in this spirit words lingered there long after services were over:

Oh God, the Holy Spirit who lives within our soul,
Send forth Your Light and lead us to our Eternal goal

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