Adam Kloepfer was also mentioned in the book as Jacob’s brother
"who journeyed out to California many years later". However, another source
indicates that Adam was part of the wagon train that traveled to California
in 1852. According to census records Adam was born in 1827 and is 3 years
younger than Jacob. Apparently, Adam Kloepfer never married. (However,
his death certificate, obtained by Nancy Tevis Cook, indicated that he was
widowed.) Here are some excerpts about him from "Joys and Tears of
Yesteryears" which includes his experience with the San Francisco earthquake
of 1906.
Adam, another brother of Louis’s and Jacob’s, arrived from Saint
Louis some time in the 1880’s. He was very tall and thin, a baker by
trade with carpentry his second accomplishment. Arnold Heidtmann’s brother
Casper came West a few years later. Both men were unmarried and remained
so. The two men built a much needed room on the Kloepfer home. This was called
the Blue Room. Here visitors were entertained when the weather had begun
to cool and the unbearably hot spell was over. Adam lived in the Deer Valley
area with his nephew, Bernard Kloepfer, for a few years and then decided
to visit his niece Louisa (nee Kloepfer) and her husband, Arnold. He spent
the rest of his life in San Francisco. More about him later.
Dark Clouds of 1906
In 1906 there were no telephones in the area and the television had not
been invented as yet so one depended on visitors or neighbors to learn the
happenings about the country. The Mountain Democrat, a weekly Placerville
paper, kept the folks informed, but since mail service was inadequate that
news was sometimes a week or more late.
One day when Frank had gone to Placerville to grocery shop, he returned with
the most startling and upsetting news, news that San Francisco was burned
to the ground, that it was just one mass of smoldering cinders. This exaggerated
news was a tremendous shock to the family and most of all to the visiting
cousins, the Rahmer girls. There was much crying and grieving by the girls
during the next few days until it was learned that the Rahmer family, as
well as the Heidtmanns, were not in the disaster area on that fatal April
18th, 1906 morning.
Adam Kloepfer, brother of Louis’s and a great uncle to the younger
generation, was the only relative who was not accounted for. Some years
previously when he came to the ranch from Saint Louis, stayed awhile and
then went to San Francisco, he lived with his niece, Louisa Heidtmann, before
moving to Pacific Street. On Pacific Street, he started a bakery in the old
Carpenter building. His bakery was in the back of the building on the ground
floor while he lived upstairs over the plant. The bakery had developed into
a thriving little business when the earthquake struck and completely destroyed
it. Fortunately, he, as usual, was up early that morning and already at work
when the first tremors came. Everyone ran into the street, including Adam,
as the buildings all around them fell apart.
When the earthquake subsided Adam attempted to go upstairs, but the soldiers
on guard would not permit him to do so. He was very anxious to retrieve some
of his possessions among them some very old and valued German books which
he treasured. He also had some gold pieces hidden away. A month or so later,
when permission was granted for him to return and inspect the place, he found
to his profound dismay that none of his treasures or effects remained.
Everyone in that vicinity had been ordered to the Ferry building area, to
stay there until it was safe to return which was determined by the authorities.
Louisa became quite concerned for Adam’s welfare. She inquired around
and learned that many people were being cared for down at the waterfront
which was some 30 blocks away. She decided to send her son, George, a young
man of 19, down to search for him. George took short cuts whenever possible,
keeping out of sight of the guarding soldiers. When he reached the waterfront
at the Ferry Building, the crowds were so dense that it was almost impossible
to find anyone. He was really too excited and wary of the guards to do much
searching so he retraced his steps back home to Humboldt Street all the while
dodging guards.
Three days passed and no word was heard concerning Adam’s whereabouts
when one evening the family heard heavy familiar footsteps and the unmistakable
tapping of a cane coming down the walk alongside of the house. There was
Adam at the door, after walking that long distance, tired, weary and half
starved. Louisa’s first thought was food which she was very anxious
to give him; their rationed food was meager, but they would get more in the
morning. This ran through her mind as she lit a small kerosene stove to heat
some soup. The stove was rectangular shaped and about one half the size of
a shoe box. In her anxiety to give Adam some nourishment, she had momentarily
forgotten the order that everyone received-no cooking inside the house and
absolutely no lights on. Louisa was quite frightened and shaken when a militia
man just out in front of the home shouted, "Put out that light or I’ll
shoot to kill!" Without a moment’s hesitation, the gasoline light went
out and the cold soup which Adam nonetheless relished had to sustain him
until morning.
Adam was skilled in carpentry which was his second trade, but as he got older
he followed his bakery trade which was easier to do. He never returned to
Pacific Street, except to search for his belongings, especially his gold
coins which had considerable value, but the looters got there before him.
His old valuable books, to which he attached so much importance, were gone,
too.
Adam, with the financial aid of his brother-in-law, Arnold Heidtmann, started
his bakery again in a small building which he erected on the back of their
home lot on Humboldt Street. He made some fine and very hard peelers for
the proper handling of the loaves. It took long and persistent perseverance
to shave down and cut these boards. These peelers were very much in demand
by other bakeries. Adam was able to sell all that he could make and also
all the bread that he could produce. His former customers and new neighbors
for many blocks around came to buy. They expressed their belief that it was
the best bread that could be bought anywhere. Adam’s health began to
decline and in 1907 he passed away. He was in his eighties (Adam would have
been 80 years old in 1907).
His death certificate indicated that he died on July 16, 1908 in San Francisco, California.
From Langley’s San Francisco Directory
1868-69
Kloepfer, Adam, carpenter, dwl 13 Dupont
1880-81
Klopfer, Adam, carpenter, 634 Pacific, rear.
1899
Kloppfer, Adam, peelmaker, 634 Pacific
1905
Kloepfer, Adam, peel mfr, r 634 Pacific
Also see 1872 Foreign-Born Voters of California - Letter K (Part 2) .