Wes Bowers | Lodi Information-Sentinel
The descendants of Wilhelm “Columbus” and Charlotta Hieb put in a brand new gravestone on the couple’s gravesite within the Lodi Memorial Cemetery on Pine Road final summer time.
The prevailing markers, Richard Hieb mentioned, had been flat items of concrete for each his great-grandfather and great-grandmother. Their final title was misspelled with the letter “M” as an alternative of “B, he added.
“It took about six months from in regards to the starting after we determined to get (the gravestone) to discovering a spot that’s going to make after which placing it within the cemetery,” Hieb mentioned.
Wilhelm and Charlotta Hieb traveled from South Dakota to Lodi in 1897, and shortly turned one of many space’s greatest inhabitants boosters.
He was a counselor and information to many Germans from Russia, serving to them discover the right soils to plant of their winery and incomes the nickname of “Columbus,” in response to a 1975 Information-Sentinel article.
“My great-grandfather, what he did, he cherished this place a lot, he despatched letters again to SD and invited them to return out,” Richard Hieb mentioned. “He’d assist them discover land, and so they’d construct their homes. Within the meantime, he allow them to keep at his home. He obtained nothing for that, however that’s the best way they did issues again in these days.”
In keeping with the 1975 article in regards to the Hiebs, the couple migrated from Odessa, South Russia a while within the nineteenth century. Wilhelm was 18 on the time.
In 1895, he and two associates, Jacob Mettler and Gottlieb Hieb — no relation — visited California from Menno, S.D., to see the countryside and discover a good place to relocate.
Wilhelm preferred the Los Angeles space for its orange groves, however the trio had been looking for land on which they might domesticate grapes, in response to the article.
The trio ventured north till they arrived in Lodi and located what they thought of to be the proper soil.
Returning to Menno, Wilhelm bought his property, and he and Charlotta introduced their eight kids to Lodi.
The Hieb household bought 30 acres on Kettleman Lane, the place they planted Zinfandel and Mission grapes, in addition to raised cattle.
Quickly afterward, Wilhelm began the Zion Reformed Church in his home, in response to Richard Hieb. The church has since been re-christened Zion Lutheran Church and is now situated on Ham Lane.
“(Wilhelm) remodeled the town,” Richard Hieb mentioned. “Individuals don’t notice that. Earlier than the Germans from Russia got here, Lodi was a rowdy city. There was playing, and earlier than they got here, there have been about 14 saloons and 4 church buildings. Inside 10 years after they got here — 12 church buildings and 4 saloons.”
Putting a brand new gravestone at his great-grandparents’ grave price about $5,000, Richard Hieb mentioned, including he break up the price along with his brother and sister.
He added that he’s hoping to get a future college or park named after his ancestor as properly.
“He doesn’t get any credit score for what he’s finished,” Richard Hieb mentioned. “He didn’t care about any recognition. He was only a farmer.”
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