John Cawelti

John Cawelti is the son of German parents, and was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 3, 1829. He received his early education in his native country, and at the age of nineteen years, in 1848, came to America. His first work in this country was in a brick yard in New York, where he was employed for three months. He then went to Milwaukee and learned the butcher business, working for $5 per month.  He was taken sick there, and from that place went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was engaged in butchering from 1849 to 1845. In the latter year he went to Iowa, purchased 160 acres of land and engaged in farming, continuing to reside there for three years and a half.  In 1864 he came to California, rented lands in Sonoma County and farmed there until 1863, then he came to Santa Barbara County (now Ventura County). Like many others, he thought he was on Government land and for a time he fought title, but when he found he could not hold the land, he rented the property, and in 1875 made about $5,000 on about 1,000 acres of rented land, raising wheat, barley and hogs. In 1877 there came a dry season and he lost nearly all he had before made. The property on which Mr. Cawelti is now located was owned by the Catholic church. They sold to the ex-mission, and when the land was put on the market he bought 1,000 acres, at $16.25 per acre; or $16,250 for the property, paying one-third down, and going in debt $11,000. Since purchasing he has made many improvements on the place, has cleared part of the land, built two barns, at a cost of $1,000, and a nice dwelling, at a cost of $3,000; also two other smaller houses, and has built nine miles of fence. He has bought 640 acres of hill land for pasture, at a cost of $2,000; and now owns 150 head of cattle and eighty head of horses, and is out of debt, having paid up in six years. His horses are part Belgium stock, and he is now introducing Seavern blood into the cattle.

    Mr. Cawelti was married, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1852, to Mrs. Sipp, widow of Mr. Jud Sipp, by whom she had one child, Frederica Louisa. Mrs. Cawelti was born in Bavaria, Germany, and when a little child was brought to America by her parents. Their union has been blessed with nine children, three born in Ohio, four in Iowa, and two in California, viz.: David, John Henry, Catharine, Jacob, John George, Mary E., Dora and Andrew E., all living near him except David, who is in San Bernardino County.

    The subject of this sketch is one of the many illustrations how the hardy and industrious sons of Germany succeed when they come to this country. By his own intelligent industry and judicious management, he has risen from a day laborer in a brick-yard to one of the reliable and wealthy citizens of Ventura County, California. Mr. Cawelti was reared a Presbyterian and still holds to that creed. Politically, he is a Democrat; has been elected to the office of school trustee, but is not, in any sense, a politician or office-seeker. he is a quiet and unobtrusive man, and deserved the success which has attended his labors. Long may he live to enjoy the home so nobly and honestly earned!

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