Preserving a local pioneer’s legacy

Editor: In 1897 Wilhem "Columbus" Hieb and his family traveled from South Dakota to Lodi.

They were the first Germans from Russia to settle in the Lodi area. He is credited with being the one who pioneered the migration of German/Russians from the Dakotas.

Mr. Hieb was so enthusiastic about the fertile sandy loam and ideal weather conditions he sent letters to residents of the Dakotas inviting them to come to Lodi when they arrived he helped them find farmland on the east side of Lodi.

While they were having their house built, Mr. Hieb allowed them to stay at his ranch where they were fed and housed. When they moved into their new home he would invite another family to continue the process. All this was done with no compensation or cost to the families.

Prior to the arrival of the German/Russians, Lodi was a wild and rowdy town consisting of 14 saloons and only four churches.

Within 10 years of their migration Lodi had 12 churches and four saloons. The conservative influence of these German/Russians transformed Lodi into a respectable city.

In the mid 1930s Lodi's population consisted of 50 percent of German/Russian extraction.

Some of the families arriving between 1897 and 1915 were the Hiebs, Handels, Schmiedts, Preszlers, Mettlers, Bechtolds, Benders, Nieses, Baumbachs and Reimches,, all which are familiar names to many living in Lodi today.

Wilhelm Hieb was one of the first to establish a commercial winery operation in the Lodi district, which was instrumental to Lodi's winegrape industry today.

To ensure Wilhelm "Columbus" Hieb's legacy is preserved. I am urging subdivision developers, the Lodi City Council and the Lodi Unified School District to name a street, park or other facility or a school, respectively, in name for his accomplishments and contributions to the City of Lodi. RICHARD HIEB Lodi