Rudolph Klotz was born on May 3, 1832 in Berleberg, Prussia. He was confirmed in the Lutheran church in that town. He left Germany at the age of 19, With three of his brothers--Fred, Dan and John--he sailed around the Horn to reach California. John and Rudolph made their way to the town of Shasta, where they engaged in the butcher business.

In 1853, Mr. Klotz acquired property on Millseat Creek and soon bacame the owner of a sawmill which he converted to a sash and door factory. This was the beginning of a vast lumber empire which he built up and to which he also added cattle raising. The Eureka Mill, which he and Sylvanis Leach owned, became the head of the vast flume that carried lumber to Tehama
County where the Sierra Lumber Co. became the Daimond Match Co. of later years. He was also an able carpenter and built several large and beautiful homes for his family and his father-in-law.

He was married in 1861 to Anna Elizabeth, the oldest daughter of William W. and Anna L. (Evans) Smith. Nine children were born to this union.
 

Phillip	b. 1862	died in infancy
Anna Elizabeth	b. 1865	m. 1st John McIntyre m. 2nd Louis Voight
Harry Frederick	b. 1867	d. 1879
Emma Delphine	b. 1869	m. 1st Grant Isreal m. 2nd D. J. Fitzgerald
Mary Anne (Mamie)	b. 1872	m. 1st Myron Bidwell   m. 2nd Platt B. Elderkin
Henrietta	b. 1874	m. 1st Ernest Smith m. 2nd Harry (Had) Hall of Bloody Island
Caroline (Carrie)	b. 1876	m. Willard (Wid) Hall
William Frederick	b. 1878	m. Cora Dunham
Catheryn Belle	b. 1882	m. Charles (Chick) Currier

 
The Klotz home was said to be the center of the social scene of the Shingletown area, and everyone was made welcome. Mr. Klotz and Mr. Vilas another mill man built, equipped, and maintained a school for Shingletown children.

Before his death at McCumber Flat, in 1885, he had served as a State legislator and was known to be an astute business man as well as a good friend and neighbor, whose obituary read: "No more honest, trustworthy, industrious, and economical man ever lived than Rudolph Klotz."

After her husband's death, Mrs. Klotz married Homer M. Maxwell and moved to San Francisco, where she died on January 8, 1921.

From this large and historic family, two grandaughters, eight greatgrandchildren and fifteen great-great grandchildren survive.

Source:  Shasta Historical Society