John Bottger

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John Bottger

Date of Birth: 1829

Born In: Germany

Age: 50

Occupation: Toll Road Gate Keeper

Marital Status: Married

Died: Dec 1879

Cause of Death: 

Death Location: San Mateo County

Burial Plot: 17

FindaGrave ID: 6542735

John Bottger

Obituary

THE BOTTGER FAMILY
By: John Edmonds

The Bottger Family settled in the town of Summit Springs, which was about a half mile down King’s Mountain Road from its intersection with Skyline Blvd. King’s Mountain Road was a toll road, and John Bottger was the gate keeper. The gate house was located on the corner of Summit Springs Road and King’s Mountain Road. John Bottger had the responsibility of collecting the toll on one of the busiest roads in San Mateo County, as many lumber wagons travelled the road to Redwood City.
John Bottger was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He probably met his wife Mary Catherine Meyer in California. They had three children. Lucy was the oldest and she married Joseph Hamblin Hallett, the son of the Civil War ship Captain Joseph Hamblin Hallett. Henry, the second child, grew up and went to War during the First World War. Henry returned to San Mateo County and lived to be 65 years of age, dying on February 20, 1948. Edith was the third child and I don’t know what happened to her.
Elio Fontana came to Union Cemetery a number of years ago and described the Bottger stone as, “One of the most beautiful monument carvings I have seen in my life.” This monument was erected by Lucy and Edith Bottger as a loving memorial to their parents.
John Bottger passed away in December 1879 and was buried in plot #17 in Union Cemetery. Mary Catherine Bottger joined her husband in Union Cemetery on June 14, 1914. I am always proud to show this monument and to tell the story of this family when I lead tours in the cemetery.

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