In 1881, businessman Claus Spreckels (1828-1908) founded Spreckels Sugar Company in California's San Joaquin Valley. Spreckels had already been involved in sugar refining for some years; his California Sugar Refinery processed cane imported from Hawaii, the Philippines, China, and Java. The company he founded in the San Joaquin Valley, however, focused on refining sugar beets. Claus Spreckels founded the company town of Spreckels just south of Salinas, California, where the company's factory was located. At first, many of the sugar beets came from farms in Woodland, California, but later came from company-founded farms in King City, Soledad, and Hollister. After Claus Spreckels death in 1908, his son Adolph B. Spreckels took on the management if the complany. In 1963, the family ultimately sold the company to the American Refining Company (AMSTAR). Today, Spreckels Sugar Company is a subsidiary of Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative.
From the description of Spreckels Sugar Company collection, 1897-1980. (University of California, Davis). WorldCat record id: 600266631
