An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today, Part 50

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916

USA > California > Sacramento County > An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today > Part 50

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He next bought an interest in the Sntterville Brewery, and was in partnership there with Joseph Bechler for seven or eight months. The high water then stopped work and he went back to the Pacific Brewery. He remained with Ochs until he sold ont to Mr. Lonis Knaner, and then worked for the latter two years driving wagon. Then he bought into the St. Louis Brewery, and, in partnership with Fritz Futterer and Henry Altpeter, conducted that brewery for six or seven months. He then went back to the Pacific Brewery, where he drove wagon for the succeeding two years. Then he became foreman. Soon afterward he received word that his father was sick in Swit- zerland, and he at once went back there, but his father had died before he reached home. That was in 1873. In Angust of that year he again left there for California, and returning to Sacra- mento opened a place opposite the Metropolitan Theatre. He continued in business there until November, 1881, when he bought the City Brewery and has since carried on the business. The City Brewery was originated by William Borchers and a man named Hilbert, abont 1859. Hilbert died in March, 1865, and Charles Schwartz took his interest in the business. In 1887 the latter retired from the firm, and Mr. Borchers carried on the business alone until the brewery was purchased by Mr. Ruhstaller. Since the last named gentleman took control, he has made so many improvements that he has practically a new brewery. When he bought the place it was operated by horse-power and had a capacity of fifteen barrels a day. Now he has a fine plant, operated by steam, which turns out sixty-five barrels per day. The beer brewed in this brewery has a fine reputation and a splendid trade. Mr. Ruhstaller was married in Sacramento on Christmas day, 1870, to Miss Charlotte Oeste, a native of Germany, but reared at Milwaukee. They have had eiglit children, of whom five are living, viz .: Anna, Frank J., Minnie, David and August. Mr. and Mrs. Ruhstaller have been bereaved by the loss of four beloved children, viz .: Otto, Wilhel-

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mnina, Otto and Charlotte. Mr. Ruhstaller be- came a member of the Sacramento Hussars in 1867. From 1878 up to 1882 he was Captain of the Hussars, after Fritz Heilbronn. He has been a member of Schiller Lodge, No. 105, I. O. O. F., since 1868. He is a member of Teliama Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; of the Sacra- mnento Turn-Verein; of Hermann's Sons, and of the Verein-Eintracht. He is a member of the Foresters' Gun Club, and won the gold medal at the April shoot, 1889. He is an hon- orary member of the Sacramento Rifle Club, and gave to the club the cannon presented by General Sutter to the Swiss Rifle Club. While firing a salute with the cannon the arm of A. Klebe was blown off, and the cannon was buried and $1,800 collected for Klebe. Captain Rulı- staller has in his possession the flag presented to the Swiss Rifle Club, in 1854, by the mem- bers of the Schützen Club, of Canton Zurich, Switzerland, the presentation being by Gover- nor Bigler. Mr. Ruhstaller made his start in business in Sacramento, and by good judgment and good management in business, coupled with. liberality and enterprise, has built himself up until he now ranks among the solid men of the city.

ERMAN LAGES .- Among the enterpris- ing class of young business men, now such an important factor in commercial circles of Sacramento, is the gentleman with whose name this sketch commences. He was born in New York city, Angust 20, 1862, his parents being John and Matilda (Haesloop) Lages. Both parents were natives of Germany, and his father was a merchant in New York city after coming to America. Herman Lages was reared and educated in the American me- tropolis. In 1881 he came to California, locat- ing in this city, and entered the employ of W. A. Butterfield, grocer, Tenth and J streets. Ten months later he commenced business for him- self at his present location, No. 1430 Second

street. Here he has built up an extensive trade, and besides his business in the locality does a large order trade with the people of the country surrounding Sacramento. He was married in this city November 8, 1886, to Miss Annie De- valle, a native of Santa Clara County. They have one son, John. Mr. Lages is a member of Capital Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Court Sac- ramento, A. O. F. He was for three years a member of the City Guard, of Sacramento. Mr. Lages is an active, enterprising young man, with plenty of pluck and energy, and is ineet- ing with a success in business which must ever attend upright, fair and honorable dealings, supplemented with such personal attention as he gives his business.

ETER FUCHS .- Among the well-known business men of Sacramento who have made their start in this city is the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Germany, born at Bingen-on-the- Rhine, June 20, 1839, his parents being Carl and Christina (Bradner) Fuchs. His father fol- lowed the occupation of nail and bellows making by hand. Peter was left an orphan at the early age of three and a half years, and his mother died when he was twelve. He lived for one year thereafter, with his sister, and upon her marriage he went to live with another family, with whom he remained until he completed his education. At the age of fourteen years he went to Wies-Baden, where he worked for three years, in a cigar factory part of the time, at other times in a drug store, and at various occu- pations. He next obtained employment on one of the vessels navigating the Rhine, and after thirce or four months engaged in seafaring life on the high seas. His first vessel was the Ralphino Casino to Rika, Russia, and the sec- ond was the Adriana Peternella, on which he made a voyage to the East Indies. He followed the sea abont four years and a half, going all around the world under Ilollandish, German,

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English, Russian and American flags, and on the 1st of December, 1860, sailed from New York on the Belle of the Sea, around Cape Horn to San Francisco, where he arrived on the 17th of April, 1861. On the 21st he came to Sac- ramento, arriving at 4 A. M., and at 6 P. M. he was at work for John Spring at the Crescent City Hotel. He remained there until Angust and then went to work for Dr. W. W. Light, at general work about the house and place, on No- vember 25. He also obtained a job with Charles Langenbach, 408 J street, learning to make cigars and smoking tobacco; and would get up at 5 A. M., work for Dr. Light till 9 o'clock, then go down to Langenbach and do his day's work there. When the first flood came on, Decem- ber, 1861, he had to give up either his job at the house or at the factory, and decided to leave the former, leaving December 20. In June, 1862, Mr. Langenbach sold ont, and Mr. Fuchs went into business for himself, upstairs at the corner of Third and J streets. Two months later he removed next to D. O. Mills' bank building. In June, 1865, he removed into the Metropolitan Theatre building. September 1, 1868, he started at his present locality, 405 K street. He has built up an extensive cigar business, his principal brands being " Carl and Ernst," "Two Brothers," " My Boy's Best," " Peter Fuchs," and " l'eter Fuchs' Best," and also carries on the manufacture of smoking tobacco, making the well-known brands " Old Sport," " Champion," and " Havana." These are splendid tobaccos and have a high reputa- tion among smokers. Mr. Fuchs has always been strongly in favor of white labor. He was married in San Francisco October 28, 1866, to Miss Clara Gallwitz, a native of Berlin. They have six children, viz .: Clara, Carl, Ernst, Anna, Adolph and Frederick. Adolph was drowned August 8, 1889, at the age of eleven years, ten months and twenty-two days. Mr. Fuchs is a member of Sacramento Lodge, No. 2, 1. O. O. F .; of Pacific Encampment, No. 2, I. O. O. F .; Canton No. 1, P. M., 1. O. O. F .; of Union Lodge, No. 21, A. O. U. W., and of

Unity Lodge, No. 2,088, K. of II. He is a self-made man and has built himself up to his present position from the smallest beginnings by indomitable will and energy. He is a popu- lar man, and well deserves the success which has attended his efforts.

MEISTER, builder of carriages, etc., Sac- ramento, ranks among the prominent manufacturers of the Capital City, and is one of those men who have done their full share toward the building up of Sacramento. He is a native of Germany, born at the village of Ruchen, Hesse-Cassel, on the 14th of May, 1837, his parents being Stephen and Elizabeth (Engelhart) Meister. A. Meister, subject of this sketch, spent his early boyhood days at his native place, and was there educated at the pub- lic schools between the ages of six and fourteen years. He then went to learn the trade of black- smithing and carriage-making at the village of Bischhausen, serving an apprenticeship of three years. In 1854, in company with his brother Reinhart, he came to America, sailing from Bremen on the ship Blucher, a sailing vessel bound for Baltimore, where they arrived in June. They proceeded to Pittsburg, and there Mr. Meister finished his trade with C. West, on Benn street. In the spring of 1857 he went to Chicago, and after working there two weeks, proceeded to Michigan City, Indiana, where he worked about a year in the car shops. He then went to Mishawaka, Indiana, and worked there a year. In 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, dur- ing the gold excitement. A party was formed at St. Joseph, Missouri, among whom were Mr. Meister and his brother-in law, John Beard. They proceeded to California via Salt Lake, bringing up at Placerville, where they remained about two weeks: Mr. Meister mined for two days, a mile and a half above Placerville, in the meantime, He came on from there to Sacra- mento, and obtained work from J. A. Mason, who was then located near where George Blue's shop

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

now is. In 1862 he went back to Mishawaka, Indiana, and was there married, on the 15th of February, 1863, to Miss Maggie Beard. Mr. Meister again returned to California, locating in Sacramento, and on the 1st of September, 1870, in partnership with Thomas Fargher, originated the firm of Meister & Co. Four years later the partnership was dissolved and since that time Mr. Meister has been alone. In 1877 he removed to where Mr. Moon is now situated, and in 1882 established himself at his present location. His shop has a frontage of sixty-one feet on Ninth street, and extends back 160 feet, being four stories in height. Mr. Meister has made all the substantial improve- ments now existing there. When he com- menced business only himself and partner were employed; now he gives employment to from eighteen to twenty skilled workmen, and turns out buggies, carriages, phaetons, etc., equal to the best in California. His work carried off five premiums at the Stat ; Fair of 1888, and six in 1889. Mr. Meister is a Knight Tem- plar in Masonry, and belongs to Union Lodge, and Sicramento Chapter and Commandery. He was for seventeen years trustee of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Meister have had nine children, of whom six are living, viz .: George, Charles, Frank, Edward, Albert, and Flora. The three oldest boys are in the shop. The deceased children are: Gussie, Lizzie, and Emma. Mr. Meister is deserving of much credit for the enterprise he has shown in giving to Sacramento a manufactory such as he con- ducts, and has well earned the success with which he has met in business. The product of his shop holds a high rank in the trade, and in addition he does a great amount of mannfact- uring to private orders.

ACOB GRIESEL, manufacturer of harness, etc., Sacramento, is a native of Germany, born at Obervorschutz, Kreis Fritzlar, Kur- hessen, July 30, 1825, his parents being Adam

and Angelica (Scherp) Griesel, the father a carpenter by occupation. He was reared at his native place, educated there to the age of four- teen years, then went to learn the trade of har- ness-maker at Hesse-Cassel. He served an apprenticeship of three years with Just Rippel, and then traveled throughout Germany to per- fect his trade. He came to America in the spring of 1848, sailing from Bremen and land- ing in New York in May. He worked six months in New York city, then went, succes- sively, to Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville and St. Louis. From there he went to Jefferson City, where he worked for a man named Scherp from 1848 to 1852. In the spring of the latter year he and his brother Adam, now deceased, accompanied by William Miller, came to California. They outfitted at Jefferson City, and bought five yoke of oxen and a horse. They came out via Ft. Kear- ney, the Black Hills, Sublette's cut-off, etc., and crossed the desert to Ragtown. They then rested a couple of days, and came into Califor- nia via the Carson route, bringing up at Hang- town about the middle of August, after a rather pleasant trip, except that sometimes they ran short of water and wood. They sold their teams at Hangtown, and Mr. Griesel went to Cold Springs and engaged in mining for a couple of weeks with an old friend, then came to Sacra- mento in a wagon, arriving the early part of September. He obtained work at once with a man named Philip Megerle, with whom he re- mained two years. He then went to Nevada City and started a shop, which he conducted until November, 1858, when he sold out and returned to Sacramento. He went to work for his brother, but four months later quit and went to New York by steamer. Two or three weeks later he went to England, thence to Ger- many. IIe again came back to America from there, and after traveling throughout the United States, brought up at Jefferson City. There he belonged to the militia. In April, 1863, he came back to California by water, and started work in Sacramento at his present location, No.

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1022 J street. His brother died in July of that year, and he has run the place ever since. He manufactures nearly everything he handles, from the lightest to the heaviest harness, and has a fine trade, as his goods enjoy an excellent reputation. Mr. Griesel was married in Ger- many to Miss Anna C. Riedmann on March 13, 1859. His wife is a native of Germany, born near Obervorschutz. They have two children, viz .: Adolph H. and Ottilie. Mr. Griesel is a member of Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., since 1864, having joined the order at Nevada City in 1856, and he has passed through all the chairs of Schiller Lodge. He has passed the chairs of Tribe No. 124, Red Men, and has been its treasurer for the last fourteen years. In the days of the volunteer fire department he was in Young America Engine Company, No. 6, and remained with it from 1866 until the paid fire department came in. He has passed the chairs in the Chosen Friends. Mr. Griesel has passed through many of the vicissitudes of early life in California. In Nevada City, in 1856, his building and stock were destroyed by fire, and he had to commence anew. But his credit was first-class, and he had no trouble in getting any- thing he wanted from dealers, and to any amount. He was stopping at the Illinois House when it burned down, the night of Pierce's elec- tion, and he slept that night in the Plaza. Mr. Griescl is an active, enterprising man of strict honesty and integrity in his business dealings, and these facts account for his success.

OHN FRITSCH, one of the old-time Sac- ramentans, now retired from active busi- ness, is a native of Alsace, born near Strasbourg, on the 10th of June, 1815, his parents being Valentine and Caroline (Zwilling) Fritsch. Their family history is traceable back to the sixteenth century. His father and grand- father Fritsch were wagon-makers by trade, and on his mother's side his ancestors were school teachers and professional people. Being Luther-

ans by faith, they were driven out by the Roman Catholics, and settled in various countries. John Fritsch spent his early boyhood days at his na- tive place, and there received his education. In 1832 the family came to America, sailing from Havre on the three-masted vessel Martha. Their destination was Charleston, South Caro- lina, but on account of the trouble then existing there, they were not allowed to land. A second attempt was made at Norfolk, Virginia, but with no better success, this time on account of the cholera quarantine. They then put into port at Baltimore, and from there proceeded to Washington City. There they saw the cele- brated Indian chief, Black Hawk, who was then on his famous trip to the seat of Government. Work was plentiful at the National Capital, and they settled there. In 1834 the mother died, and the family soon afterward broke up. The subject of this sketch went with his father and brother to Berlin, Somerset County, Pennsyl- vania, where the father worked at his trade, and our subject worked with him. In 1836 they went to Cincinnati, and a couple of months Jater to St. Louis. Soon afterward they went to New Orleans, arriving there about the time the Rangers were returning from Texas, and the soldiers returning from the Seminole War in Florida. They resided in Joseph street, in La- fayette district, Parish of Jefferson. The father died in 1841. On the 4th of June, 1842, Jolin Fritsch became a citizen of the United States before Judge Francis Joseph Emil Dugni Li- vandais. Ile remained in New Orleans until the 10th of February, 1852, when in company with his brother Jacob (now a resident of Marys- ville) he took passage on the steamer Philadel- phia for Chagres. They crossed the Isthmus of Panama, part of the way by boat and part on foot, and continued their voyage to California on the steamer Winfield Scott, landing at San Francisco. Mr. Fritsch remained in the city a short time, but some of his friends made him a present of a pick and shovel, and he started for the mines. Ile packed the implements, and with a blanket on his shoulders, all the way

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

from Colnsa to Shasta. He went to work on Clear Creek, and mined there until the follow- ing spring. He then returned to San Fran- cisco, and there met his wife and children who had come ont to join him. He worked there at his trade until 1855, when he came to Sacra- mento, and went to work for George Duden, on Ninth and K streets. After this he worked at different shops and also in the Central Pacific Railroad shops, where he was engaged for a long time. He has been retired since about 1879. Mr. Fritsch was married in New Orleans on the 15th of May, 1842, to Elizabeth Lorch, a native of Bavaria, her parents being Simon and Mar- garet (Stanter) Lorch. Her father died in Ba- varia, and her mother in New Orleans in 1854. She came to San Francisco via Panama, on the steamers Falcon and Golden Gate. Mr. and Mrs. Fritsch were the parents of eleven children, of whom five are now living. The eldest son, John, Jr., who was a prominent young man, died on the 24th of March, when about thirty- four years of age. Their oldest danghter, Phil- lipina, has been twice married. By her first husband, Louis Koenig, now deceased, there is one child living, Charles King, employed in a commercial house. She is now the wife of William Hoffman. The other living children of Mr. and Mrs. Fritsch are: Henry, Lizzie, Emma and Margaret (widow of William Keller). Mr. Fritsch joined Howard Lodge, No. 6, A. F. & A. M., New Orleans, in 1848, and in 1857 he affiliated with Concord Lodge, Sacramento, of which he is now a member. He is a Repub- lican politically. His father, who was born in 1781, was a soldier under the great Napoleon.

UGUST SIMONI, proprietor of the La Croce Federal Hotel, Sacramento, is a native of Italy, born near Lucca, Tuscany, in 1826. He was reared at Coreglia, and there received his education. He went from his na- tive country to France in 1853, and was there engaged in the manufacture of art work from

plaster of Paris. In 1855 he came to America, sailing from Havre to New Orleans. Eight months later he proceeded to Mexico, and froin there to California, arriving in San Francisco early in 1857. After a time he went to Placer- ville, and mined seven or eight years. From there he went to Tutter's Valley, Placer County, and from there to Sacramento in 1866. He engaged with Mr. Gregory, by whom he was employed for six years. He then came to the present hotel, and went to work for D. Grainger. He afterward became a partner with T. Magi- netti, and since 1881 has been sole proprietor, and has a large business. Mr. Simoni was mar- ried in this city to Miss Hester Mahany, a na- tive of Ireland. Mr. Simoni was one of the first vice-presidents of the Bersaglia, and now holds that position. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 2, A. O. U. W., and of Sacramento Lodge, No. 11, K. of P., of the Division No. 7, and of Cosumnes Tribe No. 14, Red Men. He was formerly a member of Neptune Hose Com- pany No. 1, and is an exempt fireman. His parents, Ferdinand and Marguerita (Mattei) Simoni, are both deceased.

AMES POPERT, merchant, corner of Twenty-first and H streets, Sacramento, is a native of Hamburg, Germany, born March 17, 1839, his parents being Martin H. and Hannah (Tentler) Popert, the father a man- nfacturer of cigars and tobacco. He was reared and educated at his native place, and commenced the trade of cabinet-maker, at which he served a couple of years. In 1858 he went to sea as a carpenter, and followed that occupation for eight years, in the trade between Hamburg, South America, East Indies, Calcutta, ete. In 1867 he sailed from New York to San Fran- cisco on the ship Nightingale, Captain Sparrow, landing in the latter part of March. He came to Sacramento and, going to an employment office, applied for work. He soon fonnd work as a carpenter, and afterward followed contract-

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ing and building until 1878, when he engaged in mercantile business on the corner of Fonrth and P streets, succeeding Charles Chambers at that location. He commenced there on the 1st of September, and two years later built and commenced business where he now is. He en- joys an extensive trade, which is constantly increasing. Mr. Popert was married in Sacra- mento on the 14th of August, 1870, to Miss Margaret Heisch, whose brothers keep the Pio- neer Coffee Mills. She died in this city. Mr. Popert's present wife, to whom he was inarried November 4, 1875, was formerly Miss Georgina Hoff, a native of Philadelphia. They have four children, viz .: William, Gertie, James, and George. Mr. Popert is a member of Capital Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F .; of Occidental En- campment and Uniform Rank, of Union Lodge, No. 21, A. O. U. W., and of Cosumnes Tribe of Red Men, in which he has passed the chairs. He was one of the originators and for a while the chairman of the building committee of the German Lutheran Church, and is now trustee.

B EN. STEINAUER, proprietor of the New William Tell Honse, is one of the most pushing and successful hotel men of Sacra- mento. He is a native of Switzerland, born at Einsiedeln on the 21st of March, 1847, his parents being L. and Eliza (Fuchs) Steinaner, the father a farmer by occupation. Ben. Stei- nauer spent his boyhood days at his native place, and received his education between the ages of six and fourteen years. In 1866 he went to France, and for a time followed farm- ing near Paris, until 1868, when he came to New York. He traveled extensively through- ont this country, visiting, among other places, Louisville, St. Louis, New Orleans, thence back again to St. Louis, where he had a saloon. In 1874 he came to California, and for a time kept bar in Sacramento, and afterward conducted a saloon. On the 1st of January, 1876, he leased the William Tell House. The New

William Tell Honse occupies the site of the old St. Charles Hotel, and takes the place of the old William Tell House, corner of Ninth and J streets. Mr. Steinauer has made a great suc- cess of his hotel, and it is the intention at this writing to so add to the building during 1889 that 120 guests can be accommodated. Mr. Steinauer was married February 15, 1876, to Miss Theresa Kern, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one child-Matilda. Mr. Steinaner is a member of the Red Men, and of the Verein- Eintracht. He is a pushing man, and he has certainly achieved great success and great popu- larity as a hotel keeper.

- RED GEHRING, manufacturer of harness, all kinds of saddlery, etc., 912 J street, Sacramento, is a native of Baden, Ger- many, born on the 18th of June, 1841, his par- ents being John Baptist and Agatha (Schilling) Gehring. He was reared and educated at his native place. The year he was twenty-one he came to America, landing at New York. and thence via Panama to California. He took the steamer Northern Light on the Atlantic side, and landed at San Francisco on the 6th of April, 1862. He came at once to Sacramento and engaged in work for his brother, F. J., one of the old-time harness-inakers of Sacramento, who was then located next to where Turner Hall stands. He was with him about three years, then commenced following up the railroad, which was then building, and established a shop at Newcastle. He followed the construction of the road to Colfax, and then came to Sacra- mento again, and established a shop on the north side of the Plaza. He ran that shop about a year, then sold ont to his brother, and worked for him about a year. He then engaged with Simon Roth, and worked for him until 1872, when he again established himself in business, this time at his present location. He has built up an extensive business and enjoys a very high reputation in trade. He mannfac-

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Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 916

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916