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 52

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 52

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ILLIAMEBERIIARDT, of Sacramento, is one of the most popular manufact- urers of, and dealers in, sporting goods in California. He was born at Thuringen, 22

Saxony, Germany, June 27, 1838, and his full name, as given in his " papers," is Andreas Friedrich Wilhelm Eberhardt. Those papers form an interesting relic, and show the names of those who " stood up" for him when he was baptized, as follows: Andreas Hellnan, mer- chant; William Pfamestiel, farmer and butcher; and Friedrich Peter, an extensive miller. These papers give his parents' names as Johann Fried- rich Wilhelm and Magdalena Engel (von Brot- terode) Eberhardt. Mr. Eberhardt has his father's papers and all of his own papers from that time until he left Europe, and they give a correct record of his movements. By them it is seen that the maiden name of his father's first wife was Katherine Elizabeth Reisch; that his second wife died December 13, 1846, at 6 o'clock P. M .; and that the father of the subject of this sketch died at 10 o'clock, A. M., on the 2d of May, 1844. There were six children in the family, and our subject was the youngest. His eldest brother was in the army, and his second brother, who possessed great strength, died from the bursting of a blood-vessel. The father, a hard-working man, had a small brew ery, a butcher shop and a hotel, and had land of his own. There was much travel past the place, of teams hauling between the farming districts and the manufacturing centers, and the team- sters would stop and take their meals as many as a hundred in a day, and drink at the Eber- hardt place, while the teams going over the mountains would buy three days' provisions here before proceeding on their journey. Of course a great deal of credit business was done, and Mr. Eberhardt would keep the accounts in his memory. One evening at the supper table he remarked that he felt bad, and twelve min- utes afterward he was dead! The event cast a gloom over the family and the community, and incidentally a great trouble came on. Those indebted to the deceased father repudiated the debts, and they were lost, and the family placed in a bad way. Then the neighbors, for twenty German miles around, signed a petition to the Government asking the authorities to discharge

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the eldest son from the army, that he might come home and help out with the management of the property. The petition was granted and the son returned and took charge. Nevertheless, the family lost between $7,000 and $8,000. The place had been in the family for over 200 years, and they did not want to lose it. William Eberhardt, subject of the sketch, spent his boy- hood days at his native place, and there received his education. The Government rnle which required children to attend school between the ages of six and fourteen had this modification, that the time was considered at an end when the child could pass the necessary examinations. Thus it was that our subject was but thirteen years old when he had fulfilled the requirements and left school. He then commenced to learn the manufacture of mathematical and astro- nomical instruments, but his brother, who already had that trade, told him he would have to learn something else. He, however, found a place with a prominent engineer, and an ar- rangement was effected with the latter by which young Eberhardt was to pay him $300 and serve an apprenticeship of three years at his chosen trade. He had been working then nearly two and a half years, when one day his employer said to him, " William, next month the Profes- sor will hold the Government examinations, and if you can pass I will give you the remaining half year of your time." Of course the lad gladly accepted the offer. On the appointed day there were twenty-three young men who presented themselves for the test, seven of whom had been at the previous examinations, and Mr. Eberhardt was the youngest one in the lot. His turn came last, and when he was called up, some of the bosses whose sons had failed tried to make him, but this they could not do. At last Pro- fessor Miller said: "Gentlemen, I can give this last boy the first chance; he is the best prepared of all." And all the professors coin- cided, and signed the report made out to that effect. The report of the affair was wide-spread, and was announced in the papers, and the suc- cessful boy received the congratulations of his

friends. He remained with his employer three months longer than was necessary, and then traveled to improve himself in his trade. He was bnt a boy sixteen years of age when one day he appeared before the old gentleman Krupp, at Essen, and applied for work. Herr Krupp looked him over and said, " My boy, you are very yonng, but I believe you are a skillful workman; where are your papers?" He showed his papers, Mr. Krupp was well pleased, and the boy was put at work, at the highest wages, the same as men who had been twelve years in the works. One day Mr. Krupp asked him to make two screws of the kind used in elevating cannon, to be placed on exhibition in the Government arsenal. Young Eberhardt undertook the job, all went well, and when the delicate details were finished and the work highly polished, they were placed on exhibition. The Crown Prince Fred- erick noticed the work, and when he asked who did it was told that the artisan was a boy. He and his father, the King of Prussia, went to see the boy at work, and King William said, "Did you, so young, do that work? I only hope, my son, that you will never be spoiled by bad asso- ciates." The screws were of steel, and the work, when finished, with the brass settings, looked like polished silver and gold. He remained at the Krupp works a year and a half, then re- snmed his travels. While working for a Breton firm he was sent to do some work in the Par- liament buildings, and was there seen by the king and recognized as the boy whom he had so highly recommended at Essen. He had gone to Russia for nine months when he lett Essen, and Mr. Krupp was very much disappointed to have him leave. While in Russia he worked at St. Petersburg, Cronstadt, Moscow and Odessa. He had to lay off two days on account of work- ing so rapidly, and got a German paper which contained news of the convocation of monarchs at Warsaw. He concluded to go there, and hurrying up, reached there three days before the conference met. Ile remained three weeks and witnessed and enjoyed the events of the great occasion. He then traveled through Eu-

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rope and brought up at Breslau, where he worked three and one-half years. Mr. Krupp found out where he was and sent for him to go to Con- stantinople and take charge of the work on compasses for the Turkish fleet. Mr. Krupp said, " The Turkish Government calls upon you to undertake this, and will take your belongings to Constantinople free, and give you tickets," etc. He went to the Turkish capital, and held the position two and a half years. Then he grew homesick and announced his intention of leaving. The Turkish admiral tried to dissnade him from his purpose, but Mr. Eberhardt in- sisted, saying that there must be something wrong at home, as he could think of nothing else day or night. He procured return passes and promised to go back. At Vienna he met old Berlin shop-mates and had a good time. One of them tried to persuade him to go to America, and he finally consented to do so, and agreed to meet him in Hamburg in three weeks, after he had made his visit home. He went home, remained nearly three weeks, and then, accompanied by a boy who had a brother in Pennsylvania, he went to Hamburg. While there he would have been detained for service in the army had it not been for the papers he carried, which would have taken him any place in the world. His friend had gone by a steamer two days before; so Mr. Eberhardt decided to see England and Ireland before sailing, which he did. He took passage at Queenstown for the United States, landing at Boston, after a stormy passage of six weeks and three days. At Boston the captain called him into his office and paid him $30 for work done on the vessel. The next night he went to New York, arriving there next morning. He went to the banking-house of Julius & Muttus Hachner on Broadway, and delivered to one of the firin a package contain- ing four letters, which he had conveyed to him from a mutual friend in Austria. The banker took Mr. Eberhardt home with him in his ear- riage and presenting him to his wife said, " Here is a young man who has brought you some jew- elry from your brother in Austria." Mr. Eber-

hardt remained with them at their city home and at their villa in New Jersey for two weeks. Then he went to Hazelton, Pennsylvania, and began work for Sharp & Wise. He did not speak English, but soon attracted attention by the skill and celerity with which his work was accomplished. One night he worked overtime to accomplish an important job that required immediate attention. When the boss came in at 7 o'clock next morning, and found the job finished, he was astonished and credited him with three days work, besides giving him a half holiday. He finally decided to go to California, and drew $600, his balance, from the firin. One of the proprietors rode with him in the train as far as Easton to induce him to return, but he would not. He proceeded to New York, took steamer for Panama, and landed at San Francisco May 7, 1868. Two months later he came to Sacramento, having been promised a job by Master Mechanic Stevens, but he came at a time when work was slack, as the machinery was being moved. Mr. Stevens saw his papers, asked him where he was stopping and if he could remain a week or two. But in the meantime he obtained employment turning wood-work for the new Capitol building. The work previously done was not accepted and Mr. Eberhardt was g.ven charge of that part of the work, at the architect's suggestion. He did work at odd times at the Capitol foundry, and made his lathe there. He was the first man to make an oval lathe, or turn oval lathes, in California. Some of his work at his trade was placed on exhibition at the State Fair, and he was awarded the di- ploma. He had never, however, given up the idea of going back to Turkey. When he got his lathe doue he had 82.50 left. Then orders commenced to come in, and his present exten- sive business is the result of that start. One of his first jobs was turning a set of billiard balls to fill an order. Then Mr. Stevens called and wanted him to go to work, but he refused. His business covers a large territory, and Mr. Eber- hardt is one of the most popular dealers in California. He is a true sportsman, as well as

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manufacturer and dealer in sportsmen's goods, and, being a mechanic whose trade in his case is nothing less than an art, it is needless to say that whatever passes through his hands can be recommended. Mr. Eberhardt was married to Miss Louisa Scharp, a native of Basle, Switzer- land. They have six children, viz .: Lillie, Min- nie, Willie, Frankie, Amelia and Frederick William.

ENRY ECKHARDT, proprietor of whole- sale and retail sportsmen's supply house, Sacramento, is a native of Hoff-Geismar, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, born September 6, 1833, and son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Leger) Eckhardt. His father was a restaurant and hotel keeper. Henry Eckhardt was edu- cited at his native place from the age of six until he was fourteen, then went to Cassel to learn the gunsmith's trade, and served an ap- prenticeship four years. He then traveled throughout the South German countries, and on arriving at the proper age was notified to come home to enter the military service. He was too short of stature at the time to fulfil the qualifications, and was put off until next year. In the meantime, however, he decided to emi- grate to America, and on the 10thi of June, 1854, he sailed from Bremen on the sailship Von Stein, and landed at New York after an ocean voyage of fifty-two days. After a brief stop at the metropolis, he went to Columbus, Ohio, and was then compelled to be laid up by sickness. He went to work when able, some- times at his trade, and again at farming in the country. He was married while in Ohio, in 1859, to Miss Sarah Zangmeister, who died in the early part of 1862. Mr. Eckhardt went to New York city and obtained employment at government work with Moore & Bons, 303 Broadway, and he and his brother William were employed there two years thereafter. All the work done at this shop was performed by hand, and when the government got to making

everything by machinery, the rush stopped, and Mr. Eckhardt went West, bringing up at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he and his brother started in business. While there he served about six months in the Home Guards. The business in St. Joseph was continued until 1870, when Mr. Eckhardt came to California and opened a shop and store in Sacramento. He has built up an extensive trade, wholesale and retail, and it has come to be known far and near that every purchaser can depend exactly on what Mr. Eckhardt tells them in regard to his goods. Such a course cannot do otherwise than lead to success, and he has been successful. His second wife, whom he married in St. Joseph, was formerly Miss Wilhelmina Huber, a native of Germany, born at Kaiserslautern, on the Rhine, and who came to this country when a young lady. She died in 1875, at Sacramento. His present wife was formerly Miss Frederika Huber, a sister of his second wife. Of the first marriage there are two children, viz: William, in the gun business at Spokane Falls, and Katie. By the present marriage there is one child- Harry. Mr. Eckhardt is a member of Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Lodge No. 81, A. O. U. W. Mr. Eckhardt has made his principal business success in Sacramento, and the fact that his trade extends way up into Oregon and Washington Territory is a sufficient testimonial to his business qualifications.

RED WERNER, proprietor of the Tre- mont Hotel, is one of the enterprising young business inen of Sacramento. He was born in Le Claire, Scott County, Iowa, March 25, 1857, and is a son of Charles and Minnie (Muller) Werner. His mother is a na- tive of a large manufacturing town in Westpha- lia, and his father was born at Kaiserslautern, Bavaria. The latter is a shoemaker by trade and lived in Chicago when it was a small town. He removed to Le Claire, Iowa, in an early day, and was in the boot and shoe business there for

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many years. Both parents are now residents of Le Claire. Fred Werner, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated at Le Claire, and there learned photography and ink work. In 1882 he came to California, and from here went to Durango, Mexico, where his uncle, Fred Werner, Sr., a well-known man on this coast, was interested in mining. He came back to Sacramento, and having, when he first came out here, worked three months at the Tremont Hotel, resumed work there for Mr. Bryding. In January, 1888, Mr. Werner assumed the pro- prietorship of the hotel, and has since carried on the business. The house under his manage- ment has gained largely in popularity, sothat sometimes it is quite impossible to accommo- date all the guests. About sixty people ean be comfortably quartered at the Tremont House. This hotel was built by Sam Brannan, and was called the Brannan House. In early days it was the leading hotel in Sacramento, and many men whose names are prominent in State and Na- tional history were the guests of the hotel at that time. Mr. Werner was married in Sacra- mento, to Miss Ida Preston, a native of Yolo County. They have one child, an infant. Mr. Werner is member of the Druids, and in politics is a Republican. He is one of the active, ener- getic young men of Sacramento, and the success with which he is meeting is well deserved.

J. IRVINE, the popular proprietor of the Pacific Stables, Sacramento, is a

6 native of the County Down, Ireland, born near the city of Belfast, April 1, 1850, his parents being John and Mary Jane (Gardner) Irvine. His boyhood's days were spent at his native place, and there he received his education. In 1868 he came to the United States, and in the September of the following year he located at Sacramento. He obtained employment at the Pacific Stables, and has ever since been identi- fied with them. In 1881 he leased the stables, succeeding McGee Bros. Since he has been in

charge he has built up a very extensive busi- ness, and his place is splendidly equipped. He runs thirty head of good traveling livery horses, besides having a boarding and sale department, and in the line of vehicles he has a stock which in number and variety is astonishing. There are over eighty rigs, including everything that could possibly be called for at a livery stable, and they are good ones too. Mr. Irvine was married in San José, October 1, 1883, to Miss Mary Aber- nathy, also a native of County Down. They have two children, viz .: Willie Gardner, and Robert Warren. Mr. Irvine is a member of Concord Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M., and of Sacramento R. A. Chapter, No. 3. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Irvine is one of the most active business inen in Sacramento to-day, and by his strict attention to business, as well as his uniform courtesy of manner, is rapidly achieving the success which such methods always produce.

HERTZEL, cigar manufacturer and deal- er, 510 K street, is one of the enterpris- ing young business inen of Sacramento. He is a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania, born at the town of Womelsdorf, fourteen miles from Reading, December 8, 1860. His father, William Hertzel, was originally an iron- ladle maker by trade, but later a merchant and farmer. His mother's maiden name was Lydia Ibach. Both parents were of Pennsylvania families, and were natives of Allentown, Lehigh County. A. Hertzel, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in his native town, and learned the trade of cigar-making with the firm of A. S. Valentine & Son. He afterward went to Reading, where he worked as a journeyman. From boyhood he had taken a natural liking for music, and at an early age became a proficient performer on the B-flat cornet. He went to Atlantic City as a musician, playing during the summer season at that far-famed watering place. Ile traveled throughout the Eastern States, work-

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ing at his trade in the cities and keeping up his practice on his favorite instrument, and in the suminer of 1885 came west and located for a time at Canton, Illinois, where he became a member of the band. In March, 1887, he came to San Jose, California, and in July of the same year to Sacramento. Ile obtained employment with the firm of J. Baptiste & Co., with whom he was engaged until late in December, 1887, when he purchased the business of Michael Les- ser, at his present location. When he started in business for himself it was on a small scale, and he was the only workman in the shop. Now he employs four skilled workmen, and his business extends throughout the city and also the terri- tory tributary to it. He employs only white labor, uses the best of material, and his mann- factured goods have a high reputation. Mr. Hertzel was married in Canton, Illinois, to Miss Sarah Brown, a native of that city, whose par- ents came from New York State. They have one child, a boy, named Charles. Mr. Hertzel plays the B-flat cornet in the celebrated First Artillery Regiment Band. He is a member of Industrial Lodge, I. O. O. F., Sacramento, and Camp 67, Patriotic Order Sons of America, at Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hertzel is a genial, courteous gentleman, and enjoys the re- spect of a large circle of friends.

IMON ROTH, the pioneer inanufacturer of harness and saddles in Sacramento, is a native of Germany, born at Achern, Ba- den, October 28, 1829, his parents being Stephen and Elizabeth (Beck) Roth. When he was but seven years of age his family emigrated from their native land to the United States, and located in St. Clair County, Illinois, four miles from St. Louis. He was left an orphan at the early age of ten years, and was thus, when but a mere child, thrown upon his own resources. About six months after he had passed his four- teenth birthday he went to St. Louis, and on the 20th of June, 1844, commenced to learn the

trade of harness maker with a man named Heinepeter, on Second street, near the Catholic Cathedral. He served an apprenticeship of three years there, then went to work for a man named Walters, and in 1847 went down the Mississippi to New Orleans. He came back to St. Louis the following year, and in the fall went to Belleville, Illinois, where he worked until 1849, then started for California. He went to Westport, seeking a chance to go overland, and the spring of 1850 found him still there. In March, however, he fell in witli the firm of Bul- lard, Waddle & Russell, who had twenty-five ox teams, each team consisting of five yoke, besides two mnles, and he started from Lexing- ton to drive a team for these men, who were hauling stores to Salt Lake. Out of thirty-nine men who started with the expedition, ten died on the road, nine of them from cholera and one with mountain fever, and the latter belonged to Mr. Roth's mess ; but as far as he was concerned, he never had a day's sickness on the trip. The boys would often say, however, during the first of the journey, that Mr. Roth would be the first to die, as he was the smallest; but no one stood it better than lie. The outfit remained at Salt Lake, with the exception of two mule teams, and these with twenty-five men, including Mr. Roth, came through to California. They came by the Carson ronte and brought up at Hang- town, where Mr. Roth remained three days, working in the mines; but this occupation did not agree with him, as he was not strong, and he proceeded on to Sacramento with a team. He happened to meet three boys with whom he had been intimate at Belleville, and they camped under an oak tree, back of the present site of the International Hotel. Supposing the northern mines to be worked out, they proceeded to Ama- dor County, and six weeks were put in on Dry Creek, three miles below Drytown. The next move was to Jackson, but mining in that vicin- ity, on account of the scarcity of water, was not successful. Mr. Roth had spent what little money he had, and giving his tools to his com- panions, he once more turned his steps toward

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Sacramento. Arriving here, he went to work for Albrecht, B. Ely & Houstel, corner of Fifth and J streets. In the following spring he was employed by Mr. Madison, and in the fall went into business for himself, in partnership with John Tschumi. They carried on business on J street, where O'Brien's store now is, and were, like the rest, heavy sufferers from the fire of 1852, losing what they could not liaul off in a wagon, which had been standing near by. After the fire they rebuilt and started up again. In 1853 Mr. Roth bought his partner out, and in 1854 he was again burnt ont, the fire occurring on the 20th of July, which, Mr. Roth says, was the hottest day he ever experienced in Sacra- inento. The fire broke ont while he was at dinner, and he lost a good deal of stock, and the building, which he had not fully paid for. He rebuilt with brick, and continned in business prosperously until the flood of 1861-'62, in which he was a heavy loser. During this pe- riod Mr. Roth, like all others, had strange expe- riences, and it was with great difficulty that he had his family removed from their perilous situ- ation to higher and drier quarters. After the flood the grade was raised, and in 1868 Mr. Roth purchased the adjoining building and inoved into it, where he continued business until 1878, when he moved next to the Golden Eagle Hotel, on K street, and from there moved to his present location, 817 J street, where he has been since the 1st of February, 1883. His business has grown to large proportions, and extends as far as Colorado, east, and into south- ern California. He keeps only the best goods in his lines, and manufactures from one-half to two-thirds of his stock. He was married in Sacramento, August 27, 1857, to Miss Wilhel- mina Kirchner, a native of New Orleans, who came to California in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Roth have six children living, viz .: Katie H., wife of Thomas W. Smith, resides in Chicago; Fred A., a resident of southern California; Willia a E., who is with A. A. Van Voorhees & Co., Sacra- mento; Frank Lewis, a blacksmith, in the ein- ploy of the Central Pacific Railroad Company;

Miss Minnie and Miss Hattie. Mr. Roth is a member of El Dorado Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1855, and in which he has passed through all the chairs, and has taken a

Lodge, No. 1,580, K. of H., and to Union Rebekah degree. He belongs to California Lodge, No. 21, A. O. U. W. In the days of the old volunteer fire department, Mr. Roth ran with the machine. He joined Hook and Lad- der Company, No. 2, in 1853; was an officer in it a couple of years, and in 1856 became a mem- ber of Engine Company No. 6, of which he served as treasurer, and with which he was asso- ciated until the paid fire department was estab- lished. He is now an exempt fireman. Mr. Roth is one of the best known of Sacrament ,'s old-time business nen, and enjoys a wide ac- quaintance, and a large degree of popularity.

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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