USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume II > Part 14
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Allen E. Pelton frequently accompanied his father on his trips to the mines and at the age of fourteen years, he went to work in the mines, with pickaxe, shovel and spade, thereby earning his first money. He secured his educational training in the public schools of Eldorado county and the grammar schools in San Leandro, which he supplemented by taking a commercial course in Heald's Business College, in San Francisco. He then entered the Bank of San Leandro as first assistant to Charles
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H. Hale, who was the first cashier of the first bank established in San Leandro, and who is still identified with the banking interests of this city as cashier of the San Leandro branch of the American Trust Company. For many years Mr. Pelton remained a trusted employe of the Bank of San Leandro, with which he remained until 1900, when, being offered a larger salary, he became bookkeeper for the firm of Baldwin & Howell, of San Francisco. He was soon afterwards promoted to the position of cashier, and still later was admitted to a partnership in the busi- ness. Prosperity attended him and by 1918 he had accumulated so much private property that he found it necessary to devote his entire attention to his own affairs. Mr. Pelton's success in handling subdivisions has been outstanding among the operations along this line in this section of the county. He has subdivided some thirty pieces of land and has also engaged in building operations on a large scale. In 1924 he formed a partnership with Joseph E. Faustina, under the firm name of Pelton & Faustina, with main offices at 1307 Harrison street, Oakland, and they erected the Pelton & Faustina building, on Thirteenth street, opposite the Oakland hotel. Mr. Pelton is the owner of a three-and-a-half-acre tract on East Fourteenth street, San Leandro, which is one of the most attractive and popular residence sec- tions of the city, and there erected Pelton court, having forty tenants. The homes are surrounded by well-kept lawns and a fountain and fish pond adorn the ap- proach to the court. Mr. Pelton and his partner are owners of one of the largest subdivision tracts in this section of the county, located at Junction City, between San Leandro and Hayward and comprising one hundred and ten acres of well sit- uated land, on which the grading has been done and practically all of the roads and drives constructed. This will undoubtedly prove to be one of the choicest and most desirable residence districts in the vicinity of San Leandro. Mr. Pel- ton and his partner own valuable ranch lands in the Sacramento valley and apart- ment houses in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. While Mr. Pelton's success seems almost phenomenal, an analysis of his business career shows that it is but the legitimate result of the proper utilization of sound business ability and keen dis- crimination, supplemented by a spirit of enterprise that has enabled him to take advantage of every opportunity. Through his activities he has in very large meas- ure contributed to the upbuilding and advancement of his community and has thus promoted the general prosperity of San Leandro.
On April 22, 1898, in San Francisco, Mr. Pelton was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Knaugh, a daughter of Joshua and Carrie (Worley) Knaugh. The father, a California pioneer, was born in Pennsylvania, while the mother was born in Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Pelton have three children: Aylmer E., who is head purchasing agent for the Pacific Coast Engineering Company, married Miss Lillian Rodgers and lives in San Leandro; Lois and Maude are in school. In his political views Mr. Pelton is a republican and for many years has been active in public affairs. In 1916 he was elected mayor of San Leandro and so eminently satisfactory was his administration that he was four times reelected to that office. However, after serving eight consecutive years, he resigned the mayoralty because of the press of his private business interests. He is a member and past master of Eden Lodge, No. 113, A. F. & A. M., belongs to Doric Chapter, No. 66, R. A. M., and is a past worthy patron of San Leandro Chapter, O. E. S., of which Mrs. Pelton is a past
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worthy matron. He and his wife are earnest members of the First Presbyterian church of Oakland. He has consistently stood for the best things in the life of his community, supporting every measure for the advancement of the public welfare, and is regarded by his fellowmen as one of San Leandro's most public spirited and dependable citizens.
AUDUBON J. WOOLSEY
Among the prominent representatives of the legal profession in Oakland is num- bered Audubon J. Woolsey, who has a large and representative clientele and is re- garded as one of the strongest and most dependable members of the Alameda county bar. Mr. Woolsey was born on the 22nd of September, 1879, in the city in which he now lives, and is a son of James B. and Hannah M. (Reeve) Woolsey. The father crossed the plains to California in 1850 and for a time worked in the mines. He then located in Berkeley and farmed one hundred and sixty acres of land, lying on the line between Berkeley and Oakland. This tract is now very valuable and on it many fine homes have been built. However, Mr. Woolsey did not profit from this enhancement of value, as he sold the land many years ago and retired, his death occurring in August, 1918, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He was a man of prominence in his community and served one term as a member of the board of county supervisors. Hannah M. Reeve was brought across the plains in her young girlhood and was married to Mr. Woolsey in Gilroy, California. Her death occurred in January, 1927.
A. J. Woolsey attended the public and high schools of Berkeley and then entered the University of California, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1903. He then began the study of law and in 1909 was ad- mitted to the bar. In his practice he has been more than ordinarily successful, being regarded as a sound and safe advisor in legal matters and reliable as a trial lawyer.
Mr. Woolsey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Priestley, who was born and reared in this state, and they are the parents of a daughter, Constance. Mr. Woolsey is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Athens Club and the California State Bar Association. A man of sterling character, fine public spirit, courteous and friendly manner, he commands to a marked degree the esteem of his fellowmen and is regarded as one of the representative men of his city.
GEORGE S. MEININGER
George S. Meininger, a successful merchant of Hayward, has contributed of his efforts to the building up and improvement of the city and is regarded as one of its most progressive and enterprising citizens. He was born at Mount Eden, Alameda county, on the 14th of November, 1878, and is a son of Henry and Sophia Proeger (Meyer) Meininger. The father was born in Saxon-Mining, Germany, and was there reared and educated. In the early '60s he came to the United States and spent some time in New York. In 1865 he removed to Alameda county, Cali-
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fornia, locating in San Lorenzo, where he was employed at the blacksmith's trade until 1869, when he moved to Mt. Eden and built a blacksmith shop, which he con- ducted until his death in 1919, when he was seventy-two years of age. He was a republican in politics and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodinen of the World.
After locating in Mount Eden, Henry Meininger was married to Sophia P. Meyer, who was born in that town and was a daughter of George S. and Sophia (Proeger) Meyer. Mr. Meyer was born in Saxony, Germany, January 24, 1812, and was there educated, after which he learned the trade of a butcher. In about 1843 he came to the United States, locating in Baltimore, Maryland, where he worked at his trade until 1846, when he enlisted in Stevenson's regiment, with which he came to California, landing at San Francisco, March 22, 1847. He was discharged from the service at Monterey in October, 1848, and then went to the mines at Angel's Creek, where he was engaged in gold mining until December, 1849, when he went to San Francisco and on the following New Year's day sailed for New York, taking his gold dust with him. At the government mint in Phila- delphia he received four thousand dollars for his dust. On March 20, 1850, he was married to Miss Proeger and, returning to San Francisco, opened the Phila- delphia Hotel on Pine street. In June, 1853, he removed to Mt. Eden, Alameda county, where he bought a squatter's claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he engaged in farming, living there until 1881, when he retired and moved to Oakland, where his wife died. Later he settled at Oakville, Napa county, where his death occurred. To him and his wife were born four children : George A., deceased; Henry H., Amelia and Matilda. In 1881 Matilda became the wife of George W. Marlin, a native of Astoria, Oregon, who settled in Oakland, where he was employed in the hall of records, but later he removed to San Francisco, where he served as a member of the city council. He removed from there to Napa county, where he engaged in farming, but subsequently returned to San Francisco, where he died October 7, 1914, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a republican, and was the father of three children, Herbert M., Mrs. Donald Blanchard and Arthur G. Mr. Marlin was a son of Henry B. Marlin, who was born in Pennsylvania and removed to Iowa, where he was married to a lady, who was a native of that state, and then went overland to Oregon City, Oregon, where he operated a saw- mill. He also owned a schooner, on which he shipped lumber to San Francisco.
George S. Meininger spent his boyhood at Mount Eden, where he attended school and was graduated from the Hayward high school in 1893. He assisted his father in the blacksmith shop until 1901, when he came to Hayward and bought a newspaper route, handling the San Francisco Call, the San Francisco Examiner and the San Francisco Chronicle. In the meantime he had formed a partnership with Clyde Resse and opened a store, dealing in tobacco, stationery and office supplies. Subsequently Mr. Meininger bought out his partner, and in 1911 admitted Jep Esch- elsen to a half interest in the business, which has since been conducted under the firm name of Meininger & Company, at 902-4-6-8 B street. This has been a very successful concern, owing to their progressive and up-to-date methods. Since 1906 the business has been located at 902-8 B street but in 1926 the old building was torn down and on the 1st of October, 1927, the firm moved into their new quarters, having one of the best arranged and most attractive stores in Alameda county. They
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have branched out in business and have bought the site of the old Central Hotel at the corner of A and Castro streets and have leased the location to the Shell Oil Company. They erected a brick building, fifty by one hundred and fifty feet in size, on Castro street, which is now occupied by the Chrysler automobile agency, and on their lot on A street they have erected another brick building which is occu- pied by the Buick agency.
In 1914 Mr. Meininger was united in marriage to Miss Edith Broder, who was born in Folsom, California, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Broder. Her father was a pioneer of this section of the state, having traveled overland in the early '50s, and became the owner of one thousand acres of fine land, one of the large and valuable ranches of this locality. To Mr. and Mrs. Meininger has been born a daughter, Muriel.
Mr. Meininger is a republican in politics, and is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Woodmen of the World, Alameda Lodge, B. P. O. E., and the Lions Club, of which he is a director. He has shown himself a man of outstanding business ability, and his success has come as the legitimate result of his determined and persistent efforts along right lines, so that during all the years of his residence here he has commanded to a marked degree the confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
JAMES K. PEIRSOL
Among the residents of Oakland, who, having finished their life work, have passed on to higher scenes of activity, leaving behind them the memory of hon- ored and worthy lives, none was held in higher esteem by his fellowmen than James K. Peirsol, who for a number of years was engaged in the practice of law in Oak- land and held high rank in his profession. Mr. Peirsol was born in western Penn- sylvania on the 21st of September, 1843, and was a son of John and Naomi (Mace) Peirsol. His family was among the very early settlers of that section of the Key- stone state, James K. having been of the sixth generation who lived there. After attending the public schools of his home neighborhood, he entered Mount Union College, at Alliance, Ohio, from which he was graduated. He then enlisted for ninety days' service in the Union Army, and on the expiration of that period, re- enlisted and served one year, loyally defending the Union. He took part in many important battles and campaigns and when the war closed was with the army near Richmond, Virginia. After receiving his discharge, he went to the oil fields of Pennsylvania and was employed in rafting oil down the Allegheny river. Later he and his brother conducted a general merchandise establishment at Valencia, Penn- sylvania. In the meantime he had been devoting his spare time to the study of law and after his admission to the bar he located at New Brighton, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1887, when he came to Oakland, California. Here he gained a good clientele and he also served as city attorney. At that time the city attorney, mayor and city engineer constituted the board of public works and acted as police and fire commissioners, so that his duties were manifold. While a resident of Oakland he showed a keen interest in every- thing relating to the welfare and advancement of the city and was a member of
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the committee which secured Oakland's present excellent water supply. He re- mained here until 1899, when he removed to Fort Bragg, California, where he made his home until his death, which occurred March 1, 1927.
Mr. Peirsol was united in marriage to Miss Mary Etta Cope a daughter of Samuel D. and Alice (Rogers) Cope. She was born and reared in Columbiana county, Ohio, and was a graduate of Mount Union College. Their children are H. J., who is engaged in the practice of law in Oakland, with offices in the Bank of Italy building ; Frank C., a physician and surgeon; Alice M .; and Mrs. Florence Weber. There are also four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In his poli- tical affiliation Mr. Peirsol was a republican, and he was a member and past com- mander of Lyon Post, G. A. R. A man of rugged strength of character and marked individuality, he made a favorable impression on all who came in con- tact with him and in the communities in which he had lived he commanded uni- form confidence and respect, for he had proved himself a man among men and was true and loyal in every relation of life.
ARTHUR P. DAVIS
A civil engineer of national prominence, Arthur P. Davis has rendered impor- tant service to his country along the line of his profession and is now a dominant factor in the management of the business of the East Bay Utility Company of Oakland. A native of Illinois, he was born February 9, 1861, near the city of Decatur in Macon county, and there attended the public schools until he was twelve years of age. In 1873 he went to Junction City, Kansas, where he completed his high school course, and was next a student at the State Normal School in Emporia, Kansas. Later he matriculated in the Columbian University at Washington, D. C., where he finished his education, and in 1882 entered the employ of the United States government. He was assigned to the geological survey, continuing with that department for twenty years, and he then transferred his activities to the reclama- tion service. While engaged in that branch of government work he located reservoir sites in Arizona, New Mexico and California. In 1897 he was assigned to the Isthmian commission and made a report to the government on the Nicaragua canal. Mr. Davis had charge of hydraulic work on the Panama canal, being thus engaged for four years, and later was sent to Paris for the purpose of studying the French records of the canal. In 1902 he was made a division engineer in the reclamation service and in 1909 became chief engineer. He was sent abroad to confer with the Russian government on the irrigation of Turkestan in 1911 and in 1914 went to China as one of the engineers on the board of flood control. A year later he was a member of the committee appointed by the National Academy of Sciences to investigate slides in the Panama canal and in 1915 was appointed director of the United States reclamation service. Since 1923 he has been chief engineer and general manager of the East Bay Utility District of Oakland and gives to the District the services of an expert, maintaining a high standard of efficiency in the operation of the plant.
ARTHUR P. DAVIS
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Mr. Davis' family comprises four daughters : Mrs. Rena D. Peck and Mrs. Florence D. Eslin, residents of Washington, D. C .; Mrs. Dorothy D. Smith, of New York city ; and Mrs. Elizabeth D. Smith, who lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Davis is a prominent member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, of which he was elected a director in 1917 and president in 1920. He is also connected with the American Concrete Institute, the Commonwealth and Engineers Clubs of San Francisco, the Cosmos Club of Washington, D. C., and the Athenian Club of Oakland. A distinguished representative of his profession, Mr. Davis is considered an authority on matters pertaining to civil engineering and through intensive study and practical experience has constantly broadened his field of usefulness.
HENRY K. ZEIMER
Henry K. Zeimer, who holds the responsible position of executive secretary to the city commissioner of finance of Oakland, has spent his life in this city and is numbered among its progressive and capable men. He was born in Oakland on the 29th of November, 1882, and is a son of Leo and Hannah (Kahn) Zeimer. His father, arriving here in 1878, became one of the leading merchants during the em- bryo days of this community.
Henry K. Zeimer attended the public schools of Oakland until graduated from high school and then studied civil engineering in private schools. Later he ac- quired an interest in the department store of Kahn Brothers, of which firm he was for ten years vice-president. When the United States entered the World war, he enlisted for service in the Sixtieth Coast Heavy Artillery, with which he served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. On his return to civil life, he sold his interest in Kahn Brothers and engaged in the real estate and broker- age business, meeting with success. He was chosen to manage C. C. Yering's campaign for city commissioner of finance, and when the latter was elected to that office he made Mr. Zeimer his executive secretary, which position he is still filling, and for the duties of which he has proven well qualified. In his political views, Mr. Zeimer is a stanch republican. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason, belonging also to Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Courteous and friendly in manner, he enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout this city and all who know him hold him in the highest regard for his splendid character and fine personal qualities.
LEROY E. PRATT
The late LeRoy E. Pratt, whose death was greatly regretted by his large circle of friends in Hayward, was a man of sterling character and agreeable social traits, while in his professional work as a funeral director he was capable and efficient, commanding the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Pratt was born in Burlingame, Kansas, in 1888, and was a son of Hiram and Mary (Hoover) Pratt. His father was engaged in the undertaking business in Kansas City, Kansas, for a
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number of years, but later went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he followed the same line until his retirement, when he moved to Long Beach, California, where his death occurred in 1923. His widow is still residing in that city.
LeRoy E. Pratt spent his boyhood in Kansas and, after completing a course of the public schools, attended the University of Kansas. He next attended a school of embalming for two years, after which he went to Salt Lake City, where he en- tered the employ of the Eber H. Hall Undertaking Company, with which he re- mained until 1910, when he went to Los Angeles, California. Later he worked for the Bryant Undertaking Company at San Pedro, this state, and in 1912 came to Hayward and formed a partnership with Henry Alter, under the name of Alter & Pratt, engaging in the undertaking business. In 1915 he bought his partner's inter- est and became associated with Ralph V. Richmond, of Niles, remaining actively identified with the business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1923, at the comparatively early age of thirty-six years.
In 1915 Mr. Pratt was united in marriage to Miss Catherine M. Hofleng, who was born in Oakland, California, and is a daughter of Frank J. and Fannie (Lego) Hofleng. Her paternal grandfather was a pioneer of San Francisco, where he was long engaged in merchandising. Mr. Pratt gave his political support to the repub- lican party and maintained a wholesome interest in public affairs. He was a mem- ber of Eucalyptus Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M., of which he was a past master; Oakland Consistory, A. A. S. R .; Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Oakland. Hayward Chapter, No. 331, O. E. S., of which he was a past worthy patron. Ala- meda Lodge, B. P. O. E .; Sycamore Lodge, I. O. O. F., and the I. D. E. S. He was true and loyal in every relation of life and his fidelity to principle was one of his most prominent traits, so that he commanded the unqaulified confidence of all who were in any way associated with him.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Pratt bought Mr. Richmond's interest in the undertaking business, which she has conducted to the present time, meeting with very gratifying success. She bought property, which she has greatly improved, and on the grounds forty cars can be accommodated, making it an ideal place for fu- nerals, away from the heavy traffic. In 1927 Mrs. Pratt became the wife of Walter F. Flierl, who had had extensive experience in the undertaking business, and he is now giving his personal attention to the management of his wife's interests. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and belongs to the Rotary Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Flierl is a past worthy matron of Hayward Chapter, No. 331, O. E. S., and is a past president of the Hill and Valley Club. She is a woman of tact and sound business judgment, while her gracious personal qualities have gained her the warm friendship of her associates.
DANIEL RYĢEL
Daniel Rygel is numbered among those who have honored the legal profession by their able and worthy services as attorneys, and he has also won a high place in public esteem because of his consistent life and honorable citizenship. Mr. Rygel was born in New York city on the 1st of October, 1884, and is a son of Leon and
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Anna Rygel. The father is engaged in business in the east but has several times visited his son in Oakland.
Daniel Rygel was graduated from high school and then attended the San Fran- cisco Law College. He was admitted to the bar and in 1921 came to Oakland, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. In the following year he was appointed assistant district attorney under Ezra Dicots and served two years, after which he resigned in order to resume his private practice, in which he has been en- gaged continuously to the present time. A man of vigorous mentality, well informed in the law, a fearless and resourceful trial lawyer and a sound and safe counselor, he has long enjoyed a reputation as a reliable and skilled lawyer and commands a large and lucrative practice.
Mr. Rygel was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Koenig, who was born and reared in San Francisco, and they are the parents of three children, Leon, Clinton and Meadus. The republican party receives Mr. Rygel's political support and he has shown a deep interest in public affairs, particularly such as relate to the wel- fare of his community. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Mystic Shrine, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, the Sciots, the Hi Twelve, the Berkeley Country Club the Alturians and is Grand Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth. All know know him bear testimony to the strength and worth of his character, to his devotion to the highest professional standards and to his close adherence to those principles which mark the highest type of American manhood and citizenship.
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