USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The builders of a great city : San Francisco's representative men, the city, its history and commerce : pregnant facts regarding the growth of the leading branches of trade, industries and products of the state and coast > Part 14
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isaical display. In business matters he has been most successful, due to his sound judgment and conserva --- tive method. In fine he has been the chief agent in building up to a gratifying success one of our greatest and most promising industries, and
for this is entitled to the highest es- steem and gratitude of the citizens of San Francisco and the Pacific Coast ; his means and influence always freely given for the furtherance of every object involving the prosper- ity and good of his fellow-men.
COL. HERMANN BENDEL.
COLONEL ~HERMANN BENDEL.
OL. Hermann Bendel, one of our leading grocery merchants, and a veteran of the late war, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1837, and is, therefore, still in the flush of vigorous manhood. He received a military education in his native coun- try, which stood him in good stead in the land of his adoption.
In 1858, when he had just attained his majority, he came to the United States. For three years, from 1858 to 1861, he was engaged in business in St. Louis, Mo.
Here his military tastes soon led him to attach himself to the local mi- litia, and in 1861, when the war broke out, we find him a captain of mounted rifles. When President Lincoln called the people to arms, Captain Bendel was one of the first to respond, and as the State militia cast its lot with se- cession, he immediately resigned his command. On April 23, 1861, he joined Company C, Second Missouri, then forming, of which he was elected Cap- tain. He was one of the first to respond in St. Louis to the call for the Union cause. He volunteered for the three months' service, but remained with the army till 1863. His command formed part of the army of the south- west, under Lyons and Sherman. His first engagement was at Camp Jaek- son, where the Missouri militia sur- rendered. Here he took his old land- lord prisoner. The meeting between them was not at all cordial. Few can realize the intensity of the hatreds that divided friends, even brothers, during the course of this contest. A. Confederate from Texas felt much more amicably disposed towards a Union man from Massachusetts than
he did to one from his own neighbor- hood. From this cause the life of Cap- tain Bendel was more than once in danger, and thus was added peril to the ordinary danger. At Boonesville, Duck Springs, Pea Ridge and Wil- son's Creek, as well as in many minor engagements, he exposed his life for the cause so dear to his heart, and during two years shared all the dan- gers and perils of a soldier's life.
Wilson's Creek was the hardest fought of the engagements noted. Here one-third of the Union forces were either killed or wounded. In Arkansas Captain Bendel was wound- ed in the right lung in an engagement with the Texas Rangers.
He left the army with the rank of major. One of the incidents of his early military career was the preven- tion of the escape of convicts from the State Prison at Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, in July, 1861. While drilling his men, a report was brought to him that the prisoners were about to escape. On investiga- tion it was found that one-half of them were on the wall while the other half were digging through it. There were 565 in all. He repaired imme- diately to the prison ; the guns of his men were brought to bear, and order was speedily restored.
He came to this coast for the bene- fit of his health. His brother-in-law, H. Thyarks, was then a member of the firm of Tillmann & Co., which had been founded way back in 1853. Here he was first engaged in business on the coast. In 1867 he became a partner in the firm of Taylor & Ben- del. In 1869 this firm had condueted a liquor. business, sold it to Nic. Van
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Bergen & Co., and purchased the busi- ness of Tillmann & Co. In 1874 Mr. Taylor died. Soon after Mr. Bendel was traveling in Germany on his bridal tour, where he met Mr. Till- mann, and after comparing notes, the latter gentleman concluded to come back to San Francisco again and was re-admitted as a partner in the old firm which then became that of Till- mann & Bendel.
Mr. Bendel has prospered in busi- ness exceedingly, and now his firm con- ducts one of the most extensive grocery business in the United States. He is interested in several other enterprises, as the San Jose Fruit Packing Com- pany, the Natoma Vineyard and Water Co., of both of which he is President.
He was one of the founders and a di- rector in the American Sugar Refinery. In leaving the army he did not alto- gether retire from military matters. On February 8,1887, he was appointed by Governor Bartlett on his staff as Inspector General of Rifle Practice, a position which his training in an especial manner fitted him for. Here he ranks as Colonel. On November 12, 1888, he was re-appointed by Gov- ernor Waterman to the same position. He has ever taken a keen interest in military affairs, and has always a cor- dial welcome for his old comrades in arms. He is a member of the Loyal Legion, and of George H. Thomas Post, No. 2, G. A. R., a leading mer- chant and good citizen.
IRA BISHOP.
IRA BISHOP.
RA Bishop, manager of the San Francisco Tool Company, which is so widely and favorably known in this city and throughout the Pacific Coast, is a nativo of Bishop's Mills, in what is now known as the province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, and ras born April 13, 1846. He at- tended school in his native town until lie arrived at the age of fourteen, when he was employed by his father as a salesman and bookkeeper in the lumbering and sawmill business, in which the elder Mr. Bishop was ex- tensively engaged. He remained here until, a youth of seventeen, he decided to seek fame and fortune in the neighboring Republic. After considerable wanderings in the West- ern States, he finally secured em- ployment at Cheboygan, Michigan; He here devoted himself to the in- terests of his employer, who was en- gaged in the teaming business, with such assiduity and industry that when "pay day" came he was allowed $5 more per month than the other em- ployees. The success thus achieved, together with the approbation be- stowed by his parents, acted strong- ly as an incentive to young Bishop, who very correctly concluded that the first step taken by young men de- siring to succeed in life was to be faithful and industrious. After re- porting progress to his family at his boyhood's home, he returned to Michigan, and for three months was once more engaged at lumbering. He now concluded to seek his for- tunes in California, and arrived at Truckee in the early part of June, 1871. The young man here employed himself at lumbering and teaming for some three years, and in November, 1874, paid a visit to his friends and
relatives in the East. Returning to California he was engaged in various enterprises in Boca and vicinity, among others in the construction of a bridge across the Truckee River, with an old friend, Mr. C. C. Com- stock. Acquitting himself in this with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employer and friend, Mr. Comstock, the latter gentleman of- fered him favorable terms to con- tinue with him. Mr. Comstock was employed as Superintendent of Con- struction of Bridges by the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and his proposition was accepted by Mr. Bishop. Following the principles already referred to, within a few months he was advanced to the rank of foreman, and continued as such until the Spring of 1880. Acquitting himself creditably in this capacity, he established a reputation, as is ev- idenced by the fact that his services were sought by the prominent firm of Balfour, Guthrie & Co., of San Fran- cisco, who projected the erection of a wharf at their grain warehouses and depot at Benicia. Mr. Bishop had but recently married, and with the increased responsibilities en- tailed by his entrance into the mat- rimonial state, he was glad to secure a position where an increased in- come was assured. In the course of events this proved to be the step- ping-stone to the position which Mr. Bishop now fills so creditably. Hav- ing completed his contract, and after a period spent in his old position on the C. P. R. R., he superintended the erection of the Benicia Agricul- tural Works, for Messrs. Baker & Hamilton, of San Francisco and Sac- ramento. This undertaking was ac- complished in April, 1881, and in
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the meantime he also built an hotel in close proximity to the workshops referred to. His services were next called into requisition by the Grang- ers' Business Association, and for them he constructed an extensive wharf and grain warehouse, which work was completed in October, 1881. He was then engaged in the construction of a ferry slip for Messrs. Mizner & Shirley, connecting B. nicia with Martinez. A cannery and wharf for the Carquinez Packing Company was next built, and the buildings of the Benicia Packing Company raised and new foundations placed in position.
Mr. Bishop was at the head of many undertakings of greater or less importance, a detailed description of which lack of space will not here permit. Among the many were the building of the Nevada Docks, at or near Port Costa, for the late James C. Flood; a grain warehouse at Han- ford for S. Blum & Co, and one for Messrs. Kitchner & Co. at Traver, which latter was finished in August, 1884. While thus busily engaged, Mr. Bishop devoted his surplus en- ergy to the improvement of the sack elevator ordinarily in use, and his in- ventive faculty produced a machine of such merit that sixty were sold during the season of 1884.
With so extensive an experience, it is not surprising that he had es- tablished a reputation for mechani- cal skill and managerial ability. In August, 1885, his services were re- quired by the San Francisco Tool Co. with whom he made satisfactory ar- rangements, to the effect that at the expiration of three months he should have the privilege of buying an in- terest in the works of the now prom- inent company. Remaining on a lib- eral salary for the time mentioned,
this gentleman secured an interest in the business, and shortly afterwards was elected by the Directors as manager of the works, which re- sponsib'e and important position he still holds.
In 1886, Mr .. Bishop was ap- pointed Superintendent of the Pacific Power Company, and in that capac- ity still acts. In addition to the reg- ular routine business of the S. F. Tool Company, a complete system of water works has been built for the Benicia Water Company, and a num- ber of very high-class compound condensing Corliss engines have been put in, including one for the Pacific Power Company, for the pur- pose of running four 40-horse power electric dynamos. This engine fur- nishes power to four circuits, with electric motors, which provide the necessary power for neighboring factories, and which are now in suc- cessful operation. The most im- portant enterprise now in charge of Mr. Bishop, representing the San Francisco Tool Company, is the building of the cable road for the Piedmont Cable Company, of Oak- land, which will involve an outlay of about $650,000, and which will be completed in the Spring of 1890.
This gentleman is a skilled me- chanic of the first class, thoroughly acquainted with his business, and, as has been shown, under his super- vision many important works have been constructed. Mr. Bishop is but 43 years of age, in the full prime of an active and busy life, and it is reasonable to expect that in the fu- ture he will be still more prominent- ly identified with works of the char- acter of which the San Francisco Tool Company makes a specialty and of which he is the able and efficient manager.
HENRY M. BLACK.
HENRY M. BLACK.
HOSE who have borne the burden and heat of the day in the ardu- ous work of founding our indus- trial system will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the citizens of San Francisco. Some of those who have thus distinguished themselves have been laid away in the pioneer's last resting place, while others, yet as full of energy and activity as ever, are still overcoming the obstacles that yet remain in the path of the Pacific Coast manufacturer. Not the least distin- guished amongst the latter is Henry M. Black, a native of Ireland, where he was born on the 18th of Sep- tember, 1834. He may thus be still termed a man in the prime of active life. He came to the United States with his parents when four or five years old; they settled in Portland, Maine, where young Black first at- tended school. They next settled in Cambridge, where he learned the art and mystery of carriage making. He went to work when sixteen years of age, and after spending five years with Slade & Whitten in Boston, whose establishment was at the corner of Franklin and Hawley streets, he found himself launched on the stormy sea of life, to struggle for the prizes that the world has to bestow on the successful aspirant for her favors. After spending six years in the hub of the wheel round which revolves New England, and her sons devoutly be- lieve the world, Mr. Black made up his mind to avail himself of the op- portunities that the Pacific Coast, then a veritable new world, offered to the ambitious and enterprising. Accord- ingly, in 1860, he left on the steamer "Champion" for Aspinwall, reaching San Francisco on the "Golden Gate.'
He at once went to work in the es- tablishment of H. Casebolt & Co., on Second street, opposite Market. Here he remained a year. He was not, however, satisfied to work for others, and after obtaining sufficient knowl- edge of our local needs in the direction of this industry, and having an intui- tive perception of how to supply them, he, in company with D. D. Miller, started in business for himself. The firm was known as Black & Miller, and had their establishment on Third and Market streets. Here they were at that early day outside of the city, as we now know it, but Mr. Black was aware that it would grow, and that an investment there would ulti- mately prove a paying one. The new firm was a successful one, and the partners did business together till 1869, when Mr. Miller retired. Edward Saul took his place and remained five or six years. Since that time Mr. Black has borne all the burdens of the business alone. The original estab- lishment was removed higher up Mar- ket street to the place where Sanborn & Vail's establishment now is, in 1875. Here it remained till Mr. Black moved to Mission near Second, six or seven years ago. He still owns the property which he built himself. He was on Market street in all twenty-three years. When he began to manu- facture, most of the carriages used on the coast were imported, and the task of building up the local industry was not an easy onc. But Mr. Black was a thorough master of his business and success followed him almost from the start. He has seen San Francisco grow from a city of forty thousand in- habitants to one of nearly nine times the number, and the industry in which
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he has labored to such good effect, too, expand proportionately. He received in 1869 a gold medal for the first hack and top carriages and buggies ever manufactured in California or on the coast, and has many a time, and oft since then, carried off premiums from his competitors.
Nor has he been unmindful of civic responsibilities, nor have the people been unmindful of his services to the interests of the city. He was elected School Director in 1875 and served four years in that capacity with credit to himself and benefit to the cause of education. Previous to that, he served four years on the Industrial School Board when the institution was sus- tained by private citizens and con- ducted solely on a charitable basis. There was then no such thing as polit- ical patronage in connection with it, and we need hardly say that it gave more satisfaction than it has done
many times in later years. The girls sentenced there were subsequently turned over to the charge of the sisters, and many of them have not only reformed, but made excellent wives and mothers. Mr. Black served San Francisco as a member of the last Legislature. He was Chairman of the San Francisco Delegation, and besides did good service on the Judi- ciary Committee, and those on Public Lands and Education.
He was married in Boston when only twenty-two years old, and again in 1877, to a highly cultured and ac- complished lady, but he has only one child living. He is a gentleman of fine physique, good presence, affable manners, and is what would anywhere be called a handsome man. His serv- ices to the cause of California industry and to the public weal entitle him to a niche in the temple of San Fran- cisco's worthies.
E. M. BLOCK.
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ELIAS MONROE BLOCK.
S a pioneer and merchant, E. M. Block is by no means one of the least noted. He was born in Bohemia in 1823, but left the land of his birth at an early age, and is in all respects distinctively American. His father came to St. Louis, Mo., when the subject of our sketch was only 13 years of age, and settled in Pike county, but his son, while still young, went to the State's metropolis, where he clerked in an establishment for some years, commencing on a sal- ary of $5 per month. Attracted by the golden glories of California he early sought our shores, reaching this city July 5, 1849, coming by the Isth- mus route, in the well-remembered " Niantic." Like some others who saw as much gold in San Francisco as in the placers of the Sacramento Valley, he concluded to adopt a mercantile career, and clerked for a large im- porting house-that of A. H. Sibley -till it was burned out, afterwards officiating in the same capacity for James Blair of the navy, and owner of steamships sent out from Philadel- phia. He finally ventured into busi- ness for himself on the corner of Commercial and Leidesdorff' streets, and was burned out in the disastrous conflagration of 1851. He was, in 1850, part owner jointly with James Blair and J. C. Beidelman of the steamer " Sacramento," which made
weekly trips to Marysville. The fare was $40 and the freight $40 per ton. For lumber $200 per thou- sand was charged. He was a stock- holder in the California Steam Navi- gation Company, organized in 1853, Major Sam Hensley being the Presi- dent of the company.
He bought very largely at the first city sale, in 1849 and 1850, real estate consisting of 50 and 100-vara lots, in various portions of the city. These, which are now worth millions, he sold at a sacrifice and left for New York. Not expecting to return, he went into business in the Empire City, but again concluded to revisit Califor- nia. After remaining here awhile, he sought New York once more in 1859, being located at 20 Exchange place and 19 Broad street, where for some years he was known as one of the leading bankers and brokers of Wall street. He visited the coast in 1870, but again the Empire City called him back.
After a five years' absence he re- turned to California, and he has re- sided here ever since. For awhile he devoted himself to seeking for invest- ments, and finally in 1877 purchased Carmen Island Salt Works, of which he has been sole proprietor of the business until lately, when his son William was taken into partnership. He married in 1859, and has a family of three children.
JOHN L. BOONE.
.
JOHN LEE BOONE.
OONE is an historical name of our country, and familiar to every schoolboy in the United States. John Lee Boone, of San Francisco, is a member of the family made famous by the great Ken- tucky pioneer, Daniel Boone, his great-grandfather George Boone and Daniel having been brothers. It would seem that a spirit of adventure and enterprise was one of the charac- teristics of the family, for we find the father of John Lee Boone one of the first white settlers in the State of Oregon at the site of Salem, now the Capital, then a wilderness. This was in 1844, when John was but a child a year old, having been born in Lee county, Iowa, on the 5th of August, 1843. His father, John D. Boone, was a representative man of Oregon, and for eleven years in succession was its State Treasurer. On both sides Mr. Boone has reason to be proud of his lineage, which is purely American, dating back for several generations. His grandmother on his father's side belonged to the family of Virginia Randolphs, while the same relation- ship on his mother's side was with the Crafts of Virginia.
Mr. Boone, after a course at the Willamette University at Salem, was sent, when 16 years of age, to the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Dela- ware, Ohio, to complete his eduzation. He remained at that institution until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he enlisted as a private soldier in Captain C. H. McElroy's Co. D, Twentieth Ohio Vol. Inft. He served in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shi- loh, Iuka, Hatchee River, McKnight's, Lane's, and was under General Grant until shortly before the siege of Vicks- burg in 1863. He received a dis- charge from the Secretary of War in
order that he might be promoted, and was tendered a commission by Gov- ernor Dennison, of Ohio, on General Cox's staff, but declined the offer, that he might make a visit to his parents in Oregon, who were anxious to see him. Before returning, however, he was married (in July, 1863) to Miss Annie M. Lawson, daughter of Major Joseph Lawson, of the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, when the young couple re- turned to Oregon, where they received an enthusiastic reception. On the 21st anniversary of his birthday (Au- gust 5th, 1864), Mr. Boone was elected to his first public position, that of jus- tice of the peace and at the same time was made an alderman of the city of Salem, remaining in office until October of the same year, when he was appointed Adjutant First Oregon Infantry. He continued in military service until November of 1865, act- ing as A. A. A. General of the Depart- ment of the Columbia, when he retired . and began the study of law, being in the meantime twice elected clerk of the Oregon Legislature.
In 1867 he came to San Francisco, and was for many years connected with the house of Dewey & Co. as manager of the Scientific Press Patent Agency, retaining the position until 1878, when he opened an office on his own ac- count. Mr. Boone's legal knowledge and ability, especially as regards all business connected with patents, has been many times exemplified in the conduct of the most important cases. We may mention here the case of John Reynolds vs. H. L. Dodge, et al, tried in the U. S. Circuit Court. Dodge was superintendent of the San Francisco Mint, and consequently the United States was the real party de- fendant. In this case Mr. Boone ob- tained a judgment amounting to $60,-
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000, which he collected from the gov- ernment. In the suit of Fisher et al. vs. Hoskin, involving the right to manufacture and sell the Little Giant Hydraulic Mining Machine, so familiar to hydraulic miners, Mr. Boone suc- ceeded in overturning the result of eight years of prior litigation, in which other attorneys had contested the mat- ter ; in fact Mr. Boone's record in the U. S. Circuit Court as a successful patent lawyer is unequaled. Mr. Boone is untiring and persistent in his efforts for any client whose cause he espouses, as the following anecdote will illus- trate: In a case pending in the Su- perior Court a short while ago he was opposed by two of our most prominent attorneys, Judge A and Judge B, who had both held judicial positions, and whose offices were in different parts of town. Judge A appeared to be the principal attorney, but when Mr. Boone would send his clerk to him to get any information or to get a stipu- lation signed, Judge A would send him to Judge B, and Judge B would send him back to Judge A, until thething be- came almost unbearable. At last Mr. Boone sent Judge A a polite note sug- gesting that he (Judge A) was not acting in good faith. After reading the note Judge A flew into a violent passion, and told Mr. Boone's messen- ger to "tell Boone to go to the d-1." Not satisfied, however, with sending the word verbally, he also wrote Mr. Boone a letter in which he reiterated his demand that Mr. Boone should go to the d-I. To this Mr. Boone sent a quiet reply that he long suspected that the d-I was mixed up in the case, but that he had not expected to find him in the person of Judge B, and that he was highly pleased that the
individual had at last been located. The humor of this reply was so ap- parent that Judge A upon reading it burst into a hearty laugh, and has never failed to remark when he meets Mr. Boone that the joke was too good to keep. Judge A has ever since held Mr. Boone in the highest estcem.
Mr. Boone is a member of the G. A. R. In 1884 Mr. Boone was elected to represent the Thirteenth Senatorial District in this State in the State Senate, which position he filled with credit to himself and to the entire sat- isfaction of his constituents. In 1888 he was for a time the recognized Re- publican candidate for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District, and could have been the candidate of the party if he had desired the nomination, but while in the full tide of his canvas when there was no candidate to op- pose him, he withdrew his name and refused to accept the nomination, much to the disappointment of his friends. Mr. Boone is at present a member of the Executive Committee of the Re- publican State Committee, and we doubt not that there are future honors awaiting him.
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