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 34
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The Oceanic Steamship Com- pany, which was organized on De- cember 24, 1881, with a capital of two millions of dollars, by the Spreckels Brothers, and which has done such yeoman's service in the developement of commerce with Australia, is an offshoot of the great sugar industry, founded by their en- terprising and energetic father, Claus Spreckels, who may have other industrial achievements in view, but who has already accomplished sufficient to place his name on an en- during pedestal of fame. He is still physically strong and perfect, of a ruddy, healthy hue, with a fine pres- ence, an open, pleasant countenance and a cheerful word for everybody. His sons, John D., Adolph B. and C. A., forming the firm of John D. Spreckels & Brothers, areamongst our most successful business men, and give promise of a career as distinguished as that of their gifted father, who is truly the architect of his own fortune and one of the greatest master builders of this queen city of San Francisco.
LUKE GEORGE SRESOVICH.
LUKE GEORGE SRESOVICH.
UKE George Sresovieh was born in the beautiful city of North Ragusa, Austria, on the 18th day of August, 1850. His father was an architeet and builder by profession, but was better known as the great ship and house joiner of Ra- gusa, as he did all such work for the ship-builders and house carpenters of that city. He was also largely interested with other members of his family in the lumber trade and gen- eral merchandise.
At the age of eleven young Sreso- vich, in company with a relative, be- gan visiting the various countries of Europe. Some three or more years were thus profitably employed. In 1866 he bade farewell to home and kindred and came to the new world in search of fortune. He remained in New York for a short time, and then took passage for California in the ship Andrew Jackson, arriving in San Francisco in the fall of 1867. Here he began a course of study under Dr. Hoddard. He subsequent- ly became a student at Santa Clara College, where he carried off several medals and diplomas for proficiency in studies and good conduet.
After the completion of his educa- tion he entered a large commission house, that of his uncle, J. Ivanco- vich, as shipping clerk. In 1870 he went into the wholesale fruit busi- ness on his own account on Sansome street. His venture proved so suc- cessful that he was soon forced to procure more commodious quarters. By an arrangement with the Lick estate, a large building on Washing- ton street was remodeled to accom-
modate his growing trade. Unfortu- nately, his health began to fail, and by the advice of his physician he re- turned to his old quarters, which had been improved and enlarged.
Early in the " seventies " heavy consignments of cocoanuts from Ta- hiti and other South Sea Islands were made to the San Francisco market, which was often overstocked, when the cocoanuts had to be thrown into the bay. Mr. Sresovich attempted to save the nuts by a drying process. He did not meet with much success at first, but patience and well-directed effort were eventually rewarded, and to-day his "Pioneer brand" of desic- cated cocoanut is claimed to be the best in the world. It has taken the medals and premiums at all our State fairs and exhibitions. At the World's Exposition, at New Orleans, it was awarded a diploma; it also gained a medal at the Oregon State fair.
At the present time the manu- facture of desiccated cocoanut is an important industry. Whole car- goes of the nuts are now received and converted into a delicious erystal. line condition defying elimate and time. Several vessels are engaged by Mr. Sresovieh in this trade. IIe is not only a dealer in fruits and a manufacturer of fruit products, but a grower as well. Ilis great fruit ranch at Byron is among the noted ones of the State, and will excel them all in certain varieties. IIe has also a large packing and drying estab- lishment at San Jose. He also ear- ries on a steady export trade with the South Sea Islands and Australia.
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Eighteen years ago he opened up a this port large quantities of the lus- market for our fruit to Australia, cious fruit. Five years ago the trade was less than one-tenth of what it is now, the arrivals being from 6,000 to 8,000 bunches per month, and the freight being 75 cents per bunch with five cents premium. Mexico, China and other remote countries. By Mr. Sresovich's enter- prise and foresight, the orchardist as well as the steamship companies were greatly benefited.
At the present time the yearly shipments to foreign parts aggregate over 200,000 cases. This is all the more gratifying from the fact that when the shipping of fruit to Sydney, Dunedin and Christchurch was first started, eighteen years ago, very dis- couraging letters were received, stat- ing that there was no market. Sub- sequent events have shown what perseverance can do. The Australian fruit trade bas grown to such dimen- sions that the steamers to the an- tipodes had to refuse large consign- ments in 1888 as they could not accommodate more than 16,000 to 20,000 cases by each boat. Mr. Sresovich is largely interested in the banana trade between the Hawaiian Islands and San Francisco. He has made contracts with Mark P. Robin- son of Honolulu to raise and ship to
Mr. Sresovich has solved a knotty railroad problem at San Jose, where all the goods are shipped direct from his warehouse. He has also pushed the sale of fruits raised at Watsonville, San Jose, San Pablo and Soquel, by establishing packing houses in each town and transporting their products to other markets. He is connected with the Masonic fra- ternity, and is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Austrian Benevolent Society, etc. Some 15 years ago he married the daughter of a prominent farmer, who has blessed him with three children-one daughter, Eve- lyn, and two sons, George L. and Byron L., aged five and one year respectively. This is the life history of one of our esteemed and enter- prising citizens.
LELAND STANFORD.
LELAND STANFORD.
HEN a man, by his abilities, whatever may be their char- acter, raises himself to a position of great wealth and in- fluence in the country, he wins, perhaps, more of the envy of his less fortunate competitors than anything else. If the works which have led to his wealth have been such as to confer large and increasing benefits upon the world, then he compels our admiration; but if while yet in the vigor of manhood he conceives and carries out some grand enterprise which shall advance the welfare of future generations, bestowing with liberal hand the millions he has ac- quired in order that this good may be made as secure to posterity as human skill and wisdom can make it, then he commands not only our ad- miration, but the reverence and love of our hearts.
And this is what Leland Stanford bas done. It is not necessary that his life should be written in books in order to perpetuate his name, for that he has indelibly impressed upon the continent by the iron road which winds its way across the plains and over the Sierras, connecting the At- lantic and Pacific seaboards, and he has erected a still greater monument so that posterity shall cherish his memory in the Leland Stanford Jr. University, one of the greatest gifts made at any time by one man to any people. It is well, therefore, if not necessary, that every book which is intended as a work of reference, with regard to the lives of those who have taken an active part in the advance- ment of San Francisco, and especially adapted for the use and satisfaction of those who shall come after us, should contain a biographical sketch
of Leland Stanford. And that is all we can do here, just give a mere sketch, briefly alluding to the princi- pal works of his life. The effect they will have upon the State and county a century lience, no man can calcu- late, for the possibilities, when viewed in comparison with works of lesser magnitude instituted in the past, are beyond human comprehen- sion.
Leland Stanford is a native of New York State, where he was born in Albany County, on the ninth day of March, 1824. He comes of Eng- lish ancestry, though the branch to which he belongs settled in America as early as 1644. He received a good education in his native State, and de- termined upon the law as a profes- sion, beginning its study in the office of Wheaton, Doolittle & Hadley, of Albany, in 1845. On being admit- ted to the bar he looked to the West for a place in which to settle, and de- termined upon Port Washington, Wis., where he located in 1848. Two years later he was married to Miss Jane Lathrop, daughter of Dyer Lathrop, a prominent citizen and merchant of Albany.
While in the practice of his profes- sion at Port Washington his library and the most valuable portion of his effects were burned. This apparent catastrophe gave to the Pacific Coast one of its greatest financiers, philan- thropists and statesmen, for instead of continuing in the practice of the law Mr. Stanford decided to emigrate to California, where his brothers were engaged in business and mining, join- ing them in 1852. Soon afterwards he settled in Michigan Bluff, Placer County, where he conducted a suc- cessful business for about four years.
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His brothers were now in Sacramen- to, where their trade had grown to large proportions, and in 1856 Mr. Stanford joined them as a partner, devoting himself in the interests of the establishment, which had various branches throughout the State and demanded close attention, as well as executive ability to properly con- duct it.
In 1860, Mr. Stanford was chosen delegate to the Chicago Convention, where he made the acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln, and voted for him as Republican candidate for the Presidency. He was in full accord with the Union party, and it is worthy of note that President Lincoln, with his shrewd judgment of men, recognized in him an able and trustworthy friend of the Gov- ernment, seeking his counsel and ad- vice with regard to Pacific Coast ap- pointments. He spent considerable time in Washington after Mr. Lin- coln's inauguration, and was there in 1861, when he was tendered the nomination for Governor of Cali- fornia by the Republican party, but sent a letter of declination, which was not accepted or made public by the recipients, who had full faith that when he became aware of the importance attached to his nomination he would reconsider his refusal. This really proved to be the case. California's loyalty to the Union depended upon the election of the Republican candidate, and Mr. Stanford did not shirk the re- sponsibility of the position, but taxed his resources and energy to make the campaign successful. The result was beyond the expectations of the most sanguine, he being elect- ed with a plurality of 23,000 votes, running ahead of his ticket by 6,000 votes. Much might here be said with regard to the harmony which existed between Governor Stanford and the administration at Washington, but this belongs to National and Stato history more than to the narration of that of a single life. Suffice it to say,
that at the close of his term of office there was no more loyal State in the Union than California, and that the unusual compliment was paid him of a unanimous resolution by both Houses expressing their sense of ob- ligation to him in the following words :
"Resolved, That the thanks of the people of California are merited and are hereby tendered to Leland Stanford, for the able, upright and faithful manner in which he has dis- charged the duties of Governor of the State of California for the past two years."
Mr. Stanford declined the most urgent appeals to accept a second nomination, for there was a project in consideration of such magnificent grandeur that to insure its being brought to a successful completion would require the concentration of his every faculty.
"In the year 1860 (before Con- gress had passed any act looking to the construction of a transconti- nental railroad) a few gentlemen liv- ing in California met together, and as a result of this meeting concluded to have preliminary surveys made over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to see if it were possible to build a rail- road across them. Civil engineers had declared that it was not practic- able to built a road over those mount- ains. The result of that exploration was that we determined that a road could be built, and we finally organ- ized a company in 1861, having that purpose in view." These are Mr. Stanford's own words, spoken be- fore the Senate in 1888.
The physical and financial diffi- culties which had to be overcome were greater than any company had ever before attempted to assail. The grand result was celebrated on the twentieth of May, 1869, when Leland Stanford drove the gold spike which completed the Central Pacific Rail- way, and the good news rang out with every stroke of the silver hammer, in the telegraph stations all over the
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continent, that the wondrous work was finished and that the Atlantic and Pacific were connected by the greatest iron highway in the world.
The effect which it has had in developing the resources of Califor- nia and making its superior advan- tages of climate and products known abroad is beyond computation.
The writer of a biography can only deal with facts, he has no right to judge of the inner feelings or promptings which led the individual under consideration to act as he has done, but if one may surmise, re- garding the motives which have in- fluenced Mr. Stanford in much of his work, the conclusion would be that he had an intense love for and belief in the State of his adoption as a land of the greatest promise in the future, and that he had taken upon himself the task of demonstrat- ing to the world that such was the case. The great estate of Palo Alto, in Santa Clara and San Mateo Coun- ties, and the Vina Ranch in Tehama County, would seem by their man- agement and disposition to indicate that such is the case, but when we come to this part of Leland Stan- ford's life we feel that we have a most difficult task. No mere words will ever be adequate to express what he has done for California, and probably the best and only way is to state bare facts and let the reader weave around them all that his fancy or imagination may dictate.
The Palo Alto estate is where the thoroughbred horses which have sur- prised the world were raised. In all it comprises upwards of 7000 acres, and in its several departments of trotting horse, running horse, fa! m- ing, vineyard, park, house, etc., it probably has no cqual as an exempli- fication of what can be accomplished in this State by a proper expendi- ture of labor and capital. It forms a part of his donation to the Univer-
sity which he has founded and which is here located. The Vina Ranch, which has also been donated by Mr. Stanford, consists of 55,000 acres, 3,575 acres of which are in vines, constituting the largest vineyard in the world. There are 1,500 acres of alfalfa, 3,000 acres in grain, also or- chard, hay, grazing and timber land, the whole constituting an ex- ceedingly valuable domain.
The Gridley Ranch in Butte Coun- ty, comprising 20,000 acres of wheat land, constitutes a third donation. To designate all this as a princely gift would be but a tame and sense- less expression; it is only with the imagination, and not by words, that we can gain a proper idea of its magnitude.
Of the University itself, it is still more difficult to frame a proper description. It is called the Leland Stanford Jr. University, in memory of a beloved and only son. It is de- signed to furnish an education reach- ing from the kindergarten of child- hood to the mechanical, scientific, or professional occupations of manhood.
Mr. Stanford was elected United States Senator in 1888, by one of the largest majorities ever given to a can- didate, and will be his own successor. Wo could not pretend in such a brief sketch as this to give even a tithe of the works of public utility in which he has been engaged. We have briefly indicated the most noticeable. He has a palatial residence in this city where he lives when his Sen- atorial duties do not call him to Washington. He was President of the great road which will ever be linked with his name from its in- ception in the year 1889, when his Senatorial duties induced his resigna- tion.
Even if he did no more to entitle him to our gratitude he will ever be regarded in this country as one of the foremost men of his time.
WILLIAM STEINHART.
WILLIAM STEINHART.
[F the true particulars of the his- His brother was admitted as a mem- tories of all those who started in ber of the firm in 1859. In 1867 he formed a co-partnership under the firm name of W. & I. Steinhart & Co., with William Scholle, Charles Adler, and I. Steinhart. business in early times in San Francisco could be obtained and given to the public, a history of surpassing interest could be written. But many have died and made no sign, while Mr. Steinhart was happily married in 1859 while on a visit to Europe. His amiable wife has presented him with six children-five girls and a boy, Jesse Steinhart. the failures of others induce them to keep in the shade. Enough, however, remains to help to give the story of San Francisco as it has never before been told. As a whole, the commun- ity has been fortunate and progress- ive, and the history of this progress is narrated in the lives and fortunes of those who exemplify the maxim of the survival of the fittest. The his- tories of successful men, however, often show but a continued career of good fortune, as has been that of William Steinhart.
Born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, in 1830, he received his education in that country and early served his apprenticeship to a mer- cantile career. He came to New York in 1848 when only eighteen years of age. In that city he was engaged in the dry goods business until 1853. In the same year he was attracted by the fame of California and concluded that there was a fortune there for the ambitious and enter- prising, and so it proved in his case. He opened up a clothing and dry goods store on Sacramento street, then the leading and fashionable bus- iness street of San Francisco. He prospered from the start. He con- tinued to do business on Sacramento street for four years, but there was an interregnum of two years when he was in New York. In 1859 he returned to his old business again and pursued it with such success that a new building had to be provided for its accommo- dation. This was done, and in 1867 it was removed to its present loca- tion. Here for twenty-two years the trade carried on has prospered and has grown to wonderful dimen- sions if we compare what it is now with its status thirty-six years ago.
He has not been unmindful of the duty of lending a helping hand to home industries, and is interested in several. He was Director in the Pio- neer Woolen Mills, in the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company, and the Western Mineral Company. He was Trustee of the California Immigration Association from its start to its close. He is a charter member and trustee of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum. He has been a trustee of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund of Fidelity Lodge, F. and A. Masons. He has been also actively interested in the cause of charity, and was President for six years of the Eureka Benevolent Society. He is a Mason, being a mem- ber of Fidelity Lodge, F. and A. M.
Possessed of an ample fortune, he does not need to engage in business any longer, but his active tempera- ment will not allow him to retire. His success in life may be attributed not only to a good early training in busi- ness principles and methods, but also to a happy, even temper, and a cour- teous and gentlemanly demeanor towards all. Men like him it is who render possible not only the foun- dation of great cities, but also of great commonwealths, which are more indebted to commerce and industry than many historical writers are will- ing to allow.
He was the founder and first Presi- dent of the B'nai B'rith organization, a powerful order which was started in 1856, and which now has on this coast close to 3,000 members. He was also its first grand officer.
CYRUS H. STREET.
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CYRUS 'H. STREET.
HOUGH Cyrus H. Street is not a pioneer of California, the posi- tion which he holds in San Fran- cisco entitles him to a place among those who have and are taking an active part in the growth of both the city and State. Whatever may be said about the inheritance of certain traits of character, it is certain that we find many who show distinctively by their walk in life that they are pos- sessed of the most prominent features of an ancestor. To some extent at least, Mr. Street is an example of this fact. His grandfather, Aaron Street, laid out the towns of Salem, O., Salem, Ind., and Salem, Ia. The ground on which the latter town is built he took up by pre-emption im- mediately after the Black Hawk War, and kept a hotel at this point for sev- eral years. He was noted at this time for his historical knowledge, entertain ing his guests during many a Winter evening by the recital of facts and in- cidents in history, while he walked back and forth in front of the great fire-place, such as has now itself be- come a matter of history.
Cyrus H. Street, himself, was born on a pre-emption in Iowa, near where Bloomfield now stands, on September 7, 1843. He received his education chiefly at a private school in Council Bluffs. He studied law four years with his father, who was one of the most prominent and successful lawyers in Iowa. His health not permitting him to practice, he engaged in the now active business of real estate, in which he has ever since remained. He laid out an addition in the town of Council Bluffs, now known as Streets- ville. It is not an undue compliment to his ability as a business man to
state that he has been largely instru- mental in advancing the real estate interests of this State, and in making the superiority of California lands known abroad. In this conjunction it may be mentioned that for six years Mr. Street held the position of Secretary and Land Officer of the Im- migration Association of California, which was organized by the Board of Trade of San Francisco and support- ed by the merchants, bankers, railway and steamship companies and business men of San Francisco generally, in order that immigrants might be thoroughly and correctly posted re- garding the land values, climate and productions of different sections of the Pacific Coast, without personal cost to themselves.
It is estimated that the population of California has increased by 500,- 000 persons since 1880. The Immi- gration Association has, by the dis- tribution of reliable literature and other means at its disposal, exercised a most decided influence in bringing about such a large increase, and as the Secretary of that institution's affairs, Mr. Street must be given the credit. His life-long residence in the growing West and intimate connection with the real estate business had sup- plied him with an accurate knowledge of the needs and requirements of the different classes of settlers, and he was thus enabled to point cut to them the best means in accordance with their resources of carrying out their desires and becoming permanent residents of California. Many who have helped to make up the large increase and to triple the value of the land by plant- ing vineyards, orchards, etc., would have returned home to dissuade others
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from making a similar effort had no one been at hand to direct them in the proper road to success. It is estimated that the Immigration Association set- tled 125,000 people on the Govern- ment lands of California; lands which it had been believed for years were only suitable for grazing purposes. It was only by the hearty support of the merchants and other business men of San Francisco that Mr. Street was enabled to accomplish this work against the strong opposition of wealthy stock- men, who were using these lands for grazing purposes.
Before coming to California, and as early as 1863, Mr. Street was in part- nership with his father in Council Bluffs, Ia., and also with Judge A. H. Church, in North Platte, Neb. In 1876 he came to San Francico via the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
Railroad, since which time he has taken an active part in the city's ad- vancement.
The real estate firm of C. H. Street & Co. was established in 1888, at which time the business, books, papers and good will of the Immigration Asso- ciation were turned over to him as a compliment for his faithful services while in its employ. Mr. Street was married in 1866, his wife dying No- vember 16, 1887, and leaving four children, one of whom is Assistant Cashier of the Woodland Bank, of Woodland, Yolo County, in this State; one is a student in Harvard Univers- ity, and the other two are young and are attending school. He was remar- ried on June 11, 1889. Mr. Street is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Berkeley and an honored citizen in both social and business circles.
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