Los Angeles County CA Archives Biographies.....Mesmer, Joseph November 3, 1855 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com August 15, 2010, 9:10 pm

Source: California and Californians, Vol. IV, Published 1932, Pages 66 - 67
Author: The Lewis Publishing Company

     JOSEPH MESMER deserves the everlasting good will of the City of Los 
Angeles, which has been his home for seventy years. It has been well said 
that "the index of his entire career has been one of public spirit and public 
service."

     No where has this leadership been more in evidence than in his efforts to 
secure adequate street widening and the opening of public spaces in the midst 
of the masses of structures that mark the modern city.

     His constructive effort has entered into every other phase of Los 
Angeles' progress during the past fifty years.

     Mr. Mesmer assisted in maintaining the annual feature of the district 
agricultural and industrial fairs. He has been a contributor to the building 
of many churches, irrespective of race, color or creed, of various 
denominations, and to the practical work of charity and charitable 
institutions.

     In 1876 Mr. Mesmer accepted employment in a general merchandising store 
and later in a shoe store. With money advanced by his father in 1878 he 
established The Queen Shoe Store. This business he sold in 1906, and he with 
his family made a thirteen months' tour through the United States, Canada and 
Europe.

     Mr. Mesmer is president of the Los Angeles County Pioneer Society, he 
having come to Los Angeles County in August, 1859, when less than four years 
of age. He was born at Tippecanoe City, Miami County, Ohio, November 3, 1855, 
son of Louis and Catherine (Forst) Mesmer. He came with his parents to 
California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in San Francisco in 
April, 1859, and the following August came down the coast on a steamer to San 
Pedro, landed at Wilmington and traveled by stage coach to Los Angeles. Joseph 
Mesmer was educated in the early public schools of Los Angeles. He completed 
his education in the college of Strassbourg, France. In 1907 Mr. Mesmer became 
identified with the Saint Louis Fire Brick and Clay Company of Los Angeles, 
and has for many years been its active head. Mr. Mesmer married, April 22, 
1879, Miss Rose Elizabeth Bushard, of Los Angeles.  Their children were Louis 
Francis, Marie Josephine Perier, Clarence Woodman, Junietta Lucille, Beatrice 
Evalynn and Aloysius Joseph Mesmer. Two of his sons volunteered for service 
during the World war, Louis and Aloysius. Louis was given the rank of major of 
engineers in the army and Aloysius as ensign in the navy.

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