Los Angeles-Statewide County CA Archives Biographies.....Rimpau, Theodore September 28, 1826 - October 3, 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 2, 2010, 12:18 am Source: California and Californians, Vol. IV, Published 1932, Pages 43 - 46 Author: The Lewis Publishing Company THEODORE RIMPAU. It was more than eighty years ago that the late Theodore Rimpau arrived in Southern California, and through his personality and his gracious family relations it was given him to maintain a truly patrician influence in connection with the social life of the pioneer days, the while he played a large and worthy part in civic and material development and progress. That fine patrician strain that was instilled by him and his gracious wife has continued to be in marked evidence in the later generations of the family. Theodore Rimpau was born in Germany, September 28, 1826, and his death occurred at his home in Anaheim, Orange County, California, October 3, 1913. He was a son of John Christian and Matilda (Frietze) Rimpau, was reared and educated in his native Germany, and became a man of high intellectuality, in which connection it to be noted that he had exceptional facility in the command of six different languages. His father was a prosperous grain merchant and controlled an appreciable export business with other countries of Northern Europe, as well as Great Britain. The subject of this memoir was a scion of one of the old and titled families of Germany, and his genealogical records date back 400 years, while records of the family in earlier years had been destroyed by fire. With some of his countrymen Theodore Rimpau crossed the Atlantic Ocean and disembarked in the port of Havana, Cuba, where they remained six months. The first enterprise in which Mr. Rimpau engaged when he came to the new world was in Havana, where together with one of his cousins, he established one of the first sugar factories in the new world. The plague, known as the "Black Vomit," ravaged the country, to which his cousin succumbed and Mr. Rimpau left for New York. When the news of the discovery of gold in California first reached the East Theodore Rimpau was the first man to start for the New Eldorado, he having embarked on the first sailing vessel that essayed the voyage around Cape Horn en route for California. After a perilous and tedious voyage of many months he landed at Buena Vista, the nucleus of the present city of San Francisco, February 28, 1848. He proceeded to embark in a new enterprise in a world that was new to him. He purchased some sailing vessels and put them into commission in a trading service along the coast from San Francisco to San Diego with no thought at the time that he was establishing the firm foundations of a prominent and influential career for himself and for similar influence on the part of his children and his children's children. Early in 1850 Mr. Rimpau came south to the historic old pueblo of Los Angeles, where he engaged in the mercantile business, while continuing to operate his trading vessels along the coast. He met with substantial success, but eventually encountered serious reverses, for in one year storms wiped out his fleet of vessels and fire destroyed his mercantile establishment. His energies and self- reliant spirit remained unfettered, and his courage in the face of misfortune refused to falter in the least. After his marriage a great part of the ancestral holdings of the Avila family came under his direct supervision, and his executive ability and progressive policies resulted in his developing these holdings until they constituted a vast and extremely valuable estate. In the dreamy old Spanish pueblo of Los Angeles Mr. Rimpau was favored in forming the acquaintanceship of the beautiful Miss Francisco Avila, daughter of Don Francisco Avila, who owned near Los Angeles one of the largest of the fine old Spanish grants of the early days in California history. On this grant today stands the Los Angeles high school building, and the grant constitutes also the stage of residential and business districts of the highest grade, including Rimpau Hill, Wilshire Crest, Washington Square and other important centers. The marriage of Mr. Rimpau and Miss Francisca Avila was solemnized December 23, 1850, the nuptial ceremony having been performed by Father Sanchez in the old Plaza Church. Father Sanchez was one of the pioneer missionary padres of California, and his final journey in pursuit of his missionary and sacredotal functions was from San Francisco to San Diego and thence to Los Angeles. Marcelina Encarnacion Avila, mother of Mrs. Rimpau, was a daughter of Don Ramon Sepulveda, who likewise was the owner of a large Spanish grant - land which today is the site of Santa Monica, Venice, Ocean Park, Sawtelle and other beautiful municipalities of Los Angeles County. The wedding of Theodore Rimpau and his bride was the first mixed marriage in Los Angeles after its conquest by the Americans. In 1860 Theodore Rimpau removed from Los Angeles to his ranch in the San Joaquin valley, between Los Angeles and Capistrano — an estate now known as the Irvin Ranch. In 1868 he removed to Anaheim and became one of its founders. There he established his permanent home upon his ranch of twenty acres. This ranch, which he developed into a splendid vineyard and fruit orchard, is now retained in the possession of two of his daughters, Miss Sophia Rimpau and Mrs. William Eugene Alexander, Jr. Mr. Rimpau, together with the other German settlers, as Anaheim, was a German colony, first introduced the grape industry in California. When in the late sixties the vineyards were practically wiped out with the vine disease, known as the "Anaheim disease," which was brought in from France from imported vines, he took a prominent part in the eradication of this disease, which after years of study and labor was practically accomplished. Besides giving his attention to his ranch Mr. Rimpau conducted for twenty years one of the leading stores at Anaheim, and later, with his two sons, Adolph and Fred C., he embarked in another new industry, sheep raising, but still keeping their mercantile business. They raised their sheep on a large ranch in Lower California and then brought them overland and pastured them on lands they held under lease, which today is known as Coyotte Hills and on parts of which stand today the city of Fullerton. These lands at that time could have been purchased for seven dollars an acre. Here they got their sheep ready for market, which extended as far as Salt Lake City in Utah. These were the days before railroads and the sheep were driven overland to the markets in droves of thousands. Theodore Rimpau was the first mayor of Anaheim, besides serving two terms as a member of the City Council and holding for a quarter of a century the position of trustee on the Board of Education. In this community he and his gracious wife lived an ideal life, and their devoted companionship covered a period of somewhat more than fifty years, so that they were permitted to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Rimpau passed away at the age of seventy-one years, her death having occurred February 7, 1903, while she was visiting in the Los Angeles home of her son, Benjamin A. To Mr. and Mrs. Rimpau were born fifteen children. Adolph, first born of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Rimpau, was associated with others in the laying out of the city of Corona, Riverside County. As a young man he became associated with his father in the mercantile business and other enterprises, and after the death of their father he and his brother Fred C., assumed control of the mercantile business, which they continued many years, under the title of Rimpau Brothers. Adolph Rimpau married Miss Natalia Carrillo, a representative of one of the old and prominent Spanish families of California, and they became the parents of five children, all of whom still reside in Southern California. Adolph Rimpau was influential in political and community affairs, and after he and his brother retired from the mercantile business they established themselves in the general real estate business, under the original firm name of Rimpau Brothers, this enterprise being still continued by Fred C. Rimpau. Adolph also became manager of the Rimpau Estate Company, to the affairs of which he continued to give his attention until his death, October 16, 1916. Albert Rumaldo, the second son, was born in Los Angeles, June 7, 1853, and after completing his education he became a deputy of the office of the county clerk, and later served many years as county clerk. Upon retiring from this office he became concerned in the real estate business. He married Miss Rosa Belle Woodworth, a member of a family prominent in the social and business life of Los Angeles, and upon his death, November 25, 1910, he was survived by his widow, four children and five grandchildren. Mrs. Rimpau's death occurred in Los Angeles in 1925. Fred C., eldest of the surviving children of the subject of this memoir, was born in Los Angeles March 13, 1855, and his birthplace, still standing on Olivera Street, is one of the old landmarks of that city commonly referred to by pioneers as the "First Capitol Building in California." After completing a course in Heald's Business College, San Francisco, Fred C. Rimpau was for three years engaged in the dry goods business at Tucson, Arizona. Thereafter he was associated with his brother Adolph in conducting the mercantile business founded by their father at Anaheim, in the real estate business. He maintains active supervision of his large property interests in Anaheim and Los Angeles, and he is president of the Rimpau Estate Company, in which position he succeeded his brother Adolph at the latter's death. He married Miss Nellie Smythe, a representative of another of the old Spanish families, and her death occurred several years ago at Anaheim. Edward, the fourth child, was born in Los Angeles in 1860, was graduated from the high school of his native city and was twenty-four years of age at the time of his death, at Anaheim. Frank T. was born in Los Angeles August 4, 1862, and after his graduation from the Los Angeles High School he completed a course in pharmacy at the University of California. From 1882 to 1922 he was the owner of a drug store at 355 North Main street, Los Angeles. Since selling his drug business and retiring from active business Mr. Rimpau has given his supervision to the vast property and capitalistic interests he has acquired in Southern California, besides which he is associated in the management of the Rimpau Estate Company. He and his wife have a palatial home at Alhambra. He married Louise Berlin, also a member of an old family, which migrated to California in the early eighties. Mrs. Rimpau is the daughter of a Civil war veteran. Claudina was born in Los Angeles, was there graduated from high school, and she died at the age of twenty-five years. Matilda, the seventh of the children, was graduated from the high school of her native city of Los Angeles, and she died at the age of twenty-one years. Robert and Theodore, Jr., twins, were the next in order of birth, and both died of scarlet fever when they were thirteen years of age. Miss Sophia P., tenth in order of birth of the fifteen children, resides in the fine old family homestead at Anaheim, and, is a woman of culture and gracious personality, there maintains the atmosphere of gracious hospitality that so clearly indicated the old social regime of the early days. John L. was born at Anaheim, in 1869, was for fifteen years engaged in the mercantile business at Yuma, Arizona, and he was a resident of Los Angeles at the time of his death in 1910. He is survived by his widow and one daughter. Benjamin Alfred was born at Anaheim in 1871, and his death occurred February 5, 1927. He was for thirty-five years associated with the old Boston Dry Goods Store, Los Angeles, now the J. W. Robinson Company, and was thus engaged at the time of his death. He is survived by his widow, two children and two grandchildren. James A. was born February 18, 1873, at Anaheim. He was for many years associated with the Southern Pacific Railroad in California, Arizona and New Mexico, and ill health caused his resignation in 1917. Since 1918 he has served as manager and a trustee of the Rimpau Estate Company and has supervision of his valuable real estate holdings in Los Angeles. He and his wife reside in their beautiful home at Hollywood. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. Maria L. is the wife of William Eugene Alexander, Jr., of Los Angeles, was born and reared at Anaheim. She is a talented musician and a prominent figure in musical and social circles. The youngest of the fifteen children was a son who died at the age of three years. The late Theodore Rimpau made his own life count in large and worthy achievement, his children have so wrought as to give new honors to the family name, and the rising generation of grandchildren and great-grandchildren is destined to preserve still further the prestige of the family in California, as already manifest in service that is tending to continue the good work with which the family name has here been associated since the early pioneer days and that has contributed to general civic and material development and progress. 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