San Diego-San Francisco-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Jorres, William 1824 - ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 21, 2006, 3:22 pm Author: Theodore S. Van Dyke WILLIAM JORRES. PROMINENT among the older residents of San Diego is William Jorres. Mr. Jorres is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born on the 24th of August, 1824. After attending school he learned the carpenter's trade and followed it in the city of Hamburg until 1846, when he started for Monte Video. There he worked at his trade for about six months, when he went to Buenos Ayres, where he remained three years. While he was at Monte Video the port was blockaded by the combined French and English fleets for several months. In the latter end of 1849 he left Buenos Ayres on a ship bound round the Horn for San Francisco, where he arrived May 4, 1850. The first week after his arrival he went to the mines at Spanish Dry Diggings, on the Middle Fork of the American River. Then he went to Bear Creek and prospected that section pretty thoroughly for a year. After the second fire in 1851 he went down to San Francisco, worked at the carpenter's trade for a while, and then started in for himself as a contractor, a business he followed with excellent success until 1869, when he came to San Diego. During his residence in San Francisco Mr. Jorres in his business as a contractor superintended the erection of a large number of fine buildings. He put up four brick houses on Washington Street between Kearny and Montgomery in 1852-53; he built the large brick building on the southwest corner of California and Front in 1855, which is still standing; also the orthodox Jewish synagogue on Mason Street between Post and Geary. Most of his buildings, which were scattered about in different parts of the city, were substantial structures and are still standing. After his arrival in San Diego Mr. Jorres formed a partnership with S. S. Culverwell and built the Culverwell & Jorres Wharf, situated at the foot of F Street. This was the first wharf started in New San Diego. It was not completed so soon as the Horton Wharf, as it was twenty feet wider and required more time to build it. It was made wide enough for carriages to be driven out to meet passengers from the steamers, who were landed at the end of the wharf. The cost of the wharf was $28,700. For the first year they ran it themselves and then leased it and Mr. Jorres again went into business as a contractor. This was in 1871, and the first contract he took was for the building of the present Court House on D Street. In 1873, after he had completed the Court House, he took the contract for putting up the building for the Commercial Bank of San Diego, now occupied by the Consolidated National Bank, on the corner of Fifth and G Streets. He next put up the Central Market on Fifth Street between F and G. It was 200x60 feet and was fitted up with stalls, etc., for a market. After being used for this purpose a year it was leased by Charles S. Hamilton & Co., and has since been occupied by them as a general merchandise store. He continued his business as a contractor here until 1877, when he went to Los Angeles, where he built the First National Bank, on Spring Street. In the year 1872 Mr. Jorres bought out the interest of Culverwell in the wharf at the foot of F Street, and engaged in ballasting vessels and other business in connection with the wharf. He has recently begun the extension of the wharf, and it will, when completed, be one of the best wharves on the water front. Mr. Jorres was for seven years County Treasurer, retiring from office in 18S5. He was elected on the Democratic ticket. During his residence in San Diego he has always been alive to the interests of the city, and has done his full share towards its material advancement. He was an earnest advocate of the railroad and did all in his power to have it brought here. Mr. Jorres was married in 1854, in Hanover, to Miss Sophie Kliengibel. He had gone to the old country from San Francisco to visit his parents, and while there met and was married to Miss Kliengibel. They came to San Francisco, arriving there in August, 1854. They have six children living, one son and five daughters; they have lost three sons. Their son, George W., was for two years postmaster, but resigned last fill to accept the position of assistant cashier in the San Diego National Bank. Mr. Jorres owns considerable city property and has a very comfortable residence on the corner of Union and B Streets, which he built in 1869, previous to the arrival of his family from San Francisco. Additional Comments: From: THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. ILLUSTRATED, AND CONTAINING BI0GRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. SAN DIEGO, CAL. LEBERTHON & TAYLOR 1888 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sandiego/bios/jorres579bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb