San Diego-Amador-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Klauber, A. 1830 - ************************************************ 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, 3:35 pm Author: Theodore S. Van Dyke A. KLAUBER. A. KLAUBER, the senior member of the firm of Klauber & Levi, was born in Austria in 1830, but emigrated to the United States when quite a young man. After a few years spent in the Eastern States he came to California early in the fifties. His first start was made in Volcano, Amador County. From there he went to Genoa, Nevada, where he engaged in the general merchandise business. In 1860 he came to San Diego, and in the fall of that year entered into partnership with Mr. Steiner, in the grocery business. Although Mr. Klauber is naturally of a conservative nature, he had no sooner become established in San Diego than the great natural advantages of the place so impressed him that he pushed his business just as rapidly as prudence would permit, and as profits accrued to him he invested largely in real estate. The result has justified Mr. Klauber's judgment, and he is to-day not only the head of one of the greatest wholesale business houses in Southern California, but his personal estate is very large. One of the best evidences of the substantial character of the growth and permanent prosperity of San Diego is to be found in the fact that the mercantile house of which Mr. Klauber is the head has been in existence eighteen years, and has done a good business all through that time, steadily increasing year by year, until now, when its trade for 1887 will, it is estimated, reach the sum of one million dollars. The firm of Steiner & Klauber, of which Klauber & Levi are the successors, was formed in the fall of 1869. At that time the population of San Diego was very small, but the "back country " gave promise even then of its future, and the new firm was soon doing a good business with the mining district about Julian and the large ranches in this and San Bernardino Counties. In 1876 Mr. Levi acquired an interest, and the firm became known as Steiner, Klauber & Co. This was the style of the firm until the 1st of January, 1883, when Mr. Steiner retired and it became known by its present name. The principal part of the business of the old firm of Steiner & Klauber was retailing general merchandise, dry goods, etc. Gradually, however, this trade increased to such proportions that, after the retirement of Mr. Steiner, the firm began to give their attention more especially to wholesaling. It was not, however, until a year ago last March that they decided to quit the retail branch of their business entirely. By that time the development of the interior of the county and the rapid growth of the city made a change in their business imperative and they notified all their customers to that effect, sold out all their open goods of the retail class, and devoted themselves solely to the wholesale trade. With this change in their business, enlarged facilities were demanded. Their old quarters on Fifth and H Streets were too contracted, and they decided to move into and occupy the whole of the large building on the corner of H and Fourth Streets. This was completed and the firm took possession in September last. The new building is of brick, four stories in height, and has a frontage of one hundred feet on H Street, and one hundred and fifty feet on Fourth. On the different floors and in a spacious basement, extending under the whole building, and well lighted and ventilated, are stored an immense stock of groceries, liquors, hardware, cigars, tobacco, wagon materials and agricultural implements. In addition to this building, the firm has two large warehouses, one on the corner of Seventh and I, the other situated on the corner of Fourth and K. The former is 100x125 feet in dimensions and is used for the storage of agricultural implements; the latter contains an immense surplus stock of the heavier classes of merchandise, groceries, flour, etc., and is so arranged that the cars of the railroad company are discharged at its doors. The firm does a large business in San Diego and San Bernardino Counties and in Lower California. There is not a freight train leaving on the California Southern, a stage or mule team starting for the "back country," or a steamer departing for southern ports, but carries consignments from this firm. Mr. Klauber has always been one of the live men of the city, and has done his utmost to advance its material interests. He was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for two years, from 1878 to 1880. but has generally expressed himself as averse to holding public office. He is interested in the San Diego and Cuyamaca Railroad Co., now building a line to extend to Julian and open up a much-neglected but rich portion of the county. He is interested in what is known as the Steiner, Klauber, Choate & Castle Addition to San Diego, a tract placed upon the market last year, which met with a readv sale. He is also a large owner of timber lands in Mendocino County. He has a permanent home in this city, but, being the resident partner in San Francisco, he is obliged to spend most of his time there. Mr. Klauber was married in Sacramento, in 1851, to Miss Theresa Epstein. They have nine children living and four have died. The eldest son, Melville M. Klauber, is with the firm in this city. Mr. Klauber is a prominent member of the Masonic Order. He is now in the best of health and bids fair to have many years of life before him. 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/klauber581bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb