Alameda County
Biographies
CHARLES A. BEARDSLEY.
Charles A. Beardsley, assistant city attorney of the City of Oakland, and one of the able and prosperous young lawyers of Oakland, connected with important litigated interests as a member of the firm of Fitzgerald, Abbott & Beardsley, was born in Pennsylvania, January 14, 1882, a son of Ezra S. and May (Fleming) Beardsley.
Charles A. Beardsley came to California in 1892 and resumed his education, begun in Pennsylvania, in the public schools of this state, graduating from Campbell high school in 1901. He later entered Leland Stanford University, from which he was graduated with the degree of B. A. in 1906 and with the degree of Doctor of Law in 1908. He was admitted to the bar by the first appellate court of California in January, 1907, and on June 1st of the following year began the practice of his profession in association with Fitzgerald & Abbott, the firm name being now Fitzgerald, Abbott & Beardsley. Mr. Beardsley was made deputy city attorney of Oakland in January, 1911, and later was made assistant city attorney, which office he now holds, discharging the duties incumbent upon him in a way which reflects credit upon his ability, impartiality and public spirit.
On the 9th of July, 1911, Mr. Beardsley was united in marriage to Miss Agnes I. Lafferty. He is a member of the Nile Club and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a young man of energy, ambition and enterprise, who in professional, official and social relations holds steadily to high ideals, so that he commands the confidence and regard of all who are associated with him.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 416
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
CHARLES JURGENS.
Charles Jurgens, who is one of the oldest business men still active in the commercial life of Oakland, was born in Waldeck, Germany, January 3, 1844. In that country he was educated, pursuing his studies to the age of sixteen years, when, in 1860, he sailed for America. Landing in New York, he made his way to Michigan and remained in that state for three years, at the end of which time he started for California by way of the Isthmus route. Crossing the bay from San Francisco on the steamer Clinton, which then made daily trips between the two places, he settled in Oakland when the city consisted of but four business blocks and the streets were of deep sand. He engaged as a clerk in a grocery house in what was then called San Antonio and in 1868 embarked in business on his own account as proprietor of a grocery store in Temescal, now known as North Oakland. After conducting the business for several years he sold out in 1876 and built the St. Johns House, the first brick business block on Twelfth street, having a plate-glass front and a basement. The people generally considered the innovation foolish. He then built the present Globe Hotel, at Thirteenth and Broadway, conducting it until recently, when he leased it.
In 1905 he bought out the W. M. Watson Company and called it the Winedale Company, of which he is the president. He is a director in many large banks and business establishments, has dealt extensively in real estate and is one of the very wealthy men of Alameda county. He is regarded as a very active, energetic business man, wide-awake to the conditions of trade and at all times alert and enterprising. Fraternally Mr. Jurgens is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is popular in that organization. In 1870 he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Springer, who passed away in 1913, leaving two sons and two daughters. Mr. Jurgens has witnessed and helped in the growth of Oakland and he marks as epochs in the city's development: 1863, when the Southern Pacific built the Seventh street line; 1868, when the Overland Railroad was completed; 1876, Centennial year, when the city had a rapid and unusual growth; and 1906, when the city really awoke from a village to realize its true destiny.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 417
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WILLIAM C. JURGENS.
William C. Jurgens is secretary of the Winedale Company, controlling one of the largest wholesale and retail liquor houses in the county. He was born in Oakland (Temescal), California, January 13, 1873, and is a son of Charles Jurgens. Reared in his native city, the public schools afforded William C. Jurgens his preliminary educational opportunities. He passed through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school, in December, 1892. He next entered the University of California and was graduated in 1897. He subsequently had charge of the cooperative store at the university for five years, at the end of which time he and his father bought out the W. M. Watson Company, which they have since conducted under the firm name of the Winedale Company. Since that time William Jurgens has been secretary, and as such has been active in the control of a business which is growing along substantial lines. He is watchful of all indications concerning trade conditions, is energetic and determined in carrying out his plans, and as the years have passed on has achieved a measure of success which is the direct and merited reward of persistent, earnest effort.
In Oakland, on the 13th of January, 1911, Mr. Jurgens was united in marriage to Miss Gladys Thorpe. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which, capably directed, have brought to him substantial success. He has many friends in the city in which he has spent his entire life and attractive social qualities have made him popular among those with whom he is connected.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 418
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler