Alameda County
Biographies
Niels P. Friedriiksen
Niels P. Friedriiksen, the Jr. partner of the firm of Tocker & Friedriiksen, proprietors of the Fashion Stables at Pleasanton, was born in Holstein, Germany, July 7,1869, and brought up there, upon his father’s farm. He is the second son of Niels P. and Netta Marie (Nielsen) Friedriiksen, natives of Schleswig, who had four children. The subject of this brief sketch came to America in 1883, sailing from Antwerp to San Francisco. He first located in Solano County, were he worked on a farm for a few months; then he settled near Haywards, Alameda County, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1888, when he made a visit to his native land. A year afterward he returned to Haywards and in March 1890, he settled at Pleasanton, in the business already mentioned. He was naturalized in 1889, is unmarried and is a member of Haywards Lodge, No.14, Sons of Hermann.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Page 818
Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan
Albert E. Akerman
Albert E. Akerman, one of the old and respected tradesman of the pleasant and prosperous town of Haywards, was born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, June 14, 1824. His father, Barnett Akerman, was a native of the same State, and a wheelwright by trade. The subject’s mother, maiden name Margaret Widden, was also a native of New Hampshire. Albert learned his trade in Portsmouth, and went to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1845, and followed his trade there until 1849. Then he continued in the same business at Canton, Illinois, until 1851, when he came across the plains to California, by way of the South Platte. After arriving here he followed his trade for a few months in Nevada County; next he followed mining at Alta, Placer County, until 1856; then he pursued his vocation at Redwood City, San Mateo County, for about four years; then in San Jose one year; returning to Redwood City, he established a shop there and carried on his business until 1864, when he sold out and went to Stockton; a year afterward he went to Alvarado, Alameda County, and was there until 1869; next he spent a short time in Haywards, and then three years at Redwood City again; and finally he located permanently at Haywards, where he carries on a good shop and has a good business on B street, painting carriages and wagons. He is at present one of the Town Trustees; is a Republican, and a member of Crusade Lodge, No. 93, I.O.O.F., of Alvarado.
Mr. Akerman and Mrs. Priscilla Patch were joined in wedlock in Oakland in 1867, and their two children are Sarah and William.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Page 741
Transcribed by Pat Houser
Richard Barry
Richard Barry, a farmer near Livermore, was born in County Kildare, Ireland, in 1839, and in 1859 he came to America, locating in Philadelphia; one year afterward he went to Gloucester County, New Jersey, where he worked as a farm hand for six years. In 1866 he took passage to California by way of the Isthmus, landing at San Francisco, and for two years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits near San Jose. In 1868 he moved to Livermore and purchased 160 acres of land, which he has since been cultivating, mainly in grain. Mr. Barry was married at Salem, New Jersey, to Miss Mary Lyons, and they have three children, namely: Alice J., Mary Isabelle and John.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891 Page 731
Transcribed by Pat Houser
George W. Gordon
George W. Gordon, a prominent horticulturist near Haywards, was born in Orange County, New York, September 20, 1843, and was reared and educated in Middletown, in his native county, until 1861, when he enlisted as a private soldier in the First New York Mounted Rifles, and served as such until 1864, when he was mustered out of service at City Point, near Richmond, Virginia, and returned to his native State, where he engaged in the dry-goods trade until 1866. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he continued in the mercantile trade until 1870. Going then to Chicago he was manager of a mercantile house there for eighteen years. His ambition led him to exert his utmost energies to attain the front rank of the mercantile circle; but this impaired his health, so that by the year 1888 he concluded to come to California; and hither he came, locating at Haywards and purchasing sixteen acres of good land, where he devotes his entire attention to horticultural pursuits. He raises a large and choice variety of all the citrus fruits. He is a member of the Fruit-Growers’ Association of Haywards. Politically he is Republican, and in May 1890, he was elected a member of the Board of Town Trustees. He is also a prominent member of the G.A.R., and affiliates with the F.& A.M. of Chicago. He is the youngest of five sons in his father’s family, and has three sisters. He was married in Chicago, May 7, 1874, to Miss Julia Hubbard, a native of that city. Her father was one of the first builders and promoters of public enterprise in that city.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Page 743
Transcribed by Pat Houser