Alameda County
Biographies
WILLIAM A. SIEBE.
William A. Siebe, a native son and popular young citizen of Oakland, devotes his attention to the duties devolving upon him as secretary and manager of Shellmound Park. He was born on the l0th of November, 1881, a son of Ludwig Siebe. In the acquirement of an education he attended the public schools until the time of his graduation at the age of sixteen, and subsequently worked as clerk in a retail grocery store of San Francisco for two years. He next spent a year as a student in Heald's Business College and then secured employment as a clerk in the wholesale hardware establishment of Dunham, Carrigan & Hayden of San Francisco.
Mr. Siebe next became secretary and manager of Shellmound Park, of which his father, Captain Ludwig Siebe, acts as president. The park embraces ten acres and derives its name from the shell mounds located in and around the place, which were built by the Indians centuries ago. Mr. Siebe and his father have rented the park to the best societies in California and have managed it very successfully, ever maintaining its attractiveness for both the student and the pleasure seeker. In 1915, commencing August 8th, the San Francisco International Shooting Festival Association (Inc.) is to hold a rifle and pistol tournament at this park in connection with the Panama-Pacific Exposition and prizes to the amount of fifty thousand dollars are to be competed for. This is the largest purse ever offered at a shooting contest in the United States. Marksmen from all over the world will participate and the tournament will cover a period of seven weeks. The Swedish Singing Societies from all parts of the United States will hold a singing festival at this park Sunday, June 20, 1915, which will mark the opening of the convention of the Swedish Singers, which is to take place at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915. The Caledonian Club will celebrate its golden jubilee here on May 30, 1915, which is to be a reunion of all the Scotch societies in the United States.
On the 29th of November, 1904, in San Francisco, Mr. Siebe was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Klevesahl, by whom he has three children, namely: Madeline, who is eight years old; and Harold and Dorothy, who are six and three years of age respectively.
In politics Mr. Siebe is a stanch republican, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Herman Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Mission Chapter, R. A. M.; San Francisco Commandery, No. 41, K. T.; and Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Native Sons, the North Deutscher Verein, the German American League of California, the Shellmound Pistol & Rifle Club, the Golden Gate Rifle & Pistol Club, the United States Revolver Association, an honorary member of the San Francisco Scottish Thistle Club and a director and vice president of the San Francisco International Shoot Festival Association. Mr. Siebe is an expert pistol shot and is one of. few men in California who holds the ninety-five per cent medal of the United States Revolver Association. He has been active in the sport of revolver and rifle shooting all his life and is the holder of several handsome medals, including state honors. He has an extensive acquaintance in Oakland and has hosts of friends, as in all of his dealings he has conducted himself in a manner to entitle him to the esteem and confidence of .those with whom he comes in contact.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 484
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ARTHUR W. BEAM.
Arthur W. Beam is one of the substantial citizens of Hayward, California, where he has for a number of years been engaged in the real-estate business. He has important property interests and is also connected with the First National Bank of Hayward. Mr. Beam was born on the Puget Sound, in Island county, Washington, and is a son of George and Almira N. (Wright) Beam, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Missouri. They crossed the plains in 1854 and located in Island county. The father was engaged in mining and farming. Both are deceased.
Arthur W. Beam attended the public schools of Island county and while yet in his boyhood moved to San Francisco, where he made his home for several years. He then became connected with the Selby Smelting & Lead Company of Contra Costa county, remaining in their employ for about twenty years and rising to the position of chief accountant and department manager. After the company disposed of their interests to the trust in 1906 Mr. Beam came to Hayward, engaging in the real-estate business in partnership with Peter Wilbert, the association having been continued to this day with mutual profit. Together they bought much property, including the Villa Hotel, and they also own the land upon which their office stands. Mr. Beam enjoys the reputation of being one of the most competent judges of local real estate and is frequently consulted in financial matters as regards realty investments. In 1905, in cooperation with John A. Park, they organized the First National Bank of Hayward, Mr. Park becoming cashier. In 1907 they bought a tract in the Castro valley, which they subdivided and are now selling in one and two acre lots, the speculation proving highly satisfactory from a financial point of view and demonstrating the farsightedness and business ability which have made them so successful in all their transactions.
In San Francisco, Mr. Beam married Miss Margaret C. Benson, a native of California, and they have one daughter, Edith, attending Mills College. Mr. Beam is a stanch democrat and has always given his allegiance to that party, doing all in his power to realize the ideals which were first propounded by Jefferson. He is president of the Jefferson Club of Oakland, which position indicates the important place which he takes in his party, yet he is not an office seeker, his personal modesty directing his political activities along other lines. He has always been interested in educational matters and is a member of the board of schools trustees of Hayward. He is also a member of the Commercial Club of Oakland and of the Chamber of Commerce of both Oakland and Hayward, being thoroughly in accord with the aims and purposes of those organizations, and always allying himself with the men who exert themselves in order to increase the trade and commercial interests of Alameda county and to extend its importance and prestige.
Fraternally Mr. Beam is a member of the blue lodge of Masons in Contra Costa county and to the Aahmes Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and the Scottish Rite Bodies of Oakland and Naval Commandery at Vallejo. He is an Odd Fellow and a Woodman of the World, acting in the capacity of banker in the latter lodge. His name is also upon the roster of the Foresters of America and he is chief ranger of the local organization. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he is a member and an elder of the Hayward organization. For several years he has actively participated in Sunday school work and is at present superintendent, also interesting himself in other church extension. There is much that is creditable in the career of Arthur W. Beam, who has lent valuable aid in the way of enabling Hayward to realize some aspects of its higher self.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 486
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler