Merced County
Biographies
JERRY J. JIRSA
The well known contracting painter and interior decorator of Merced, Jerry J. Jirsa, was born in Bohemia, now Czecho-Slovakia, on March 25, 1877. He came with his parents to the United States in 1880, and located in Chicago, where he was educated in the public schools. He then learned the trade of painter, and after completing his apprenticeship, took up the painting business in Chicago and followed it there for a time. He then went to Idaho Falls, Idaho, and engaged in his work there for ten years.
In March, 1920, Mr. Jirsa located in Merced, and for the past two years has been engaged in business for himself, and has met with the success which always comes to a man who knows his work thoroughly and is interested in the artistic as well as the commercial side of it. He has painted the new gymnasium at the high school, the auditorium, and the cafeteria at the manual arts school, as well as a number of residences and apartments, and he specializes in interior decorating, paper work, etc. During the busy season he employs a number of men, but does all the planning and laying out of the work himself, and his years of experience have made him expert in his line, getting the best results obtainable, and adding to the pleasure in life derived from beautiful surroundings.
The marriage of Mr. Jirsa united him with Miss Nellie Lymath, and seven children have blessed their union: Robert, Louise, Vera, Helen, Madalene, Leslie, and Mildred. Fraternally, Mr. Jirsa belongs to the Modern Woodmen and to the Eagles. He is deeply interested in Merced and Merced County, and shows his public spirit in supporting civic and moral advancement in his community, and is most highly esteemed as a citizen of real worth.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 861-862
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOSEPH PATRICK ADAMS
Whatever of success has been achieved by Joseph Patrick Adams may be attributed to his own keen and capable judgment and his industrious application to business. For the past six years he has been dealing in washing machines; while making this his specialty he also sells the Eureka vacuum cleaner and the Grand Electric Ironer, manufactured in Detroit, Mich. His store is located at 409 Seventeenth Street, Merced, and here he is headquarters for hemstitching, pleating, button-making, etc. In Dublin, Ireland, he was born August 9, 1888, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Ellis) Adams, both natives of the same country. Joseph was six years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States; they settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he attended the Sisters' School. While still in his teens he became connected with Ringling Brothers Circus and remained with them for seven years, and for one year he was with Forepaugh & Sells Circus. In 1911 he came to California and located in Fresno, where he became an employee of the San Joaquin Light & Power Company, remaining for five years in their employ. In 1919 he engaged in his present business, in Merced, which has proven a successful venture.
The marriage of Mr. Adams united him with Miss Margaret Cook, a native of Kansas, but reared in Fresno, Cal. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Adams: Jesse is the eldest; then comes Jane, who is musically inclined and frequently appears in public in Merced; Kathryn is the third; and the youngest is Robert. Mr. Adams is prominent fraternally, being affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, all branches of the Knights of Pythias, and the Woodmen of the World, all of Merced; politically he is independent in his selection of candidates to hold offices.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 862
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
CHARLES W. REUTER
Although a young man, Charles W. Reuter has become well established in Merced as one of the representative business men of the city. His birth occurred in Merced, November 17, 1886, a son of George and Margaret (Martin) Reuter. George Reuter settled in Merced County about forty years ago, and operated one of the leading tonsorial parlors in the City of Merced for many years. Both parents are now deceased. .
Charles W. Reuter received a public school education in Merced and after his school days were over he learned the carriage trimming and furniture business and followed it for eight years; then for three years he was in the garage business and gradually worked into his present line. At first he established a vulcanizing business, then put in a stock of automobile accessories and at the present time carries the largest stock in this line in the city and employs the services of five men.
The marriage of Mr. Reuter united him with Miss Julia Collins and one child, Catherine, was born of this union. Mrs. Reuter is now deceased. Mr. Reuter is a stanch Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Elks, the Native Sons of the Golden West, and the U. P. E. C. He is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 863
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
L. C. GARDNER
A progressive business man of Merced is found in L. C. Gardner, more familiarly known as "Rube" Gardner, a nickname acquired during his fifteen years of active connection with the baseball leagues of our nation. He first engaged in professional baseball in 1904, and, with the exception of two years, continued with decided success until 1919, when he engaged in business in Merced. First he conducted an auto service station at the corner of Sixteenth and M Streets for three years, then moved to his new location on Seventeenth and M Streets, where he carries a complete line of service supplies and automobile tires. He was born in Huntington, Tenn., on November 5, 1883, a son of Daniel and Mollie Gardner, farmer folk. The mother is now deceased, while the father is still living.
L. C. Gardner was reared on the home farm in Tennessee and attended public school in Huntington; he was also engaged in the grocery business in his native state for a time. At the age of twenty-one he took up professional baseball and for four years played with the southern league; then he went to Panama as United States deputy collector of customs and remained in this capacity for two years, when he again took up baseball, coming to the Coast League in 1912, and was with the Oakland Club until 1919. His career as a baseball player was distinguished by marked ability and he won an enviable reputation as a successful player. Mr. Gardner employs the most modern methods in the operation of his business, which is growing steadily under his capable supervision.
The marriage of Mr. Gardner united him with Miss Emma Story, a native of Savannah, Tenn., and they are the parents of one son, Jack, born at Panama in 1909. Mr. Gardner is a public-spirited citizen who supports men and measures calculated to advance the prosperity of his community. Fraternally he is a member of the Elks and the Knights of Pythias; and he belongs to the Merced Chamber of Commerce.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 863-864
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler