Orange County
Biographies
THEODORE REISER,
President of the City Council of Anaheim, was born in the city of Lahr, Baden, Germany, September 7, 1829, and after receiving a good education he began at the age of fourteen years to learn the art of wine-making on the Rhine, and served three years. He traveled and worked at his trade in Switzerland, and at the age of nineteen years he came to New York and worked at the cooper's trade four years. In the spring of 1854 he came to San Francisco by steamer, and was employed in a brewery three years. Next he went to Tuolumne County and established a brewery there, and remained there until September, 1860, when he came to Anaheim, being one of the original settlers here in the German colony. He at once built a fine brick house, at a cost of over $6,000, which is an ornament to the place. He made the first wine and distilled the first brandy ever made in Anaheim. This business he carried on with wonderful success until the death of the vineyards some two years ago. To his energy, enterprise and public spirit Anaheim is greatly indebted. By his means and influence he has supported every enterprise which has had for its object the upbuilding of the town; correspondingly his fellow-citizens have recognized his merit by electing him to nearly all of the important offices of the municipalities. Two years ago he contributed liberally to the building of the new Hotel del Campo, which was built at a cost of $40,000. He also built the music hall on Centre street, a structure worthy of any city. One can read his social standing on his card, thus: "Theodore Reiser, W. M. Anaheim Lodge, No. 207, F. & A. M.; Signet Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M.; Los Angeles Council, No. 11, R. & S. M.; Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 9, K. T.; Al Malaikah Temple, A. O. N. M. S." In 1874 he was appointed Deputy Grand Lecturer for the twenty-fourth Masonic district, and in 1875 he was reappointed for the twenty-eighth district of California.
Mr. Reiser was married in San Francisco in 1857 to Adelheit Thiele, a native of Saxony, Germany. They have no children, and are living quietly in their beautiful home at the corner of Olive and Santa Ana streets.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 855-856
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
THOMAS SPENCER, M. D.,
of Anaheim, was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, in
1835, a son of Edward Spencer, who was a dry-goods merchant. He came to the
United States in 1849, received a common‑school education at Burlington, Iowa,
and in 1854 came overland to California and attended the Toland Medical College,
where he graduated
in 1861. He practiced his profession at Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, until 1872,
when he bought land in Santa Barbara County. After making his home there two
years he returned to Lucas County, Iowa, and bought a large stock farm, which he
still owns. He came again to California in 1887, locating three and one-half
miles northwest of Anaheim, in what is known as Orangethorpe. Here he has a
beautiful country residence and is practically retired from business and
professional life. He is a Republican in his political views. He has held some
responsible positions: was president of the Lucas County (Iowa) Agricultural
Society, and secretary of that society four years; was a delegate in 1868 from
the Third District of California to the Republican National Convention at
Chicago; Associate Judge in 1862 of Sonoma County, etc. In the recent contests
here he took an active part in favor of county division, and is one of the
directors of the Anaheim irrigation district.
The Doctor was married in San Francisco, in 1857, to Miss Mary Chambers, a native of Boston; their children have been: Homer T., deceased, who for several years was city editor of the San Francisco Examiner; Ida, now the wife of Mr. B. F. McDaniels. Dr. Spencer was married the second time, in Chariton, Iowa, to Miss Mary C. Rogers, and by this marriage there are the following children: Virgil, Milton, Clarence, Ethel, Edith, Howard and Horace.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 856
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ALEXANDER HENRY,
farmer and stock‑raiser, near Anaheim, was born in Edinburg, Scotland in 1838, the son of Innes and Jacobina (Nicholson) Henry. His father had seven children by his first marriage, and eleven by the second: Alexander, who was a member of the second family, joined the English navy in 1850, and was in service throughout the Crimean war. He was at first errand boy and then ship's carpenter. After the war he served six years at the shipwright's trade at Leith. Next he joined the Sidney of Glasgow and came to San Francisco in 1860, where he worked at his trade for seven years. Subsequently he came to Southern California and purchased 200 acres of land, a mile and a quarter west of Anaheim, where for several years he was very successful in the cultivation of the vine, and also in the manufacture of wines and brandies; and since the death of the vines two years ago, lie has given his attention to general farming, stock-raising and orange culture. In his social relations he is a Free Mason and a member of the A. O. U. W.
He was married February 20, 1858, to Miss Catharine Mason, a native of Scotland, whose parents were John and Isabella (Simpson) Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Henry's children are Junes, John M. and Archibald.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 856-857
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler