San Joaquin County
Biographies
WALTER W. BEIDLEMAN.
An energetic, hard-working and successful young engineer, who as assistant superintendent of construction of pumps and pipe lines of the Shell Company of California is demonstrating his aptitude and capableness, is Walter W. Beidleman, a native of Oregon, born near La Grande, on March 4, 1886. His parents, Edward Thomas and Helen (Porter) Beidleman, were sturdy pioneers of the West; the father, a native of Illinois, emigrating to Oregon as early as 1850, accompanied by two brothers who, at that time, conducted a freighting business in Union County, Wyoming. Some years later, Edward Thomas Beidleman, the father, was appointed United States superintendent of the Indian reservation in Oregon. In 1892 the parents removed to southern California, where they now reside near Lemon Grove, San Diego County.
Removing to San Diego, Walter W. entered the San Diego high school and in 1900 he went to work for Braun & Company, of Los Angeles to learn the machinist trade, spending four and one-half years in completing the apprenticeship; then he became assistant engineer of construction with the San Diego electric railway power house and was so occupied until 1906, when, on March 10, he enlisted as a second-class machinist in the U. S. Navy, serving until January 12, 1909, when he received his honorable discharge with the rate of chief machinist, U.S.S. Preble. He immediately enlisted in the Merchant Marine service on board the Texan, a large freighter, as third engineer; soon after was transferred to the Governor with rating of second engineer; and was then promoted to first engineer and on the next trip out to sea, was transferred to the Nebraska, bound for the Hawaiian Islands. After this trip he went aboard the Spokane as first engineer. His last sea service was on board the Ventura, which plied between Seattle and Sidney, Australia, and in 1912 he left the service to take up machinist work on the construction of the oil pipe line from Taft, Kern County, to San Pedro, in the employ of the General Construction Company, becoming station foreman and in charge of construction machinery, being thus occupied until 1914. During the next six months he took an interesting trip to Alaska.
Since early in 1915, with the exception of the time from May 8, 1918, to the time of his discharge, March 16, 1919, Mr. Beidleman has been connected with the Shell Company of California; and in January, 1921, he was appointed to the position of assistant superintendent of construction of the pumps and pipe line under Fred B. Simms, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; he is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
The marriage of Mr. Beidleman occurred in Juneau, Alaska, on April 10, 1912, and united him with Miss Nina May Bethel, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Bethel, both deceased, who was living with a sister in that city; in 1914 Mrs. Beidleman again made a visit to her sister there. Mr. Beidleman has been the participant of two trips around the world, one on the S.S. Texan and one on the U.S.S. Meade, the latter during the time of the World War in 1918; he also held the post of engineer with the rank of lieutenant, junior grade, on board U.S.S. Liberator in army transportation of the A. E. F., which earned for him his U. S. unlimited marine engineer license, of which he is justly proud. Fraternally, Mr. Beidleman is an active member of the Masonic order.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1347
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
GUSTAV H. ALTENHOFF.
One of Stockton's successful merchants whose industry and application have enabled him to build up a prosperous business, is Gustav H. Altenhoff, the proprietor of the Central Bazaar at 17 South California Street. He was born in Essen, Germany, May 26, 1869, and from the age of fourteen worked in the coal mines there until he was twenty years old. The prospect of enlarged opportunities caused him to leave his native land in 1889, and in August of that year he arrived in California. The first year of his residence here he worked on a ranch east of Stockton for eight dollars a month, putting in long hours, from 5 o'clock in the morning to 11 o'clock at night. Next, he was employed as a cook at a restaurant at the San Joaquin County Fair Grounds and then was employed by his uncle. T. H. Eicholz, in his general merchandise store in the old Masonic Temple Building on North El Dorado Street
On February 13, 1891, Mr. Altenhoff started in business for himself in a little store only eight by ten feet, on California and Market Streets, handling tinware and notions. From that small beginning he has advanced in his business to his present commodious store at 19 South California Street. It is one of the largest retail establishments in Stockton, occupying three floors and a basement, dealing in household goods, toys, etc., and has been the firm's home since 1906. He has built up this business by dealing honestly with the people, giving good values and courteous treatment.
Mr. Altenhoff's marriage, which occurred at Tracy, August 23, 1893, united him with Miss Frances Gunder, a native of Silesia, Germany, and they have one son, Henry G., who is married and has a daughter, Lillian Frances. In the summer of 1922, Mr. and Mrs. Altenhoff took a trip back to their native land, which Mr. Altenhoff had not seen for thirty-three years, and among the pleasant events of their journey was a banquet tendered by Mr. Altenhoff to sixty-eight of his boyhood friends. They also attended the Passion Play at Oberammergau, and many places of interest, but were glad to return to their California home. In fraternal life Mr. Altenhoff is a member of the Druids and Fidelity Lodge.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1347
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.