San Mateo County Biographies

Mr. Fernand Levy, well known in San Mateo business and social circles not only as the president and founder of Levy Brothers but as a man who takes a sincere interest in all matters of public importance.

The firm of Levy Brothers exemplifies the saying that “Rome was not built in a day.” It grew to its present magnitude and prosperity from a small beginning. In 1872 Levy Brothers was established—not in San Mateo, strange as it may seem—but in Half Moon Bay. In 1892 it was incorporated. Similar stores at this time also belonging to Levy Brothers, sprang up—one at Pescadero and one in San Gregorio. In 1898 it was decided to move the business to San Mateo, where it has been steadily growing ever since, having assumed more and more the functions of a department store. At the present date, it is a fact that this store, the largest of its kind in the county, maintains a standard of service and high quality of merchandise not surpassed by the larger department stores of our next door neighbor—San Francisco.

Mr. Fernand Levy was born in Lorraine, France in the year 1848. When not quite twenty he left France for America, accompanied by his brother Jo, a lad of sixteen years. Since that time, over forty-seven years ago, the brothers have been almost constantly associated together in their business enterprises; and it is due in no small part to this harmonious co-operation, that the firm has prospered.

Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 137. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.

ALPHONSUS S. LIGUORI

Few men are better and more favorably known in the fraternal circles of the county than Alphonsus S. Liguori of Redwood City. In the business world Mr. Liguori is a salt manufacturer and superintendent of the Redwood Water Company. In the fraternal world he is the prince of good fellows, and is pronounced one of the leading spirits in every organization to which he belongs.

Mr. Liguori was one of the leaders in the movement to bring the 1916 convention of the Foresters to Redwood City, which is one of the greatest fraternal honors ever accorded a San Mateo town. He is secretary of the Foresters Hall Association and was for nine years District Deputy Grand Chief Ranger.

The Native Sons have always had an enthusiast in Mr. Liguori. Besides being recording secretary of the Redwood Parlor for ten years, he has worked in the interests of this order throughout the county. He was one of the organizers of the Colma Parlor five years ago.

In the Redmen lodge, Mr. Liguori has been chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the San Mateo Lodge of Elks, the Owls and the Odd Fellows.

Alphonsus E. Liguori was born at Mount Eden, Alameda County, on September 1, 1882. He has spent his entire life in the state and passed the last fifteen years in Redwood City where he has property and business interests. Mr. Liguori is a member of the Redwood fire department holding the position of secretary and treasurer of Hose Co. No. 1. He is also secretary of the San Mateo Game Protection Society.

Transcribed by Betty Wilson

Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 143. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.

No fiction story teems more with interest than the biography of Erik O. Lindblom, millionaire mine owner, capitalist and banker. From the time he left his home in Sweden at the tender age of seventeen until he uncovered untold riches in the frozen gravel of Alaska, his life has been one of adventure with hardship and good fortune intermingling.

Mr. Lindblom’s father was a wealthy and highly respected land owner and school master in Sweden. Misfortune dealt him a severe blow when by going bondsman for a relative, a large dam which he signed the bond for was washed out, dissipating the fortune he had spent a lifetime accumulating.

Although Erik Lindblom was only seventeen, he set out into the world to recover the family’s lost wealth. Born and reared in the iron and copper region he had a fundamental knowledge of mining; and his quest for precious metals took him to Russia, Germany, France, England and finally back to his native land. He had met with fair success, but believing greater treasures lay hidden in the mountains of this continent he came to America in 1886 and engaged in mining in Colorado, Idaho and Montana.

In 1898 Mr. Lindblom went to Alaska and suffered hardships of the Frozen North for months. Sleeping bags were the only beds he knew, and twice he found himself on the verge of death from starvation when he ran out of provisions. At various times he fell through the ice which wind and tide keeps in almost constant motion in the Behring Sea and the Alaskan rivers. It was only his skill as a swimmer that saved him from being sucked down into the icy flow.

Late that winter coming as a reward to his toil and hardship Mr. Lindblom uncovered the first gold found in Nome, Alaska, and founded the extensive mining interests there which have produced more than fourteen million dollars worth of gold. Since then Mr. Lindblom has divided his time between San Francisco and Alaska, making annual trips north.

Besides his mine holdings Mr. Lindblom has extensive interests in Canada, Washington, California and Mexico. He is a large stockholder in some banks, water companies and steamships, and is the sole owner of the Parral Electric Light, Telephone and Water Co., at Parral, Mexico, as well as mines in California and Mexico.

Mr. Lindblom has many important fraternal affiliations. He holds a life membership in many orders. Among them are the Order of the Easter Star, The Masons, the Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Woodman of the World, Knight Templars, Olympic Club, Artic Club of Seattle, the Swedish Club of San Francisco and Seattle, the San Francisco Press Club, the Artic Brothers and Pioneers of Alaska.

Last year he was appointed Commissioner to the Exposition by King Gustav of Sweden, and later was knighted by that monarch, being presented with the Royal Order of Vassa of the first degree.

Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 127-128. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.

Mrs. Lindblom has achieved a notable success in her chosen field of endeavor—the motion picture world, not only as a producer but as an actress of exceptional ability. Although very wealthy in her own name, and with the millions of her husband behind her to draw upon, Mrs. Lindblom has chosen to work—and work hard—for the motion picture business is, as everybody knows, one of the most exciting in the world. The hours are long and the work is strenuous.

This is especially true in the case of Mrs. Lindblom, who not only plays the leading parts in her productions but carries upon her shoulders the entire responsibility and all the worries of her producing organizations, the Liberty and the Banner Film Companies.

Mrs. Lindblom was born in Oakland on September 29, 1890 where she attended Miss Horton’s school. Upon graduation she traveled extensively. When sojourning in Alaska she met and later married Mr. Lindblom at San Francisco. In 1914 she decided upon her return to San Mateo where the Lindbloms established their residence, to devote all of her time to motion picture work. In July of that year the studio was built, and the Liberty Film Company was launched, followed in a short period by the Banner Film Company which latter was for the production of one and two reel comedies. Mrs. Lindblom is president of both companies and owns a controlling interest in both.

One of the greatest difficulties that confronted Mrs. Lindblom was finding efficient, loyal workers; and it is a fact that only three of the original staff still remain, while a corps of exceptionally efficient actors has been gathered; so that now, no more fully equipped and organized companies can be found upon the Pacific Coast than the Liberty and the Banner companies. The studies are very compact and complete in every detail, including three stages, a property room, garage, laboratory, carpenter shop, and a room for the projection of their own pictures before they are placed upon the market. There is also a complete scenario department, although it is the policy of the companies to purchase scenarios that have real merit and can be used to advantage.

Mrs. Lindblom selected San Mateo for her studios because of its splendid scenery, good climate and congenial people who, in an admirable spirit of local patriotism, have almost invariably allowed the use of their premises for the production of the companies’ various scenes.

Mrs. Lindblom selected Mr. Anderson to assume the responsibility of managing both her companies. He also acts as secretary and manager. Mr. R. H. Mauser is the producing director and part owner of the Banner Company and is perhaps better know as “Bill Stinger” the editor of a witty little magazine called “Stung.”

Mrs. Lindblom has a home at 28 Presidio Terrace, San Francisco. She is a member in that city to the Rebekahs and the Eastern Star as well as an active working member of the Theosophical Society. She is deeply interested in all things occult and has done some interesting original work along these lines, although her greatest claim to public recognition is in the moving picture world. It is in this latter field that her future greatest efforts will be staged, in the production of some big ideas that she is quietly working out, to be developed in the near future.

Some of Sadie Lindblom’s productions—for this is her stage name—are “The Crumpled Letter,” “The Plaid Coat,” “The Movie Nut,” “Love Finds a Way,” and many others.

Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 127-128. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.

I. LINDEMAN

After twenty-five years of business experience in San Francisco, I. Lindeman sold out his interests there to enter what he considered a more productive field; and as a result we find him sole owner and proprietor of the Peninsula Creamery, and one of San Mateo’s most active and progressive business men.

Mr. Lindeman’s house in San Francisco supplied many of the large wineries and liquor dealers in the state with corks, bottles, labels, and machinery. This brought him into intimate contact with conditions in many localities. With this general knowledge of the state he decided that the most advantageous move he could make was to locate on the peninsula.

With the old San Mateo Creamery as a nucleus, Mr. Lindeman established the Peninsula Creamery which is a model in sanitation and improved methods. The improved facilities and service brought a large increase in business; and now the institution serves a large part of the community.

Mr. Lindeman has prominent fraternal affiliations. He has been secretary of the Foresters lodge for over 20 years. By carrying delinquents who otherwise would have had to drop out of the order, Mr. Lindeman has made many steadfast and lifelong friends. He has also been a member of Bay City Parlor, N.S.G.W. for twenty-eight years and for twenty-five of these years he acted as secretary.

I. Lindeman was born in San Francisco on February 1, 1866, and has two sons, Elwood aged nine, and Leland, aged 25, who assists his father in the management of his business. Mr. Lindeman and his family have been residents of San Mateo for nine years.

Transcribed by Betty Wilson

Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 157. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.