Santa Clara County
Biographies
HENRY C. AHLERS
JEWELER of SAN JOSE
HENRY C. AHLERS, importer and dealer in
diamonds, solid gold watches, and solid gold jewelry, conducts his business in
the same rooms where he established himself nine years ago, on the corner of
Santa Clara and First Streets, over the First National Bank of San Jose. Here
may be met, at almost any hour of day, inspecting or purchasing, or having
former purchases reset or repaired, one of more of the solid people, or of the
Jeunesse foree, of Santa Clara County. Mr. Ahlers makes a specialty of diamonds,
fine jewelry, their setting and manufacture. Realizing, while yet learning his
business, that a reputation for thoroughness and reliability was essential to
success, also that there was a higher grade of business support in his line,
difficult to reach but secure when once had, he kept these objects well in view.
Opening his rooms in July, 1879, more especially for the manufacture and repair
of fine jewelry, he gradually purchased a stock of goods suitable to his class
of customers, not handling any jewelry except that in solid gold. Being an
expert in the selection and setting of diamonds, his patrons receive the benefit
of his knowledge and judgment, all goods being sold with an absolute guarantee,
at a standard price to which a fair profit is added. The successful diamond
merchants of the world have been invariably men unerring in selection of gems
and unquestionably reliable in their sale. In 1887 Mr. Ahlers carried a stock of
diamonds costing as high as $25,000. His watches are almost exclusively of
American manufacture, and from the best makers, among them the Howard, Waltham,
and Elgin Watches. When necessary, he also manufactures any article of jewelry
specially ordered, and carries no jewelry or watches except those in solid gold.
Buying all his diamonds unmounted, he sets them in the latest styles or in any
special style to order. Some of the work on exhibition in Mr. Ahlers'
establishment shows an excellent taste and superb workmanship. There can be seen
diamonds varying from the small chip to the larger solitaire of purest water.
A native of Germany, where he was born in 1858, he at an early age came to
America, engaging at once in learning the jewelry business, in which he has
remained continuously up to this time. Besides his jewelry trade, Mr. Ahlers is
largely interested in fruit-growing, having a half interest with Mr. F. Brassy
in an orchard of 200 acres, seven miles from San Jose, and adjoining the
well-known orchard of S. F. Lieb, and the Pourtal vineyard on the Stevens Creek
road. They have 160 acres in prunes and forty acres in wine grapes just coming
into bearing. He and Mr. Brassy also own an addition to San Jose, consisting of
sixty lots on Alum Rock Avenue, near McLaughlin Avenue, called The Brassy &
Ahlers tract. There they have erected handsome residences for themselves, and
will sell lots only to those who will make corresponding improvements. These
gentleman deserve credit for the valuable improvements in that neighborhood.
They have also erected another building of similar character to help start the
movement of the better class of residents in that direction, and purchased the
lots on the opposite side of the Alum Rock Avenue to prevent an inferior class
of buildings getting lodgment there. Mr. Ahlers has been indeed the architect of
his own fortunes. Starting in life with no capital but that of ready hands, a
clear head, and willing heart, he has while yet young in years achieved a
notable success, arising at first from a thorough mastering of his business and
a strict attention to it, and later from the judicious investments afforded to
his surplus capital in this beautiful and prosperous valley.
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County,
California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1888. transcribed by Roena Wilson , 380-381
PHILIP ANDERSON
BLACKSMITH
Berryessa, Santa Clara County
PHILIP ANDERSON is a resident of Berryessa, at
which place he is conducting a blacksmith and wagon-making shop. He is located
in the midst of a well-settled agricultural section, and his works are well
patronized. He is the owner of a comfortable residence adjoining his shops, and
also owns 260 acres of hill land about four miles north-east of Berryessa, which
he devotes to hay and stock. Among the latter are some fine Percheron horses.
The subject of this sketch was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, February 19, 1839. He
is the son of Alexander and Margaret Anderson. In 1853 he came with his father's
family to New Brunswick, and there he learned the trade of Machinist. His
education having been confined to the common schools in Scotland, he found
himself deficient in even the common branches, and he commenced a course of
education by attending night schools, and reading. This he continued for several
years. He worked at his calling until 1863, in which year he came to California,
by the Panama route, arriving in San Francisco, where he worked for a year as a
machinist. In 1864 he came to Santa Clara County and located at Berryessa, where
he worked as a blacksmith in the shops which he now owns. In 1865 he purchased
an interest in the works, and in connection with his partner, Mr. Beck,
conducted the business until he finally became the sole owner.
In 1869 he married Miss Rebecca J. Cahill, the daughter of Barnawell and Rebecca
Jane Cahill, natives of New Brunswick. By this marriage there are seven children
living, viz.: Margaret Alice, William W., Mabel V., Leslie C., Roscoe A., Albert
Ray, and Emily Oressa.
Mr. Anderson is well known in his district, and has always taken a deep interest
in its welfare and morals. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and has held
the office of School Trustee for six years. In politics he is a Prohibitionist,
but for some years past has been identified with the Republican party, and has
several times been elected a delegate to the county conventions of that party.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being associated with San Jose Lodge,
No. 10, of that order. Is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and was one of the
charter members of Enterprise Lodge, No. 10 of San Jose.
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County,
California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1888. transcribed by Roena Wilson , page 530-531