Yuba County
Biographies
PETER ENGEL
One of Yuba County’s public-spirited men, who has done much to advance its best interests and has given of his time and energy, and also lent financial aid, in furthering the cause of education and advancing other projects which have had for their object the real uplift of the community, is Peter Engel, well-known merchant of Marysville, who, though now retired from active business, is still active in good works and will long be remembered as an influential factor in the upbuilding of his home city. Born at Pittsburg, Pa., March 15, 1852, he is a son of Peter and Mary (Smith) Engel. The father was born in Hesse, and the mother in the Rhein Province in Germany. They came to America and were married in Pittsburg, where the father carried on the locksmith business. The father came to California in 1852, by way of Panama, and after his arrival in Marysville, mined for some time, later becoming a stationary engineer in the woolen mills, a vocation he followed for many years. He died in 1901 at the age of almost eighty years. In 1860 he had returned East for his family, which consisted of his wife and five sons, who also came by way of Panama. Of these children, Peter Engel was the second born, and he is the only one now living. His mother died in 1882.
Peter Engel received his education in the public schools of Marysville, and after leaving school was employed in the woolen mills for two years. He then learned the trade of the watchmaker with Frank E. Smith, and in 1879 started in business for himself as a repairer of watches, clocks and jewelry. He was first located in a window of a small store; and then, as he succeeded, he was able, on December 31, 1883, to purchase the business established by A. Davis & Son, located on D Street. He remained in that location for twenty-seven years, and then removed to his new location in the Peri Building on D Street, where he had one of the best-appointed and most modern jewelry stress in Northern California. He sold out and retired in February, 1922, after spending forty-three years as a successful business man, and one who was well and favorably known throughout a wide area for his strict integrity and square dealing. From the time of its organization, he was a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, and he has been active in support of the various movements for the improvement and development of the community at large. In 1890 he planted an orchard of forty acres over the line in Sutter County, which he brought into bearing and then sold in 1916. In 1910 he had purchased thirteen acres at Encinal; here also an orchard was set out, which he disposed of in 1920.
The marriage of Mr. Engel, which took place in Marysville on March 18, 1885, united him with Josephine McKenney, of Ingersol, Ontario, a daughter of Anderson and Sarah (Ward) McKenney, of Scotch descent, who brought their family to Marysville in 1872, where their last days were spent. Mr. and Mrs. Engel have had three children, two of whom grew to years of maturity. These are Walter W. and Frances Mary, now the wife of Dr. John A. Duncan; and both are residents of Marysville. Mr. Engel has been greatly interested in the cause of education, having served on the Marysville board of education for twenty-two years; and since the adoption of the new charter in 1919, providing for a president of the board, he has been honored with that position. He is also a member and the president of the board of trustees of the Marysville Union High School, giving of his time without reserve for the good of the cause and to aid in placing that school on a par with other schools of its kind in the State. He has been instrumental in the erection of the new and modern school buildings in Marysville for the past quarter of a century. He and his wife have also been active in promoting the cause of prohibition, which they consider to be for the best interest of every community. Mr. Engel is a prominent Mason, being a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 9, F.& A.M.; Washington Chapter No. 13, R.A.M.; and Marysville Commandery No. 7, K.T. He is also a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Sacramento Consistory. On October 21, 1919, the honorary degree of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor was conferred upon him. Mr. Engel has passed all the chairs in the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Encampment, being a Past Grand and a Past Chief Patriarch in that order. He also belongs to Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E., and is a member of the Woodmen of the World. Mrs. Engel has been a Noble Grand of the Rebekahs, a Past Worthy Matron of Marysville Chapter No. 55, O.E.S., and also a member of the Order of Amaranth in Sacramento. Both Mr. and Mrs. Engel are members of the First M.E. Church of Marysville, in which Mr. Engel is a member of the board of trustees and Mrs. Engel is treasurer of the official board. Well and favorably known, Mr. Engel is held in high esteem by all who know him, for his manly attributes of mind and heart.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 481-482