Alameda County
Biographies
CAPT. LUDWIG
SIEBE
CAPT.
LUDWIG SIEBE. Among the best known residents of Alameda and adjoining counties
is Capt. Ludwig Siebe, an active, capable and much
respected citizen of Emeryville. Although a lad of sixteen years and a
comparative stranger in a strange land when the Civil war broke out, he later
enlisted in a New York regiment, and for three years fought valiantly in
defense of his adopted country. His subsequent military record in San Francisco
as an infantryman was equally honorable and won for him his title of captain.
The pleasure seekers and sportsmen of this part of the state have especial
cause to be grateful to him for his conception, establishment and tactful
management of Shell Mound Park, one of the most extensive and best improved
picnic grounds and pleasure parks to be found in any part of the United States.
About a quarter of a century ago, when Oakland was in its infancy,
Captain Siebe, with characteristic enterprise
and forethought, perceived the advantages of having some specially established
place for outdoor entertainments, including picnics, reunions, target exercises
and athletic contests of all kinds. Leasing sixteen acres of land from E. Wiard, an extensive landholder in Emeryville, he at first
fitted it up for a picnic ground, and has since added substantial improvements,
including equipments for games and sports of every description, making it one
of the finest pleasure resorts in the world. Social, fraternal and other
organizations of the Pacific coast hold their annual gatherings in Shell Mound
Park. The Caledonia Club has met in this park annually since
May 1, 1884; the Thistle Club has convened here once a year for the
past ten years; the Pacific Coast Turnfest was held
at this park in 1903; and the United States Schutzen
Bund was held there in 1901, when, at its third national festival, the highest
target record of the world was made by A. Strecker’s
record of three hundred and eighty-four points in two hundred shots. The
Southern Pacific Railway alone brings to this park upwards of two hundred and
fifty thousand persons each year, and nearly half as many more come on the
street cars, in carriages or on foot, as many as twenty thousand people
frequently being on the grounds at one time. Two large pavilions for dancing
have been erected, the main pavilion being 80x130 feet, while the other is
ninety feet in diameter. The shooting range, which was installed at a cost of
$20,000, has four fifty-yard targets, twenty-one two hundred-yard targets, four
three hundred-yard targets, and four five hundred-yard targets. Fruit and ice
cream stands abound, and in addition is a picture gallery, a shooting gallery
and a dining room capable of seating three hundred visitors at a time. A
turning apparatus, swings, flying horses and a bowling alley are open to the
guests, and a race track for games has a sufficient number of covered seats to
accommodate five thousand people.
Captain
Siebe was born January 20, 1846, in Bremervorde, Hanover, Germany, which was also the
birthplace of his father, Frederick Siebe. A
cabinet maker by trade, Frederick Siebe spent
his entire life in his native land, dying about 1859. He married
Margaret Von Staden, a lifelong resident of
Germany, who died in 1851. Eight children were born of
their union, and of these three of the sons emigrated
to this country and served in the Civil war, namely: Frederick, William and
Ludwig, the subject of this sketch. Frederick was wounded by a gunshot while in
the army and died ten years later from the effects of the wound. William, who,
with his brother Frederick, was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth
New York Volunteer Infantry, was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor.
Emigrating to this country in 1860, after the death of both
his parents, Ludwig Siebe was employed as a grocery
clerk in Brooklyn, N. Y., for two years. In 1862, at the age of sixteen
years, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-third New York Volunteer
Infantry, and after serving in Louisiana with General Banks, and in the
Shenandoah valley with General Sheridan, remained
in the field until the close of the war, when, June 6, 1865, he was mustered
out of service in Washington, D. C. He took part in many of the important
engagements of the conflict, including the battle of Sabine Pass, both
engagements at Port Hudson, the last battle at Winchester, the engagement at
Fisher’s Hill, and at the battle of Cedar Creek, when the gallant Sheridan made
his memorable ride. Returning to Brooklyn after receiving his discharge,
Mr. Siebe was there employed in the grocery
business for nearly two years.
Coming
by way of Panama to California in 1867, Mr. Siebe
embarked in the grocery business in San Francisco, where he resided a number of
years. While in that city he organized Company C, of the San Francisco Fusileers, Second Infantry, and for five years served as
first lieutenant of his company. He was then elected captain of the company,
and after serving in that position for four years was offered the position of
major in the Second California Artillery, but owing to the demands of his
business was forced to decline the honor. He was, therefore, in February, 1880,
placed upon the retired list, but still retains his title of captain. In 1879
Captain Siebe removed to Oakland, and has since
taken an active part in promoting its prosperity.
April
20, 1870, in San Francisco, Captain Siebe married
Maggie Hoffman, a native of that city, and of their union nine children have
been born, namely: Mary; Augusta; Fredericke;
Margaret; Henry; Louisa; William; George, deceased; and Eveline,
deceased. Politically the captain is an independent Republican. Fraternally he
is a charter member of Appomattox Post No. 50, G. A. R., of
Oakland; a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of Herman’s Sons,
and belongs to numerous other clubs and societies, numbering in all about
thirty different organizations.
Transcribed
by Marie Hassard 26 October 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
829-830. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.
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