Butte County
Biographies
JOHN ASSER
JOHN ASSER.—To
those who have succeeded in life solely by their own efforts, much credit is
due, and of such is John Asser, the popular and efficient merchant tailor of
Chico, Cal. He justly merits the success that has come to him after years of
continuous work and persistent efforts to attain his goal. John Asser was born
on November 8, 1882, in Courland, Russia. He received his education
and learned his trade of tailor in the city of Riga, where he served an
apprenticeship of five years, beginning when about thirteen years of age. Riga,
in 1902, was a city of five hundred thousand inhabitants, and is situated in
the war-torn section of Russia. John Asser’s father was a
farmer in Russia and, before the awful days of the present world-wide war, his
parents and six sisters and three brothers were all living, but he has
been unable to hear from them under present conditions, which is doubtless due
to the stringent censorship maintained during the war.
On June 9, 1902, John Asser left Riga for
Baltimore, Md., where he landed on August 17. After a short stay there he
left for Chicago, where he secured employment with the celebrated manufacturers
of high-class clothing for men, Hart, Schaffner and
Marx. Here he attended their cutting school and learned the American system of cutting
and fitting, also merchant tailoring. His next move was to Dubuque, Iowa, where
he was employed by a leading merchant tailor, for two years, when he returned
to Chicago. Desiring to seek his fortune in the Golden West, John Asser, in
1907, left Chicago for San Francisco, Cal., and on July 1, of the same
year, he opened a merchant tailoring business at Chico, under the firm name of Rankaff and Asser. Later the firm became John Asser and
Company, and afterwards, Asser and Heron, but since January, 1915, the business
has been conducted under the caption, John Asser. His garments have a
smart style and individuality that make them preferred by business men of
discriminating tastes, who always seek the latest style and best fit. His
business has grown beyond his most sanguine expectations and unquestionably he
is now Chico’s leading tailor.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
02 November 2009.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1284-1285, Historic Record Co, Los
Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's
Butte County Biographies