Butte County
Biographies
ISADORE BRESLAUER
ISADORE BRESLAUER.--The very efficient
manager of the Manuel Breslauer Estate, Isadore Breslauer, is a native
son, born in Chico, and he has spent the greater part of
his life in Butte County.
His father, Manuel Breslauer, was born in Germany,
and was a hatter and furrier by trade. He came to New
York and was in the employ of Saxe Brothers, working
at his trade. He did not like New York, and having an
uncle, Benjamin Breslauer, who was a merchant in Chico,
Cal., he decided to come to the coast and cast in his
fortunes with the Golden State.
He arrived in San Francisco, via Cape Horn, in 1865, and
was employed at his trade a short time, and later came on the overland stage to
Chico. He had but little means, so
he started peddling merchandise through the mining districts and mountain
towns. He prospered and soon bought a pack animal, and employed
an Indian, Chico Tom, to help him
pack his goods. He met with financial success and when he had enough ahead he
opened a store in Chico, on Main
Street between First and Second Streets, and sold
tobacco, cigars and fruit. Soon he branched out into merchandise and enlarged
his stock and the scope of his business as he was able. His close application
to business undermined his health and he had to leave the store, and for twenty
years he was out of business. He invested in real estate, buying valuable
business property, which he improved and sold at a profit. Before his boys had
completed their schooling, Mr. Breslauer started
another mercantile enterprise and they began to learn the details of business
from a master hand, and he was a thorough teacher. He still continued to buy
and sell real estate and acquired some very valuable properties, which are
still held by the family. He died on June 8, 1902, at the age of fifty-six
years.
Manuel
Breslauer married Ricka Ostroski, a niece of Samuel Ostroski
and of Benjamin Breslauer. Mr. and Mrs. Breslauer were the first Jewish couple to be married in Chico,
and Mrs. Breslauer still makes her home in that city.
She took a trip to Europe some years ago and greatly
enjoyed her experiences. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Breslauer, three of whom are living: Isadore,
of this review; L. Dave, a director in the Manuel Breslauer
Estate Company and an assistant in the store; and Mamie, Mrs. Tochterman, of Chico.
After the death of the father, the family incorporated the holdings in the
Manuel Breslauer Estate Company, of which Mrs. Breslauer is the president; Isadore,
secretary, treasurer and manager; and the other two members of the family being
directors. The trademark on the stationery and wrapping paper used by Manuel Breslauer was a horseshoe, with the inscription, "Good
luck to all who enter here."
Isadore Breslauer was educated in
private and public schools. During the latter part of his school-days he spent
his vacations, mornings and evenings in his father's store, learning the
details of the business. After his school-days were over he went into the store
and has continued there ever since. The business was installed in its present
quarters about twenty-six years ago. A short time before his father died, Isadore bought him out, and has since owned and conducted
the business and has met with fine results. He carries a full line of clothing,
men's furnishings and shoes. Besides his business, he is secretary, treasurer
and manager of the Manuel Breslauer Estate Company.
The
Breslauer Estate Company, with the Waterlands, erected the Breslauer
and Waterland Building, on Fourth and Broadway,
Chico, each owning a half interest. This is the largest business block in the
city and is a credit to its builders. The estate company also erected the Junction
Building, on Main
Street at Junction, as well as other buildings in
the various parts of the business district, and the company also owns
considerable farming land, which is leased. Isadore
is a stockholder in the Butte County Savings Bank.
The
marriage of Isadore Breslauer
with Helen Bornstein, a native of Texas, was celebrated
in San Francisco. They have two
children to brighten their home, Winnie and Merton. Mr. Breslauer
is a member of the Red Men and of the Business Men's Association of Chico. In
politics he is a Democrat.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 672-675, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
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