Butte County
Biographies
ADOLPH NORBERT CASPARE
ADOLPH NORBERT CASPARE.--Among those of
foreign birth who have contributed to the development of this county, Adolph
Norbert Caspare was born in Kaiserslautern,
Rhein Pfalz,
Germany, August 8, 1879. His
father, Carl Nicholas, was a college graduate, becoming state forester. The mother of our subject was Marie Koelwel. Both
parents died in their native country. Of
their two children, Adolph is the youngest and the only one living in the United
States.
After completing the public schools he entered the gymnasium, from which
he graduated, after which he was apprenticed as electrical engineer with
Siemens and Schuckert, electrical manufacturers.
During his three years’ apprenticeship to this firm he studied diligently so
that at the close of his term he was sent by them into different countries to
install electrical machinery, traveling for them about six years through
Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. In 1903 the company sent him to Mexico
City, to install the electrical machinery in the power plant for
the Mexican Land
and Power Company, which took a period of two years. His work was much appreciated and the power
company made him assistant superintendent of the plant.
After five years he resigned and came to San
Francisco, arriving in June, 1910.
From San
Francisco, Mr. Caspare made his way to Los
Angeles where he entered the employ of the Pacific Light and Power
Company, as an electrical mechanic at the Redondo power house extension, but
after a year he moved to Bakersfield
and worked for the Kern River Oil Fields Limited, which was changing from steam
to electric power. However, three months
later he quit them and came to Oroville and began work for the Oroville
Electric Corporation, now the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, as an
electrical mechanic, a position he filled ably and well. In August, 1913, he was transferred to the
Lime Saddle power-house as foreman, and has continued in that capacity ever
since, and in June, 1918, was placed in charge of the division which includes
both the Lime Saddle and Cool Canyon
power plants. To perfect himself in the
line of his work he has completed a course in electrical engineering in the
American Correspondence School of Chicago and is well qualified for the
position he holds.
In Los
Angeles, March 13, 1911, Mr. Caspare
married Miss Flora Margaret Stewart, born in Graham, Texas,
the daughter of J. H. and Clara (Dismer) Stewart,
natives of Louisiana and Virginia,
respectively. The mother is now dead,
while Mr. Stewart is a viticulturist in Fresno
County. Mr. and Mrs. Caspare
have two children, Margaret Louise and Norberta
Flora. Mr. Caspare
was made a Mason in Table Mountain Lodge, No. 124, F. & A. M., at Cherokee,
in which he is Junior Warden. He is also
a member of Franklin Chapter, No. 20, R. A .M., at
Oroville, and is a member of Cherokee Lodge, No. 92,
I. O. O. F., in which
he is Noble Grand. With his wife, he is
a member of the Rebekahs.
Transcribed
by Roseann Kerby.
Source: "History of Butte
County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1089-1090,
Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Roseann Kerby.
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