Butte County
Biographies
GEORGE LEININGER
GEORGE LEININGER.--A very enterprising and prosperous blacksmith and carriage-maker, who learned his trade in Chico, the scene of his successes, is George Leininger, who came to California in the historic Centennial year. He was born near Muscatine Iowa, April 15, 1864, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Leininger, natives of Pennsylvania. When he was two years old, his parents removed to Ralls County, Mo., where they took up farming; and ten years later they came West to California and settled on a ranch at Paradise, in Butte County. Afterwards they returned to Missouri; but some years later they came back to Chico, and both died here.
The fifth eldest of eight children, six of whom are living, George Leininger came to California, therefore, when he was twelve years old, and with only meager educational advantages early went to work on a ranch, really beginning to paddle his own canoe when he was fifteen years old. In 1885, he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade at Magalia, under the direction of Aaron Burt; and in the fall of 1887 he came to Chico and entered the employ of Asa Morley, the blacksmith, at whose forge he remained a couple of years. In 1890, he formed a partnership with Nick Heberlie, and bought the present corner of Broadway and Ninth Street, where they built their shop, and under the firm name of Leininger and Heberlie opened a general blacksmith and carriage-making business. They also built wagons for twenty years or so, turning out vehicles of a high grade. At the end of twenty years, Mr. Leininger bought out the business and considerably enlarged it by adding a wood-working department and equipping it with electrical power for the running of saws, planes, drills, and other machinery. He makes anything of wood or iron, but is particularly famous for his specialty of horse-shoeing.
At Chico, Mr. Leininger was married to Miss Hattie Morley, a native of the town, and the daughter of Asa Morley, the pioneer blacksmith. By her he had two children: Charles A. Leininger, a graduate of the Chico Normal School, class of 1917, who is a teacher; and Guinevere who is also a graduate of the Chico State Normal, class of 1918. Mrs. Leininger died at Chico, in May 1913. She was an honored member of the Rebekahs. For years, Mr. Leininger and family have resided in an attractive dwelling adjoining his place of business. Mr. Leininger has been Past Grand of Chico Lodge, No. 113, I. O. O. F., at Chico, for a couple of terms, and is an equally popular member of the Eagles. For over fifteen years he was an active member of Engine Company No. 2, Chico fire department, serving one term as foreman of the company. A Republican in party politics, he has served one term as city trustee of Chico, and in that office has shown the same ability and regard for what is right as have always characterized him in his dealings as a business man and a private citizen.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 1075, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Joyce Rugeroni.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County
Biographies