Los Angeles County

Biographies

 

 

 

 

GEORGE E. BITTINGER

 

 

     BITTINGER, GEORGE E., retired banker, of Los Angeles, California, was born in Chicago, Illinois, April 28, 1868.  His father was George W. Bittinger, a wholesale grocer of Chicago, and his mother Sarah Julie (Pestana) Bittinger.  He was married in Riverside, California, in 1892, to Laura Frankenheimer.  They have one child, Merritt A. Bittinger.  Mr. Bittinger was educated in the public schools of Chicago, and was trained for business life in Jacksonville (Illinois) Business College, graduating from there in 1885.

     The next year he moved to California and located at Riverside.  His first employment there was in the bank of the old Riverside Banking Company, and he remained with that concern in various positions until 1893, when he resigned to go with the First National Bank of Riverside.  Within two years he was made cashier of the bank, and during the next eight years he brought the bank up to a position which made it one of the strongest banks in the State outside of the two principal cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

     Although he never sought or accepted public office, Mr. Bittinger, an ardent Republican, took an active interest in the affairs of his party during his stay in Riverside and served at various times on the County and City Central Committees.  He was on the Central Committee during the two McKinley campaigns, 1896-1900, and in both instances Riverside polled a large majority for the martyr President.

     Mr. Bittinger remained Cashier of the Riverside bank until 1903, when, his record having attracted attention, he was offered the position of Cashier of the Los Angeles National Bank.  He accepted and with seventeen years of banking experience to his credit, he began his duties.  He continued as Cashier until the consolidation of his bank with the First national of Los Angeles.  Mr. Bittinger was one of the principal factors in this merger, which involved the amalgamation of approximately $20,000,000 in assets.  His part in this transaction placed him among the leaders of the financial world in Los Angeles and he was made Vice President and Director of the new institution.

     In February, 1910, after having followed the banking business for twenty-four years, Mr. Bittinger resigned the Vice Presidency of the First National in order to devote himself to his private interests, which by this time were extensive.

    Mr. Bittinger is heavily interested in a variety of substantial projects in Northern California and Oregon, and is aiding largely in the development of the latter State.  His interests include lumber, land, etc.

     In addition to his association with the First National Bank, Mr. Bittinger is also interested in the Equitable Savings Bank of Los Angeles, and up to a short time ago was heavily interested and an officer in the Weed Lumber Company, the Klamath Development Company and the California Northeastern Railway Company, three affiliated Oregon enterprises.

     He disposed of his interests in them, the railroad company being sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

     Mr. Bittinger is one of the progressive type of business men, but he is also interested in matters other than business.

     While he was a resident of the city of Riverside he was a trustee of the Carnegie Library Board of that place, and also of the Archaeological Institute of America.

     He is a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and for two years was on its Board of Directors.

     He was also Chairman, during that period, of the Finance Committee, which has charge of all the funds of the organization, and was a member of the committee which had in charge the entertainment of President Taft when he visited Los Angeles in 1909.

     He also served on other committees which had in charge improvement projects fostered by the Chamber of Commerce and intended to better Los Angeles.

     He is prominent in Southern California lodge circles and is one of the leading Masons of the section.

     He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Mystic Shriner and a Knight Templar.

     Mr. Bittinger is fond of outdoor life and is an enthusiastic golfer.

     He is also a member of the California Club, the Union League Club and the Annandale Country Club.

 

 

Transcribed 6-25-08 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I,  Page 79, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.  1913.

© 2008 Marilyn R. Pankey.

 

 

 

 

 

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