Los Angeles
County
Biographies
LOUIS
LICHTENBERGER
Industrial
development has always been a marked factor in the upbuilding and growth of a
city, and it was along the line of intelligently directed industry that Louis
Lichtenberger made for himself a prominent place in connection with the growth
and advancement of Los Angeles. He
contributed in marked measure to all those interests which have featured in
civic advancement here and his life history therefore constitutes an important chapter
in the annals of southern California.
He
was born in Ottweiler, Germany, August 25, 1835, and
remained a resident of that country until he reached the age of sixteen
years. His eldest brother had been
drafted for military service, in accordance with the laws of Germany, and the
father resolved that his other sons should not find it necessary to take up
arms in that way. Accordingly he took
his entire family across the border into France and from that country embarked
for the United States, desirous of establishing his home in a free land. The voyage across the Atlantic completed, the
family journeyed westward until they reached Chicago, where they arrived in
1851. The opportunities of the new world
made strong appeal to Louis Lichtenberger and in the Illinois metropolis he
entered upon an apprenticeship to the carriage and wagon making trade,
developing marked skill along that line.
He worked for some time for the Shuttler Wagon
Company of Chicago and afterward entered the employ of the Studebaker Wagon
Company at South Bend, Indiana, where he was engaged in the building of wagons
that were used by the United States government to transport supplies and
equipment to the Union troops participating in the Civil War.
Mr.
Lichtenberger’s connection with California dated from 1859, in which year he
made his way to New York City and from there secured passage on a vessel bound
for the Isthmus of Panama. Word had
reached him from friends in California that there was excellent opportunity for
skilled workmen to earn a good wage on the Pacific coast and he resolved to try
his fortune in the Golden state. The
vessel on which he embarked was overcrowded and there was but meager provisions
for the comfort and accommodation of the passengers. Not only was the food poor in quality but
also the supply was so limited that the passengers were often hungry. At length, however, the Isthmus was reached,
and after traveling across, Mr. Lichtenberger embarked upon another steamer for
San Francisco. Not wishing to again go
without sufficient food, he obtained a position as dish washer in the kitchen,
and thus he not only saved the price of his fare, but had the opportunity to
secure an adequate amount of food.
Eventually the voyage was ended and he found himself in the Golden
state. The west with its countless
chances for progress and development was before him and he was not long in
securing work at his trade. He remained
in San Francisco until 1863, when he removed to Los Angeles, where he obtained
employment in the wagon factory of John Goller. Carefully saving his earnings, he at length
acquired sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own
account and in 1866 he was joined by Louis Roeder in organizing the firm of
Lichtenberger & Roeder. They
established a wagon factory at the corner of Main and First streets, where the
new city hall now stands. There the
business was carried on successfully for several years, when the partnership
was dissolved, Mr. Lichtenberger remaining as sole owner of the business, which
he conducted until 1890. Year by year
the trade grew until as a wagon and carriage manufacturer he became widely
known throughout southern California. He
made a specialty of building California spring wagons and there was a constant
demand for his product, so that his output often reached
three hundred vehicles annually. His
patronage came not only from the southern part of the state but also from
Arizona, and year by year his profits increased until he had one of the large
and important industrial enterprises of the city. It has been said that “an institution is but
the lengthened shadow of a man,” and judged in this way, Mr. Lichtenberger was
a big man, big in foresight and vision and big in successful attainment. He became the owner not only of the extensive
business block which constituted the site of his original factory but also
acquired other holdings until his real property in Los Angeles was of a most
valuable character. In 1890 he retired
from active business to enjoy a rest which he richly deserved.
On
the 2nd of November, 1863, Mr. Lichtenberger was married to Miss Emelie Bahse, who survived him
for nearly three decades, departing this life January 24, 1922. She, too, was a native of Germany, born in
the city of Bonn, April 26, 1835, and she had attained the advanced age of
eighty-seven years when called to her final rest. She left Germany in 1863 and traveled
westward to California with friends who had previously become residents of Los
Angeles. Here she arrived in October and
in the following month she became the bride of Mr. Lichtenberger. It has been said of her: “The kindly and gracious personality of Mrs.
Lichtenberger won to her a circle of friends that was limited only by that of
her acquaintances.” She aided greatly in
works of charity, possessing a most benevolent spirit, and her gifts were
always unostentatiously made. As one of
the pioneer women of Los Angeles and as one whose work was of great benefit of
her fellowmen she was widely known and she had the distinction of being the
first woman to be honored with a life membership in the Los Angeles County Pioneer Society. Mr. and Mrs. Lichtenberger had a family of
four children: Herman C., who is state
inheritance tax appraiser of California, with office in Los Angeles, while his
home is at 654 Arroyo Drive, South Pasadena.
He is the father of a daughter, Mrs. Edgar Burroughs. Louis, who as president of the
Lichtenberger-Ferguson Company, is engaged in the wholesale harness, saddlery and automobile supply business in Los Angeles; Emelie, now deceased, was the wife of Benjamin F. Goodwin
of Phoenix, Arizona. She had a
daughter, Mrs. Olga Berringer; and George W., who is the
vice president of the Lichtenberger-Ferguson Company.
Louis
Lichtenberger passed away February 28, 1892, after a residence of almost a
third of a century in southern California.
Throughout this period not only did he contribute to the material
development of his city but he also aided in its upbuilding in many ways. Several times he was called to serve in
public office, acting as a member of the city council in 1875-76. During 1879-80 he served as city treasurer
and proved a most careful and able custodian of the public funds. His loyalty to the duties of his offices was
one of his outstanding characteristics and his faithfulness to every cause
which he espoused was well known to all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Lichtenberger aided in organizing the
Sixth District Agricultural Association and served for many years as its president. He was largely instrumental in having the
property now known as Exposition Park deeded by this association to the state
of California for the purpose for which it is being used. Every plan or project for the general good
received his endorsement and his influence always drew to it the further
support of public-spirited citizens. In
every relation of life he was honest, fearless, loyal and true and his social
qualities won for him the friendship of all who knew him. California indeed gained a valuable resident
when he decided to leave the Middle West and try his fortune in the land of the
Pacific. Opportunity was ever to him a
call to action and the activities of his life were beneficial not only to his
own advancement but to the community at large, so that his name deserves
prominent place on the pages of the history of southern California.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 475-478,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES