Los Angeles County
Biographies
JOSEPH MESMER
MESMER, JOSEPH, Pres., North L. A. Development Co., Los Angeles, Cal., was born at Tippecanoe City, Miami County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1855, the son of Louis Mesmer and Katherine (Forst) Mesmer; married Rose Elizabeth Bushard at Los Angeles, April 22, 1879, and to them there have been born six children, Louis Francis, Marie Josephine Perier, Clarence Woodman, Junietta Lucille, Beatrice Evalynne and Aloysius Joseph Mesmer.
He went with his parents to Los Angeles, Sept., 1859, going by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He received a primary education in the schools of Los Angeles and finished at the College of Strasburg, in Germany. Shortly after his return from Germany he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1878 he entered the shoe business, opening the Queen Shoe Store. In 1896 he sold out, and with his family went traveling. He was abroad over a year.
He returned to Los Angeles and became identified with the St. Louis Fire Brick and Clay Co., a concern of which he is president and a heavy stockholder. He is also president of the N. E. W. Commercial and Improvement Association.
Mr. Mesmer has twice served in a public capacity, once as a member of the Freeholder’s Charter Commission, to frame up a charter for the City of Los Angeles, and at another time as Park Commissioner. He was chairman of a committee of three who were instrumental in the location of the Federal Building on the Downey block site, and is cone of the most energetic workers for a City Beautiful, to be built on a comprehensive plan. He belongs to a number of improvement clubs.
He is a member of the California Club, Jonathan Club, Elks, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Knights of America, L. A. Catholic Beneficial Assn., a life member of St. Vincent de Paul Society, and director of the L. A. County Pioneers’ Society.
Transcribed 5-15-10
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 416, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2010 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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