ARTHUR BENJAMIN

Sacramento County

Biographies

ARTHUR BENJAMIN

ARTHUR BENJAMIN--The proprietor of one of Galt's thriving business houses, Arthur Benjamin brings to his business years of successful experience in the mercantile business, especially in the line of men's furnishings, in which he is now engaged. He was born at Mamaroneck, N.Y., January 6, 1885, the son of Harry and Sarah (Solomon) Benjamin, the father born at Posen, Germany, while the mother was a native of England. Harry Benjamin came to the United States alone when a lad of but fourteen years and settled at New York, where he first worked as a butcher's delivery boy, then began in the clothing business and learned to be a cutter and designer. Removing to Mamaroneck, N.Y., he established himself in the clothing and men's furnishing business and there continued for ten years. He now resides in Tarrytown, N.Y., where he is engaged in the real estate business and is now sixty-seven years old. Mrs. Benjamin passed away at the age of fifty-six, the mother of ten children, five now living: Lily, Mrs. Rummelsburg, of Toledo, Ohio; Arthur Benjamin, who is the subject of this sketch; Pauline, Mrs. Immerman of New York City; Joseph Benjamin of Tarrytown, N.Y., in the real estate business with his father; and Bertha, the wife of Mr. Murry Berkeley, of New York City.

Arthur Benjamin's boyhood was spent at Tarrytown, N.Y., and at the age of fifteen he started out for himself, his first two years in business being spent with the Hackett-Carhart Company of New York. He then went to Chicago and while there was associated with The Fair, The Hub, Siegel & Cooper, and Kuppenheimer & Company. In 1907 he came to San Francisco, Cal., and was with S. M. Woods & Company, then with Morris Rosenthal as a traveling salesman over the entire state of California as his territory. For the next six years he was with Kuh Brothers, wholesale dealers in women and children's clothing, and then went into business for himself at 3519 Chestnut Street, Oakland, handling ladies' and men's furnishings. Six years later he sold out his business and removed to Bakersfield, where he was with Henry Bergman for a time, going from there to Stockton, where he was associated with L. Alderman, and then was transferred to Mr. Alderman's Galt store in 1920. Looking over the field here, Mr. Benjamin soon decided to go into business for himself and opened his store, in which he handles a fine ladies' and men's furnishings, and he has built up a business that is steadily increasing.

At Oakland, January 1, 1911, Mr. Benjamin was married to Miss Helen Happ, a native daughter of San Francisco, whose parents were Marcus and Augusta Happ. Her father was for twenty-five years engaged in the men's furnishings business at 481 Seventh Street, Oakland, the family having lived in that city since Mrs. Benjamin was five years old. Mr. Happ passed away at the age of sixty-five, but the mother is still living and is now eighty-two years old. They were the parents of four children: Morris Happ of Oakland; Mrs. Eddie Hirsch of San Francisco; Mrs. B. Nurok of San Francisco; and Mrs. Arthur Benjamin. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin, Marian and Julian. Since locating at Galt Mr. Benjamin has identified himself with its progressive interests. He is a member of the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Galt, being its capable secretary, and also an officer of the local Grange, I.O.O.F., and Masons. In politics he is a Democrat.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 643. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.