Sacramento County
Biographies
EDSON D. BRIER
EDSON D. BRIER.--Sacramento is
fortunate in the eminent ability of many of her noted contractors, including
such leaders as Edson D. Brier, not only the city, but the county profiting by
the presence and activity here of these wide-awake, aggressive men of affairs.
A native son, Mr. Brier was born at Lodi, on April 12, 1890, and his parents
were John W. and Mercy Ann (Switzer) Brier, the former a Congregational
minister and an extensive writer. At the age of six years, he came across the great plains into California,
and was one of the genuine forty-niners. The grandmother of our subject named Death
Valley. Both of these worthy parents are dead, but they have left
a sweet and lasting memory. Grandfather Brier was a circuit rider in the M.E.
Church, and he founded congregations all over California.
Edson D. Brier attended the public schools of Lodi, and
then went to the Hopkins Art Institute in San Francisco,
and there he availed himself of three scholarships, and took portrait, figure
and landscape work. After that, he followed the profession of art for some
time; but little by little he became convinced that he could be of greater
service to the world along more practical lines.
At Lodi, therefore, in the years 1914 and 1915, Mr.
Brier got into the building game; and then he was with the Western Union
Telegraph Company, and traveled in their interest.
Next, he associated himself with Messrs. Trainor and Desmond, in the real
estate game, and for the past two years he has been a contracting builder
again, operating especially in Sacramento. He built the Milton J. Ferguson home,
several flat buildings and some of the finest residences, and in each case his
success has been that of one who realized all the anticipations, and fulfilled all
the expectations of the patron. He belongs to the Master Builders, the
Builders’ Exchange, and the Kiwanis Club, and never loses an opportunity to
boost the county in which he operates. In politics, he is a Democrat.
In the year 1914, Mr. Brier
married Miss Estell Whitten, a native daughter of California, and they have one child, Lois Jeanette. Mr.
Brier belongs to Sunset Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and
Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. E., and his associations with these fraternal
organizations make him more than ever deeply interested in Sacramento County, past, present and future.
Transcribed by Vicky Walker, 8/23/07.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 970.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.