ISAAC FIEL

Sacramento County

Biographies

ISAAC FIEL

ISAAC FIEL, merchant and real-estate dealer, Folsom. The father of this gentleman, Joseph Fiel, was a native of Prussia, born in 1822, and was a tailor by occupation. In 1849, during the gold excitement in California, he came direct to Folsom, which had just been laid out, and bought property. When the railroad was built to that place, passengers and freight were carried across the mountains by wagons to Virginia City, during the Washoe, Gold Hill and White Pine excitement. He commenced the manufacture of wagon covers and made quite a business out of it. Afterward he entered the dry-goods trade in Folsom, being one of the first merchants, and followed this business about six years. Subsequently he became interested in two or three mines in the neighborhood, and devoted his attention to that about three years. At the time of the completion of the railroad to Latrobe, which was then supposed to be the terminus of the route, he went there and erected seven large stores, which he rented. The stores cost a great deal of money; Latrobe went down, and he was offered only $200 for the property. He moved the buildings to Folsom, where they are still standing. At one time he had considerable property in the lower part of the town, which was then the principal business portion. He was once offered $6,000 or $7,000 for property which he afterward sold for $300. The same property to-day is worth many thousand dollars. His next move was to open a variety store a few doors above where his son now is, and he continued in this business until his death, October 16, 1876. He always had the good of his chosen town at heart, was active in business and every way a worthy citizen. He was foremost in securing the branch State Prison at this point. He was married in Sacramento, to Rosa Kirsky, who became the mother of two children, and is now a resident of Folsom. Her son Irwin is not living. Isaac Fiel, the other son, was born in Folsom, April 22, 1861. At the age of fifteen years he went to Woodland, but at the death of his father he returned to Folsom to take charge of his well-known variety store, and since then he has been prominently identified with the thorough business men of the place. Four years ago he took charge of Fireman’s Hall, which has well nigh run down, repaired it, and got theatrical companies to exhibit there, which has been a great help to the town. He still has charge of the hall. His variety store is one of the principal attractions of Folsom, being the largest outside of San Francisco. He has the agency of all the San Francisco, Sacramento and Stockton papers, as well as the order principal papers of the State. He and his mother own considerable real estate in and around Folsom, some of which is valuable business property. For ten months Mr. Fiel was editor and proprietor of the Folsom Weekly Telegraph, and during that time built the paper up to a standard that places it among the leading newspapers of the State. When he sold it it was on a good paying basis. For a year and a half he was Deputy Postmaster of Folsom, and during that time was instrumental in putting in new boxes and fitting up the office to be one of the finest in the State. During the skating rink excitement he had charge of three skating rinks,—one each in Folsom, Elk Grove and Galt,—and they were a paying investment. In connection with his variety store he also is engaged in the real-estate business. December 27, 1887, is the date of Mr. Fiel’s marriage to Miss Gertie Sartain, a native of Missouri.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 674-675. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.