JACOB GEBERT

Sacramento County

Biographies

JACOB GEBERT

JACOB GEBERT, proprietor of the Union Brewery, Sacramento, is a native of Alsace, now a portion of the Empire of Germany, born on the 3d of May, 1847, his parents being Jacob, Sr., and Louisa Mary (Dewald) Gebert. He was reared at his native place, and there commenced the brewer’s trade. In 1858, in company with an uncle, Paul Gebert, he came to America and soon came to California, locating in Sacramento, where he attended school, making his home with his uncle. He also worked for a time in the Columbus Brewery. In 1863 he accompanied his uncle back to the old country, and there again attended school. In 1865 he again came to America, and located in San Francisco, where he drove a bakery wagon for a time. He next came to Sacramento, and again obtained employment at the Columbus Brewery, at first washing barrels, afterward making malt, and finally driving a wagon. After about a week at the last mentioned occupation, he went to San Jose, and obtained work in the Almaden Brewery. While there he got a letter from Mr. Gruhler, who wanted him to come back and work in the Columbus Brewery, which proposition he accepted, and remained with the Gruhlers for ten months. He then engaged with the St. Louis Brewery, where he remained about two years. He next went with Mr. Oswald, who offered him $40 per month additional salary. He was employed there until 1875, when he moved upon a ranch near Florin, and in the meantime formed his plans for going into business in Sacramento for himself. He commenced building operations, and in May, 1880, established the Union Brewery, corner of Twentieth and O streets. He put a two-story brick building, 30 x 70 feet in area, the machinery being operated by horse-power. After a year he put in a steam engine of eight-horse power, and the capacity of the brewery was then about twelve barrels per day. On the 13th of December, 1887, the property was destroyed by fire, making an almost total loss of buildings and fixtures, the fire catching by the overheating of a shaft. Mr. Gebert was not discouraged by the great catastrophe, however, for the ashes had hardly cooled before he was planning for a new outfit. So rapidly was the rebuilding accomplished that on the 6th of May, 1888, he was again ready for business, but on a far more extensive scale. The new building is 70 x 140 feet in ground area, but in an L shape, and is four stories and basement in part, and the remainder three stories and basement, while the capacity has been increased to twenty-four barrels per day. He has a large and growing trade, which reaches as far as Mill City, Nevada. The product of the Union Brewery, it is unnecessary to say, enjoys a high reputation under Mr. Gebert’s able management. Mr. Gebert was married December 1, 1875, to Miss Mary Guth, a native of Sacramento County, born at Elk Grove, and daughter of Joseph and Mary (Kenney) Guth, who came to California in 1850, and are now living retired from active business in Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. Gebert have one child, Charles, born January 6, 1879. Mr. Gebert is a of (sic) member Schiller Lodge, No 105, I. O. O. F., and also of the Druids. Mr. Gebert’s rise in business has been quite remarkable. He started on a small capital, and his first year’s experience was perfectly successful. He lost $17,000 by the fire of 1887, but did not let that bother him. To him belongs the credit of building up that portion of Sacramento. There were no streets graded in that vicinity when he commenced: now there are first-class improvements. Lots that he bought for $400 could not be purchased now for $4,000. He is certainly an enterprising man.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 748-749. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.