Jacob Griesel

 

Jacob Griesel, manufacturer of harness, etc., Sacramento, is a native of Germany, born at Obervorschutz, Kreis Fritzlar, Kurhessen, July 30, 1825, his parents being Adam and Angelina (Seherp) Griesel, the father a carpenter by occupation. He was reared at his native place, educated there to the age of fourteen years, then went to learn the trade of harness-maker at Hesse-Cassel. He served an apprenticeship of three years with Just Rippel, and then traveled throughout Germany to perfect his trade. He came to America in the spring of 1848, sailing from Bremen and landing in New York in May. He worked six months in New York city, then went, successively, to Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, and St. Louis. From there he went to Jefferson City, where he worked for a man named Scherp from 1848 to 1852. In the spring of the latter year he and his brother Adam, now deceased, accompanied by William Miller, came to California. They outfitted at Jefferson City, and bought five yoke of oxen and a horse. They came out via Ft. Kearney, the Black Hills, Sublette’s out off, etc., and crossed the desert to Ragtown. They then rested a couple of days, and came into California via the Carson route, bringing up at Hangtown about the middle of August, after a rather pleasant trip, except that sometimes they ran short of water and wood. They sold their teams at Hangtown, and Mr. Griesel went to Cold Springs and engaged in mining for a couple of weeks with an old friend, then came to Sacramento in a wagon, arriving the early part of September. He obtained work at once with a man named Philip Megerle, with whom he remained two years. He then went to Nevada City and started a shop, which he conducted until November, 1858, when he sold out and returned to Sacramento. He went to work for his brother, but four months later quit and went to New York by steamer. Two or three weeks later he went to England, thence to Germany. He again came back to America from there, and after traveling throughout the United States, brought up at Jefferson City. There he belonged to the militia. In April, 1863, he came back to California by water, and started work in Sacramento at his present location, No.1022 J street. His brother died in July of that year, and he has run the place ever since. He manufactures nearly everything he handles, from the lightest to the heaviest harness, and has a fine trade, as his goods enjoy an excellent reputation. Mr. Griesel was married in Germany to Miss Anna C. Riedmann on March 13, 1859. His wife is a native of Germany born near Obernorschutz. They have two children, viz.: Adolph H. and Ottilie. Mr. Griesel is a member of Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., since 1864, having joined the order at Nevada City in 1856, and he has passed through all the chairs of Schiller Lodge. He has passed the chairs of Tribe No. 124, Red Men, and has been its treasurer for the last fourteen years. In the days of the volunteer fire department he was in Young America Engine Company, No. 6, and remained with it from 1866 until the paid fire department came in. He has passed the chairs in the Chosen Friends. Mr. Griesel has passed through many of the vieissitudes of early life in California. In Nevada City, in 1856, his building and stock were destroyed by fire, and he had to commence anew.  But his credit was first-class, and he had no trouble in getting anything he wanted from dealers, and to any amount. He was stopping at the Illinois House when it burned down, the night of Pierce’s election, and he slept that night in the Plaza. Mr. Griesel is an active, enterprising man of strict honesty and integrity in his business dealings, and these facts account for his success.