Sacramento County
Biographies
OSCAR G. HARTIG
OSCAR G. HARTIG--Sacramento and vicinity was the Mecca for many Argonauts of early days, drawn there primarily by the gold fields near by, and often remaining to enter mercantile or ranch life, and built up the city and surrounding country by their labors, carried on when pioneer conditions brought forth all the sturdy character inherent in human nature, and meant only the survival of the fittest. Among these may be mentioned Oscar G. Hartig, who came here in early life and became a part of the warp and woof of the new state.
Born in Breslau, Germany, May 5, 1841, at the early age of thirteen, in 1854, the enterprising lad sailed for America, and located in Dubuque, Iowa, where he became an apprentice painter in a furniture factory of Hancourt & Co., with wages, to start, of $3.50 per week. For ten years he remained with this same company, mostly engaged in varnishing furniture, and became expert in the work he followed so diligently.
In 1864, one of a party of twenty-two men and two women, Mr. Hartig crossed the plains to California; four wagons, drawn by mules, carried the brave little band, and they drove fifty-three horses over the long trail, landing in Sacramento, August 7, 1864, after 107 days of weary hardship, interspersed with the danger and adventure which made these pioneer journeys to be remembered for all time. After his arrival, Mr. Hartig worked for John Breuner for a time, varnishing the interior of his store; he then worked for an undertaking company, finishing coffins, and was the first man in California to put the rosewood finish on coffins. Later he worked in a carriage painting shop, and from there entered the employ of C. H. Krebs Company, painters and dealers in paints. With twelve men, he operated a cooperative paint shop for a time.
After these initial business ventures, for the next thirty years Mr. Hartig was in the employ of the Ruhstaller Brewery, painting kegs, this company owning 140,000 barrels and kegs, and in 1918, he retired from active business life, and now spends his time in looking after his property interests in Sacramento, which have accumulated through years of steady application and thrift.
The marriage of Mr. Hartig, which occurred December 2, 1869, united him with Mrs. Margaret Hagelstein. Mrs. Hartig was also an early settler in Sacramento and owned considerable property in the city. Her death occurred in 1902.
During his long residence in the state capital city Mr. Hartig became prominent in fraternal life, and he is the second oldest living member of the Turnverein, now rounding out his fifty-eighth year, and he was presented with a diploma when his membership in the lodge aggregated fifty years; for the past thirty-five years he has been a member of Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Sacramento. A fine bass singer, for thirty years he was bass soloist in the German Lutheran Church here, and in all good works he has taken a willing part, a firm believer in the wonderful future in store for this part of the Golden State.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County, California
With Biographical Sketches, Page 682. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.