Biographies
GEORGE B. KATZENSTEIN
GEORGE B. KATZENSTEIN.--A pioneer whose memory posterity will always delight to
honor was the late George B. Katzenstein, who
breathed his last on August 29, 1909, and passed from sight of men, kindly
recalled by the many who knew him for years as the general manager of the Earl
Fruit Company. He was a wonderful worker - a dynamo of exceptional energy and
activity; and as an organizer in whatever he undertook, he probably had no
superior and few equals. He was also well and favorably known in lodge circles,
was an enthusiastic Templar, and was elected head of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars in California. He formerly conducted a fraternal
paper called the "Review," in conjunction with the late William H.
Mills; and this paper was published at Sacramento in the interests of the Good Templars. He was past grand master of the A. O. U. W.; and
past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias; and a
prominent Red Man. He also belonged to the Sacramento Driving Club, the Sutter
Club, and the Sacramento Boat Club.
Mr. Katzenstein
was born in New Orleans on November 28, 1848, a son of Eugene and Marie (Liebschutz) Katzenstein, natives
of Lorraine, France, who came to the United States in 1846, settling at New
Orleans, where the father engaged in merchandising. In 1853 the family came by
way of the overland trail to California and located at Marysville, where Eugene
Katzenstein conducted a hotel called the Ohio House,
the first hotel in that town. He retired in later years and made his home with
his son George, and died in 1884.
George B. Katzenstein
received his education in the public schools of Marysville and early began to
travel, working his way as he went and spent several years roaming over various
portions of the Old and the New Worlds, and finally returned to California and
located at Sacramento in 1866. Here he became associated with William H. Mills
in the publishing of the "Review" and the "Rescue,"
fraternal papers; also for a number of years he was associated in the insurance
field with Mr. Mills. Having great faith in the future of this county he took
up colonization work and was one of the organizers of the Orangevale
Colonization Company, which brought some 3,000 acres of land for subdivision
purposes and sold it off in ten-and-twenty-acre tracts. He became prominent in
civic affairs and was the first secretary of the Sacramento Chamber of
Commerce; and it was while he was in this position that the A. R. U. troubles
broke out in railroad circles in 1892. Mr. Katzenstein
made a name for himself as a fearless worker for law and order and did much to
regulate the traffic of outgoing fruit shipments from this city which was of
vital importance to the growers of the entire valley. So absolutely fair was he
that he gained recognition from the striking railroad men and had access to all
their gatherings. His actions at this time of trouble brought him to the
attention of the Earl Fruit Company's leading men and in 1898 he was
placed in charge of their interests in northern California as vice-president
and manager, and for years he had full control of this important organization,
and when they sold their interests in Sacramento Mr. Katzenstein
was a member of the company that bought them out.
In 1869 Mr. Katzenstein
was married to Miss Ida M. Richards, born in Lowell, Mass., the only child of
Leonard J. Richards, who was a pioneer gold miner in California, but who
eventually went back to Lowell. They became the parents of four sons: William
H., who was killed in the performance of his duty as a police officer in
Arizona in 1902; George B., Jr.; Albert W.; and Carleton L. Mrs. Katzenstein is still living at their old home place at 1213
O Street in the enjoyment of good health and ministered to by her three sons,
to whom the husband and father left as a heritage a good name and spotless
reputation. During the memorable
anti-Chinese convention held in California many years ago Mr. Katzenstein showed his ability as a presiding officer. He
was the leader of one faction and the other was headed by Frank M. Pixley. In this double-headed affair he showed his superior
ability as an organizer. He was a Republican, active in party affairs, but
would never accept any public office, though he was solicited to become a
candidate many times. He was public-spirited to a degree and was always found
at the head of all movements for the betterment of conditions in general
throughout the entire state.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 279-280. Historic Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.