Sacramento County
Biographies
CARL KAUFMAN
The distinctive mental endowments that
peculiarly adapt the people of his race for successful identification with
mercantile pursuits appear among the most prominent attributes in the character
of Mr. Kaufman and lie at the foundation of his present prosperity. It
was his good fortune, when he left his native land of Germany and came to the
United States at the age of fifteen, to secure employment with one of the
leading firms of Sacramento; and, while his position was at first the
very humble and illy-paid work of bundle boy, he was
so eager to learn, so quick to perceive and so energetic in action that he soon
learned the details of the business and won his way to deserved promotion,
ultimately through the frugal saving of his wages and the complete mastery of
mercantile principles, becoming interested financially in the business that
gave him his first start toward wealth. Although now in a financial
position that would justify retirement and a life of ease, his love of business
is so keen that he continues at the head of an establishment of note in
Sacramento, said indeed to be one of the finest stores of its kind in all
of Northern California.
The family represented by Mr. Kaufman has
long been identified with Hohenzollern, Germany, where he was born in October,
1861, and where his parents in 1897 celebrated their golden wedding. On
that memorable occasion they were honored by receiving a private communication
from Emperor William, through his minister, conveying compliments and
appreciation and also bestowing upon them a gold medal in commemoration of the
event. One of the sons of the family, Max, came to America at an early
age, and by perseverance and wise management established a profitable ladies'
tailoring business in Portland, Ore. Greatly prospered in the
undertaking, he finally sold out in 1911, and since then has been traveling in
Europe.
The dry-goods house of Lipman
& Co., with headquarters in Sacramento and a branch store at Virginia City, was the place where Carl Kaufman learned the
mercantile business working his way up from bundle boy to bookkeeper. For
a time the firm stationed him at Virginia City, but when that store was closed
and another establishment opened at Portland, Ore., he was brought back to
Sacramento. During 1892 the business was sold to S. Wasserman, who took
into partnership R. D. Davis and Carl Kaufman, under the firm title of
Wasserman, Davis, & Co. The co-partnership continued for six
years. Upon the retirement of Mr. Davis at the expiration of that time
the title was changed to Wasserman, Kaufman & Co., and continued as such
until 1898, when Mr. Kaufman disposed of his holdings to the senior
member. The relinquishment of business interests gave him an opportunity
to travel with his family through the east and in Europe, where he spent two
years, renewing the associations of early life and visiting relatives in the
old country. The business of which he is now the head was started in
October of 1908 at its present location on Seventh and K streets, opposite the
post office, and is devoted to ladies' furnishings, a specialty being made of
cloaks and suits, in the selection of which the owner displays a thorough
knowledge of materials and changing styles. The trade has increased to such
an extent that employment is furnished to about thirty-five persons, the more
experienced of whom relieve the proprietor of the heaviest responsibilities
incident to the management of so large an establishment.
The marriage of Mr. Kauffman was solemnized
in 1886 and united him with Miss Sallie Kosmisky, of
Sacramento, daughter of a pioneer family who came to California via the Isthmus
prior to the completion of the first trans-continental railroad. Her
father conducted a wholesale and retail cigar business in Sacramento, where for
years he was prominently identified with the Democratic party
and with various fraternal organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman have two
sons, Carl Jr., and Bernard. The elder, born in 1894, has received high
school advantages in Sacramento, while the younger, preferring business
pursuits, entered his fathers' establishment as a clerk at an early age.
The family adhere to the accepted religion of the
Hebrew race and have been generous contributors to the work of the Synagogue as
well as to many of the great charities maintained by their people in the new
world.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 763-764. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.