Sacramento County
Biographies
GUSTAVE ADOLPH KESTLER
The life which this narrative depicts
began August 31, 1860, and closed March 31, 1909, and throughout that entire
period was identified with the city of Sacramento. The earliest
experiences of the child were associated with this then straggling and
unimportant city. Here the boy passed through the grammar and high
schools and here he entered upon the task of earning a livelihood. Here,
too, when destiny called him into eternity, he closed his eyes upon the scenes of
earth while still in the prime of manhood, when it might not have been
unreasonable for him to anticipate many further years of industrious
application to his chosen work. It is to such intelligent and industrious
citizens as Mr. Kestler that the city owes its high
standing in growing prosperity and substantial development, and as a
native-born son and lifelong resident his name is entitled to perpetuation in
local annals. While in his youth and immediately after leaving school he
acquired a thorough knowledge of the trade of wagon-maker, which he followed
afterward, working with his father for many years and eventually acquiring a
business of his own. The death of his father, Martin Kestler,
the pioneer carriage maker of Sacramento, occurred prior to his own demise, but
his mother still survives and continues to make Sacramento her home. On
the organization of the Oak Park Lodge of the Odd Fellows he became a charter
member and his active connection with that society continued unbroken until his
death, besides which he also held membership with the tribe of Ben Hur in his home city. In politics he voted with the
Republican party, but took no part in partisan affairs
and at no time solicited official honors, preferring to enjoy in his home
and among his friends such leisure as the activities of business allowed
him. Every movement for the advancement of the city and county received
his support and he belonged to that class of public-spirited citizens whose
quiet but positive identification with righteous and progressive principles
makes for the upbuilding of a community.
Surviving Mr. Kestler
is the lady who from their union in 1888 until his death remained his devoted
wife, wise counselor and capable assistant, and who since his demise has
managed the affairs of the estate judiciously, meanwhile continuing her
residence at No. 2608 S street. Mrs. Kestler,
formerly Miss Minnie M. Steadman, was born in Hudson, Ky., and was reared at Laporte, Ind., being a daughter of Arthur H. and Adeline
(Dean) Steadman, natives, respectively, of England and Kentucky. Deprived
of parental care by the death of both her father and her mother when she was
yet very young, she made her home with friends in girlhood in Indiana and
received a common-school education and later at Northern Indiana Normal at
Valparaiso. Since the year 1887 she has been a resident of
California. The early loss of her parents was not the only bereavement
she was called upon to bear, for an even greater blow came in the death of her devoted
husband, and the shock of the bereavement was doubled by the loss on the very
same day of their only son. Father and child passed away within an hour
of each other and were interred in adjoining graves. The son, Harold D.,
a lad of unusual intelligence, was born in 1896, and at the time of his death
was twelve years and seven months old. As a pupil in the grammar school
he not only won the friendship of all associates, but also established a record
for scholarship and rapid progress in his studies.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 739-740. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.