EDWARD C. KLOSS

Sacramento County

Biographies

EDWARD C. KLOSS

EDWARD C. KLOSS.--A self-made man who, by his energy and enterprise, has made a success in the stock business and has become a man of affluence and influence is Edward C. Kloss, who was born in Sacramento, May 20, 1875. His father, August Kloss, Sr., came from his native country of Germany to California, being first employed on the Colusa plains, where he worked on the McFessel ranch, after which he located in Sacramento, where he engaged in the grocery business on Second Street. Having a liking for the country and farming he purchased a ranch at Franklin, sold his business and began raising grain. In his progressive way he was one of the first to use a combined harvester in this section. His wife was Amelia (Rott) Frye, born in St. Louis, who was an able assistant to her husband and much loved and esteemed. She passed away in 1912, leaving four children, of whom Edward C. is the oldest.

He was reared on the farm at Franklin from his second year and in the local schools acquired a good education. Meantime from a boy he aided his father in his ranching enterprise until sixteen years of age, when he started for himself. He began in the butcher business, soon drifting into the buying of stock, increasing his business until he has become a large wholesale butcher.

Mr. Kloss purchased a four-acre place, and then in 1907 he bought 350 acres of the old Terry ranch, a place he had worked on as a young man, and liking the ranch he resolved he would some day own it; so when the opportunity came some sixteen years ago, he bought it and has since made it his home and headquarters for his large stock buying and wholesale butcher business. It is well improved, for he has built many buildings, rebuilt fences, and has two pumping plants. The place is beautifully located on the State Highway about three-quarters of a mile south of Franklin. He also owns a stock ranch of 1,400 acres at Somerset, Placer County, as well as 320 acres at Slough House, besides leasing two sections on which he ranges his stock. He is active in buying all kinds of stock as well as trading in horses and is considered one of the best judges of stock in the valley. His ability to judge the value of an animal, his quickness at decision, and his courage to back his convictions, no doubt are the secret of his success. In his wholesale butcher business he is well equipped to handle all kind of stock, having special trucks he uses to convey live stock, while others are used to deliver to the retail trade in the county and Sacramento City.

Mr. Kloss was married in Franklin in 1904 to Miss Leona Kennedy, who was born at Elk Grove. She passed away, leaving him two children, Helen and Harold. Mr. Kloss married a second time, the ceremony occurring in Sacramento and uniting him with Miss Annie B. Waite, who was born in Perkins, Sacramento County, a daughter of Thomas and Minnie (Keema) Waite, born in Germany and New Zealand respectively. They came when children from their respective countries to California with their parents. The father is dead, but the mother resides in Sacramento. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Kloss resulted in the birth of two children: Frances and Edward C., Jr. Mr. Kloss is a very busy man, his energy seemingly knowing no bounds, and few men have been favored with as good a constitution as he has. Besides he is also endowed with a pleasing personality, which has much to do with his being so well and favorably known. Fraternally he is a popular member of Elk Grove Lodge No. 274, I. O. O. F.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 829. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.