GUSTAV LAVENSON

Sacramento County

Biographies

GUSTAV LAVENSON

GUSTAV LAVENSON.--Prominent in business circles in Sacramento for half a century, the name of “Gus” Lavenson became well-known throughout the valley, where he was always in the vanguard when projects were on foot for the development and civic betterment of this district. A native of Germany, born in December, 1852, when a boy of thirteen he came to seek his fortune in the new world, first locating in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained a short time, and then followed the sage’s advice and came “West.” He arrived in Sacramento in 1869, at the early age of sixteen, his object being to visit an uncle here, Sam Lavenson, a forty-niner and a member of the pioneer firm of Locke & Lavenson.

After his arrival, the youth found employment with the Lyons Dry Goods Company, and his industry and thrift enabled him to open a shoe store after an interval, located at Fifth and J Streets, and known as Gus Lavenson’s store. Many years later it was incorporated and named Lavenson’s, Inc., with its founder as president; the present store of the firm, of which he was the founder, also, is located at Seventh and K Streets, in the heart of the shopping district, and is a memorial to the business ability of the lad who arrived in a strange land, and alone and unaided built up a prosperous business career of varied interests. For Mr. Lavenson did not confine himself to mercantile pursuits alone; he was the owner of valuable real estate in Sacramento, which included a business block on K Street, between Ninth and Tenth; and in company with ten other prominent Sacramento business men, he reclaimed 1,100 acres in the Delta district, a part of the old Fair Ranch, known as the River Farm; this property was later sold.

On April 10, 1881, occurred the marriage of Mr. Lavenson to Miss Flora Goldman, a native of Little York, Pa., and his choice was a most happy one, as she has proved a real helpmeet in every sense of the word; she is a devoted wife and mother, as well as active in charity work, and was a member of the Tuesday Club and of the Saturday Club. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lavenson: Claire, now the wife of D. A. Cannon, and the mother of one daughter, Patricia; and Selma, the wife of the late Colman Schwartz, and the mother of three children, Colman, Flora Jean, and Milton. With his family Mr. Lavenson made his home at 2020 Twenty-second Street, where he and his wife dispensed the true California hospitality. Mr. Lavenson passed to his reward August 10, 1922. Prominent in civic affairs, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce; and for many years past, every new movement inaugurated for the purpose of advancement found his name on the list of workers for the benefit of the community at large, a fact recognized by all who knew him. Fraternally, he was a member of the Elks.

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 475. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.