GEORGE P. McNEIL

Sacramento County

Biographies

GEORGE P. McNEIL

GEORGE P. McNEIL.--An enterprising man of affairs, who thoroughly understands the conditions of the field in which he has made such pronounced success, is George P. McNeil, the far-seeing and very accommodating proprietor of the popular Wet-Wash Laundry, at 2501 Twenty-fourth Street, Sacramento. He was born in Minnesota, the son of James Edward and Louise McNeil, and attended the public schools. He grew up to farming, and as far back as 1876 came out to California, locating at Fresno. There he continued agricultural pursuits; and he also followed the races, and had a string of fourteen horses at the old Emeryville race track.

Although he had no previous experience in laundrying, he established his present concern in 1912, starting in a very modest way; and now he owns the building he occupies, a fine structure 120 by 180 feet in size, and he employs fifteen people, using modern equipment only, and securing very nearly all the laundry patronage of the vicinity. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, in which he is a decidedly active member.

In 1915, Mr. McNeil was married at Sacramento to Miss Elizabeth Riison, a native daughter of California, who was then living in Sacramento, a teacher of the piano, a daughter of the late Andrew and Elizabeth (Kuno) Riison; the mother is still living at the home of the subject at Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. McNeil have one child, Georgia Elizabeth McNeil. Mr. McNeil belongs to the Elks.

Bert F. Hews, a Fresno scribe roaming around town for the “Star” with pencil and note-book, met the subject of our sketch, and under the caption, “A Few Minutes’ Chat with One of Our Neighbors,” gives us his impressions. He says: “It was while I was talking over the wet-wash laundry industry with Mr. McNeil, that I learned he was a former race-track man. “I had a string of fourteen horses at the old Emeryville race track,” he said, “and it was a fine stable, if I do say it myself. Perhaps my best horse was Funnyside, a mare who could be always counted on to win. She won a number of stakes for me, as well as innumerable purses. You know, I was just about ready to quit racing when the legislature passed the anti-betting measure,—the game had become so rotten. You have no idea just how crooked racing was in those days. But ever since I first raised a horse, I have played square. I never had a bit of use for a horse-owner who would throw a race, or enter into a combine to fleece the bettors. I loved racing for the game itself, not for the chance of picking up easy money by being crooked.

“ ‘I could have been a millionaire had I wanted to be crooked, for the book-makers would come to the owner of a favorite, and offer him the purse if he would lose the race. When I left Emeryville, I felt so disgusted that I never wanted to see a rack track again.’

“I was wondering how McNeil came to go into the wet-wash business, and, after a reminiscent pause, he told me.

“ ‘At the end of the racing game, I disposed of most of my string and took quite a rest. Our home was in Oakland. A wet-wash laundry started next door, and I grew interested watching the rapidity with which the business increased. Sacramento was offering splendid opportunities to the investor. I came here, looked over the ground, and it was no more Fresno, nor any other city with us. I opened the first wet-wash laundry, the business grew faster than I ever expected, and now I value our plant at $35,000, practically all clear. Sacramento is a great city, and it is going to be greater; and I admit that I am a booster for the capital city all the time’.”

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 514-517. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.