A. Meister

 

A. Meister, builder of carriages, etc., Sacramento, ranks among the prominent manufacturers of the Capital City, and is one of those men who have done their full share toward the building up of Sacramento. He is a native of Germany, born at the village of Ruchen, Hesse-Cassel, on the 14^th of May, 1837, his parents being Stephen and Elizabeth (Engelhart) Meister. A. Meister, subject of this sketch, spent his early boyhood days at his native place, and was there educated at the public schools between the ages of six and fourteen years. He then went to learn the trade of black smithing and carriage-making at the village of Bischhausen, serving an apprenticeship of three years. In 1854, in company with his brother Reinhart, he came to America, sailing from Bremen on the ship Blucher, a sailing vessel bound for Baltimore, where they arrived in June. They proceeded to Pittsburg, and there Mr. Meister finished his trade with C. West, on Benn street. In the spring of 1857 he went to Chicago, and after working there two weeks, proceeded to Michigan City, Indiana, where he worked about a year in the car shops. He then went to Mishawaka, Indiana, and worked there a year. In 1859 he went to Pike’s Peak, during the gold excitement. A party was formed at St. Joseph, Missouri, among whom were Mr. Meister and his brother-in-law, John Beard. They proceeded to California via Salt Lake, bringing up at Placerville, where they remained about two weeks: Mr. Meister mined for two days, a mile and a half above Placerville, in the meantime, he came from there to Sacramento, and obtained work from J. A. Mason, who was then located near where George Blue’s shop now is. In 1862 he went back to Mishawaka, Indiana, and was there married, on the 15^th of February, 1863, to Miss Maggie Beard. Mr. Meister again returned to California, locating in Sacramento, and on the 1^st of September, 1870, in partnership with Thomas Fargher, originated the firm of Meister & Co. Four years later the partnership was dissolved and since that time Mr. Meister has been alone. In 1877 he removed to where Mr. Moon is now situated, and in 1882 established himself at his present location. His shop has a frontage of sixty-one feet on Ninth street, and extends back 160 feet, being four stories in height. Mr. Meister has made all the substantial improvements now existing there. When he commenced business only himself and partner were employed; now he gives employment to from eighteen to twenty skilled workmen, and turns out buggies, carriages, phaetons, etc., equal to the best in California. His work carried off five premiums at the State Fair of 1888, and six in 1889. Mr. Meister is a Knight Templar in Masonry, and belongs to Union Lodge, and Sacramento Chapter and Commandery. He was for seventeen years trustee of the German Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Meister have had nine children, of who six are living, viz.: George, Charles, Frank, Edward, Albert, and Flora. The three oldest boys are in the shop. The deceased children are: Gussie, Lizzie, and Emma. Mr.  Meister is deserving of much credit for the enterprise he has shown in giving to Sacramento a manufactory such as he conducts, and has well earned the success with which he has met in business. The product of his shop holds a high rank in the trade, and in addition he does a great amount of manufacturing to private orders.