Sacramento County
Biographies
ALBERT MEISTER
John Meister, the father of the subject of
this sketch and the pioneer dairyman of the Capital City, was born in
Switzerland, April 17, 1820. He attended the excellent public schools of that
education-loving republic, and was brought up on a farm, thus laying the
foundation for the life-success that came to him in this country. He
immigrated to the United States, eventually coming across the plains, arriving
in Sacramento in September, 1852. After a short period in the mines he returned
to the city and went to work in a dairy. In two years he was a partner, and
soon after became owner of the business. His brother Jacob arriving from the
old country brought a share in the establishment and this pair of industrious
men carried on the business for twenty years. It was originally located near
the site of the old Sutter's Fort. In 1876 the brothers dissolved partnership,
Jacob retiring.
Mrs. John Meister was Miss Pauline Herr, a
native of Baden, Germany. She died in 1872, leaving four children, viz: Albert, Annie, now the wife of G. H. Luchsinger, of San Francisco; Pauline, of Sacramento, and
Louisa, wife of Dr. W. J. Taylor of this city. John Meister's second wife was
Miss Arelia Wirth, whom he married in 1876. He
retired from business in 1900, and died at his home in Sacramento April 13,
1911.
Albert Meister, who succeeded his father
in the fine dairy business, also succeeds the elder in the business ability
that made the Capital Dairy from its beginning one of the finest establishments
of the kind in the state. It is stocked largely with Holstein cattle, the milk
supplied by three hundred and twenty-five cows the year around. The depot and
distributing point is located at No. 315 Sixteenth street,
while the herd is kept on the farm near Elvas which
comprises three hundred and fifty acres. Here the fields of alfalfa are
irrigated by means of a pumping plant, and Mr. Meister also engages in
horticulture on this tract. He superintends the business of the dairy
personally, and it is a source of gratification to him to be able to lead in
the industry he has chosen for his life work. He has lived all his life in
Sacramento, is a typical Californian and deeply interested in the welfare of
the Golden State. Fraternally he is an Elk and a Scottish Rite Mason, Knight
Templar and a Shriner.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Page 800-801. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.