WILLIAM A. THIELBAHR

Sacramento County

Biographies

WILLIAM A. THIELBAHR

WILLIAM A. THIELBAHR.--An experienced, progressive builder who has become one of the most successful general contractors at the capital city, and who does business also throughout Sacramento County and Valley, is William A. Thielbahr, located on the Auburn Boulevard in North Sacramento. He was born in Sacramento, at the corner of Twenty-seventh and P Streets, on August 10, 1884, the son of Charles J. and Julia (Deterding) Thielbahr, of good pioneer stock. Charles J. Thielbahr was brought to Sacramento as a child three years of age, and lived with his folks where the Buffalo Brewery now stands. This was in 1855, and our subject’s maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Deterding, conducted a hotel at Mills for the drivers of oxen, teaming to the mines. Charles J. Thielbahr was a cooper. He learned his trade with John Ochsner, and followed it until he was forty-five years of age. He then took up carpentering, which he still follows, rendering excellent service. Mrs. Thielbahr, whom many will recall with gratitude, affection and esteem on account of her estimable qualities as a woman, died at the age of thirty years.

William Thielbahr was sent to the public schools until his fifteenth year, when he learned his trade—with more than the usual thoroughness of artisans of today. In 1907 he engaged in contracting and building on his own account. He was foreman of construction on the Sacramento Hotel, and also on the Weinstock & Lubin Building, and the Hale Bros.’ store; and he erected C. E. Johnston’s home in North Sacramento, and also the Prentice Burtiss residence, one of the finest in the city. He employs eight men, and belongs to the Master Builders and to the Builders’ Exchange, where he welcomes progressive ideas and methods, and is himself known for the aggressive manner in which he carries through anything he once undertakes.

Mr. Thielbahr was one of the pioneers of North Sacramento. There were only three families living there when he built his residence, and since then he has aided materially in building up the city. He was one of the three original men that obtained the lighting district for North Sacramento; and later on they succeeded in forming a fire district. He is now serving as lighting commissioner and also as fire commissioner for North Sacramento.

In the capital city, June 24, 1903, Mr. Thielbahr was married to Miss Laura Cushman, who was born in Shenandoah Valley, Amador County, a daughter of William and Stella (Harrell) Cushman, born in Massachusetts of an old New England family, who became pioneers of California. Grandfather Harrell was a pioneer of Hangtown, now Placerville, and as a placer miner helped in the hydraulic mining of Coon Hollow, where they cut out the whole mountain. Mrs. Thielbahr is a woman of pleasing personality, and presides gracefully over her husband’s home. They have two children: Elaine Florence attending Sacramento high school, class of 1924, and William M., attending the grammar school. In politics, Mr. Thielbahr is a Democrat.

Transcribed by Barbara Gaffney.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 728. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.