Sacramento County
Biographies
CHRISTIAN
WAHL
CHRIST. WAHL, proprietor of the Columbus Brewery, and one of the active, energetic business men of Sacramento, is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born in Neuffen, on the 10th of May, 1850, his parents being William and Katharine (Ladner) Wahl, his father being a hotel proprietor. He was reared at his native place, attending the Gobernment schools for the customary length of time, and afterward learned the brewers’ trade. After his apprenticeship he traveled throughout Germany for the purpose of obtaining a more thorough knowledge of the business. He came to the United States in 1869, landing at New York, but soon coming out to San Francisco, where he obtained employment in the John Wieland Brewery, which continued about one year. He next went to the Chicago Brewery, where he was engaged as cellerman for two months, and then promoted to foreman. In 1881 he bought out the Columbus Brewery in Sacramento. This brewery is the oldest of those now in the city. It was established by E. & C. Gruhler in 1852, at the present location, and they continued its proprietors until the sale to Mr. Wahl. When he took hold, there were between 3,000 and 4,000 barrels of beer manufactured per year. He set about making improvements, expended $30,000 to the best advantage, and the capacity is now some 20,000 barrels per annum. The trade, which extends throughout northern California and western Nevada, and is also extensive in San Francisco, is constantly increasing under his judicious management. As it stands today, with steam supplanting the old horse-power arrangement, the Columbus Brewery is an entirely new and finely-equipped institution. Mr. Wahl was married in San Francisco to Miss Annie Bertsh, a native of Wurtemberg. They have five children, viz: Lora, Christ., Annie, Selma and Lydia. Mr. Wahl was formerly a member of Concord Lodge, I. O. O. F., San Francisco, but now belongs to Schiller Lodge. He is also a member of Sacramento Turn-Verein; of the Verein-Eintracht, and of Germanic Lodge, No. 138, K. of H., San Francisco. Mr. Wahl is a public-spirited man, and takes an interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of Sacramento.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 732. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.