Sacramento County
Biographies
GUSTAVUS WETZLAR
GUSTAVUS WETZLAR.--Another pioneer whose enviable influence will be felt by future
generations, was the late Gustavus Wetzlar, who was born in Hanover, Germany, and was graduated from
the University of Heidelberg, and who spoke eleven
different languages. He came to New York City, where he was
successful as an importer of laces and curtains. He was married in Dixon, Ill., to Miss Louise Dumbeaux, who was born in that city, of French
parentage. Mr. Wetzlar
took his bride back to New York City, where he continued his
importing business. As soon as the
discovery of gold was heralded to the world, Mr. Wetzlar
determined to seek the new Eldorado; so he and his
wife took their six girls to Germany to be educated in Leipsig,
and he came immediately to California, sailing around Cape Horn to San
Francisco in 1849, and for a time followed mining. In 1851 he returned to Germany to visit his family and
to induce his brother, Godfrey, to come to California. This brother had also graduated from Heidelberg and was
a mineralogist. He remained in Leipsig until 1853, and during his stay
his daughter, Pauline, now Mrs. Dohrmann, was born
four months before his return to California. He again engaged in mining and invested in
real estate. In February, 1862, his
family joined him, coming via Panama.
In
1865 Mr. Wetzlar removed to San Francisco, where he
was a stock-broker, having an office at the corner of California and Montgomery
Streets, and working with a partner named Sam Brannan; and also in partnership
with Fred Mebius, the German consul, he started the
German Savings Bank in San Francisco, Mebius acting
as president, and Wetzlar, as cashier. He was a charter member of the California
Society of Pioneers, and he was also their secretary and was the founder of the
Mineralogical Cabinet of San Francisco.
Mr. Wetzlar died in San Francisco, being survived by his
widow, who passed away in San Jose. There were thirteen children, twelve girls
and one boy, born to them, seven of whom reached maturity. Augusta is Mrs. De Bendeleben, of San Jose; Ida was the wife of
Major Alfred Morton, and she died in San Francisco in 1921; Clara, Mrs.
Grossman, resides in San Jose; Emily was the wife of Ludvig
Mebius, who was a prominent business man in Sacramento, until his death in
1918. Mr. Mebius
was born in the independent city of Lübeck, Germany. He came to California in 1862, locating in Sacramento, where he became a
partner in the firm of Lady Adams & Company, wholesale grocers. Later on the firm became Mebius,
Drescher & Company. His wife died in 1906. Mary was the wife of Frank Morton, who was
assistant manager of Wells Fargo Company in San Francisco. She passed away over twenty years ago. Pauline is Mrs. Dohrmann,
of Sacramento. Alex J. Wetzlar was
an insurance agent until his death in 1895.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.
Source:
Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 476.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
©
2007 Donna L. Becker.