Sacramento County
Biographies
FRANK X. WIESENHOFER
The intimacy resulting from a lifelong
identification with the city of Sacramento enabled Mr. Wiesenhofer
to appreciate the possibilities and understand the advantages offered by this
part of California. Himself an energetic and capable young business man,
he devoted his abilities to the perfecting of titles and the bringing down of
abstracts. The office in which he learned the business and with which he
was so long connected has the distinction of being the oldest title and
abstract company in California and is the successor of other firms that were
for years active in these specialties. Many interesting maps may be seen
in the office, the oldest of these being a publication of 1854, which has the
distinction of being the first official map of the county.
The family name indicates the Teutonic
origin of the present American representatives, and Frank X., who was born in
Sacramento April 19, 1878, was a member of the second generation
resident in the new world. His father, Frank X. Wiesenhofer
Sr., was born and reared in Germany, and married Miss Anna Stumpf,
likewise a native of that country. After he had crossed the ocean he
settled in the east and secured employment at his trade of cabinet-maker.
At one time he owned a manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio, but a lack of
success led him to look for a more attractive environment, and during 1870 he
came to California, settling in Sacramento. Here his son and namesake
received a fair education in public and private schools and at an early age
began to earn his own livelihood as a newsboy, from the age of eight years
working in the abstract office delivering the daily transfer reports.
After he had completed his schooling he entered the office of Buckley &
Gerber, and ever since, until death, had been identified with the abstract and
title business as a specialist. The attorneys in the city gave him credit
for having the most thorough knowledge of titles of local property and the
abstracts in the county, and those he prepared proved most satisfactory in even
the smallest details.
The marriage of Frank X. Wiesenhofer was solemnized in Sacramento July 31, 1909, and
united him with Miss Minnie James, a native of Nevada county,
Cal., daughter of William and Anna (Brock) James. William James was born
near North Wales and was a mining man in Nevada county.
He was a Mason of the Knight Templar degree at Nevada City. Mrs.
James was born in Nevada City, Cal., daughter of Thomas Brock, a native of
England and a pioneer of California, coming via Panama. In the James family
were two children; besides Mrs. Wiesenhofer is a son,
William D. James, of Sacramento. The mother makes her home at the old
family residence, No. 2530 M street. Two children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Wiesenhofer, Frank X., Jr., and Mildred
Louise. From the time he attained his majority Mr. Wiesenhofer
was a stanch supporter of Republican principles and voted the party ticket at
both local and general elections. While not caring for office himself, he
believed it to be the duty of citizens to keep posted concerning the problems
of the nation and the commonwealth, and accordingly was found to be well-posted
in all measures of general importance. The Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks had the benefit of his active co-operation in matters relative to the
welfare of the local lodge and the maintenance of its charities. Mr. Wiesenhofer passed away in Sacramento November 6, 1912, and
was interred in East Lawn Cemetery with honors of the local lodge of Elks.
Mrs. Wiesenhofer is a member of the Naomi Chapter No.
36, O. E. S. Mr. Wiesenhofer was very
charitable and always ready to give aid to the needy and less fortunate; each
year he sent gifts to the orphanage, and his giving was ever quiet and unostentacious.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 792-793. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.