Santa
Clara County
Biographies
LOUIS HESS
Prominent among the pioneer
business men of San Jose is Louis Hess, proprietor of the Hess San Jose Dyeing
and Cleaning Company, which he established in 1868. Like many other prosperous
and respected citizens of California, he is of foreign birth, and since coming
to this country has met with good success in his undertakings, his native
industry and thrift bringing him substantial rewards. He was born February 5,
1845, in Germany, where he grew to manhood, and was for sometime a bookkeeper
in a woolen manufactory, in which he had some interest.
Immigrating to America in 1864, Mr.
Hess came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California in that year. Locating
in San Francisco, he established a woolen mill in that city, but was not
successful as a manufacturer. He then established a dyeing and cleaning house,
but did not remain there very long. Moving to San Jose in 1868, he continued
the dyeing and cleaning business, being first located on South First street. Being an expert dyer and cleaner, he has here won an
extensive and lucrative patronage, having all the work that he can do.
Prior to coming to this country, Mr.
Hess married Elizabeth Lang, who was born in Germany, the daughter of a large
woolen manufacturer, and into their household five children were born: Otto, of
Tacoma, Wash.; Edward, of San Francisco; Henry, of San Jose; Louise, wife of
Emil Kober, manager of the Hess Dyeing and Cleaning
Works; and Alfred, of San Francisco. Politically Mr. Hess is a Democrat.
Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the
Improved Order of Red Men. Religiously he is true to the faith in which he was
reared, and belongs to the Lutheran Church. His dyeing and cleaning
establishment is now on the corner of Eighth and East San Fernando streets,
while his down town office, of which his daughter, Mrs. Kober,
has charge, is located at No. 89 East Santa Clara street.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1032-1035. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.