Santa Clara County
Biographies
ERNST KOEHEN
One of the most skilful (sic) and successful mechanical engineers of Santa Clara county is Ernst Koehen, chief engineer of the Fredericksburg brewery, in San Jose. Talented and capable, with a superior knowledge of the machinist's trade, he is filling his position of responsibility with credit to himself, and to the eminent satisfaction of his employers, who appreciate his ability and worth. A native of Germany, he was born November 25, 1853, in Hamburg. His parents, John and Mary (Testnow) Koehen, were both born in Altona, Germany, and both spent their entire lives in their native country. His father was a coppersmith by trade, and for many years was in the employ of a large shipbuilding firm in Hamburg.
The only child of the parental household, Ernst Koehen received a substantial education in the public schools of Hamburg. At the age of fourteen years, he entered the Godefro shipyards, where he served an apprenticeship of four years at the machinist's trade. He subsequently worked as a journeyman in Westphalia and Prussia for about five years. Emigrating to America in 1876, Mr. Koehen came directly to California, settling in San Francisco, where for some time he worked as a machinist, being first in the employ of the Risdon Iron Works, afterward working as a machinist in the Union Iron Works, the Fulton Iron Works, and for Clot & Meese. Going then to Old Mexico he was engineer for a mining company for a time, and then went to Arizona, where he was in the employ of the Vulue Milling y& Mining Company, in Yavapai county. Returning from there to San Francisco, Mr. Koehen resumed work for the Fulton Iron Company, and while there erected an ice machine for them. Continuing his residence in San Francisco, he entered the employ of the San Francisco Brewing Company in 1894, becoming a machinist in their city brewery. In 1806 Mr. Koehen came to San Jose as chief engineer of the Fredericksburg brewery, which also belongs to the San Francisco Brewing Company, limited, and has since ably filled the position. He has made many changes of importance in the plant, and installed a new ice machine having a capacity of thirty tons. An able and skillful workman, and an expert engineer, he is admirably fitted for his position and is held in high estimation both by employers and employees.
Mr. Koehen married in San Jose, Miss Louise Wyler, a native of
Switzerland. Politically Mr. Koehen is a steadfast Republican. He is identified by membership with the
National Machinist' Union.
Transcribed
3-21-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 450-451. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.