Santa Clara County
Biographies
CHARLES WAMPACH
CHARLES WAMPACH, a retired citizen of San Jose, was born
in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1845, a stepson of
Lewis Wampach, who was also a pioneer of
California. Lewis Wampach crossed the ocean to
the western world at a very early date in the history of the state, locating in
Santa Clara, where he established the tannery now owned by Jacob Eberhard. Under the firm name of Wampach & Anderson
a saddlery and harness shop was successfully
conducted until 1856, when Mr. Wampach sold out
his interests and built a brewery at Oakland. This business he conducted for a
short time, then went to Mexico and opened up a
tannery. He was successfully employed in this business until the breaking out
of the Civil war in Mexico, when he was compelled to discontinue his work and
return to California. In this state he was once more engaged in the tanning
business, remaining so employed until his death at the age of sixty-two years.
His wife had passed away some years earlier, when about fifty-two years old.
Reared in Santa Clara, Charles Wampach
received his education in the old Santa Clara college,
mastering a course which fitted him for commercial life. He went to Mexico with
his step-father, where he remained for a short time, but later returned to San
Jose and accepted a clerkship. This employment he found both congenial and
profitable for some time, but eventually became interested in ranching. During
the years 1861 and 1862, he went to the Almaden mines and became foreman and
later took a contract for cleaning the ore, having sole charge of that part of
the work. He was very successful and met with financial returns which well
compensated him for the time spent there. He also conducted a boarding house
for a part of the time. In 1868 he entered into a commercial life, and with his
splendid foundation for the work, his shrewd business sagacity and good
judgment, it is not a matter of wonder that he has achieved the success which
to-day numbers him among the representative men of the community. He remained a
factor in the business world for twenty years, when he sought retirement from
activity and has since found his pleasure in the midst of home duties. He has
bought and sold much real estate in and about San Jose, and has loaned money
for many years.
The marriage of Mr. Wampach
united him with Catherine Prusch, also a native of
Germany, and of this union was born one daughter, Minnie, who married
M. P. Hill and died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving one
son, Clarence. Mr. Wampach is an adherent of the
principles of the Democratic party in his political
affiliations, and fraternally is a member of the Pioneers’ Society and the
Society of Exempt Firemen.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 25 October 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
818-819. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.