Aaron Fleishhacker was born in Bavaria, in 1820. He came to California during the gold rush period, for a time being identified with the general mercantile business at Forrest City and later at Carson City, Nevada. He was a man of energy, was prosperous, and after his marriage in 1857, to Delia Stern, he returned to California and located at San Francisco. For a number of years he was intimately associated with that group of stalwart pioneer metropolitans known as the "Big Four," comprising O’Brien, Mackey, Flood and Hopkins. In 1880 Aaron Fleishhacker took up the business of manufacturing paper boxes, and to that line he gave his chief attention until his death in 1900.

Among San Francisco’s pioneer women Delia (Stern) Fleishhacker was one of the most conspicuous. She was seventeen years of age when she came to California as the bride of Aaron Fleishhacker. She was born in New York, in October, 1839, was reared and educated at Albany, and was a resident of California for over sixty-five years. She became the leader of the Jewish women in San Francisco, being a real representative of the Jewish aristocracy of the state. Possessed of great source of character and tremendous will power, she was always the center and directing head in all projects in which she took part. There was no movement in Jewish circles in which she was not consulted and her keen intellect and broad understanding were admired by all who came in contact with this gracious woman.

Her last days were spent at her country estate at Atherton. Where she passed away August 24, 1923, at the age of eighty-four. She was buried in the Home of Peace Cemetery, Rabbi Reuen R. Rinder of Temple Emanuel officiating. The entire service was marked by simplicity, in keeping with her own life. Though known for many activities and outside interests, the dominating part in her life was the intimate sympathy between her and her children. She was a constant inspiration to her two sons. And the debt they owed to her was well expressed by her son, Mortimer Fleishhacker, who spoke feelingly of her life and her influence at the funeral at the home.

Mrs. Fleishhacker was author of several volumes of Travel Records and also issued innumerable selections of beautiful poetry. The San Francisco public knew her chiefly for her work in charitable organizations. She was the first president of the Hebrew Ladies’ Sewing Society, filling that office many years; was a member of the city and county Federation of Women’s Clubs; was connected with the various San Francisco philanthropic bodies and Jewish benevolent societies, including the Council of Jewish Women, the Federation of Jewish Charities, Pacific Orphan Asylum and the Beresford County Club of San Mateo.

The influence of her lofty and noble character has transmitted and is made vital in the affairs of today to her children. Mrs. Fleishhacker was the mother of six. The oldest, Carrie, is the widow of Ludwig Schwabacher, who was the guiding spirit of the Crown Paper Company, now the Crown-Willamette Paper Company. Her two sons are James H. Schwabacher, with the Schwabacher-Frye Stationery Company, and Albert E. Schwabacher, in the bond business of San Francisco.

Emma, the second daughter, is the widow of Sigmund D. Rosenbaum, of the mercantile firm of Rosenbaum and Friedman, and who at one time was president of the Crown Paper Company. There is one daughter, Elsa Rosenbaum, wife of Eli Wiel, of the Buckingham, Hecht Shoe Company.

The third child is Mortimer Fleishhacker, now president of the Anglo-California Trust Company and president of the Great Western Power Company. He married Bella, daughter of Louis Gerstle, a prominent Californian whose record is given on other pages of this work.

The third daughter, Belle Claire, is the wife of Simon C. Scheeline, attorney, and is the mother of one daughter, Claire S. Heller, wife of Walter S. Heller.

Blanche married Frank Wolf, of New York City, a director of the Bruno Woolen Company and is the mother of two daughters, Lucille, wife of Charles Heming, and Delia, a student at Vassar College.