HENRY PLAGEMANN 

 

From the time of his arrival at San Francisco, in 1850, until his death in July, 1908, Henry Plagemann took an active part in the affairs of his adopted city, where his business interests centered in the operation of a wholesale cigar enterprise. His life bore few of the striking chapters that have to do with adventurous exploits or romantic experiences, for he was primarily a business man who did not seek the light of publicity. Yet his career was one of interest, in that it exemplified the working out of an honorable success and the establishing of a record for good citizenship. 

Mr. Plagemann was born at Bremen, Germany, in 1837, the eldest son of Jacob Frederick and Eliese (Meyer) Plagemann, the former of whom was born in 1805, at Groon, Germany. There were four children in the family who lived to maturity; Henry, Frederick, William and John Christopher. Henry Plagemann attended public school in his native land and was thirteen years of age when brought to the United States, his arrival at San Francisco being among the pioneers of 1850. His education completed, he was variously employed until engaging in the cigar business, in which he subsequently won well-merited success as a wholesale dealer. He was a man of honesty who had the full confidence of his associates and who scorned to stoop to a dishonorable course of action. Politically a republican, he took a good citizen’s part in civic affairs, but was content to allow others to hold the reins of office. Fraternally, he was a Blue Lodge Mason. 

Mr. Plagemann married at San Francisco, Miss Eliza Wessa, and to this union there were born eight children: Mrs. Behlow; Fred P., of San Francisco; Mrs. Zinkand, also of this city; John P., manger of Liebes & Company of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Otto Jungblut, of San Francisco; Walter, connected with the Merchants Ice Company of San Francisco; Regina a bookkeeper of this city, and Dora, a school teacher also of this city. 

Fred P. Plagemann, son of Henry Plagemann has been engaged in the hotel business at San Francisco since 1893, and at this time is proprietor of the Golden West Hotel, one of the city’s well-known and popular hostelries. This house was destroyed by fire in the disastrous catastrophe of 1906, but was rebuilt and restored by Mr. Plagemann in 1908, since which time it has enjoyed a large patronage. Like his father, Mr. Plagemann is a republican, belongs to the Masons and has a number of other connections. He married Mrs. Condon Nichols, of West Point, and they are the parents of one son, Fred C. 

 

Louise E. Shoemaker, Transcriber March 21, 2004