San Francisco County
WILLIAM B. SUMNER & CO.
W. B. SUMNER & CO., San Francisco.--In a new commonwealth as California, it is an unusual thing to find a mercantile house which has lasted a generation. The older communities of the Atlantic can point to houses which were founded in the earlier years of the century and are in existence today, but the rapid changes of business and vicissitudes of fortune which have been so common in California during the last forty years have swept away many of the famous firms which have been part of history in the building of San Francisco.
The house of W. B. Sumner & Co. was virtually founded in 1861, and from its first year to the present time has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity and the entire confidence of the mercantile community.
William Brintnall Sumner was a direct descendant of William Sumner, a sturdy English freeholder, who came to the Colonies in 1636 and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts. For nine generations the Sumner family have been well known in Massachusetts. Some have achieved national reputation and others have been worthy representatives of those New England virtues, industry, sobriety and integrity.
Mr. Sumner was born in Foxboro, Massachusetts, March 24, 1820, and received the ordinary education of those days in the common schools of Norfolk county.
His earlier days were spent on a farm, but before he became of age he was employed in the straw bonnet business by J. E. Sumner & Co. of Foxboro, finding a market for these goods in the Eastern and Southern States.
In the latter part of the 40s he resided in Dover, Maine, but as the gold fever spread over the country, he, as many others, started for California, arriving in San Francisco in 1852.
For several years he was engaged in the hardware business in Sacramento, but on returning to Massachusetts in 1856 he started in buying hides in the Western States, which in those days was virtually the frontier. In this business he was connected with the house of Johnson & Thompson, of Boston.
In 1860 Mr. Sumner decided that California showed a larger field for the hide business than the Western States and came to the Pacific coast in that year with the idea to make California his future home. The business in those days was shipping dry hides to the East, as the tanning industry was comparatively small.
In 1867-71 Mr. Sumner was interested in two or three tanneries, and in 1871 changed his office business into a store for the general hide and leather business, taking as a partner his son, Frank W. Sumner. This business has continued with success down to the present time, and the firm is well and most favorably known all over the coast and in the East. The firm has always been foremost in suggesting new channels of trade, believing that it was the duty as well as the interest of the house to make the hide and leather business an important factor in commercial circles, and to develop the tanning industry to the greatest extent.
With the advent of the Central Pacific railroad the house entered into the business of shipping California leather to Boston, and was instrumental in introducing this tannage into the Eastern market. For several years the firm handled the bulk of this leather with handsome profits to the tanners, and aided materially in establishing a large industry which has been of much benefit to the commonwealth.
Early in the 70s the firm started in the shipping of dry hides overland. Previous to this the hides were sent via the Cape in the old California clippers, but the railroad proved more satisfactory, and within a short time the entire freight movement of hides was by the overland route.
About this time the house changed the rules for handling hides. In former years the hide trade was done on the old pioneer style, the price of a hide being made by the piece and without much reference to the actual or legitimate value. A system of weight and selection was instituted. Hides were bought according to the actual value, and sold on the same selection and weight as that at which they were bought. This system became the custom of the trade and has continued to the present day.
In 1884 Mr. Sumner received a paralytic stroke, and died in February, 1888.
He was a gentleman unassuming and genial, greeting every one with a kindly word, and always willing to extend counsel and encouragement or to give the benefit of his wide experience to those who often asked for it. He was a man of sterling integrity, and his word was his bond in the literal sense. During the war he was a most decided Union man and made many sacrifices for the integrity of the nation. His example and memory has molded the character of the house, making it one of the most respected mercantile firms in San Francisco.
The present firm is composed of Mr. Frank W. Sumner and Mr. M. P. Brown, the latter having grown up with the house. Mr. Sumner has had charge of the business for the past eight years and is thoroughly conversant with all details of the hid and leather and tanning business, having served an apprenticeship in all branches. Mr. Sumner now holds a commission as Colonel in the National Guard of California, and one of the principal offices in the Grand Commandery of Knight Templars.
In March, 1890, the tanning business of the firm was made into a corporation, under the laws of the State, known as the Sumner Tanning Company, with a capital stock of $200,000, with Frank W. Sumner as President; Charles Stewart, Vice-President; James Stevenson, Treasurer; M. P. Brown, Secretary.
The corporation tans from 2,000 to 2,400 heavy steer hides per month, turning out oak sole leather.
These firms, W. B. Sumner & Co. and the Sumner Tanning Company, stand well in the community, and have an enviable reputation for integrity and ability. The business transacted is large and constantly increasing, the firm having connections in England and the East, in the Australian colonies, and China and Japan.
Transcribed by Joyce
and David Rugeroni.
Source: The Bay of
San Francisco, Vol. 2, Pages 367-369, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2006 Joyce & David
Rugeroni.