San
Joaquin County
Biographies
PHILIP FABIAN
During the entire period of his
residence in California, covering an eventful epoch of only little less than
forty years, the late Philip Fabian made his home in San Joaquin County, where
he occupied positions of increasing importance in civic, industrial and
financial circles. To the enthusiastic,
progressive efforts of such citizens as he may be attributed the encouraging
development of the city of Tracy and the surrounding country, whose resources
he was instrumental in promoting and whose future he was solicitous to build
upon the substantial foundations of a successful past.
Of German birth, Philip Fabian was
born in Zempleberg on February 17, 1843, and received
his elementary education in his native land.
Being a thoughtful lad, the oppression of the military powers of his own
country weighed heavily upon him; his ideals of government not being that of
burdensome military duty, but freedom to live one’s life according to his
desire, and he soon became desirous of satisfying his ambition to leave his
native country and seek his fortune in America.
He embarked for America early in 1861, coming to California via the
Isthmus of Panama, and located in Jackson, Amador County, making his way overland
from San Francisco carrying his pack containing his entire possessions. Very soon after his arrival in Jackson, Mr.
Fabian found employment as clerk in the general merchandise store of Levinsky Bros., where he worked for two years. About 1863, in partnership L. Levinsky, a general merchandise store was opened at
Woodbridge where six successful years were spent, following which he settled in
the west side section of San Joaquin County and established the first general
merchandise store of the locality in Ellis, about two miles from the present
site of the city of Tracy. In 1876, the
village of Ellis contained two stores, one blacksmith shop, five saloons, a
school building and a town hall. Upon
the completion of the railroad from Richmond to Los Banos,
the town of Tracy became an important junction and early in the year of 1877
Mr. Fabian moved his store building from Ellis and before the close of that
year all the buildings had been moved to Tracy, most of the hauling being done
by the late William Brockman. From that
time forward, Philip Fabian became an active factor in all the improvements and
developments of the town and surrounding country; being aware of the wonderful
possibilities of this section, he made investments in land, choosing them with
care and adjacent to the town he had selected for his permanent home. During those earlier days in the history of
that section, there was no banks except in the larger centers, so Mr. Fabian
came to the rescue of the farmers and saw them through any financial depression
on account of failure of crops, the same as would a bank institution, thus his
influence for the upbuilding of the community was felt throughout the
county. Mr. Fabian so managed his
affairs that during his entire business career, there was never a lien or a
mortgage filed against any of his property.
The large mercantile business conducted under the firm name continued
until the death of L. Levinsky, associate partner,
whose interest was purchased by A. Grunauer and L.
Kroner, and the business was incorporated under the name of The Fabian Grunauer Company. In
1889, Mr. Fabian removed to San Francisco and opened an office from which he
transacted his vast business and continued his residence there until his death
on January 16, 1909.
The marriage of Mr. Fabian occurred
in San Francisco and united him with Miss Annie Schwartz, and they were the
parents of two sons and two daughters, the eldest son being the efficient
business manager of the large store in Tracy.
Mr. Fabian was a devoted husband and father; his recreation was spent in
his splendid gardens surrounding his home in San Francisco, where the many
wonderful colors and shades of carnations grew to perfection, among them being
many prize winning ones. He was a
Republican of the staunchest party loyalty.
As early as 1877 he offered to the man who could plan a successful
system of irrigation, as compensation, every other acre of land that he
possessed, and they were extensive in those early days; however, there was no
one to plan the system and Mr. Fabian, himself, was a prime factor in the
struggle for irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley.
Many public and charitable
institutions have reason to be grateful that such a liberal and broad-minded
citizen and captain of industry existed, not only as one of the pillars
upholding the financial and industrial world, but as one of those who dispensed
wisely the profits which his life of diligence and high ability had
accumulated. Fraternally he was among
the oldest members of the Sumner Lodge of Odd Fellows, which was founded in the
old town of Ellis many years ago.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
515. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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