San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MISS MARGARET KNOTT
The founder and proprietor of the
Royal Cleaning & Dyeing Company, organized seventeen years ago, is Miss
Margaret Knott. Business was first
started in a small way at the corner of Oak and El Dorado streets, and in a few
months a lot was purchased on West Fremont Street, where a building was erected
and where the present business is established.
Miss Knott was born in Germany, but had been brought to the United
States by her parents, who had settled in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, and
in that state Miss Knott was reared and educated. Twenty-three years ago she came to California
and located in Stockton. Seeing an
opening in this city for a modern cleaning and dyeing establishment, and being
skilled in that line, she determined to launch an enterprise in that line of
business endeavor. So in partnership
with her brother-in-law, Henry Bertolas, the present business was established
in April, 1906. This company has the
latest equipment in modern machinery and their work is first-class in every
particular, and they have built up a large, profitable business, which is
growing year by year. Henry Bertolas was
a native of Austria-Hungary and came to America at the age of eighteen years,
locating in Michigan; for a number of years he resided in Norway, Michigan, and
was postmaster of Vulcan, Michigan; he was also engaged in the wholesale and
retail grocery business there. In
Michigan he married Miss Elizabeth Knott, and they had eight children, six of
whom are living: Henry, who served
overseas at Base Hospital No. 47 in France in the World War, he is now
assisting in the business; Louise is bookkeeper for the establishment; Mrs.
Katherine Rohde, Mrs. Henrietta Manders, and Mrs. Mary Morse reside in San
Francisco, while Karl is attending school in Stockton. Twenty-four years ago the Bertolas family
located in Stockton. Mr. Bertolas died
May 14, 1918, and his widow survived him until April 3, 1920. Fraternally Mr. Bertolas belonged to the
Eagles and I. O. O. F. Miss Knott is a
pioneer in the cleaning and dyeing business in Stockton and her capabilities as
a keen business woman have been demonstrated in the management of her affairs.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1630. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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