San
Joaquin County
Biographies
RICHARD R. REIBENSTEIN
Vigorous in mind and body,
clear-headed and the possessor of unlimited energy and sound judgment, the late
Richard R. Reibenstein contributed his full share towards developing the
resources of San Joaquin County. A native
of Stettin, Prussia, he was born on December 10, 1850, and when a small lad of
two years was brought by his parents, Bendict and Amalia Reibenstein, to American
and then to California via Panama, settling in Stockton, where his father
engaged in business and here he passed away in 1857.
Richard R. received his education in
the public schools of Stockton and at the age of sixteen took up the trade of
carpenter and the following year built a house for his mother. He continued to work at his trade until he
was twenty years old, when he established his own contracting business and
continued until 1911. From early manhood
he was much interested in public affairs, especially in the growth and
improvement of his own locality. His
first call to public service in an official capacity was in 1877, when he was
elected public administrator; four years later he was re-elected to succeed
himself, which was proof of his capability.
During 1883 he served as a member of the Stockton board of education;
later he served two terms as city councilman, and in 1889 was nominated by the
Democratic city convention for mayor of Stockton and was elected, serving one
term, when he again became a member of the council, where he served two
terms. In 1897 he was appointed superintendent
of streets of Stockton, under whose management many substantial and permanent
improvements were completed; in 1909 he was again elected mayor and was
re-elected again in 1912, when the new charter was inaugurated. He served as one of the trustees of the Glen
Ellen Home for Feeble Minded under Governor Budd.
The marriage of Mr. Reibenstein
united him with Miss Bertha Belau, a native of San Francisco, daughter of
Michael Belau, pioneer up builder of San Francisco of 1851, where he lived and
died. They had one daughter, Alberta A.
Reibenstein. As a boy Mr. Reibenstein
was a member of the Weber Engine Company, a part of the old volunteer fire
department and was always active among the Exempt Firemen’s Association. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Truth
Lodge of Odd Fellows, the Yosemite Tent of Knights of Maccabees, and Stockton
Lodge of Moose. At the time of his
passing away on January 12, 1916, he was president of the Home Builders
Investment & Security Company and director in the Union Safe Deposit Bank
of Stockton. His religious faith was
that of the First Baptist Church. Thirty-five years of the best part of his
life were spent in public service and he was considered the most popular of
Stockton’s mayors, and deserves the credit that he receives for his untiring
influence and activity for the development and upbuilding of Stockton. The esteem with which he is held in the
community is indicative of the prominence and popularity of this representative
citizen and a large circle of friends and acquaintances regret his demise.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Tinkham, George H., History of San
Joaquin County, California , Page
419. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget
Library's San Joaquin County Biographies
Golden Nugget
Library's San Joaquin County Genealogy Databases