San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WALTER JOHN RICHTER
An able craftsman, successful
businessman, and progressive, public-spirited citizen, is W. J. Richter, owner
and proprietor of the leading plumbing and tinning establishment at Ripon, California. He is a native son, having been born at San
Francisco, April 23, 1884. His parents
are J. L. and Maria (Peterson) Richter, who both reside with W. J. Richter on a
ten-acre ranch on the state highway near Ripon.
Both parents were born in the year 1854, the father being a native of
New Jersey, while the mother was born in Denmark. The father came with his parents to
California in 1864 via the Isthmus, landing in San Francisco. There he grew up and learned the
metal-worker’s trade, of which he was a pioneer in the Bay City. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Richter were married in
California, and were the parents of three children: Clarence, who works in the post office at
Alameda; a second child who died in infancy; and W. J. Richter, of this review.
W. J. Richter grew up in Alameda
City, where he attended the public schools; and when he had finished the
grammar school, he entered upon a four-year apprenticeship, serving out his
time with W. F. Schulte, a plumber and tinner of
Alameda. He then entered upon his trade,
his first employment being with George Lahr in Oakland. Going to San Francisco he there worked at his
trade as a plumber and tinsmith. From
there he came to Ripon, and went to work for Davis Brothers. After working for four years in their employ,
in 1920 he bought out their tinning and plumbing department, and two years ago
he moved into his present commodious quarters in the John Manson Block on
Stockton Street.
Mr. Richter’s marriage occurred in
1909 uniting him with Miss Mildred Bonnell, of
Oakland, who was born in Illinois, and came to California with her parents when
a young girl. He is a prominent member
of the Odd Fellows, at present noble grand of Mt. Horeb
Lodge, at Ripon, and is also a member of Alameda Parlor, No. 47, N. S. G. W.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1543-1544. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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