MARTIN SCHNEIDER

San Joaquin County

Biographies

MARTIN SCHNEIDER

MARTIN SCHNEIDER, manufacturer of furniture and cabinet work and wood carving, Stockton, is a native of Germany, born at Leidringer, Württemberg, near the Black Forest, December 25, 1856, his parents being John and Anna Katherine (Messmer) Schneider, the father a cabinet-maker.

He was reared at his native place, and received his education there between the ages of six and fourteen years. He then commenced in earnest the cabinet-making trade with his father. When he had reached the age of seventeen years, he was a journeyman, and he then took the road, as is the custom with German mechanics who have finished their apprenticeship. He brought up at Zurich, Switzerland, and remained there three or four years, taking a few tourist trips to other places, however. He went home to conscription for the army, but his name was not drawn, and he remained at home one year. In 1868 he emigrated to America, sailing from the port of Hamburg on the “Wieland” and landing at New York. After five days there, he went to Philadelphia, where he remained about the same length of time, and then proceeded by rail to California. He located at Stockton, and went to work as a carpenter on Bachman & Brant’s chicory factory. He next assisted in some building operations at Atlanta, and in April, 1879, he did his first furniture work here, at Fickett’s factory. He worked there until the failure, and two weeks later started in business for himself, corner of Market and California streets, up-stairs. He did work there, keeping two or three men busy. A year and a half after starting there, however, he entered the employ of Logan & Doan, who bought him out as an inducement to him to go with them to the old Fickett factory, which they had re-opened. He served as a foreman there for one year, and then built the shop where he now does business, corner of Aurora street and Miner avenue. He employs only first-class workmen, and his product is mostly hard wood of the better grades, though he makes up any wood that is susceptible of a high polish. His specialty is office, stair and store work, though he makes some house furniture for parties who want first class work. Good customers always prefer his work, and will have no other. He can compete with the world on hand-made work and rich designs. In catering to this class of trade he often gets orders from remote places, even turning out work for San Francisco and Sacramento. The hobby horses in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, were made by him.

Mr. Schneider is a member of Centennial Lodge No. 38, K. of P., of the Verein-Eintracht, Turn-Verein and of the Chosen Friends. He is an active, enterprising man, and has a large circle of friends.

Mr. Schneider was married in this city, June 8, 1879, to Miss Anna Wille, a native of Germany, born and reared in the same neighborhood as himself, and who came to this country at the same time. They have six children, viz: Bertha Amelia, Johann Frederick, Carl Ludevig, Martin Otto, Maria Louisa and Anna Barbara Katherina.

His mother, who was born in 1827, is still living on the old homestead in Germany, but his father, who was born in 1823, died when aged fifty-nine years. Their four sons were; John, John George, Martin, (our subject), and Jacob. John George is a fresco painter and the present Burgess of Belle Vernon, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Our subject met him (who had come to America eleven years before) at Pittsburg when he came to this country. He visited with him then for three or four hours and has never seen him since.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County, California, Pages 313-314. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.

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