Volume #30, Issue #1, October, 1997
THE WEILHEIMERS:
THE JEWISH PIONEER FAMILY
OF MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA
by Diane Claerbout
Mountain View, California (current pop. 71,300) is located
approximately 40 miles south of San Francisco. It began as a stage coach stop
on the San Francisco-San Jose Road, later known as El Camino Real, in the 1850s.
One of the first settlers of Mountain View was Seligman Weilheimer, pioneer
merchant, Wells Fargo agent, livery stable and hotel owner, director of the
Mountain View Canning Company and treasurer of the Olympic Hall Company.
Seligman Weilheimer came to the area as early as 1852 from
Dossenheim, Germany. Three years later, he and his brother Samuel Weilheimer
opened a general merchandise store in Old Mountain View. In 1856, Seligman
married Sophie Baer. At the age of 19, Sophie, accompanied by her cousin, made
the trip to California via New Orleans and Panama. Seligman and Sophie married
in San Francisco and took the stagecoach to Old Mountain View where they worked
together in the store. They had five children: Aaron, Julius, Samuel, Henry and
Celia.
Seligman' s brother, Samuel Weilheimer, married Babette
Strauss, a native of Baden, Germany. Their children were Aaron and Emma. Another
son, Emanuel, died at the age of 4 years, 8 months.
With the emergence of the railroad and the development of
the "New" Mountain View in 1854, Seligman and Samuel opened another Weilheimer
store near the Mountain View Station. The first store, a General Merchandise
store was on the San Francisco-San Jose Road (El Camino Real) with the second
located at the northwest corner of the first block on Castro Street.
Additionally, the brothers operated a livery stable and hotel. All three
businesses prospered.
In April-May 1870, articles in the Mayfield Enterprise
reported that Samuel and Seligman
"had erected a very fine, new store in Mountain View
and would be opening an entire lot of new goods." It was further announced
that a ball would be given on the occasion of the opening.1
Seligman also became the town's first Wells Fargo agent in
1874, a position which he still held in 1890.
The Weilheimers dabbled in gold mines. The Mayfield Enter-prise,
April 16th, 1870, quotes S. Weilheimer as saying:
work on the Rough and Ready is still being prosecuted
[sic] and with good success-another lode has been struck which prospects
very well. We are afraid that the mines are too close to home to ever amount
to much. If they had been struck in New Mexico, Arizona, or Alaska, the
excitement would have been tremendous. A prophet is never without honor save
in his own country.
The mine was located at the head of Steven's Creek in Santa
Clara County.
Although the ultimate success of the mine is not known, the
Weilheimers continued to prosper in their other dealings. In 1874, a new livery
stable was built as well as a large new storehouse. Additionally, the brothers
were enlarging and refurbishing their hotel building.
There was a downturn in late 1874 when the Weilheimers were
involved in a lawsuit with Levi Strauss Company. As described in the newspaper
account:
Since Weilheimer Bros. places of business have been
shut up at the suit of Levi Strauss, business and things in general look
dull, but hopes are entertained that they will open again in a few days. The
Weilheimers have been carrying on an extensive business here for years and
had gained a reputation for honesty in all their dealings. Their creditors
pounced on them without mercy and without a moment's notice. 2
Mt. View stores including
Weilheimer' s (on right).
Fortunately, the store was open again within a month.
By the early 1880s, Seligman and Sophie's sons appeared in
the social pages of the local newspaper, They regularly attended parties and
social functions in the surrounding areas. Mr. Samuel Weilheimer participated in
a concert at the Presbyterian Church where he performed a solo on the Eolian
harp. 3
In addition to his harp playing, it was noted in another
item in the newspaper that:
Mr. S. Weilheimer brought down a box of strawberries
from one of his mountain ranches near the head of Stevens Creek last Sunday
that were grown without irrigation." 4
Also in 1885, Aaron Weilheimer went into business with
Jacob Mockbee (also of a pioneering family) and began the sale of Studebaker
wagons and buggies. The San Jose Mercury noted that:
with their energy, business qualifications and capital
in trade will make a success of their new undertaking. 5
By 1892, Seligman was recognized as:
the oldest living resident of Mountain View. He settled
there in 1852 and since been engaged in various mercantile enterprises. He
is the owner of the largest and most complete general merchandise store in
town, conducted by his eldest son, Julius Weilheimer; also a hotel, livery
stable and other properties. In his store, a full line of groceries, dry
goods, clothing, crockery etc. are carried. He deals in hay, grain, wood and
all classes of farm produce. By long years of residence in Mountain View and
a uniform course of dealing with his patrons, Mr. Weilheimer has won the
respect and confidence of the people in that part of the county. 6
Both Seligman and Samuel died in 1899 and were buried at
the Home of Peace Cemetery. Seligman' s obituary stated that:
[deceased] leaves many friends both at Mountain View
and through-out the county, as he was well known and a favorite with all.
His quiet manners and sterling honesty endeared him to all. Service for
Seligman was conducted by Rabbi Nieto.7
On a happier note, Julius Weilheimer married Fannie
Ickleheimer that year. Fanny's father, Herman, came to San Francisco on August
30, 1849, on the ship, Humboldt. Western States Jewish Historical Quarterly,
vol. XIV, No. 1. October, 1981, p. 42 contains an article on Herman Ickleheimer.
The Mountain Register provided a charming account of the
event:
Our popular young merchant Julius Weilheimer and Miss
Fannie Ickleheimer married in San Francisco last Sunday. Julius Weilheimer,
`our Julius', who has for so many years succeeded in running the gauntlet of
bright-eyed maidens and disiguing [sic] mamas, capitulated and joined the
army of more or less happy benedicts, by leading to the altar Miss Fannie
Ickleheimer of San Francisco. The marriage took place in the residence of
the bride's mother, at 1804 Sutter Street on Sunday, July 8, 6 o'clock, in
the presence of about forty invited guests including the near relatives of
the contracting parties.
The beautiful home of Mrs. Ickleheimer was decorated
handsomely for the occasion with a profusion of flowers. A handsome lover's
knot, made of beautiful flowers hung from the ceiling and standing under
which the young couple, by the solemn service of their faith, read by Rabbi
M.S. Levy, were made man and wife. The bride wore a white silk dress, the
bridal veil was fastened with a beautiful wreath of orange blossoms, she
carried a bouquet of the same flowers. The groom was arrayed in the
conventional suit of black. An elegant wedding supper was served immediately
after the ceremony, the remainder of the evening being devoted to music,
dancing and a general good time. At a late hour, the guests took their
departure. The wedding presents were numerous and costly. Mr. and Mrs.
Weilheimer left on the following morning for a wedding tour, but, at last
accounts, owing to the "tie-up" they had gotten no further than Sausalito.
They are expected home on Thursday and will go at once to their new home,
which has been furnished and fitted up in nice style. The Register extends
congratulations and wishes Mr. and Mrs. Weilheimer all the joy, bliss and
prosperity obtainable by mortals.
A few years after the wedding Julius expanded his interests
and went into banking business. One of the bank's founders approached several
friends including Julius Weilheimer. The bank was named the Farmers and
Merchants State Bank and was capitalized with $50,000 from 60 subscribers.
Julius was elected vice-president. In 1927, the Farmers and Merchants Bank
became a branch of the Bank of Italy (now the Bank of America).
In the early 1900s Seligman was on the Board of trustees
for the town of Mountain View. Henry, Julius, and Samuel (Seligman's son) took
over the family business after the deaths of the senior partners. Later Henry
and his wife, Lillie, bought out the other two brothers and continued the
store's operation until it was sold.
On July 3. 1903, Sophie Baer Weilheimer, aged 70 years,
died, The funeral service was held at her former residence in Mountain View with
internment in the Home of Peace cemetery. Mrs. Weilheimer was a member of the
Jewish Ladies Benevolent Society and Temple Emanuel.
In the Mountain View Register Leader for July 28, 1922, a
reporter wrote:
Rummesburg and Sons will move into a new building
leaving vacant the old Weilheimer building. The Weilheimers sold out in
1914.... In 1902 when this reporter came to Mt. View, the Weilheimer store
almost never closed its doors. Sundays and holidays were all alike with all
other days on the calendar, because on Sundays and holidays the ranchers and
their hired men all came into town. Some of them went to church in the
morning and some of them patronized the stores during the day. Sundays and
holidays were the best days the local merchants had in those days. Then at
night, the "townies" liked to gather in the big storeroom and talk and
occasionally make a purchase. Henry Weilheimer and his splendid wife used to
post up their books and sometimes they could be seen behind the blinds of
the big front windows working over their desk until midnight.
Julius Weilheimer
In December 1923, Julius Weilheimer died. His obituary
read:
Another of Mountain View's first-born and best-loved
sons has passed into the great silence. Julius Weilheimer, of the pioneer
mercantile firm of this section, died very suddenly at his home in San
Francisco Monday evening, December 31, 1922 from an acute attack of
indigestion.
Mr. Weilheimer had been in his office with the Thomas
Day company all day performing his usual duties. As the last day of the old
year was drawing to an end, he closed his desk and went out to the home of
one of his daughters where his wife awaited him. Soon after arriving there
he complained of some pain and took some simple remedy, but got no relief.
Arriving at his own home, a physician was summoned and every effort was made
to save his life but to no avail. In an hour he was dead.
Mr. J.S. Mockbee (a Mountain colleague) was called and
he notified many of the deceased's old friends. A delegation of local
citizens went on an early train to San Francisco on Wednesday to attend the
funeral of their boyhood friend and esteemed fellow-townsman for many
years....
Some 16 or more years ago, a brother-in-law of Mr.
Weilheimer, a member of the firm of Ickleheimer Brothers died ... and Julius
was compelled to remove to San Francisco and take charge of the business.
Later, the firm was purchased by Thomas Day Co. and Julius was induced to go
to the new firm in an executive capacity and had remained with the firm to
the very end of his life, highly esteemed and trusted by his business
associates as he had been by all who knew him from his childhood in Mountain
View.
No man ever lived in this town who had more real
sincere friends than Julius Weilheimer, He was honorable, clean and upright
and had the heart of a child. Every old timer here, on being told of his
death, invariably said something like this: "Oh, what a pity! Julius
Weilheimer was one of the whitest fellows that ever lived, why should he
have to die so young?"
"The world is better because Julius Weilheimer lived in
it" said J.S. Mockbee, who grew up with him here in the town, where both
were born, played together as barefoot lads, went to the public schools and
later entered business together. No man living was more directly acquainted
with Julius in any social and business relation than Jake Mockbee....
Funeral services according to the ritual of the Jewish Church were conducted
in San Francisco and the interment was made in the Home of Peace Cemetery.
Julius was a member of Mountain View Lodge No. 194, F.
and A.M. and also of a number of other fraternities.
A good, honest, home-loving, God fearing, honorable and
upright man. Peace to his ashes.
Today in Mountain View, very little remains of the
extensive Weilheimer real estate holdings or businesses. One of their buildings
still stands on Castro Street, Mountain View's principal business street. They
were an integral part of their community heavily involved in the business,
political and social aspects of the community. They were among the few Jewish
families in Mountain View and they affiliated themselves with the large,
vibrant Jewish community in San Francisco. Their descendants still live in the
area and are still active in the Jewish community. The Weilheimer name will not
be found on any street signs or city parks, yet they were the first of many Jews
who would later build a large, dynamic community on the Peninsula.
All the materials for this article were collected and
indexed by the Mountain View Historical Society. Barbara McPheeters Kinchen,
also a descendant of Mountain View pioneers, spent many hours helping me find
information and answering questions about the history of the town.
ENDNOTES
1. Mayfield Enterprise, April 16, 1870.
2. San Jose Weekly Mercury, November 19,
1874.
3. San Jose Times-Mercury, April 26,
1885.
4. Ibid.
5. San Jose Times-Mercury, May 22, 1885.
6. San Jose Daily Mercury, January 1,
1892.
7. San Jose Daily Mercury, June 5, 1899.
