Alameda County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. & BENJAMIN F. BURLAND
WILLIAM H. and BENJAMIN F. BURLAND are the enterprising and hospitable proprietors of the well-known Rose Hotel in the flourishing town of Pleasanton, in the Amador Valley. The building, which is conducted as the only first-class hotel in the place, is a large three-story frame structure, well ventilated and furnished, and is patronized by the health and pleasure seekers of San Francisco and other Bay cities. The grounds are well shaded by handsome trees and shrubbery, with croquet plats, etc.
The senior member of the firm was born at Sacramento, May 10, 1857, and was three years of age when his parents moved to Watsonville, where his younger brother and present partner was born. Their parents were Robert and Jemima (Hudson) Burland. The father was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, where he was reared and educated and learned the cabinet-making trade. He came to California in 1849, by way of Panama, and was engaged in mining several years. The mother, a native of Iowa, crossed the plains to California in 1850; they are both still living. William H. was educated at Watsonville, and was employed as a clerk in a general store until 1877. He then went to Seattle, Washington; returning to Watsonville three years later, he remained until 1889, being for a time in charge of one of the grain warehouses of that place. Next he purchased the stock of the Watsonville Transfer Company, enlarged the business and gave employment to a number of men for three years, and handling also all the outside business of Wells, Fargo & Co.’s Express. He sold out this place to a good advantage, leased the Scott Hotel and conducted it for two years. Then he engaged in the buying and selling of stock in the interest of J. Lincott until 1889, when he moved to Pleasanton and took charge of the Rose Hotel.
He was married at Irvington, October 15, 1880, to Miss Ida Lively, a daughter of Joseph Lively, M.D., who came to California in 1850. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Burland politically is a Republican and takes an active part in local politics, and fraternally he is a member of Pajaro Lodge, No. 110, F. & A.M. at Watsonville.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson August 2004
PHILIP V. WENIG
PHILIP V. WENIG, dealer in fresh and salt meats on Neal street, Pleasanton, was born at Saxe-Meiningen, July 8, 1845, and was reared to the butchers’ trade with his father, Christian Wenig; his mother’s name before marriage was Maria Hasfeldt. He came to America in 1866, and for the first two years was employed as a journeyman butcher at Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1869 he came by way of Panama to California. After stopping a short time at Haywards, he followed his trade two years at San José, and for two years again he was at Alvarado; in 1873 he returned to Haywards, where he formed a partnership with Adam May in the butcher’s trade, and carried on business there until 1875, and then until 1885 he was at Suñol, when he finally came to Pleasanton, where he has since been prospering in his trade. He raises much of his own stock for slaughter on the 160-acre ranch three miles west of town, which he owns. He was married at Suñol, March 1, 1879, to a native of Holstein, Germany, and they have a son and a daughter.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson August 2004
CHARLES N. MORETTE
CHARLES N. MORETTE, manufacturer of and dealer in saddles and harness at Pleasanton, was born February 10, 1869, at Middletown, Lake County, California, the only child of J. P. and Christina Morette (now deceased). The father was a native of Luxemburg, and the mother, of Alsace, both in Germany. They emigrated to America in 1854, settling at the point named, where the father became an active politician. Charles received his schooling at Shasta, where he began the trade of harness-making, which he finished at Livermore, the family having moved to that place. They subsequently removed to Santa Cruz, where the elder Morette and the son were engaged in a brewery. Returning to Livermore, the latter resumed work at his trade, and is now carrying a large and handsome stock of goods, at an eligible location. He has also been connected with the fire department of Livermore for two years. He has traveled some for the sake of seeing the world, visiting Oregon, Washington and many other points in the Northwest. He was married September 29, 1888, and has one daughter, named Christina.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson August 2004
H. W. KOOPMAN
H. W. KOOPMAN, general merchant at Pleasanton and a prominent citizen of Alameda County, was born at Pleasanton, December 3, 1868, the second son of John and Catherine (Stindt) Koopman, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1860. Our subject completed his school education at the College of Livermore, then spent three years in Europe, returning in 1889, and now he is in company with his brother Albert and his mother, now Mrs. Thiessen, in the management of a large and well-known mercantile establishment at Pleasanton under the name of H. W. Koopman. Although a young man, he has already, by his industry and fidelity to honest business principles, built up a good and flourishing trade, and is a popular citizen.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson August 2004