Alameda County Biographies

DIEDERICH BUHSEN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

	The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Holstein, 
Germany, August 26, 1820, and is the son of Claus and Catharine (Rhoda) Buhsen.  Having 
received his schooling, and had his home there until 1839, in which year he began a seafaring 
life, an occupation which brought him to the United States in the following year, where he was 
vicariously employed in coasting-vessels, and ocean-going steamers and ships until the year 1843, 
when, in company with his brother Nicholas Buhsen, he embarked in the grocery and liquor business 
in the city of New York.  There he remained till 1858, when, taking passage on the Star of the 
West, he sailed to the Isthmus of Panama en route for California, arriving in San Francisco per 
Golden Age, March 22, 1858.  Proceeding to Sierra County he there prospected for a short time, 
and, upon the breaking out of the Frazer River excitement, went to British Columbia.  He 
subsequently returned to California and farmed for a short time near Mount Eden, but eventually 
transferred his habitation to San Francisco, where he embarked in a general freighting business, 
and continued it until 1860.  He now opened a bakery at the corner of Broadway and Battery Street, 
in that city, but shortly afterwards transferred it to the corner of Pacific and Davis Streets.  
In July, 1864, purchasing property in West Oakland, Mr. Buhsen erected a small dwelling thereupon 
on the site of his present store, which was destroyed by fire in 1876, when he erected his present 
place of business at the corner of Pine and Seventh Streets.  Besides this establishment he owns 
considerable property in the vicinity.  Married, August 26, 1848, Miss Anna Bockwaldt, by whom he 
has surviving two children, viz.:  Eda, and A. Nicholas.

History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 857