Santa Clara County Biographies


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


FRED DREISCHMEYER 
 
was born in Germany in 1850. His parents, Gustav and Wilemine Dreischmeyer, 
emigrated to the United States in 1852, and located at Chicago, where his father 
pursued his calling, that of brick-maker, until his death, which occurred in 
1854. His mother also died in the same year. The family thus orphaned had a 
severe struggle for maintenance, and when but a mere lad Mr. Dreischmeyer was 
employed during the summer season in the brick-yards, at such work as he was 
able to perform, attending school in the winter months. He was employed in the 
yards at Chicago until eighteen years of age, becoming thoroughly versed in all 
the practical branches of his trade as a brick-maker.
        In 1870 he came to Santa Clara County, and was engaged as a foreman in 
the brick-yards of Michael Farrell, at Gilroy, until 1871. He spent the next two 
years working in the Redwoods. In 1873 and 1874 he rented a farm near the 
Twenty-one Mile House, on the Monterey road, and followed the occupation of a 
farmer during those years. He then worked at his trade as a journeyman until 
1879, when he was employed as a foreman in the brick-yard of Michael Farrell for 
two years. In 1882, in connection with W. P. Dougherty and D. Corkery, he 
established the San Jose Brick Company, since incorporated under that name. 
Since that time Mr. Dreischmeyer has had the immediate charge and supervision of 
the two yards located on the South Pacific Coast Railroad, three miles south of 
San Jose. Mr. Dreischmeyer has devoted nearly all his life to brick manufacture, 
and is thoroughly skilled in all the practical details of his calling. This 
knowledge, combined with his energetic and sound business management, is 
rendering the enterprise a profitable investment. The San Jose Brick Company's 
brick-yards comprise one of the most important industries in the county, they 
being the largest manufacturers of brick in the county, and among the largest in 
the State. The magnitude of the business may be shown by a few facts. In 1887 
the product of their yards was over 23,000,000 of brick, employing in their 
manufacture nearly 200 men. They consumed nearly 10,000 cords of wood in that 
year, which also furnished employment for a large force of men. The products of 
their yards, except what is used in the county, are sent to the San Francisco 
market, though their pressed brick is sent to nearly all important points on the 
Pacific Coast.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 584