San Diego County Biographies
  
G. W. GERLACH

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


San Diego, was the youngest child of a family of seven children, and was born at 
Wurtemberg, Germany, in May, 1846, where he received his education. His father 
was a butcher, and G. W., being born and raised in that business, very naturally 
made that the basis of his business career. In 1864 he emigrated to America, 
going directly to Philadelphia, where he began his labors in this country. In 
1866 he enlisted with five schoolmates, in the Fourth Cavalry, regulars, 
following the service two and a half years, on the frontier between Texas and 
Mexico; he was badly wounded in an Indian engagement, and in a skirmish near 
Fort Clark his horse was shot under him, which rearing fell backward, and Mr. 
Gerlach was badly disabled, and was discharged from service at Fort Concher, 
Texas, in 1868, returning to New York, and after four months' rest opened his 
own butcher shop in that city. In 1878 he removed to Colorado, opening shop, and 
was also interested in mining speculations, still owning interests in mines in 
Chaffee County, Colorado. In 1887, from ill health, his attention was directed 
to Southern California, and he came direct to San Diego to breathe in the 
health-giving qualities of this genial climate. Being satisfied with the 
locality he soon invested in a small bath-house built off from the Pacific 
steamship wharf, which he has since enlarged and made very complete and 
comfortable; his buildings now front 110 feet on the wharf, and about the same 
depth; with ample accommodations for hot and cold baths at all hours of day and 
night, and two large swimming tanks for the summer bathers, having one tank 
expressly for ladies, with dressing-rooms conveniently adjoining.
        Mr. Gerlach was married in New York, in 1870, to Miss Louisa Schwartz. 
Their summers are passed at the bath-house, in rooms tastefully arranged, and in 
the winter when business is more quiet they reside in the city. Mr. Gerlach is a 
member of the Turnverein Society, and also of the I. O. O. F.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  370-371