Napa County Biographies

FRED W. LOEBER

Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan

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

 
Fred W. Loeber is the pioneer in his department, namely, the breeding of 
standard and blooded horses, in Napa County,  and it is chiefly to his exertions 
that the Napa and Solano Agricultural Association, with its unequaled fair 
grounds and speeding track at Napa City, owes its existence. When Mr. Loeber 
came to this valley in 1876, very little, if anything, was being done in the way 
of raising or breeding high-grade horses. He set the example, however, and 
already this portion of the State has attained a name for what is being done.
       Mr. Loeber was born at Baltimore, Maryland, November 5, 1856, the son of 
John and Caroline  (Sommerlatt) Loeber. His father has a prosperous stock 
business in that city. Fred was educated for the life of a teacher, but did not 
pursue that calling, preferring to become his father�s bookkeeper. In 1876 he 
came to California, finally at his present location, about a mile below St. 
Helena in the spring of 1877. While the home place is rather small, the owner 
controls a large number of acres on the bottom lands, where the grass is green 
almost all year round, with a good water supply and plenty of trees to shelter 
the broodmares and the foals when they desire to get out of the sun�s rays. In 
addition he has a mountain ranch above St. Helena, where he runs stock and other 
animals. His younger brother, Charles E. Loeber, has charge of this for him. The 
first stallion that Mr. Loeber used for breeding purposes was Naubuc, a full 
brother of the famous Thomas Jefferson.  Now he devotes himself to Hambletonian 
stock altogether, being the owner of Whippleton, a stallion that has become 
famous as the sire of fast horses. He is a beautiful black stallion with tan 
muzzle and flanks, stands almost if not quite seventeen hands, and is well 
finished in every particular. He is an exceptionally well put-up animal, strong 
and muscular, with the well-developed Hambletonian characteristics. His colts 
are uniformly cast in his own mould, and all of them are speedy.
       On the same farm there are two other stallions standing for public 
service, both, which are worth more then passing mention.
       The first of these is Alcona 730, by the great Almont the Kentucky horse, 
by Alexander�s Abdallah (sire of Goldsmith Maid, 2:14), he by Rysdyk�s 
Hambletonian, Alcona�s dam, Queen Mary by Mambrino Chief, the celebrated Lillie 
Stanley, record 2:17 �, belonging to Hon. Mr. Coombs, and Homestead, 2:16 �, 
belonging to Senator Hearst, are both the same get.
       Alcona is a beautiful chestnut 16.3 hands high, of grand conformation and 
undoubted speed. Since his advent into California the mares served by him have 
not been gilt-edged, as far as fashionable breeding is concerned, yet his colts 
all show good speed, several of which are far above the average.
        Grandissimo is a full brother to Grandee, 2:23 �, made as a three year 
old. He is by Le Grande (son of Almont, and out of Jessie Pepper, by Mambrino 
Chief; dam Norma by Arthurton; Grandam Nourmahal.
         Grandissimo is only three years old, is a magnificent mahogany bay, and 
will be when at full growth, over sixteen hands in height. He is a splendid 
specimen of the perfect horse, and should be a valuable adjunct to the Vineland 
Farm.
         Mr. Loeber has made careful selection of the mares on his place, and 
they are all individually of great merits, of which he has a large number; he 
has worked himself up from bedrock, as the saying is, beginning in a very small 
way, and gradually increasing his business as opportunity offered, and arousing 
a great deal of enthusiasm throughout the country. As already stated he was one 
of the most active movers in the organization of the Napa and Solano 
Agricultural Association as a distinct body from the well known Sonoma and Marin 
Association. It is admitted on all hands that they have the best track in 
America, if not in the world, and is utilized by leading horse-breeders 
throughout the continent for speeding trials. Mr. Loeber was the president of 
the association for the first two years of its existence, and is still a 
director. He is on the high road to success, and he fully deserves it, for he is 
an earnest, conscientious horseman, liked by all who know him, and with well 
wishes, whose name is legion. He is an ardent and active Democrat, having taken 
part in all their conventions of late years, although refusing himself to accept 
office. He was married February 5, 1880, to Miss Alice Griffith, daughter of the 
well-known pioneer Calvin C. Griffith, of the Napa Valley. They have three 
children. .
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Pages 801-802