Contra Costa County Biography

OTTO A. POULSEN

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

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

 
Among the men who by reason of their personal integrity, ability, and business 
enterprise have come to be regarded a representative citizens and leading 
business men of Contra Costa County is numbered Otto A. Poulsen, who has been 
engaged in Richmond since 1906, in the retail jewelry business. He was born in 
San Francisco on December 5, 1876, son of Hans C. and Johanna Poulsen. His 
father, a cabinetmaker, came to America in the early '70s. He died in 1899. The 
mother still survives and makes her home with Otto A. There were six children in 
the parents' family. The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the 
public schools. Laying aside his books, he took up the trade of jeweler and 
silversmith, at which he became very proficient. He followed his trade for seven 
years, and then enlisted in the First Battalion, California Heavy Artillery. He 
was attached to Battery A, and was sent to the Philippines, where he served 
sixteen months. He was discharged in San Francisco in September, 1899. Following 
his army career he became identified with a wholesale and retail jewelry house 
in San Francisco, where he remained for seven years. In 1906 he removed to 
Richmond and established a retail jewelry store at 703 Macdonald Avenue, and in 
1911 he removed to his present commodious store. Success has steadily attended 
his well-directed labors since that time, and his business has expanded yearly, 
the entire credit for its rapid growth being directly due to Mr. Poulsen's 
enterprise and progressive spirit. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic 
lodge of Richmond, the Royal Arch chapter, and Scottish Rite of Oakland. He is 
also a member of the B. P. O. E., the Red Men, the Native Sons, the Moose, and 
is an active member of the Shellmound Rifle Club. In politics Mr. Poulsen is a 
Republican. In May, 1910, he was elected on the Richmond school board, taking 
office July 1, 1910, and serving until July 1, 1914. He was married to Miss 
Ottoline M. Williams, a native of San Leandro, July 14, 1907. To this union 
there have been born four children - Alexander W., born May 17, 1908; Esther F., 
born March 14, 1910; Stanley A., born December 30, 1911; Clarence R., born June 
28, 1914. Mrs. Poulsen is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the 
Spanish-American War Veterans and of the Eastern Star.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 474-475.