Contra Costa County Biography

COLONEL ERNEST A. PREBLE

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

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

 
Colonel Ernest A. Preble is one of the most prominent men of Richmond and has 
contributed a notable share to the material progress of this substantial city. 
He was born in Lincoln County, Maine, July 27, 1864, a son of Lieut. A. H. 
Preble, a Civil War veteran, and Eglantine (Turner) Preble, both of English 
decent. The Turner family were among the first and most prominent settlers in 
Maine. Colonel Preble acquired his education in the schools of his native State, 
after which he attended the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, at Redfield Maine. At an 
early age he came to this coast and located in Tacoma, where he became 
identified with the commercial activities of that city. In 1913 he established 
the Preble Grocery Company at Monterey, and continued until 1907, and while a 
resident of Monterey Colonel Preble was one of the organizers of the First 
National Bank. In 1907 he removed to San Francisco and engaged in the wholesale 
cigar business until 1912; he then came to Richmond and engaged in the lumber 
and building business. He erected the modern plant at the corner of Tenth and 
Ohio streets, and, owing to his health, he disposed of the plant, engaging in 
the land business. While residing in Monterey Colonel Preble was appointed a 
member of ex-Governor Gillett's military staff. On January 1, 1915, he again 
engaged in the lumber and mill business, and merged his interests with Burg 
Bros., and the new firm was known as the Burg Bros. Lumber & Building Company, 
of which Colonel Preble was vice-president and manager. Politically, Colonel 
Preble is affiliated with the Republican party. Particularly on account of 
protective tariff, he has always declined any public office. He was united in 
marriage to Emma H. Bowers, of Alameda, in 1910. Colonel Preble has always taken 
a keen interest in matters pertaining to Richmond and has been a valued factor 
in its development, having sold several of the largest tracts for subdivision 
around the Bay section, among which was the north half if the million-dollar 
Nicholl ranch, to Burg. Bros. This tract of land is mostly ideally situated in 
Richmond, and the deal was written up in one of the New York financial papers; 
it was said that this land brought the highest price ever paid in the United 
States for a piece of unimproved land of that size. There were over one hundred 
and eleven acres, and the purchase price was fully five thousand dollars an 
acre. Colonel Preble is at present identified with many financial men on the 
coast in promoting a railroad and breakwater, known as the Monterey & Fresno 
Railroad. He has been connected with many large and important projects, and his 
energy and ambition entitle him to credit which he has achieved. He has won his 
way upward to success, and is known among his associates as the man who always 
calls a spade a spade, and knows which is which.
 
Source: The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 514-515.