California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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GUS
LAVENSON Indicative
of the genuine business ability and purposeful energy of Mr. Lavenson is
the important commercial concern established by his unaided efforts and
built up to its present magnitude through his sagacious supervision. It
was during 1877 that he opened a small shoe store on the corner of Fifth
and J streets, Sacramento. He was young and without capital, but what he
lacked in means he possessed in enthusiasm and determination. Even more
important than this, he had excellent taste in selecting shoes and
accurate judgment as to the wants and needs of customers, so that from
the first he won the confidence of his patrons. To assist him at the
start he had one man, au experienced cobbler, who took charge of repair
work and also assisted in waiting on the trade. The twenty-three years
of his occupancy of the same quarters were years of growth and slow but
steady development, bringing the ultimate necessity of enlarged
accommodations for customers and for the stock of shoes. Therefore in
1900 he removed to the corner of K and Seventh streets, where now he has
twenty-two assistants to aid him in the management of the business. With
this large force he is able to care for customers promptly, while the
splendid equipment and modern conveniences of the new establishment give
him one of the finest shoe stores in the entire state. Born
in Germany, December 27, 1852, Mr. Lavenson came to the United States
with his parents when he was thirteen years old, settling in Cincinnati,
Ohio, where he attended the public and high schools until he was sixteen
years of age. Mr. Lavenson has made Sacramento his home since May of
1869, having been one of the very first to come across the continent
over the newly completed Central Pacific Railroad. Five years before
this an older brother had come to California, where for a time he
engaged in the mercantile business at Rocklin, Placer county, but more
recently he has made his home in Portland, Ore. An uncle, Samuel
Lavenson, a prominent pioneer of California, for years was a member of
the firm of Lock & Lavenson, dealers in carpets and manufacturers of
mattresses; this business was established during 1850 and has a
reputation of being one of the very oldest in Northern California. After
his arrival in Sacramento a search for employment brought Gus Lavenson
to the firm of Peyser & Lyons, on the corner of Seventh and J
streets, where he secured work as an errand boy. His worth was soon
proved. By various promotions he won his way to a rank among the head
men in the store, where he remained for seven years, resigning in order
to embark in business for himself. In his specialty he is well informed,
posted concerning every change in style of shoe or leather, courteous
among his customers and painstaking in his efforts to meet their wishes
; with such qualities as these success comes in the nature of things.
The conduct of the business, however, does not represent the limit of
his activities, for during recent years he has been treasurer of the
Sacramento River Farms Company, an organization incorporated in March of
1908 with the following-named officers; Clinton L. White, president;
Herman T. Silvins, vice-president; H. F. G. Wulff, secretary; and Gus
Lavenson, treasurer. About the time of their incorporation the company
acquired considerable property from Virginia Vanderbilt, a member of the
famous New York City family of that name. They now own eleven thousand
acres of rich bottom land in the Sacramento valley and also a part of
the town site at Knight's Landing. In order to protect their fertile
land from overflow and render it available for remunerative cultivation,
they have expended more than $600,000 in improvements and have built
more than fifteen miles of levee. There is every reason to believe that
the hopes of the projectors will reach a gratifying fruition. The marriage of Mr. Lavenson took place in Sacramento April 10, 1881, and united him with Miss Flora Goldman, a native of New York state, but from girlhood a resident of the capital city, where she is now a prominent member of the Tuesday and Saturday Clubs. Her parents, both now deceased, were Simon and Clara (Bien) Goldman, the former one of the well-known business men of Sacramento during the pioneer period. Mr. and Mrs. Lavenson are the parents of two daughters, Claire and Selma Rose. Both are leaders in athletic recreations in the capital city and are especially prominent as expert swimmers. Nor are they less capable as equestriennes. It is said by competent judges that they have in the west few superiors in either art. During the summer of 1911 they accompanied a party on a twelve days' trip through the Yosemite valley and during eight days of that time they were continuously in saddle, making four hundred miles on horseback with ease and speed, and returning home un- wearied by the strenuous nature of the excursion. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |