California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


EMIL SELIGMAN. A long experience in the dry-goods business, beginning with an ap- 
prenticeship under successful merchants in Germany, has qualified Mr. Seligman for the capable 
discharge of his responsibilities as a member of the firm of L. & E. Seligman, proprietors of 
the largest department store at Dinuba. A native of Rhenish Bavaria, he was next to the 
youngest among nine children and was born February 17, 1858. At the age of fourteen he 
became an apprentice to the dry-goods business at Worms, where he served for three years. The 
year 1875 found him in California, where he secured a clerkship with the S. Sweet Company 
at Visalia and later aided in establishing the general mercantile store of Phillips, Sweet & Co., at 
Hanford, which the great fire there destroyed. Afterward he was employed by Sweet & Co. as 
manager of a lumber yard at Traver. After three years, in 1887, with Levis, Sweet & Co., he 
started a general mercantile establishment in a building 40x90 feet. 

On the selling out of the business and the dissolution of the partnership, in 1896, Mr. Selig- 
man formed a partnership with his brother Louis and opened a store in Dinuba near his present 
site. In 1902 they erected a substantial brickdouble store, 60x80 feet, two floors, with a large 
warehouse in the rear, 50x80, and here they conduct a department store, making a specialty of 
general merchandise and hardware. In addition they are interested in farming and own several 
farms within a radius of ten miles. When the project was first mentioned to start a bank in 
Dinuba Emil Seligman was enthusiastic in behalf of the plan and in February, 1902, he assist- 
ed in the work of organization, at which time he was chosen the first president and a member of 
the board of directors. While he still remains in the latter capacity he resigned the presidency 
after a short time, in order to devote himself to the increasing demands of the department store. 
In politics he favors Republican principles. For eight years he acted as treasurer of the Alta irri- 
gation district. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Or- 
der of Odd Fellows, his connection with the latter order dating from his residence in Traver. 
It was while living at Traver that he met and was united in marriage with Anna Fry, a native 
of Switzerland, and of their union they have a family of four sons and four daughters.