Charles Steinmetz was born in Hanover, Germany, February 19, 1827. He was educated there, and also served four years’ apprenticeship at the cabinet maker’s trade. In 1846 he emigrated to America, coming in a Hamburg ship, the Franklin, which landed in New York on the 12th of September. He could not find work, and enlisted for the Mexican War in Company B First United States Artillery. The regiment proceeded immediately to Mexico; and with it Mr. Steinmetz was present and engaged in the battles of Vera Cruz, Cerra Gordo, Contereas, Churubusco, and City of Mexico, besides minor engagements with the Guerrillas. After the capture of the City of Mexico by United States troops, and the consequent close of the war, he received his discharge from the army, on account of sickness, and went to New Orleans. He worked at his trade there for a while, but his health not returning, he concluded to go to Germany instead of California, which had been his intended destination. In 1850 he returned from Germany to California, making the trip direct in the Hamburg sailing vessel Louisa, on a six months’ voyage, by way of Cape Horn. For two years he engaged in mining, and after that embarked in the mercantile business of Nevada County. In 1857 he was married to Miss Anna Kessler, who still survives, and has born him nine children, of whom two sons and five daughters survive.
In 1866 Mr. Steinmetz visited his fatherland again, and, returning, brought with him a younger brother, who had been held as a prisoner of war by the Prussian troops after the war between Prussia and Hanover. Learning that it was the intention of the Prussian Government to force his brother into the army against which he had been recently fighting. Mr. Steinmetz determined to assist him in escaping from the country. This difficult task was successfully accomplished a very short time before the army officials came after the younger Steinmetz, to bring his parole leave to an end and impress him with the government troops. This brother is now a prominent furniture manufacturer in San Francisco. In 1868 Mr. Charles Steinmetz retired from active business and established himself in Santa Cruz. Since then he has been elected a number of times to positions of public trust. He has served seven years as trustee in the public schools of Santa Cruz school district, six years as county supervisor, and nine years as county treasurer. He is a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity, which he joined in 1856, and also belongs to the Society of Mexican War Veterans.
Mr. Steinmetz’ home is on Ocean View Avenue, and he has other extensive property in that vicinity.
History of Santa Cruz County, California
by E.S. Harrison
Published by Pacific Press Publishing Company
San Francisco, Cal., 1892
Transcribed by Yvonne Valentine 1/9/09, Page 232
Santa Cruz County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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