The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-09
MR.. KLIYKYER OFKLTNKNERyI11E
The Death OF an Irrepressible and Unique
Resident of the Pacific Coast.

hthilCnA u IT. NiN .RNHNF
Charles A.. Klinkner, the man Of red
rubber stamps and blue donkeys, died az
his home at Golden Gate this afternoon.
and the most unique advertiser on tho
, coast has passed away. kllnkuor was
enc Of the shrewdest men on the
coast and one Of the most persistent and
original advertisers that ever diI hu-l-
ness in San Francisco. His red rubber
stamps had become a household word.
though why red rubber should have been
any better than blue rubber or green rub
Der Mr.. Klinkner never explained.
But when Mr.. Klinkner turned his al
vertising fancies loose he stopped at
\ nothing. He was known 20 every
! destrian I'm San Francisco and Oakland
by the little red cart in which he roi.
! drawn by a patient donkey that was
dyed sometimes blue. sometimes green.
and again ~polka-dotted in an colors n
the rainbow.
When the prismatic donkey began o.
lose its attractiveness Mr.. kliukner added
a second. and dyed them different c0loit
Then he gave each donkey "A rider and
chained a small relocated monkey t0
the back of each. The little rcd caft
which Klinkner never hesitated t0 drive
himself. became a vcritahle meuaeerin.
and was filled with an assortment on ari-
mails Of an kinds. SO that whenever D.
came 20 a standstill there was always a.
crowd Of small boys around ~.
one Of Mr.. hlinkner's advertising
schemes cost the niCkel-iu-the-slot MAJ
chimes any quantity OF money and got
the originator into serious trouble.
About the time that these machines We're
first introduced on the ~codst-Wheu CANE
dy. chocolate and chewing gum were sid
in this way. and when you could get
your weight. your height. ana everything
but your photoetaph from one OF them
Mr.. klinkner BEGAN the manufacture NJ
d lot Of small lead and aluminium tI-
Vertising coins. II was sopl found that
those coins. whether by accident or j.
sign. would work. one OF the nickel-ln-
the slot machiT cs AS Wei rs tle coin Or
the realm. So Klink1er's advertisements
We're In great demand. and the owners 0f
these machines soon found. 20 their cost.
that there was such a man as klink-
ner.
one day when n candy machine was
opeped il was found that ont II S23
worth Of candy sold there was $3.50 worth
OF klinkner's advertisements. Other MAJ
chimes We're fornd In a like condition,
and the United states authorities intar-
fered. and the coming ceased.
Klinkner made a great deal Of money
az what is now the town of Golden Cato.
Many years ago he purchased the land
Wv hNNAN INNn AAEN "AAN"" NI
bought the land when It could be had for
a mere song. and then began % ugt r.
on the market. But there was little Dee
mand for lots "Out I'm the country iu
those days. and Klinkner had very poor
success. Then he built a little house ana
tried 10 sell that. but that also failed
At last he hit upon a scheme. and Dee ape
piled the rattle plan 90 his house. ie
sold tickets for a dollar each. and re8l-
tod moro Tbun IL ha HaH sold rho H.r-a
outright. The winner was only too glad
to reside in a house that cost him SD
little. and after Klinkner had sold several
houses in that manner he had quit a Iit-
tie settlement, and that he called hliuk-
n|erville.
The settlement grew. but ms # prose
pered there came some citizens who dii
not fancy the name Of ~Klinkneryille lt
was not poetic enough. and so the town
was divided against itself. When a post
Office was established the fight waNel
warm, but klinkner carried the day.
and it was named Klinkneryille.
But here the red rubber stamp man
made a mistake. He ISSUED an aiFer-
Using card that dealt with the personal
appearance Of Grover Cleveland and his
family affairs. This was seized with
ayidity by those who wanted the name
changed. Copies OF the card were sent
20 the President, and almost before the
postofhce had been established The name
was changed 20 Golden Gate.
Then kllnkner put up a sign on every
lot he owned. "This is Klinkneryilie
He strung immense signs across the main
streets and placarded Oakland and tine
surrounding country Wit little signs
telling the distance 20 'klinkueryille
The fight ended when the Southern Pa
cihc Company changed the name OF their
station AT Golden Gate. and this broHr
Klinkner's heart. But there are sfNl
who know II only as Klinkneryille.
Klinker was a familiar figure ON th"
boats. and he carried for samples badges
reading, ~"Poundmaster OF Klinknerfille'
and Chief OF Police OF klinknerfis-.
for he was mayor. city council. and ~
cook. the crew. and the captain bold ot
the little settlement.-San Francisco A
aminer.