The record-union., 1898-11-26
An Old MERCHANT DIES.
DEMISE oF COLUMBUS WATER
HOUSE.
senior Member of the O1d-Estab-
ished Firm OF Waterhouse
& Lester.

A telephone message was received
yesterday from the Big Dipper mine at
AoWa Hill in Placer County, stating
that Columbus Waterhouse Of the
pioneer firm Of Waterhouse & Lester OF
this city and San Francisco, had died
there, supposedly from heart failure.
Mr.. Waterhouse had been al the mine
about week. He was apparently in
good health when he left San Francisco,
and his sudden death proved great
shock to his family and many friends
Seymour Waterhouse sent word that
ne would leave Iowa Hill last night
Tor San Francisco with the body.
Mr.. Waterhouse leaves widow, two
sons and a daughter to mourn his loss.
Edison w. Waterhouse is Vice President
of the firm of Waterhouse IL Lester,
while Seymour Waterhouse holds the
position Of Secretary. The daughter
was formerly Mrs. D. S. Dorm. and now
resides in Paris. Mr. WaterEouse had
brother in San Francisco, and was an
uncle of Clarence Waterhouse Of the
Well-known racing firm Of Burns q
Waterhouse. The family home is at
Z2l3 Howard street, San Francisco.
Mr.. Waterhouse was born in Addison
County, VT, on September 3. 1873 He
was raised as a mechanic, and learned
the trade of carriage manufacturer. He
spent few years of his youth in Mas
sachusetts. and shortly after lie had
attained his majority determined to go
to California. He sailed frcm New
York city on June 1, 1850, on the Cres-
cent City, which brought him to the
Isthmus. He sailed from Panama on
the first trip of the steamer Ncrtherner,
4 a..
16, 1850. He came to Sacramento, and
Went from here to Big Canyon, FL Do
rado County, where he was engaged in
Diamond Springs. which place be left
in May, 1862, for Sacramento, where
he resumed work at his trade.
Soon after the great Sacramento fire
of May, 1852, he returned TO Diamond
Springs, where he remained until July
3, 1858, when he became interested
with H. W, Bragg in this city, in the
manufacture of wagons, carriages and
stages, and the importing and selling
of carriage and wagon material. The
firm was known as II. W. Bragg &c Co,
In the fall of 1854 John ". Lester be-
came interested. In November, 1854,
Mr.. Waterhouse went East. and there
remained until 1850. buying and ship
ping goods to the house. In June,
1859, he was married and returned to
Sacramento in the following August,
Mr.. Lester taking his place in New
York.
After the flood of the winter Of 1861
81, Mr.. Waterhouse removed tc San
Francisco, where he established a
branch of the Sacramento house. Mr..
Bragg withdrew from the business in
the fall of 1865, and the firm then be-
came Waterhouse & Lester. both here
and at San Francisco.
Mr.. Lester died in 1869, but Mr.
Waterhouse continued the business
under the old name, until now it is one
OF the heaviest in its line on the coast.
About 1879 he added to the business the
manufacture of wheels, etc In 1885
Mr.. Waterhouse built the three-story
and basement store S0x16O. on street
in this pity, where the firms business is
conducted.
The San Francisco house was built
for the purposes of the business in
1879, and branch houses were later es-
tablished in Portland, Or, ard San Jose.
Mr. Waterhouse was for fifteen years
a Trustee of the Pacific Bank, and later
President Of the Peoples Home Saw
ings Bank. He bought the Big Dipper
Mine several years ago and was Pres
ident of the company at the time of his
death.
He was prominent in Masonic circles.
He affiliated with the order in 1859 and
became Knight Templar in 1865 He
served three terms as Master and in
1884 was Commander of Golden Gate
Commandery. No. Is. He was also
member of the Mission Lodge or Ma
sons