Bio-Sawyers
SURNAMES: HENDRICKSEN, CARLSON, McCOMBS,

 An ambitious university student who is combining business and student life as one of the proprietors of the California Restaurant at 530 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, is Gustaf M. Liljenstein. He gives his personal attention to the operation and management of this business, which is one of the most popular and best patronized eating houses of the city. A young man of high moral character and lofty ideals, he is resolved to make the most of himself, and keeps up with his classes at the same time that he is shouldering the responsibilities of a successful restaurant business. He was born at Frederickstad, Norway, August 8, 1896. When one year old he was taken by his parents, the Rev. Jonas P. and Augusta (Hendricksen) Liljenstein, both natives of Sweden, back to Sweden, where the father became the pastor of a Swedish Congregational Church. He was seven years old when his parents left their native land and removed to the United States and settled in New London, Conn., where his father has since been the pastor of the Swedish Congregational Church.

G. M. was educated in the public schools of New London and was graduated from high school with the class of 1916. Of the seven children in his family, our subject and a sister, Mrs. Carlson, the wife of Emil Carlson, a naval officer residing in San Diego, are the only ones in California. In 1918 Mr. Liljenstein enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served at the submarine base at New London and on the U. S. S. Fulton. He was in the service fourteen months and was honorably discharged as yeoman of the first class at New London in 1919. He was determined to get a higher education, so he came to Palo Alto during 1919 and entered the Stanford University, pursuing the chemical engineering course. So keen was his determination to go through college that he began working as a waiter; then the opportunity came in February 1920 to buy an interest in the California Restaurant with W. C. McCombs and they have been successfully conducting it ever since. Mr. Liljenstein is a member of the professional fraternity known as the Alpha Chi Sigma.

From Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California,  published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 1459

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