HENRY C. AHLERS, importer and dealer in diamonds, solid gold watches,
and solid gold jewelry, conducts his business in the same rooms where
he established himself nine years ago, on the corner of Santa Clara and
First Streets, over the First National Bank of
San Jose. Here may be
met, at almost any hour of day, inspecting or purchasing, or having
former purchases reset or repaired, one of more of the solid people, or
of the Jeunesse foree, of Santa Clara County. Mr. Ahlers makes a
specialty of diamonds, fine jewelry, their setting and manufacture.
Realizing, while yet learning his business, that a reputation for
thoroughness and reliability was essential to success, also that there
was a higher grade of business support in his line, difficult to reach
but secure when once had, he kept these objects well in view. Opening
his rooms in July, 1879, more especially for the manufacture and repair
of fine jewelry, he gradually purchased a stock of goods suitable to
his class of customers, not handling any jewelry except that in solid
gold. Being an expert in the selection and setting of diamonds, his
patrons receive the benefit of his knowledge and judgment, all goods
being sold with an absolute guarantee, at a standard price to which a
fair profit is added. The successful diamond merchants of the world
have been invariably men unerring in selection of gems and
unquestionably reliable in their sale. In 1887 Mr. Ahlers carried a
stock of diamonds costing as high as $25,000. His watches are almost
exclusively of American manufacture, and from the best makers, among
them the Howard, Waltham, and Elgin Watches. When necessary, he also
manufactures any article of jewelry specially ordered, and carries no
jewelry or watches except those in solid gold. Buying all his diamonds
unmounted, he sets them in the latest styles or in any special style to
order. Some of the work on exhibition in Mr. Ahlers' establishment
shows an excellent taste and superb workmanship. There can be seen
diamonds varying from the small chip to the larger solitaire of purest
water.
A native of Germany, where he was born in 1858, he at an early age came
to America, engaging at once in learning the jewelry business, in which
he has remained continuously up to this time. Besides his jewelry
trade, Mr. Ahlers is largely interested in fruit-growing, having a half
interest with Mr. F. Brassy in an orchard of 200 acres, seven miles
from San Jose, and adjoining the well-known orchard of S. F. Lieb,
and the Pourtal vineyard on the Stevens Creek road. They have 160 acres
in prunes and forty acres in wine grapes just coming into bearing. He
and Mr. Brassy also own an addition to San Jose, consisting of sixty
lots on Alum Rock Avenue, near McLaughlin Avenue, called The Brassy
& Ahlers tract. There they have erected handsome residences for
themselves, and will sell lots only to those who will make
corresponding improvements. These gentleman deserve credit for the
valuable improvements in that neighborhood. They have also erected
another building of similar character to help start the movement of the
better class of residents in that direction, and purchased the lots on
the opposite side of the Alum Rock Avenue to prevent an inferior class
of buildings getting lodgment there. Mr. Ahlers has been indeed the
architect of his own fortunes. Starting in life with no capital but
that of ready hands, a clear head, and willing heart, he has while yet
young in years achieved a notable success, arising at first from a
thorough mastering of his business and a strict attention to it, and
later from the judicious investments afforded to his surplus capital in
this beautiful and prosperous valley.
Pen Pictures From The
Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated.
- Edited by H.S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company,
1888. transcribed by Roena Wilson , 380-381