MICHAEL LENZEN
Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: HUMBEL, PFAU, JEAUTROUT,
painter and contractor for painting, residence No. 279 Park Avenue, has been in San Jose and actively connected with its interests since 1863. He was born in Prussia in 1840, and raised on his father's farm, attending school until seventeen years of age, when he came to the United States with his parents, Nicholas and Gertrude (Morsch) Lenzen, also natives of Prussia, and located in Chicago in 1857, where he remained until 1862. While in Chicago he learned the printing business, and worked at it while there. In 1862 his father removed with his family to California, and settled in Santa Clara, where he remained a year and then came to San Jose, where the family have since lived. The subject of this sketch has followed his trade in San Jose since that time, and has had contracts for the largest buildings in San Jose and Santa Clara County, and is the most prominent pioneer painting contractor in the city. He has sold out his interests except his real estate in the vicinity of his home.
He was married, in 1864, to Miss Maria Ferena Humbel, a native of Switzerland. They have five children: Caroline; now the wife of Charles Pfau, of San Jose; Margaret, now the wife of Henry Jeautrout, of San Jose; Henrietta, a graduate of the High School of San Jose; William, now in the graduating class of the High School; and George Ernst, now attending the San Jose public schools. Mr. Lenzen's father died in 1886 and his mother in 1876, and are both buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Lenzen is a
member of the Independent Order of Red Men, the Ancient Order of Druids, the A.
O. U. W., the Turn-Verein, and of the Germania Club of San Jose. Is a Republican
in national politics, but supports the best men for local offices.
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.
Pg. 621-622
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHY PROJECT