Bio-Sawyers
Surnames: MORTON, HALL, HANCOCK,
FREER, GERICHS
W. C. LEAN,
Proprietor of the W. C. Lean Jewelry Store, 99 South First Street, San
Jose,
Cal., has been engaged in the jewelry trade and business for the past
twenty-one years. The business of which
he is now the head, with its complete and comprehensive stock, was
established
in 1888, and until it was purchased by Mr. Lean in 1904 was known as
the H.
Morton Jewelry Company. The subsequent
change of ownership has placed it among the foremost of San Jose's
mercantile
enterprises, where the most exacting customer is assured of complete
satisfaction.
Although
born in
Virginia City, Nevada, May 26, 1874, his father, William C. Lean,
brought him
to California in early youth, barely five years old.
The elder Lean in his earlier days was a prospector among the
famous diamond mines of British South Africa, and upon coming to this
State
engaged in mining operations in Yuba County.
The
younger
Lean, after attending the public schools of San Jose, went to San
Francisco, in
which city he resided for ten years. He
entered the employ of A. I. Hall & Sons, wholesale jewelers of that
city,
and with diligent application to his duties was advanced to the
position of
salesman. Later he was traveling
representative for two years for Hancock & Freer, with a territory
covering
several of the Western States. This
position he held until 1904, whereupon he came to San Jose and
purchased the
present business.
On
June 16,
1903, he married Miss Louise Gerichs of San Jose. His
son, Richard, is five years old. He
manifests considerable interest in fraternal organizations,
and is a member of no less than twelve orders, among these being the
Masons,
Knights Templar, Shriners, Elks, Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World. He is also a member of San Jose Chamber of
Commerce and the Merchants' Association, having served as a member of
the Board
of Directors in the latter organization, as well as the Young Men's
Christian
Association.
Transcribed by Joseph Kral- researcher of Lean
Family
Davis' Commercial
Encyclopedia of the Pacific Southwest:
California, 1915, page 431.
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