SCHNEIDER, CAESAR

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 05:12:21 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, March 11, 1915
Page 1

Death Claims Honored Pioneer

The unsparing hand of death has again closed inexorably on one of San Rafael’s pioneers, and taken from the ranks of good men one who bore the unqualified admiration of every person who knew him.

John Jacob Schneider, a businessman, a husband and a father, left this life early Tuesday morning after an honorable career of 76 years, most of which was spent in this city. What more can be said of a man than that he was eminently successful in all three of these pursuits?

Since he came to San Rafael forty-seven years ago this month – in March 1868 – he had conducted his business along business lines, progressively and successfully. He was known from the Point Reyes lighthouse to Sausalito and was respected. Starting with a small barber shop on his arrival here, he gradually increased his scope until he owned the largest place of the kind in San Rafael, and to this was added later a general line of tobacconist supplies, and “Schneider’s” for years was a general headquarters for visitors from all parts of the county.

Mr. Schneider was ill about two weeks, at first with a cold; the affliction then developed symptoms that were alarming to the members of the family and the best medical aid possible was secured. This was unavailing; pneumonia, the dread foe of the aged, seized upon him and he answered the call quietly and in the circle of his family early Tuesday morning.

Mr. Schneider was born in Philadelphia in 1839. In that city he learned his trade. A few years after the gold rush he came to California and located in San Francisco, where he remained for a short time before coming to San Rafael. He served here for a number of terms as a member of the School Board.

The funeral will be held tomorrow in St. Raphael’s church at 9 o’clock, where requiem mass will be said. The interment will take place in Mt. Olivet cemetery.

The deceased leaves to mourn his loss a loving widow, Mrs. Margaret Schneider; a daughter, Miss May M. Schneider; three sons, John T., William B. and Daniel N. Schneider. One daughter, Mrs. Annie N. Caesar, has preceded her father to the next life. There are three grandchildren, Marie Caesar, Nullet and John Jacob Schneider Jr.