Williams-Brown Fruit Company

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Summary
Business

dried fruit packer
Main Location

San Francisco
Active

1894-

Williams-Brown Fruit Company was a San Francisco-based dried fruit packer or agent. The company was incorporated in February 1894 in San Francisco with $50,000 in capital stock[1]. Principals were Harry A. Williams, Charles G. Bonner, Donald Mackenzie, and W.H. Wright, all of San Francisco, and Nicholas G. Kittle of Fresno. Bonner ran packing houses in San Jose and the San Joaquin Valley. Kittle was a purchasing agent for Porter Brothers[2]. Mackenzie might be the owner of the San Jose Foundry and founder of the San Jose Water Company along with Bonner and A. Chabot of Oakland[3].

The company may actually have been the marketing agent or wholesaler for one or more dried fruit packers; an 1895 episode noted that workers had been solicited for the Bonner Packing raisin plant in Fresno, but pay was less than promised and lodgings were not available[4]. The article specifically refers to Williams-Brown as "this company's San Francisco agent."

Locations

Location Years Address Details
San Francisco 1895 116 California Street[5]
San Jose 1895 River St. at Ryland St. 1895 San Jose City Directory

References

  1. February 20, 1894 Sacramento Daily Union
  2. Nicholas G. Kittle Expires In Fresno: November 25, 1902 San Francisco Call. Kittle was the head of the "old-time mercantile firm of N. G. Kittle & Co. at the time of his death; he'd been a purchasing agent for Porter Brothers, and then purchasing manager for Johnson-Locke Mercantile Company. "He was an expert on dried fruits and his services were greatly in demand."
  3. When San Jose Was Young: Beginning of the Water Company. In September 15, 1917 San Jose Evening News.
  4. October 8, 1895 San Francisco Call
  5. October 8, 1895 San Francisco Call