Among the enterprising young businessmen of Boise is the subject of this review, who is now at the head of an extensive wholesale and retail grocery house. His marked ability has done much to promote the commercial activity upon which the welfare of every community depends, and in trade circles he enjoys an Unassailable reputation.
Almost his entire life has been passed in Idaho, and he is numbered among the native sons of California, his birth having occurred in San Francisco, on the 6th of April 1861. His father, David Spiegel, is numbered among the pioneers of California, Oregon and the Gem of the Mountains. He was born in Poland, Russia, in 1831, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in San Francisco when it was only a small town, where he began merchandising. In 1863 he came on foot to the Boise Basin, and in the manner of the old-time peddlers sold his goods throughout the new territory, traveling through the wild region when it was infested with savage Indians and white men ready to commit any crime for the sake of booty. Many times Mr. Spiegel walked from Umatilla to Boise Basin in all kinds of weather, sleeping in his blankets on the ground and enduring many discomforts: but he persevered in his labors, and when civilization had founded enterprising towns he was ready to take his place among the progressive merchants in these new centers of commerce.
In 1867 he came to Boise and opened a fruit and cigar store. Prices were very high in those days; he often paid ten dollars a box for apples. By close attention to business he secured an excellent patronage, constantly extending the field of his labors until he became one of the enterprising general merchants of Boise. After some years he was joined by his son George, and together they carried on the general store until there seemed to be a demand for a wholesale and retail grocery, and the present enterprise was accordingly inaugurated. For many years David Spiegel was prominently associated with the commercial interests of the capital city and did much to promote the business activity. The well deserved success which ultimately crowned his labors enabled him to put aside business cares in 1898, and since that time he has traveled extensively along the Pacific coast, visiting the scenes of his early ventures.
He was married in San Francisco, during the days of his early residence there, to Miss Rosa Dux a native of Bohemia, Austria, and of their children we may state that Leo is also engaged in the grocery business in this city. The sons are active businessmen, and Joseph is now in the employ of Franklin MacVeagh & Company, of Chicago. The daughters are Fannie, now the wife of Charles Stoltz; Julia, wife of Lee Hirchland; and Rebecca, wife of Leo P. Greenbaum. The mother departed this life in 1895, at the age of fifty-seven years.
George Spiegel was reared and educated in Boise, and in 1890 became associated with his father in the ownership of a general mercantile establishment. It was at his suggestion that the business was merged into the wholesale and retail grocery, of which he is now sole proprietor. He is a businessman of great energy and executive ability, following the most systematic methods, and conducting his store along the line of the strictest commercial ethics. His trade extends throughout Idaho and into Oregon and Nevada. His earnest desire to please his patrons, as well as his known reliability, has been an important feature in his success and made him one of the leading merchants of Boise.
Socially Mr. Spiegel is a Mason, having taken the three preliminary degrees in Boise Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M., in 1882, since which time he has been exalted to the degree of a Royal Arch Mason. He is a member of the Beth Israel congregation, and in politics is a Republican. During the years of his residence in Boise he has steadily worked his way upward to a position among her most prominent merchants.