Theodore Reiser President of the City Council of Anaheim, was born in the city of Lahr, Baden, Germany, September 7, 1829, and after receiving a good education he began at the age of fourteen years to learn the art of wine-making on the Rhine, and served three years. He traveled and worked at his trade in Switzerland, and at the age of nineteen years he came to New York and worked at the cooper’s trade four years. In the spring of 1854 he came to San Francisco by steamer, and was employed in a brewery three years. Next he went to Tuolumne County and established a brewery there, and remained there until September, 1860, when he came to Anaheim, being one of the original settlers here in the German colony. He at once built a fine brick house, at a cost of over $6,000, which is an ornament to the place. He made the first wine and distilled the first brandy ever made in Anaheim. This business he carried on with wonderful success until the death of the vineyards some two years ago.
To his energy, enterprise and public spirit Anaheim is greatly indebted. By his means and influence he has supported every enterprise which has had for its object the upbuilding of the town; correspondingly his fellow-citizens have recognized his merit by electing him to nearly all of the important offices of the municipalities. Two years ago he contributed liberally to the building of the new Hotel del Campo, which was ‘milt at a cost of $40,000. He also built the music hall on Centre street, a structure worthy of any city. One can read his social standing on his card, thus: Theodore Reiser, W. M. Anaheim Lodge, No. 207, F. & A. M.; Signet Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M.; Los Angeles Council, No. 11, R. & S. M.; Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 9, K. T.; Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.” In 1874 he was appointed Deputy Grand Lecturer for the twenty-fourth Masonic district, and in 1875 he was reappointed for the twenty-eighth district of California.
Mr. Reiser was married in San Francisco in 1857 to Adelheit Thiele, a native of Saxony, Germany. They have no children, and are living quietly in their beautiful home at the corner of Olive and Santa Ana streets.