Charles William Wendte (1844–1931): Influential Unitarian Minister

Rev. Charles Wendte

PLOT 2

Charles William Wendte was a significant figure in American Unitarianism, as well as a writer, author, editor of religious hymns, and an advocate for woman suffrage.

Born in Germany, Wendte immigrated to the United States as a child. He pursued theological studies and was ordained as a Unitarian minister.

Wendte's contributions to the religious and social landscape were broad and impactful. He served several congregations across the United States, including in Chicago, Cincinnati, Boston, Rhode Island, and Los Angeles. In 1886, he led the First Unitarian Church of Oakland through its early growth and the construction of its still-iconic building, designed by noted architect Walter Mathews. The site is a registered California Historical Landmark.

First Unitarian Church in Oakland

 

Wendte was deeply involved in social reform activities, particularly those concerning peace, education, and racial equality. His efforts extended to support for various progressive causes, reflecting his commitment to applying religious principles to solve societal issues. He was also involved in religious education and youth work, contributing to the development of programs and materials that would nurture the spiritual and moral development of young people within the Unitarian faith.

On June 22, 1880, he offered the opening invocation at the 1880 Democratic National Convention, calling the United States "an asylum and a refuge for the distressed and downtrodden throughout the world," and praying that "all sectional divisions and differences may cease forever among us."

He retired to Berkeley in 1926.

Raymond Baker (1878-1935): Director of US Mint

 

Raymond Baker's NY Times obit

Raymond Baker was a wealthy United States businessman who was Director of the United States Mint from 1917 to 1922. 

He was born in Eureka, Nevada on November 22, 1877 to George Washington Baker and the former Mary Agnes Hall. His father was the lead counsel to the Southern Pacific Railroad and his brother Cleve Baker served as Nevada's Attorney General.  Raymond Baker attended the University of Nevada at Reno and then Stanford University.

After college, Baker became involved in gold mining, being one of the first investors active in Rawhide, Nevada. He became a rich man when he sold his claims and moved East, where he had a brief romantic relationship with the scandalous British romance novelist Elinor Glyn.

Baker had a longstanding interest in prison reform. In 1911, with his brother Cleve Baker serving as Nevada Attorney General, Raymond T. Baker became the warden of the Nevada State Prison, a position he held from Februar 1911 to May 1912.

In 1915, Baker traveled to Russia to become confidential secretary to San Franciscan banker George Marye, Jr., who was serving as the United States Ambassador to Russia. 

Baker family mausoleum

 

Upon his return from Russia, President Woodrow Wilson named him Director of the United States Mint in 1917. Baker subsequently held this office from March 1917 until March 1922. During World War I, the U.S. Mint played a critical role in the production of metal medals and other items needed for the war effort. Baker oversaw these operations, ensuring that the Mint contributed effectively to the national needs during the war.

Baker was involved in the issuance and promotion of commemorative coins. These coins often celebrated significant historical events and helped raise public interest in numismatics (the study or collection of currency). He also advocated for the role of the arts in minting, supporting the use of high-quality and aesthetically pleasing designs for coins. This was part of a broader movement during the early 20th century to improve the artistic quality of American coinage.

On June 12, 1918, he married Margaret Vanderbilt, the widow of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, who died aboard the RMS Lusitania. His best man at the wedding was Nevada's United States Senator Key Pittman. The couple divorced after a decade of marriage.

During the 1926 Senate elections, Baker sought election as United States Senator from Nevada on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by the Republican incumbent, Tasker Oddie.

Baker died of coronary thrombosis in Washington D.C. on April 28, 1935, three months after suffering a heart attack.

Sources: Wikipedia, NY Times, Find a Grave

James Yimm Lee (1920-1972): Mentor and Roommate of Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee

James Yimm Lee

 PLOT 12, LOT 280, GRAVE 563

James Yimm Lee was an American martial arts pioneer, teacher, author, and publisher. He was a welder in the shipyards by profession and a U.S. Army veteran, fighting in both the Battle of Luzon and Battle of Mindanao campaigns during WWII.

He is known for being a mentor, teacher and friend of the late Bruce Lee, being only one of three individuals to be personally certified by Bruce Lee to teach his martial arts. During the period known to martial arts aficionados as the Oakland Years (1962-1965), the two men lived and trained together, and their mutual collaboration evolved into the now-famous fighting art known as Jeet Kune Do. 

James Lee became well known for his Iron Palm specialty, and would routinely break bricks at demonstrations. He was the first to publish an Iron Palm book in America in 1957.

James Yimm Lee was also an accomplished weightlifter and helped get Bruce Lee started in a weight-training program, which subsequently resulted in his sculptured physique.

Lee died at age 52 from lung cancer caused by welding fumes. 

The two men were not related.
 

Hans Peter Nielsen (1859-1945): Inventor of fog-spray fire hose nozzle

PLOT 2

Nielsen in his biplane & his fire nozzle

 

Hans Nielsen was born in Denmark in 1859, where he worked as a watchmaker. A year after marrying his wife Hansine in 1883, the family immigrated to the United States. They first settled in San Francisco before making their permanent home in Alameda. 

He is best remembered in Alameda, for being the city's first paid fireman in 1890. He worked as the engineer on the horse-powered Encinal Steamer #1, where co-workers marveled at how quickly he could get steam into the pumper (using a little primer of gunpowder!).

Nielsen is credited with being the inventor of the fog-spray fire hose nozzle used to extinguish oil and gas fires. The nozzle covers a greater surface area, allowing for a greater rate of heat absorption, which speeds its transformation into the steam that smothers the fire by displacing its oxygen.

In 1901, Nielsen left the Fire Department to become the first engineer at the Alameda Electric Light Plant. Alameda Municipal Power is the oldest municipal electrical utility west of the Mississippi, and from 1887 until 1902 provided Alameda with electric street lights. In 1902, the Alameda Electric Light Plant sub-station also began to offer electrical power to homes and businesses.

Nielsen dabbled in a number of other things, including automobile repair, construction of a biplane, inventing a "releasing device" for hitched animals, a patent for an Acetylene Gase Generator and pioneering new caster wheel designs. 

Grave of Hans Nielsen and his estranged wife Lily

 

Nielsen is buried with his second wife Lily Palmer, despite a contentious divorce proceeding. She was a former boarder of his and was 31 years his junior. The divorce was never finalized and she is listed as his wife in his obituary.

Sources: Oakland Tribune; Find a Grave; Wikipdedia

Hubert Palmer Game (1892-1918): Aviator who fell to his death

Hubert Palmer Game was born in San Francisco, California on March 13, 1892. 

He attended Cogswell Polytechnic College in San Francisco for two years before enrolling at the University Farm School (now UC Davis). He completed a two-year course in military service, before enlisting for service in World War I on September 15, 1917. He was awarded the Victory Medal for his service. 

After training at the School of Military Aeronautics in Berkeley, California, he was was assigned to Call Field outside of Wichita Falls, Texas. Tragically, he fell to his death on February 2, 1918 at Call Field. 

His funeral included a detachment of infantry from the Presidio, who served as a military escort. Twenty-two Berkeley classmates served as pallbearers. 

Sources: UC Davis; Oakland Tribune; Find a Grave