| Notes |
- History of San Jose, California
(Pages 169-170)
Oliver Ambrose Hale was a typical Californian in the best meaning of that term. He was first and last and always a pioneer, a man of progress, in business as in public affairs; a man who was never afraid to try anything once and who never clung to any method or any tradition simply because it had served in the past. As one of the founders of Hale Brothers department stores, he also became one of the founders of the great chain store system which is to be found everywhere today. Born at Phoenix in the state of New York on March 18, 1852, he died in San Francisco on July 19, 1907, leaving behind him a great momument of success and a great multitude of friends. O.A. Hale came of sturdy New England stock. The first Hale in America came over in the year 1636 and settling in New England won his way with that resource and determination which has been characteristic of the Hales ever since. Marshal Hale of Phoenix, New York, was the father of O.A. Hale, and Clarissa Paine Hale, whose mother was a Brewster of the Plymouth Brewsters was his mother. His mother died shortly after he was born, and when he was still quite a child the family made its first migration westward, settling in Michigan where Marshal Hale, his father, engaged in the lumber business. It was in 1876, when young Oliver was twenty-four, that the Hale family came to California. The father had married again and the three brothers who are still so prominent in Californian life, P.C. Hale, Marshal Hale and R.B. Hale, came with them. They had a great merchandising idea, the idea of the chain store, and it was not long before Marshal Hale and his young son, "O.A.", and the store system developed rapidly. It was not long before stores had been organized in San Diego, Stockton, Salinas, Petaluma, Los Angeles, and Sacramento - the first drygoods chain store organization in California. The parent store, in San Jose, was established at 142 South First Street in a store building 17 x 40 feet. Four other brothers came into the organization later, and, in 1888, two years after the opening of the parent store; the branches mentioned in the last paragraph were organized. Business traditions have reorganized the group until today there are five great department stores, one in San Jose, two in San Francisco, one in Oakland, and one in Sacramento. O.A. Hale, had however, many other inerests besides which centered around his chain stores. He was essentially a man of affairs and high ideals. He was interested in banking and was strongly of the opinion that chain banking, as it obtains today in Canada and Great Britain, would be the solution of many difficulties. He was vice-president of the Central Trust Company (afterwards the Anglo-California Trust Co.) of San Francisco, and director of eleven banks, including the National Bank of the Pacific, the Petaluma National Bank, and the First National Bank of San Jose. Railroads were an interest as well, and he became president of the San Jose and Los Gatos Interurban Railroad, organized the interurban system in Santa Clara County, and was president of the Peninsular Railroads. Mr. Hale never sought public office but his ability and integrity as a business man obtained for him the trusteeship of the State Hospital for the insane at Agnew, near San Jose. Governor Waterman appointed him and he continued to serve under Governors Markham, Budd, Gage, Pardee, and Gillett. The value of the Hale's appointment became known at the time of the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. With his own business in ruins and his home threatened by fire, Mr. Hale answered the call of duty. He was one of the first officials to reach the asylum. He assumed charge of the rescue work and aided the injured and ill. His only other political position was that of Councilman of the City of San Jose. His club affiliations included the Union League Club of San Francisco and the Elks Club. His wife was Mary Bassett, a native of San Jose, and a graduate of the State Normal of San Jose. Their daugher is Clarissa, the wife of Hugh A. Studdert-Kennedy.
The Valley of Heart's Delight
O.A. Hale Department Store
This representative business man of California is a native of New York, having been born in Phoenix, of that State, in 1852. His parents, Marshall and Prudence Hale, removed to Schoolcraft, Michigan, in 1867, and here young Hale attended the usual school in that section. Coming with his parents to California in 1876, with his father and brother, he established a dry-goods business in San Jose, having previously, in New York and Michigan, been engaged in general merchandising. They opened in San Jose, at Nos. 142 and 146 South First Street, in a store 17 x 40 feet in dimensions, employing one clerk, and a boy to sweep and make himself generally useful. Later, four other brothers, joined the firm, which now (1888) has seven stores, one each in San Jose, Stockton, Sacramento, Salinas, Petaluma, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and are doing probably the most extensive business, in their line, in the State outside of San Francisco. They deal entirely in dry and furnishing goods, some of the stores adding boots and shoes, and absolute sales in excess of a million and a quarter dollars per year are made. The firm imports goods directly from Europe through the importing agencies, one brother having an office in New York to attend to the purchasing and forwarding of goods. In their stores they have but one price, and deal on a strictly cash basis, all goods being marked in plain figures, and a child can buy at the same price as an expert. The firm is doing a large mailing business, orders being received for goods from all parts of the coast. Mr. Hale's success in business is not a phenomenon, nor a question of luck, but is simply the inevitable result of energy, foresight, and push, applied to his business upon a basis of strict honor, integrity, and square dealing. The result, from the forces in operation, is as certain as a simple problem in mathematics.
In 1880 Mr. Hale was married to Miss Mary Bassett, a native of California, whose parents were among the pioneers of Santa Clara County, having come across the plains from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 1855. Mrs. Hale is a gradute of the California State Normal School, and, previous to her marriage, taught in the San Jose public schools. One child has been born to this marriage, Clarissa J., born in 1883.
In 1887 Mr. Hale was elected Alderman for the city of San Jose, and having been appointed Chairman of the Finance Committee, discovered a shortage in the city's cash, thereby saving to the city about $3,500. He has brought his business experience and ability to bear on the city's financial interests with the very best results. He is still a member of the Board of Alderman. He is also a member of the A.O.U.W., and always in the front rank for improvements of all kinds.
Evening News
San Jose, California
Saturday, July 20, 1907
The Sudden Death of O.A. Hale
A Well Known Merchant Passes Away After Brief Illness
The sudden death of O.A. Hale in San Francisco at an early hour this morning, was a shock to the entire community, in which he has made his home for many years, and where he was well known and highly respected. The news of Mr. Hale's illness was followed in a few hours by the report that his condition was so serious that there was little chance of recovery. It was stated in the "News" yesterday afternoon that the patient was sinking. It is difficult for those intimately associated with Mr. Hale in a business way, to realize that he is dead, for it was but a few days ago that he was at his office, and about town, seemingly in his usual good health. Everything that medical skill could do was done to save him. He realized, during the last few hours of his life, that death was near and met it in the philosophical manner that was characteristic of the man. He felt that death was inevitable and with words of cheer to his sorrowing wife and daughter, he closed his eyes in the last sleep and prepared to meet his Maker. The silver cord of a well spent life was closed; the golden bowl of an honorable and unselfish career was broken and the immortal spirit of this just man, made perfect, passed into the Eternal Kingdom.
At 2:50 this morning at the Hahnemann Hospital in San Francisco, O.A. Hale passed away.
Mr. Hale was taken ill on Monday and the following day was taken to San Francisco where his affliction was diagnosed as appendicitis.
On Tuesday an operation was performed and the appendix was removed but it was ascertained that the malady had progressed beyond the stage when an operation would avail and it was announced that recovery was a matter of grave doubt.
Friday the patient grew gradually weaker and his heart failed to respond to stimulatives. Last evening it was announced that the chances were against his recovery and early this morning, in the conviction of approaching death, Mr. Hale, who retained his mentality to the last, bade good bye to the relatives and friends who were gathered about his bedside.
After a brave fight for life Mr. Hale breathed his last at 2:50 a.m. retaining consciousness until the very end.
Old New England Family
O.A. Hale was born in Phoenix, New York in 1852. He was the son of Marshall and Prudence Hale and was descended from an old prominent New England family.
When Mr. Hale was fifteen years of age his parents removed to Schoolcraft, Michigan, where he completed his education in the public schools and assisted his father and brothers in conducting a large general store.
In 1876 Mr. Hale came with his parents to San Jose where a general store was established on a small scale at 143 and 146 South First street, a site which has been occupied by Mr. Hale continuously from that day to the present.
On A Small Scale
The store that was originally established was unpretentious employing only one clerk and a boy beside the proprietors, but the business methods employed by Mr. Hale and his associates soon had their effect and the business rapidly forged to the front until all competitors were outdistanced and the store had grown over almost half a block of ground with a force of hundreds of employees.
While Mr. Hale was devoting his energies and abilities to building up the business in this city, his brothers were putting into effect the same principles in other cities throughout the state.
Every large commerical center in the central section was invaded and stores were successfully conducted at Stockton, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, Petaluma and Los Angeles as well as in San Jose.
Leading Merchant
With rapid strides the Hale family arose to an enviable position in the commercial world until at present the Hale stores are recognized as models of equipment and examples of the application of advanced principles of merchandising.
Of late years Mr. Hale, who had witnessed the successful establishment of his mercantile business had looked elsewhere for the application of his remarkable business abilities. While devoting a portion of his time to the immense business he had left a great amount of detail to assistants and had thus been free to direct the destinies of the San Jose and Los Gatos Interurban railroad of which he was the president.
Keen Business Insight
In this departure the same success attended him and it was largely to his insight and acumen that the interurban system has become what it is today.
Other enterprises in which he engaged also attested his judgment and keen insight and it has become a matter of general repute that whatever Mr. Hale undertook in a business way was certain of a rich return.
To account for Mr. Hale's great success in his life work it was only necessary to know the man. Early in life Mr. Hale formulated certain principles by which his entire business career was guided. These principles were founded upon his oberservation of the successful methods of others and upon his own sound judgment. To them he adhered with an unfailing consistency and devotion.
Married Native Daughter
Every department of this great bsiness moved in the even groove of method and system. By this plan was obtained a maximum of result with a minimum of loss or inefficiency and thus gradually was built up one of the best conducted and most profitable mercantile establishments on the coast. Of all the Hale stores none was better managed or more profitable in comparison than was the local institution which stands today as a monument to the ability of its founder and builder.
While engrossed in the activities of busiiness competition Mr. Hale found time to take a leading part in all matters of civic concern or enterprise.
He was public spirited, generous with advice or contribution, willingly to give freely of his time and energies for the common good of his fellow men. He had his own ideas of philanthropy based on rational, common sense view of the needs of others, and he generously carried out his plan of charity.
Organized Great System
He helped thousands by giving them the opportunity to better themselves. He was a keen judge of human nature and his charity was seldom misapplied. His business and his philanthropy were closely allied and to both were applied well founded principles which assured their unfailing effectiveness.
In 1880 Mr. Hale was married to Miss Mary Bassett, a native of this state, whose parents were among the pioneers of Santa Clara county. One child, Clarissa J. Hale, was born to them soon after their marriage.
In Common School
Mr. Hale never sought public office, although he served two terms in the Common Council at a time when he felt that he could thus accomplish something for the welfare of the city. During his term of office he applied his business experience to the city's financial interest with the best results and the present municipal methods are due in part to his suggestions.
For the past four years Mr. Hale has been a member of the Board of Managers of the Agnew Asylum for the Insane.
Socially Mr. Hale was a genial and agreeable companion with a fund of pleasant reminiscence and anecdote and a constant word of good cheer.
The body of Mr. Hale will arrive in this city on the 9:40 train and will be conveyed to the family home on South Second street from whence the service will be held on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Mr. Hale was a member of the local lodge of Elks and prominent in the formation of the lodge in this city.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1852 - 1907 (55 years)