Later he established a general mercantile store, and in addition to dealing in such goods as are usually found in an establishment of that character he also purchased the gold dust from the miners, carrying on business in both Placer and Nevada counties. In this way he made money rapidly for a time, but a disastrous fire occurred, in which he lost about thirty thousand dollars. He then turned his attention to teaming, owning a number of large trams which he used in hauling ties for the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In this connection he was associated with the firm of Crocker, Stanford, Huntington & Hopkins. They desired him to take stock in the enterprise and join them in the building of the road, but he thought it too great an undertaking to build a trans-continental line, believing that they could never raise money enough to complete it and that the effort would therefore end in failure.

Mr. Kaiser next turned his attention to freighting between Sacramento and Virginia City and Austin, Nevada. He next established his home in Churchill county, where he had a large store, his goods being hauled by his own teams from the nearest railroad point, which was Wadsworth. He also became a member of the land and water company owning a large amount of land, and in partnership with Senator W. W. Williams he became engaged in the sheep and cattle business, raising large numbers of cattle, sheep and also horses in Churchill county. He recognized the business possibilities of this section of the country and took advantage of them. His straightforward business methods commended him to the confidence and support of the public, and in his various undertakings he met with gratifying success. The trade in his store reached a large annual figure, and as a stockdealer he also prospered. The year 1896 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Kaiser in Reno. Here he purchased a nice home in which his widow still resides, and having remodeled the property, he transformed it into a commodious and delightful residence. Here he became interested in the management of the Water, Light & Power Company, in which he was largely interested before adopting Reno as a place of residence, being owner of much of the stock, and was then elected its president. He was also interested in the Washoe County Bank and occupied a very enviable position in financial circles. He possessed tireless energy, strong purpose and ready adaptability, and carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. Both as a citizen and business man he occupied a prominent and influential position, and during his active career he aided largely in the promotion of the general welfare along lines of substantial progress and improvement. A man of broad sympathy and marked generosity, he did much to help the poor and needy, and was so lenient with those whom he assisted financially that he lost a fortune by not collecting the debts which were due him. However, his kindnesses have endeared him to many and developed in him a character whose sterling qualities are well worthy of emulation. As a husband and father, too, he was most loving, kind and indulgent, and his many admirable traits endeared him to all who knew him.

In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Kaiser and Miss Emma Beamer, a native of Canada and a daughter of Esquire John Wesley Beamer. who was a noted magistrate for many years in Canada. On her mother's side, Mrs. Kaiser is a direct descendant of a queen of Holland. Mrs. Kaiser was highly educated and was a very successful teacher hoth in California and Nevada. She won the highest grade certificates both in her native country and in the United States, and her culture and innate refinement have made her a valued factor in social circles. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser was blessed with two children, but only one is now living: Charles E., who was born in San Rafael, California, on the 9th of June, 1881. He is now engaged in the sheep business in Elko county, Nevada, the personal supervision of which, after his father's death, necessitated his withdrawal from Stanford College. He is a most promising young man, already developing the many noble traits of character which are his by right of birth.

Mr. Kaiser gave his political allegiance to the Republican party, of which he was a very stanch advocate, and upon its ticket he was elected and served for twenty consecutive years in the Nevada state senate, throughout which time he put forth every effort in his power to advance the best interests of the commonwealth and of his constituents. He departed this life on the 18th of October, 1901, and was laid to rest in the Odd Fellows cemetery, where his wife has erected a fine mausoleum to his memory. Notwithstanding the many losses which he met through his leniency to those who owed him, his business judgment and management were yet so good that he left his wife and son in very comfortable circumstances, and Mrs. Kaiser is now managing the estate in a most capable and satisfactory manner.

No compendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential limitations will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and accomplishments of the honored subject of this sketch-a man who was remarkable in the breadth of his wisdom, in his indomitable perseverance, his strong individuality, and yet one whose entire life had not one esoteric phase, being an open scroll, inviting the closest scrutiny. Truly, his were "massive deeds and great" in one sense, and yet his entire life accomplishments but represented the result of the fit utilization of the innate talent which was his, and the directing of his efforts in those lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination led the way. There was in Mr. Kaiser a weight of character, a native sagacity, a far-seeing judgment and a fidelity of purpose that commanded the respect of all. A man of indefatigable enterprise and fertility of resource, he carved his name deeply on the record of the political and business history of the state, which owes much of its advancement to his efforts.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904