Samuel L. Kreider was a prominent businessman in Los Angeles, California. Kreider was born in San Francisco, California, July 4, 1882. He was the son of Frank L. and Minnie M. Kreider. His father was a veteran of the Civil War and a past commander of Stockton Post of the G.A.R. of Los Angeles. The family moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 1887 where Samuel L. Kreider graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1899. Between 1900 and 1916, Kreider worked for the Independent Steamship Company, Southern Pacific Railroad, Grand Trunk Railroad, and the Salt Lake Railroad in both freight and passenger work. By March 1916, he worked for himself as a managing agent with many offshore lines such as the S.S. Lines, French Line, Toyo Kisen Kaisha, William Line, and others. He was instrumental in placing the Los Angeles Harbor on the same basis with other Pacific ports in the matter of transcontinental export foreign rates. He specifically had close ties with Japanese companies travelling to Japan a couple of times. He also aided the formation of the Los Angeles Pacific Navigation Company. However, by 1931, Kreider became unemployed. He used his time to research as a hobby. By 1932, he switched career paths. Between 1932 through 1938, he worked as the Executive Secretary at the Citizens Public School Committee, as a Promotion Director in the Pasadena Community Playhouse, and as a Master of Ceremonies at the KFAC radio broadcast. Nevertheless, by 1939, he returned to the trade business before landing a job in the federal General Accounting Office in Los Angeles. When he retired, he returned to his hobby: research. He was interested in California history of early American pioneers and tried publishing many of his stories.
Along with his career as tradesman, Kreider was a well-know community man. He was a three-time commander of the Stanton Camp, Sons of Veterans. In 1920, he was also the chairman of the Foreign Trade Committee of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. He was affiliated with all Masonic bodies including the Scottish Rite Consistory, and the Shrine, and was a member of the Rotary Club, Los Angeles Athletic Club, Chamber of Commerce, Automobile Club of Southern California, World Traders of Los Angeles, and the Transportation Club of San Francisco. One of his most prestigious affiliations was with the Los Angeles High School Alumni where he served as president of the association for over ten consecutive years. In terms of his personal life, Samuel L. Kreider married Florence Gardiner Moore on July 24, 1919. She was born and raised in Los Angeles graduating from Los Angeles High School in 1899. She was a member of the Friday Morning Club and the Playground Commission of Los Angeles. She was active in all educational and charitable activities in Los Angeles. It is unknown whether Florence Moore Kreider and Samuel L. Kreider had children. However, Mr. Kreider passed away in 1954.
From the description of Papers of Samuel L. Kreider, 1637-1953 (bulk 1856-1953). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122545704
