Well known social leader and Philanthropist. Born on family estate, "The Grove" at Oakland, Ca. Graduated, University of California, Berkeley, 1882, with the highest honors in Chemistry. After graduation he went to Heidelberg, Germany, where he received his PhD in Chemistry. He married in Utrecht, Holland, Wilhelmine Henriette Suermondt. In 1886, they came to the United States and settled in New York where five children were born. James Leon owned a paint factory in Carteret, New York. They also had a summer house at White Lake, New York. In 1904 they left New York to go to California so James could manage the large estate left him by his father as well as to live at "The Grove" the de Fremery family home in Oakland. He was President of the de Fremery Wharf and Land Company in Oakland and of the James de Fremery Company, an importing business in San Francisco. Member of Pacific Union Club. Gave family estate to city of Oakland to be used as a park, now known as de Fremery Park. In 1911 at the age of 53 years, he developed stomach cancer and had an operation performed, then had an acute attack of pneumonia and died at the Adler Sanitarium in San Francisco.
Well known social leader and Philanthropist. Born on family estate, "The Grove" at Oakland, Ca. Graduated, University of California, Berkeley, 1882, with the highest honors in Chemistry. After graduation he went to Heidelberg, Germany, where he received his PhD in Chemistry. He married in Utrecht, Holland, Wilhelmine Henriette Suermondt. In 1886, they came to the United States and settled in New York where five children were born. James Leon owned a paint factory in Carteret, New York. They also had a summer house at White Lake, New York. In 1904 they left New York to go to California so James could manage the large estate left him by his father as well as to live at "The Grove" the de Fremery family home in Oakland. He was President of the de Fremery Wharf and Land Company in Oakland and of the James de Fremery Company, an importing business in San Francisco. Member of Pacific Union Club. Gave family estate to city of Oakland to be used as a park, now known as de Fremery Park. In 1911 at the age of 53 years, he developed stomach cancer and had an operation performed, then had an acute attack of pneumonia and died at the Adler Sanitarium in San Francisco.
