Fred Dahnken is a son of Fred and Bridget
Dahnken, one of the prominent and representative families of the Bay region.
His father was a native of Germany, and his mother came from Ireland. At the
age of fifteen Mr. Dahnken's father left his native country and came to
America. He remained in New York for a few years and later decided to cast
his lot in the Golden West. He came to San Francisco via Panama route and
engaged in business for some years. Later he moved to Sherman Island, where
he followed farming, and in 1865 he located in Antioch. He followed the
draying business, and for thirty-five years, owing to his absolute
integrity, he filled the office of wharfinger, and while in this office he
was identified with the hotel interests of Antioch. He was especially active
in politics, and was a loyal supporter of the Democratic party; he served in
a creditable manner on the school board, and was city trustee for some
years. His death occurred in 1913. He was a broad-minded man, liberal in
thought and honorable in purpose, and always supported any progressive
measure that was for the benefit of his locality. His death was mourned by a
wide circle of friends. The mother of our subject passed away in 1915. In
the parents' family four children were born, two of whom died in infancy.
Henry, a brother of our subject, died in 1911. He had been identified for
many years with his father in Antioch. After two years he became associated
in business with his father as wharfinger, and a few years later he ventured
in the hotel business, which he still retains. In 1896 he started for
British Columbia to make a further venture in the hotel business, which did
not prove successful and necessitated his return to Antioch. However, not
satisfied, he followed the big gold rush to Alaska in the year 1900, but
after looking the situation over he did not believe there were possibilities
there for substantial investment or of making a business venture with a
future, and he returned again to Antioch. At this time the firm of Turner &
Dahnken laid its cornerstone. Mr. Dahnken has the courage of his
convictions, but his convictions very seldom require much courage to support
them. He is gifted with an incredible measure of business instinct and a
wonderful power of perception. His inventive and creative mind has been
responsible for most of the popular improvements in the theatrical business.
On February 11, 1903, he was united in marriage to Margaret Kearney, a
native of San Francisco, and daughter of Patrick Kearney, who erected the
Palace Hotel of Antioch, and a granddaughter of Mrs. Tregalles, of Antioch.
To this union there were two children - Carsten, born December, 1903, and
Margaret, born in 1905. In politics Mr. Dahnken is affiliated with the
Democratic party, but he never aspired to office. Fraternally, he is a
member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Antioch, the Press Club, and
Indoor Yacht Club of San Francisco.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 590-591.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.
The name of Charles Fish is remembered
throughout Contra Costa County as that of one of the men who gave his best
efforts toward the cultivation of the broad farming lands of the county.
Before his death, which occurred on February 28, 1911, he, with his brother,
Lafayette I. Fish, became the owner of large tracks of land. In the death of
Charles Fish Contra Costa County and the whole bay region lost one of its
largest and most successful ranchers, and one of the most energetic,
capable, and public-spirited pioneers. Mr. Fish was born in Batavia, New
York, October 24, 1818, son of Libeus and Polly (Holcomb) Fish, descendants
of Colonial settlers of New England, and the former was a son of Lieutenant
Josiah Fish, who served during the Revolutionary War as a Lieutenant under
Captain Wm. Hutchins. Mr. Fish acquired a common-school education, and in
October, 1834, he secured a position as clerk in the store of Foote and
Beebe, at Batavia. After six months he was transferred to a store at
Careyville, owned by the same firm. In April, 1837, he went to Gallatin,
Mississippi, as clerk for his brother, Josiah Fish, who paid him fifty
dollars for a time, and later raised his salary to eighty dollars a month.
In the fall of 1838, he removed to Monticello to take charge of a branch
store. With one thousand dollars he had accumulated, he engaged in business
with W. D. Larkin, whose interest he purchased in 1843. After conducting the
business alone for about ten years, in January, 1853, he sold out and took
passage from New Orleans on the whaler "Independence," which was wrecked off
the lower coast of California. He arrived in San Francisco on the last day
of March, 1853. He at once found work in a store operated by Jerry Ford, and
June, 1854, found Mr. Fish located in Martinez. After taking charge of a
warehouse at Pacheco for a few months, he acquired an interest in the
concern in connection with his brother, Lafayette I. Fish, and for eleven
years he continued in this partnership, after which he sold his interest in
the concern, and, with his brother, acquired large tracts of land, which
were operated by tenants. Mr. Fish assisted in the organization of the
Martinez Bank and became one of the directors. From 1880 to 1882 he was a
member of the firm Fish & Blum, and at other periods he maintained an
interest in the grain business. Mr. Fish and his brother at one time
purchased about three thousand acres in Fresno, San Joaquin, and Kings
counties. In 1906 Charles Fish retired from active business, and after his
retirement his advice was often sought in matters of importance. Mr. Fish
was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Grimes, who was born in Bethany,
Genesee County, New York, and reared in Erie County, her parents being
William and Elizabeth (McCullough) Grimes. To Mr. and Mrs. Fish were born
four children - Charles Stanley (who married May Howland, a native of St.
Louis, Missouri; he received the appointment from the Board of Supervisors
in March, 1904, as commissioner in charge of the Contra Costa County exhibit
at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis), Grace Emily and Blanche
Ellen (who reside at home), and Eli, who died in 1886. For many years the
family occupied an attractive residence erected by Mr. Fish in an eminence
overlooking the city of Martinez, the surrounding valley, and the bay in the
distance, the whole forming a charming scenic environment for the
comfortable home. He was always a liberal contributor in the advancement of
educational and religious work. Charles Fish and Mrs. Lafayette I. Fish
donated the ground upon which the Martinez high-school building was erected.
Martinez, the adopted town of Charles Fish, owes much to his progressive
spirit and broad-minded citizenship, and in the annals of the place his name
will always be remembered and cherished.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 591-592.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.