Tehama County
Biographies
CHARLES E. FISH
Charles E. Fish-- Among the prominent and substantial farmers and stock growers of Tehama County we make particular mention of the subject of this sketch, who was born in Scott County, Iowa, March 27, 1852, the son of Erskine and Cordelia (Freeman) Fish, both natives of New York. His maternal grandparents, Samuel and Balinda Freeman, were natives of New York, and moved to the State of Iowa in 1844. His paternal grandparents, P. William and Lois (Grover) Fish, were born in the state of Vermont; the former died in 1854 and the latter in 1870.
Mr. Fish is a self-educated man, being quick of perception and unflagging in his efforts to improve the mind, and he certainly has raised himself to the level, if not beyond that, of the average man. He accompanied his parents across the plains to California in 1860, locating in Tehama County, where they followed farming for several years. In 1871 he moved to the town of Tehama, and was for several years was connected with the butchering business. For five years he was Deputy County Assessor. In 1886 he again engaged in farming, and is now located twelve miles north of Red Bluff, where he and his partner, Frank L. Jelly, own 1,900 acres of land, and jointly carry on farming and stock-raising. Politically Mr. Fish is a Republican, and is the regular nominee for County Sheriff.
He has been twice married, the first, September 3,1871, to Miss Mary C. Weitemeyer, of Iowa, who died in 1881, leaving one child, Cordelia D. The second marriage was at Red Bluff, to Miss Maggie C. Goodridge, a native of California, and they have three children: Frank A., Erskine and Charles. Mr. Fish affiliates with the F. & A. M. of Vesper (blue) Lodge, No. 84, Chapter No. 40, and Commandery No. 17, of Red Bluff.
Source: Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891 pages 752-3
Transcribed by: Melody Landon Gregory
HERBERT KRAFT
Herbert Kraft, the richest, as well, perhaps, as the most energetic man in Tehama County, and banker, farmer and politician, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 15, 1831, and is yet a hale, hearty, active man, with sufficient tireless vitality to attend to his own diversified and immense business and that of the county besides, as he is known as the "working supervisor of Tehama County." He possesses nearly 20,000 acres of some of Tehama County's richest lands, which might be said to include the cream of the Sacramento Valley. Besides the realty he has some 9,000 acres of choice redwood timber, in one solid block, in Del Norte County, within a few miles of Crescent City, which alone is worth around one million. He recently had a flattering offer for an option upon this property from a syndicate of London capitalist, but promptly refused. Besides this wealth he is the owner of the Bank of Red Bluff, conducted under his name; is a stockholder and director of the Bank of Tehama County, whose stock is never on the market; and also a shareholder in the recently formed Mutual Savings Bank of San Francisco, the guaranteed capital of which is $1,000,000. He also possesses some choice property in the town of Red Bluff.
His parents came to the United States when he was ten years old. At eighteen he left home without his father's permission, having gained in two years preceding a practical knowledge of the tinning trade. When he left home his worldly wealth amounted to $9. In 1852 he started from Farmington, Illinois, for California by the way of New Orleans. He got as far on his journey, in a schooner, as Chagres, but there learned that the rush across the Isthmus for California was so great that his chance for passage was small; so he turned back and reached St. Louis in March, and soon after left St. Joseph, Missouri, in company with three more, to "cross the plains." They started with a yoke of cattle, a wagon and a saddle mule, and reached Hangtown (now Placerville) August 2, 1852, at which place the four dissolved their transcontinental partnership, sold their property and divided, and Mr. Kraft at that time had $2.50 in his pocket.
He worked at his tinning trade in Placerville for one month and then left for Sacramento, where he readily found employment and kept at it steadily for two years, saving all his earnings outside his necessary expenses. In 1854 he started north, on foot and alone, traveling through southern Oregon and northern California, in search of a permanent location. He located in Red Bluff and opened a small tin-shop, where he found all the work he wished at great profit. He continued to save, purchased a fine store and stock of hardware and tin-ware, and by making direct importations of goods from England soon found himself an independently rich man, with the largest hardware and tin business north of Sacramento, which he conducted for twenty-one years. He then sold his business and gave his attention to other business matters into which his surplus wealth flowed. He loaned money to safe borrowers at the prevailing rates of interest, and consequently doubled his wealth very rapidly. National, State and County securities which fell in his way were discounted largely, while land purchases were sold at a large profit. He gave his attention to everything purchasable of a staple nature, and has secured grain by the train-load, with which he chartered ships to carry the grain to Liverpool. Anything tangible and safe he has ventured into, often in opposition to the advice of his friends, but the golden lining has always turned to him. Although Mr. Kraft is the largest holder of mortgages in Tehama County, for the past ten years his legal proceedings to collect the loans have not averaged one per cent. per annum. Mr. Kraft was married March 15, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Krauth, at Louisville, Kentucky, the home of her parents. This union has been blessed with eight children, all born in Red Bluff, six of whom are living, viz.: George H., Edward C., Augustine, Elmer, Nettie and Gertrude.
Source: Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891 pages 753-4
Transcribed by: Melody Landon Gregory
GEORGE C. LAHE
George C. Lahe, of Tehama County, is a native of Salem, Massachusetts, dating his birth February 16, 1847. He was reared and educated in that place, and in early life was connected with a boot and shoe manufactory. In 1868 he came, via Nicaragua, to San Francisco, where he has been the book-keeper for many mercantile houses. In 1884 he came to Tehama County, and has since been the book-keeper and cashier of the firm of Simpson & Aitken, of Corning. Mr. Lahe was joined in wedlock with Miss Lizzie Burnett, at San Francisco, January 15, 1872, and they have two children: C. Hurbert and Jennie B. They lost their two eldest children by death--Lizzie and Florence.
Source: Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Col, 1891 pages 754-5
Transcribed by: Melody Landon Gregory