Nevada
County
Biographies
JACOB C. RICH
For a number of years Mr. Rich has
been connected with the administration of municipal affairs in Nevada City, yet
he is not a politician in the commonly accepted sense of the term. He seeks no office solely for personal
aggrandizement, but is patriotic and loyal in the discharge of the duties of
the office and carries on the work entrusted to him with business-like
dispatch. In any community, east or
west, the man who is for any considerable time kept in public office is one who
has proven himself zealous and efficient in the discharge of the duties
devolving upon him in his public office.
It is the old story, many times repeated, of faithfulness in small
things. These reflections have been
caused by contemplation of the successful career of one of the prominent
officials of Nevada City, Jacob C. Rich, who is a member of the board of town
trustees.
A native of the Buckeye state, Mr.
Rich was born in Guernsey County, November 5, 1830, and is a son of Daniel A.
Rich, who was born in West Virginia in 1809, and during his childhood removed
with his parents to Ohio. The family is
of English lineage. In 1850 the father
of our subject came to the golden west, returning the following year, and in
1852 again visited California, being accompanied by his two sons. Making a permanent location, he resided here
until his death, which occurred February 15, 1898. During his early residence in the state he
was engaged in mining and was largely interested in ditch building. In 1853, in company with Fordyce, he began
the construction of the canal, which was to convey the waters of the South Yuba
to Nevada. He was also connected with a
number of important enterprises planning for the improvement of the locality
and which have since come under control of other companies. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Law,
was also a native of Ohio, and by her marriage became the mother of four
children, two sons and two daughters.
The mother passed away in February, 1841.
Jacob C. Rich, the eldest, obtained
his education through the instrumentality of the public schools and was reared
to farm life. On his arrival in
California he engaged in placer mining, which pursuit he followed for some
time. For a number of years thereafter
he occupied various positions in connection with the South Yuba Water Company
and later he turned his attention to the hotel business, which he followed for
some time in Nevada City.
In 1863 Mr. Rich was united in
marriage to Miss Mary Wagener, a native of Maryland, and their children are
Henry W.; Daniel A.; Jessie V., now the wife of M. J. Rahr, of San Francisco;
and Ada M. In his political views Mr.
Rich has always been a Republican, and though not an aspirant for public office
he consented to be the nominee for city trustee some years ago and since that
time has occupied a place on the board.
He exercises his official prerogatives in support of the measures which
are calculated to advance the general welfare.
Socially he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both
subordinate lodge and encampment, and is a member of Rebekah Lodge, No. 119,
the Chosen Friends and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a
popular representative of those organizations.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 337-338. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies