MRS. LINA CAZAU

Sacramento County

Biographies

MRS. LINA CAZAU

MRS. LINA CAZAU.--Sacramento, as one of the most favored section of all California, boasts of many successful business women, among whom may be mentioned Mrs. Lina Cazau, a native of Switzerland, who came here, when a young lady, February 25, 1896. A brother, Henry Frei, had preceded her to California nearly three years before, on April 28, 1893, and she crossed the wide ocean to join him. He was a butcher, and in that necessary field made his mark in the capital city, although later, in partnership with his sister, he established a laundry. They worked hard, and made a success of the venture, which they termed the Paris French Laundry of Sacramento, and located at Seventh and M Streets, advertising it widely as a hand laundry; but the place was small, and they had little capital, and so their progress was slow.

After they had been wrestling with their problems for three years, they bought the corner of M and Eighth Streets, and moved the laundry plant into a brick building, which stood there. In time, modern machinery was installed, and they gradually built up a good business. On May 26, 1916, the brother died. He had made a visit back to see his mother in July, 1908. After his death, the sister, our subject, carried on the business alone until March 29, 1920, when she sold the business and good-will. She retained the building, which has since greatly appreciated and is now a valuable business corner. She also owns the residence next to the laundry, and improved property in Oak Place. She is very loyal to the city, and never loses an opportunity to work for its best interests.

Mrs. Cazau is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Ladies’ Aid Society, in which organization she enjoys much the same enviable position as did her brother in the circles of the Moose, the Swiss Society and the Butchers’ Association of Sacramento. She has taken trips back to Europe, first in July, 1910, to visit her mother, who was then alive. After six months’ stay she returned to Sacramento. In July, 1922, she made another trip to settle some business affairs and to visit old friends and scenes, and on her return brought her sister with her to America.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 894-895. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.