Biographies
CHARLES M. DERBY
Several successive generations of the
Derby family lived and labored in the east. The first of the name to seek a
permanent home on the Pacific coast was Daniel B. Derby, a native of New York state and for a number of years engaged in business in
Pennsylvania. Accompanied by his wife, Ella (Hammon)
Derby, and their three children he left Pennsylvania for California early in
the '80s and settled at Oakland. With characteristic energy he devoted himself
to the nursery business with such ardor, zeal and intelligence that he became
widely known for the quality of the stock in his fields. From the main office
at Oakland he shipped young stock to every part of the state, as well as to
Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Skill and integrity enabled him to build up an
enviable reputation as a nurseryman. The secret of his success was the
scrupulous exactness with which he superintended every detail. Later, however,
he turned to other pursuits, removed to Vacaville, Solano county,
and bought land which he developed into fine fruit orchards. To some extent he
has drifted back to his former work. Many of his early patrons still depend
upon him to furnish them with young trees for their orchards and ranches.
Notwithstanding his long and active business career he is still busily
occupied with the care of his orchard business and shows no trace of weariness
of body or mind.
During the residence of the family at
Greenville, Pa., Charles M. Derby was born September 8, 1878, moving to
California with his parents in the early '80s. The memories of early childhood
clustered around Oakland and Vacaville, Solano county,
where in turn he graduated from grammar, high school and business college, in
addition to completing a course in engineering. Upon starting out upon a
career, he chose to identify himself with the gold dredging industry, which was
then in its infancy and accepted employment in that occupation in Oroville,
Butte county, Cal. He soon acquired practical
knowledge of that business and later served a number of years as superintendent
and manager of various companies operating in Butte, Yuba, Calaveras, and
Sacramento counties. In January, 1909, he became a stockholder in Natomas Consolidated of California, a $25,000,000
corporation engaged principally in gold dredging and land development, and
since that time has been manager of the company's business at Natoma, Sacramento county, where
he has active charge of its extensive gold dredging operations, employing a
total of several hundred men. The officials of the company recognize in him a
careful business man and efficient executive.
In 1910 Mr. Derby assisted in the
organization of the Bank of Folsom, at Folsom, Sacramento county, becoming a
director of the bank at the time of its opening for business in November of
that year and continuing to the present in that capacity.
On November 18, 1903, Charles M. Derby and
Miss Ethel V. Elder of Marysville, Yuba county, were
united in marriage at Sacramento. Two years later a son was born to them in Calaveras
county, and after living to be nearly three and one
half years old was suddenly taken away in a most unfortunate accident on
November 15, 1908, while the family were residing at Natoma.
A daughter was born to them on August 7, 1910, and at this time is the only
child of the household.
While giving his time and attention almost
exclusively to the duties of his position, Mr. Derby had found time to identify
himself with other local enterprises and is prosperous
and public spirited. He is a member of the Scottish Rite Masons of Sacramento,
rising to membership in Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at San
Francisco, and is actively identified with the philanthropies of Masonry as his
principal lodge affiliation.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 983-985. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.