Sacramento County
Biographies
JAMES L. EMIGH
Californians native born are in all parts
of the state demonstrating their patriotism by leading in the race for business
supremacy--their natural and worthy competition of man with man which
fructifies in the general weal. James L. Emigh
of Sacramento is of this class, and as successful as any if we consider all
things which make for and modify worldly success. He was born in Rio
Vista, Solano county, Cal., November 25, 1876, and
attended the public school there till he was fourteen years of age.
Afterward he was a student at the Oakland high school, and then entered Heald's Business College from which he graduated in
1893. Prepared then to enter upon a business career he became bookkeeper
for E. I. Upham Company, continuing in that position
with the successors of the company, Bird & Dinkelspeil,
general merchants in Collinsville, and was thus employed until 1900.
In the year 1900 Mr. Emigh
went to Suisun City, Cal., and bought the James Kerns Hardware store, which he
eventually consolidated with the Suisun Implement Company, of which he was
vice-president and assistant manager till 1910, when he sold his interests and
removed to Sacramento, where in that year he went into business with his
brother under the firm name of Emigh Hardware
Company. They handled a general line of hardware and builders' supplies. a venture in which he prospered as well as he did in his
former ones. In July, 1912, they consolidated with the Capital Hardware
Company and incorporated Emigh, Winchell,
Cline Company , of which Mr. Emigh
is vice-president and manager. They are now located at No. 308-10-12 J
street, the former location of the Thomson, Diggs Company.
The business has been enlarged and they handle a full line of agricultural
implements, as well as heavy and shelf hardware. Four floors are occupied
by the firm in a building 60x160 feet in size.
Mr.
Emigh was made a Mason in Rio Vista Lodge No. 208, F.
& A. M., is a member of Solano Chapter No. 43, R. A. M., Vacaville Commandery No. 38, K. T., and Islam Temple N. M. S., San
Francisco. He married at Rio Vista December 1, 1897. Miss Harriette M. Church, a native daughter of Rio Vista, and
three children have come to them: James L. and Albert T., twins, and Colby
S. Wherever he has lived Mr. Emigh has taken a
really helpful interest in all that has pertained to the general welfare of the
people with whom his lot has been cast. In a way public spirit is
indirect self-interest, but there are so many men who do not recognize this
fact that the burden on those who do is heavier than it ought to be. Mr. Emigh is one who has never sought to escape that burden,
and usually he has not stopped to consider whether he was to be the gainer even
indirectly.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 796-797. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.