Sacramento County
Biographies
CLAY W. EMIGH
A resident of Sacramento and a member of
Sunset Parlor, N. S. G. W., by virtue of his birth in Rio Vista, Solano
county, December 21, 1881, Clay W. Emigh is realizing
the popular idea of the enterprising citizen laboring not alone for his
personal and family advancement, but for the best interests of his fellowmen
and for the general good. His parents were Thomas P. and Rachel Emigh, and they believed in education as a basis for
success in America. Consequently they sent their younger son to the
public and high schools at Oakland, after completing which he entered Heald's Business College, from which efficient institution
he was graduated in 1900.
At Suisun City, as a clerk in his brother James L. Emigh's store,
Mr. Emigh began his business career. He
remained there, obtaining a wide knowledge of the
hardware trade, till 1904, then came to Sacramento and accepted a position as
salesman with the wholesale hardware house of Miller & Enright,
which he served faithfully and successfully till 1908. Next we find him
in San Francisco, a salesman in the employ of George H. Tay
Company. There he advanced well in his chosen field and in 1910 he came
to Sacramento to become the partner of his brother, James L. Emigh, doing business under the name of Emigh
Hardware Company, carrying builders' supplies in addition to hardware. In
his present business he has been successful beyond his expectations, and his
brother attributes the prosperity of their house not a little to Clay W. Emigh's trained ability as a salesman and his indomitable
devotion to their common interests. In 1912 the brothers joined forces
with the Capital Hardware Company under the new incorporation of Emigh, Winchell, Cline Company of
which Mr. Emigh is a director and in charge of the
builders' hardware department. They now have the most extensive hardware
establishment in Sacramento County, if not in the whole of Northern
California.
The Republican party
includes Mr. Emigh among its most devoted
members. He was made a Mason in Tehama Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M.
In December, 1904, he married at Suisun Miss Grace Oliver, who was a native
daughter of that place. He finds time from his business to consider
public questions and public measures, has a clear understanding of the needs of
the people at large, economically and politically, and gives himself
patriotically to such service as comes to his hand with the promise that by
accepting and discharging it he may do something toward the promotion of the
public welfare.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 797-798. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.