Sacramento County
Biographies
MATT KARCHER
MATT. KARCHER, an old settler and captain of the Police of
Sacramento City, was born in Baden, Germany,
October 15, 1832. At the age of fourteen he started out in the world for himself,
emigrated to this country and stopped in Boston, Massachusetts, where he had a
brother, and there learned the bakery trade. He remained there for years, and
on October 18, 1851, sailed from New York, and coming by
way of the Isthmus, arrived in San Francisco
November 18, making a very quick passage. The following day he came to Sacramento.
After working a short time in a restaurant, he went to work in the Star Bakery
at $200 a month, remaining there one and a half years, and saved $1,100, and
then began business for himself on Sixth street, between I and J. In
1855 he married Frances Haberstroh, from New Orleans.
She is of Swiss parentage. After carrying on the business for fourteen years,
suffering from the adverses of fire and flood, he sold out. He could only
collect $33 out of $3,000 which was due him. Having a wife and five children to
support, he was offered a position on the police force and accepted it, and
served on street and office duty seven years. After serving five years he was
offered the position of Chief of Police, but he declined it. In March, 1872,
after the regular nominations of both parties were made, only five days before
the election, he announced himself as an independent candidate and was elected
by 687 majority, and 156 majority over the entire vote
of both the other candidates. In 1874 he ran as an independent candidate and
was elected by a majority of 714. In 1876 he ran independent again with
endorsements of the Democrats, and was defeated by a small majority. For four years
he was engaged in business, and in 1880 he again ran as an independent
candidate, and was elected Chief of Police. In 1882 he was nominated by the
Republicans, and was elected and served two years. After this term had expired
he served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Wilson, and was appointed to his
present position, and for the past four years has served as Captain of Police.
He has eight children, five sons and three daughters. In 1886 he lost one
daughter, sixteen years of age, and in 1888 a son, twenty-five years old.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 10/3/07.
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated
History of Sacramento County, California. Page 786.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.