Biographies
CRADDOC MEREDITH
An organization well known in the
commercial circles of Sacramento, the American Fish Company has developed and
now manages a business extending into every part of the United States and even
across the Atlantic ocean into Germany. The success of
the enterprise is due to the energy and capability of the manager, Mr.
Meredith, who assisted in the promotion of the concern, was largely
instrumental in effecting its organization, acquired a one-half interest with
Mr. Morgan as his partner, and eventually acquired the holdings of the other
member of the firm, thereafter forming a stock company and incorporating under
the laws of the state of California. The original officers of the company are
as follows: Walter Mack, of San Francisco, president; Craddoc
Meredith, of Sacramento, vice-president; D. Cushman, of San Francisco,
secretary; and B. L. Sisson, of Sacramento, treasurer. One hundred and
twenty-five fisherman are employed by the company on
the rivers of the west and the entire outfit of fishing boats is owned by the
concern itself, so that large sums have been invested in the equipment, but the
results have fully justified the magnitude of the original expense.
The manager of this prosperous business
enterprise has been connected with fish interests for twenty years and
therefore possesses the broad experience indispensable to the successful
supervision of such a concern. He is a native of Iowa and was born in Des
Moines, January 20, 1871, being a son of Zero B. Meredith, one of the first as
well as one of the leading coal operators of that state during early days. It
was he who shipped the first carload of coal that ever left Des Moines, the
destination of the shipment being Council Bluffs, Iowa. Under the auspices of
the Union Pacific Railroad Company he opened coal mines at Rock Springs, Wyom.,
and there he continued to manage large interests until 1893, when he was
accidentally killed in the mines. All of his ten children are still living and
they are widely scattered, some being as far south as Mexico, while others have
been interested in the mines of Alaska. The wife and mother, now a resident of
Port Angeles, Wash., was among the first women in the United States privileged
to cast a presidential ballot, for she made her home in Wyoming at the time
that equal suffrage laws were given to that state and it is now nearly forty
years since she first enjoyed the franchise privilege.
For twenty-one years the family had their
home in Rock Springs, Wyom., and there Craddoc Meredith
received such educational advantages as fell to his lot. He was only three
years old when the family became residents of Wyoming and at the age of twelve
it was his choice to start working in the mines. He continued this until he was
fifteen years old, and from them until he was nineteen he rode the range,
gaining valuable experience thereby. He then went as far east
as Chicago, where he entered the employ of Booth & Co., fish merchants.
After he had learned the details of the business as carried on there, he
resigned at the end of a year and removed to the Puget Sound country. For a
time he worked in Seattle, where he acquired a knowledge of the fish business
as there conducted. The year 1894 found him in San Francisco, where for four
years he was employed by the American Union Fish Company. Coming to Sacramento
in December of 1899, he has since been identified with the business interests
of the capital city. Besides his business in this city he is interested in many
different fish companies all over the Pacific Coast, many of which he
assisted in organizing. In 1911 he conceived the idea of and organized the
Pacific National Fire Insurance Company with a capital of $1,000,000, he being
a director and treasurer. Being founded and run on broad business principles
the business of the company has had a rapid progress and is already on a firm
financial basis. In addition to the interests enumerated he is serving as
president of the Home Products League and is a
member of the executive board of the Merchants' Association, while fraternally
he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights
of Pythias. During 1893 he was united in marriage
with Miss Mabel Allen, of Rock Springs, Wyom., a woman of culture and a leading member of the Rebekahs lodge in Sacramento, as well as a contributor to
the movements for the general advancement of the city. The Meredith family
consists of two children, of whom Lolo was born in 1894 and Venus B. in 1897,
and both are being given the best advantages which the schools of Sacramento
afford.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 973-975. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.