Sacramento County
Biographies
CHARLES P. NATHAN
CHARLES P. NATHAN--One of the leading merchants of Sacramento, where he has
been prominent in business circles since early days in the city's history,
Charles P. Nathan arrived in this country from Germany, his native land, while
yet a young man, inexperienced, but with a good common school education, and
having as one of his characteristics that which every boy of his race inherits,
an inclination for work. After his arrival in the New World he
was variously employed in the Eastern and Southern states for about three
years; and then, in the year 1869, he came to California. The three dollars he had in his pocket when he landed on
American soil had grown a little, so that he was able to start a store, 20 x
80 feet, in Sacramento on J Street, between Sixth and Seventh Streets; and
from this small beginning grew an enterprise that occupied three complete
floors as a modern department store, one of the largest in Northern California,
the building being located on J and Sixth Streets. Started in 1869, his
holdings have increased by purchase of adjoining properties until he now owns a
frontage 100 by 160 feet; but after enjoying the patronage of the citizens of Sacramento and environs in that location for fifty-one years, the
beautiful store was destroyed by fire on Friday, November 13, 1920. The firm of Chas. P. Nathan & Sons
have since been carrying on their business on three floors of a
six-story building at Eighth and L Streets. They also own and operate the
Bon Marche, the leading ladies' garment shop in Sacramento.
On October 26, 1873, Mr. Nathan was married to Miss Anna Joseph, the daughter
of the pioneer, Michael Joseph, of Sacramento. Four children blessed this union: Birdie, the wife of Dr.
Arthur Lachman and the mother of two daughters;
Lillian, who married Morris Ballin and has three
sons; Mitchel W., the father of a daughter, and who
is the general manager of the Chas. P. & Sons store, and is also prominent
in civic affairs in Sacramento; and Emile, also interested in the Chas. P.
Nathan & Sons establishments, and the father of one daughter. The wife and
mother, after a long and useful life, which was a joy to her friends and her
family, passed away in 1912. The second marriage of Mr. Nathan took place in
November, 1920, and united him with Miss Mizpah
Jackson, who was engaged in Kindergarten work in Sacramento for ten years, and who, also has been a soprano singer of
note. This marriage has resulted in the birth of two sons, Chas. P. Jr., and
Robert Jackson. Mr. Nathan is a member of the Del Paso Country Club,
and of the Chamber of Commerce. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, and is the proud
possessor of a diamond medal commemorative of a fifty-year membership in that
order.
Besides his mercantile interests, Mr.
Nathan has become the owner of valuable ranch properties in Sacramento and Yolo Counties, which he has developed since 1893, and these are now
paying him handsome returns for the time and money expended upon them during
the intervening years. He has always favored such projects as he thought would
benefit Sacramento and its citizenry; and he is also a liberal supporter of
worthy charities in Sacramento and in San Francisco,
where he lived for seventeen years, maintaining an office and acting as buyer
for his stores. After the great fire of 1906, he removed to New York City and later to Paris, where he maintained offices and bought and imported goods
for his Sacramento stores. In 1911 he returned to Sacramento, and here his first wife passed away in 1912. Since his
return he has taken an active part in building up the large business that has
made the firm of Chas. P. Nathan & Sons known throughout the Sacramento
Valley. He is now the oldest, and indeed the only living active
business man of the old regime in Sacramento business circles, and his untiring
energy is given to developing his business at Eighth and L Streets, while his
sons give the better part of their attention to Bon Marche.
He gives especial attention to the comfort and working conditions of his
employees, and does everything in his power to maintain a high morale among
them; in this way he is reaping results through their loyalty to his interests.
He believes in progress, and has traveled extensively. He took his wife
and two children for a trip to Europe in 1886; and again in 1893, with four children, he and
Mrs. Nathan made an extended trip of eight months through European countries,
as an educational opportunity for his sons. In 1904, also, and again in 1909,
he and his wife made trips to Europe on pleasure and business. In 1921 he purchased a home at 1081 Thirty-eighth Street. This home is one of the show places in East Sacramento.
It is located on a lot 120 x 160 feet, between J and K Streets, and here in
peace and contentment he is living with his family and enjoying the fruits of
his life work.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento
County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 290. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.