FRED RASCHEN

Sacramento County

Biographies

FRED RASCHEN

FRED RASCHEN--Prominent for over fifty-two years in the business life of Sacramento, Fred Raschen became well-known as a man of liberal spirit and progress, and one who could be depended upon to do his share in promoting both the financial and civic life of the city. A native of Oldenberg, Germany, born in the year 1845, he left there when a young man and traveled through Europe, Asia, and Africa, seeing the world and working at whatever he found to do to pay his expenses, and in this way gaining the broadening outlook on life which travel alone can give.

In 1870, via the Isthmus of Panama, Mr. Raschen came to California, and after a few months in San Francisco he came to Sacramento, with but $2.75 in his pocket to start a business career. He first worked as clerk in the grocery store of August Heisch, on Second and M Streets, and later for the produce and commission house of Hammer and Keber, on K Street. Finally, in 1872, he went with Weinreich, Lohse & Co., wholesale liquor dealers located at 514 J Street; this firm was later succeeded by Weinreich & Bartels, and finally became H. Weinreich & Company. Mr. Raschen became a partner, and later purchased the business, when the name was changed to Fred Raschen, Wholesale Liquors, and in 1907 was incorporated under the name of F. Raschen & Company. For forty-six years Mr. Raschen was in this same location, continuing until 1918, and during this period of time he took an active interest in the growth of Sacramento, and in the development of its resources as one of the largest cities in the state. After his retirement from business life, Mr. Raschen decided to devote his time to the development of land, and on March 8, 1918, purchased 1,100 acres in Yuba County, near Marysville, from the estate of Hammond & Forbes, 600 acres of which was rich bottom land. "Raw" land, and mostly covered with cottonwood trees, its cultivation was no easy task, but he devoted his entire time to the project, giving it the same detailed attention which he had devoted to his business enterprises in the past. Trees were grubbed out, the land leveled, and peach trees planted, and over two hundred acres of the ranch are now under cultivation; this work has been well rewarded, as the rich river bottom soil is some of the most fertile in the Sacramento Valley, and the trees in one year's time attain a three years growth. The ranch has a fine, concrete pipe irrigating system, and, in fact, every modern appliance and method has been used in making of it one of the model ranches for which the state is noted.

In the midst of his busy life, Mr. Raschen has always found time for recreation, and has been particularly interested in hunting; and in early days he was one of the well-known and successful horsemen of the Valley, owning many trotting and driving horses, some of the best blooded horses in the state; he was a member of the old State Fair Association, and the Sacramento Driving Club and raced his horses at the fair grounds, winning many races and thoroughly enjoying this "gentleman's sport." In his hunting activities he was a member of various shooting clubs, shooting quail, plover, wild pigeon, etc., in the vicinity of Sacramento. He only recently sold his membership in the Sacramento Outing Club, of which he was an organizer, the club owning large shooting preserves in Sutter County at the foot of the Marysville Buttes; on his last visit there Mr. Raschen made the limit of doves, fifteen out of eighteen shots, a record which speaks well for his marksmanship, long recognized as expert. Mr. Raschen is a typical Californian, for he has spent all of the productive years of his life here, has aided materially in developing and upbuilding, and has been a loyal citizen, with the best interests of his community always at heart.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 703. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.