SIMON ROTH

 

SIMON ROTH, the pioneer manufacturer of harness and saddles in Sacramento, is a native of Germany, born at Achern, Baden, October 28, 1829, his parents being Stephen and Elizabeth (Beck) Roth.  When he was but seven years of age his family emigrated from their native land to the United States, and located in St. Clair County, Illinois, four miles from St. Louis.  He was left an orphan at the early age of ten years, and was thus, when but a mere child, thrown upon his own resources.  About six months after he had passed his fourteenth birthday he went to St. Louis, and on the 20th of June, 1844, commenced to learn the trade of harness maker with a man named Heinepeter, on Second street, near the Catholic Cathedral.  He served an apprenticeship of three years there, then went to work for a man named Walters, and in 1847 went down the Mississippi to New Orleans. He came back to St. Louis the following year, and in the fall went to Belleville, Illinois, where he worked until 1849, then started for California.  He went to Westport, seeking a chance to go overland, and the spring of 1850 found him still there.  In March, however, he fell in with the firm of Bullard, Waddle & Russell, who had twenty-five ox teams, each team consisting of five yoke, besides two mules, and he started from Lexington to drive a team for these men, who were hauling stores to Salt Lake.  Out of thirty-nine men who started with the expedition, ten died on the road, nine of them from cholera and one with mountain fever, and the latter belonged to Mr. Roth's mess;  but as far as he was concerned, he never had a day's sickness on the trip.  The boys would often say, however, during the first of the journey, that Mr. Roth would be the first to die, as he was the smallest;  but no one stood it better than he.  The outfit remained at Salt Lake, with the exception of two mule teams, and these with twenty-five men, including Mr. Roth, came through to California.  They came by the Carson route and brought up at Hangtown, where Mr. Roth remained three days, working in the mines;  but this occupation did not agree with him, as he was not strong, and he proceeded on to Sacramento with a team.  He happened to meet three boys with whom he had been

intimate at Belleville, and they camped under an oak tree, back of the present site of the International Hotel.  Supposing the northern mines to be worked out, they proceeded to Amador County, and six weeks were put in on Dry Creek, three miles below Drytown.  The next move was to Jackson, but mining in that vicinity, on account of the scarcity of water, was not successful.  Mr. Roth had spent what little money he had, and giving his tools to his companions, he once more turned his steps toward Sacramento.  Arriving here, he went to work for Albrecht, B. Ely & Honstel, corner of Fifth and J streets.  In the following spring he was employed by Mr. Madison, and in the fall went into business for himself, in partnership with John Tschumi.  They carried on business on J street, where O'Brien's store now is, and were, like the rest, heavy sufferers from the fire of 1852, losing what they could not haul off in a wagon, which had been standing near by.  After the fire they rebuilt and started up again.  In 1853 Mr. Roth bought his partner out, and in 1854 he was again burnt out, the fire occurring on the 20th of July, which, Mr. Roth says, was the hottest day he ever experienced in Sacramento.  The fire broke out while he was at dinner, and he lost a good deal of stock, and the building, which he had not fully paid for.  He rebuilt with brick,  and continued in business prosperously until the flood of 1861-'62, in which he was a heavy loser.  During this period Mr. Roth, like all others, had strange experiences, and it was with great difficulty that he and his family removed from their perilous situation to higher and drier quarters.  After the flood the grade was raised, and in 1868 Mr. Roth purchased the adjoining building and moved into it, where he continued business until 1878, when he moved next to the Golden Eagle Hotel, on K street, and from there moved to his present location, 817 J street, where he has been since the 1st of February, 1883.  His business has grown to large proportions, and extends as far

as Colorado, east, and into southern California.  He keeps only the best goods in his lines, and manufactures from one-half to two-thirds of his stock.  He was married in Sacramento, August 27, 1857, to Miss Wilhelmina Kirchner, a native of New Orleans, who came to California in 1856.  Mr. and Mrs. Roth have six children living, viz:  Katie H., wife of Thomas W. Smith, resides in Chicago;  Fred A., a resident of southern California;  William E., who is with A. A. Van Voorhees & Co., Sacramento;  Frank Lewis, a blacksmith, in the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad Company;  Miss Minnie and Miss Hattie.  Mr. Roth is a member of El Dorado Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1855, and in which he has passed through all the chairs, and has taken a Rebekah degree.  He belongs to California Lodge, No. 1,580, K. of H., and to Union Lodge, No. 21, A. O. U. W.  In the days of the old volunteer fire department, Mr. Roth ran with the machine.  He joined Hook and Ladder Company, No. 2, in 1853;  was an officer in it a couple of years, and in 1856 became a member of engine Company No. 6, of which he served as treasurer, and with which he was associated until the paid fire department was established.  He is now an exempt fireman.  Mr. Roth is one of the best known of Sacramento's old-time business men, and enjoys a wide acquaintance, and a large degree of popularity.