C.
Suter, manufacturer, Sacramento, is a native of Switzerland, born in Canto
Aargan on the 15th of August, 1845, his parents being Casper and Susannah
Suter, the father a foreman in a paper mill. He was reared and educated at his
native place, and when seventeen years of age went to Zurich, and there learned
the cabinet-maker’s trade in Kuhn’s large establishment. In 1865 he came to the
United States, sailing from Bremen in June, on the sailing vessel Doretta, and
landing at New York after a voyage of forty-seven days. A week or so later he
proceeded to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade three years. He then went
to Kansas City, where he worked one year manufacturing show-cases; and then for
seven years he conducted a furniture store and a furniture and coffin factory at
Olathe, Kansas. In February, 1876, he came out to California, and, locating at
Sacramento, opened a cabinet shop across the street from the Record-Union
office. A couple months later he removed to the corner of Fifth and L streets,
where he put in machinery, and commenced the manufacture of cabinet work. Six
months later he started a shop at the Telegraph Mill, which he operated for
about a year, then removed again to Fifth and L streets. About five months
later the mill burned down, and he lost nearly $400. He next started up on the
corner of Ninth and K streets, but a year and a half later sold out and took
charge of the furniture factory of Campbell, Spanier & Bartless, on U street,
between Tenth and Eleventh streets, in the interests of the creditors. Mr.
Suter looked the matter over and told the creditors that if they would give him
a show to straighten things out, he would pay their claims dollar for dollar.
In two years’ time he had paid off every dollar of indebtedness with interest.
About that time he sold out there, and commenced again in a little place across
the street from his present office, at Thirteenth and J. At that time he
employed two men. Since that time he has been constantly spreading out and
enlarging his quarters, and employs nineteen men, with plenty of business for
ten more if he had the room. He employes only experienced workmen, and gives
his own personal supervision to all work turned out of his shops. He does all
kind of furniture and variety work, and his goods are engaged much faster than
he can turn them out. He has built up an immense summer trade on screens for
windows and doors. Among the places to which he ships are: Carson, Nevada, Plymouth,
Folsom, Red Bluff, Chico, Willows, Stockton, Nevada City, Auburn, Anderson
(Shasta City), and many others. Mr. Suter was married at St. Louis, October 10, 1871 to Miss Sophia
Bollinger, a native of Missouri. They
have two children, viz.: Oscar and Ida. Mr. Suter is a member of the K. of H.
His mother died when he was but eleven years old but his father is still
living, leading a retired life, at the age of seventy-three years. Mr. Suter is
one of the most active, pushing men of Sacramento. He has been unusually successful in business, and his success has
been won by indefatigable energy and the closest attention to business, coupled
with the exercise of fair and honest methods in all matters large or small.
An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California.
By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 311-312.
© 2004 Marla Fitzsimmons.