San
Joaquin County
Biographies
CHRIST ALBRIGHT
Like many others of his native land,
to Christ Albright, one of Lodi’s prosperous citizens, America beckoned as the
land of opportunity, as his immigration here at the age of eighteen
testifies. Born in the state of Baden,
Germany, three miles from the French border, on December 3, 1859, his parents
were farmers and when not busy with the farm work our subject attended school
until he was eighteen years of age when he sailed for America. He first settled at Circleville, Pickaway
County, Ohio, and hired out as a farm hand; then he went to the pine woods of
Minnesota and Michigan and worked in the lumber camps, also in the iron and
copper mines; in 1880 he went to Yankton, Dakota Territory, but finding that
city not to his liking, he returned to Michigan. In 1885 he removed to Dakota Territory, and
located in McIntosh County, where he took up government land and there he
farmed successfully for twenty-two years.
His farm consisted of 1400 acres and was one of the best in the county;
400 acres were devoted to the raising of wheat, flax, oats and barley, the
balance being devoted to cattle-raising.
He was among the first in the state to raise Aberdeen-Angus cattle,
exceptionally fine beef cattle that command the highest prices and was very
successful and prosperous. For a number
of years he resided in Ashley, the county seat of McIntosh County and became a
prominent figure in Republican politics, serving as justice of the peace in
1887; then for six years he was county supervisor; in 1894 he was elected
county auditor and served for ten years in that capacity; then he was elected
state senator for one term.
Deciding to give up political life,
Mr. Albright refused to run again for office and in 1909 sold his farm and
removed to California, settling in Lodi with the intention of retiring from active
life. When the Famers
and Merchants Bank of Lodi was organized on May 10, 1916, he was prevailed upon
by his friends to become its president.
The bank was organized with a capital of $25,000 in the commercial
department and $5000 capital in the savings department and the bank has shown a
hearty growth and is doing a fine business.
A report of the condition of the bank on April 21, 1921, shows a paid-up
capital of $96,000 with a surplus of $25,200; during the past three years the
bank has paid eight per cent dividends.
The officers and directors of the institution are as follows: Christ Albright, president; Lot Lachenmaier, vice-president; Edgar B. Doering,
cashier; directors, Peter Joens, H. C. Lang, Henry
Nelson, and John Mettler, Jr.
The marriage of Mr. Albright united
him with Miss Barbara Baurer, a native of Germany,
born in the same district as her husband.
They are the parents of one son, Samuel, who is in the garage business
in Lodi; he served four years in the U. S. navy. Mr. Albright was a member of the Ellendale,
Dickey County, North Dakota, lodge of Masons, but is now a member of the Masons
lodge in Lodi. His religious faith is
that of the German Lutheran Church and he has served as treasurer of this
body. Mr. Albright has an assured place
in the affairs of the community, through his efficiency and dependability and
as the leading spirit in a growing banking institution, is an important factor
in the progress and prosperity of the central portion of California.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
556. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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