Imperial County, CA Biographies

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



DAVID C. CLARAHAN
 
                     In recording the names of the pioneers of Imperial County 
the first history of the county would not be complete were there failure to 
mention David C. Clarahan, whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Clarahan first came 
to Imperial County in 1903. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, October 4, 1850, a 
son of John and Catherine Clarahan. Both have passed away and are buried at 
Baden, Iowa, where they removed in 1854, and were among the pioneers of that 
locality. The family is of Irish origin. David C. received a limited education 
in Keokuk County, Iowa, leaving school at the age of twelve years. He was 
compelled to assist at home owing to the Civil War. Here he remained until he 
was nineteen years of age. In 1874 Mr. Clarahan traveled through various states, 
and while in Colorado he did freighting in the mountains. This vocation he 
followed until 1882. From Colorado he went through New Mexico to Arizona, and 
freighted with ox teams up to 1900. While at Phoenix, Mr. Clarahan did 
freighting, farming, railroad work, threshing, bailing hay, and other vocations 
on contract. He also farmed for himself near Phoenix, coming to the coast in 
1900, and did teaming and other work at Redlands and Huntington Beach. In 1902 
he came to Imperial as a ranch hand, and in 1903, he removed to Holtville and 
rented land. In 1907 he took up 166 acres under the Southside Water Company. 
Each year he has added to the improvements on his land, and today has one of the 
model ranches in his locality. Mr. Clarahan is the owner of a threshing outfit, 
which he utilizes on his own place as well as threshing on other ranches. In 
politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Clarahan was married at Phoenix, Arizona, in 
1895, to Miss Pearl E. Holmes, and her death occurred December 14, 1909. Mrs. 
Clarahan had one daughter by a former marriage, now Mrs. A. C. Wilson, residing 
on the home place. 
 
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California," Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 
1918, pp. 449-450.