Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

CHARLES H. GROH

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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


 
A hard-working, efficient dredgeman whose experience has proven of much value to 
the important enterprises with which he has been and is connected, is Charles H. 
Groh, of Hammonton.  He is a native son, born at Gridley, in Butte County, on 
April 29, 1890.  His father, Fred D. Groh, was born in Hessen, Germany, on June 
15, 1861, and left the Fatherland in 1873, with his father, crossing the ocean 
to the United States.  They migrated westward to Wisconsin, and settled in 
Vernon County, where they farmed and where Fred D. Groh learned the 
butcher-trade, after which he moved on into Iowa, and from the Hawkeye State 
came out to California in 1880, and located in Butte County.  He got together a 
twelve-horse team, and for seven years transported freight into and out of the 
mountains.  He then bought a farm, and grew wheat and barley extensively; but he 
sold out about 1892, and came into Yuba County, were he bought property.  While 
at Oroville, in 1883, Mr. Groh had married Miss Ida Riehl, a native of Gridley, 
whose folks were early settlers in Butte County, and did much to make it easier 
for the incomers arriving later.  Mr. Groh helped to build the levees for 
District No. 10, and he took out the Hallwood irrigation rights.  Mr. Groh, who 
was a very practical farmer, lived for two years in Marysville, and then he went 
on to a ranch north of the town, and he and his devoted wife are still living�on 
146 acres in the Hallwood tract of Yuba County, twenty-five acres of which are 
in grapes�recognized as among that class of invaluable pioneers who have been 
good builders, and enjoying the esteem and good will of a large circle.  They 
were granted a family of four children, but the first-born died in infancy: Fred 
W. is at Marysville, Elmer is deceased, and the youngest is the subject of our 
interesting story.
Charlie Groh, as he is familiarly called by his friends, not only got all that 
he could out of his schooldays in the Cordua district, but he attended the 
Marysville Business College as well, and there profited from a fine commercial 
course.  Leaving his father�s home, he set out for himself at the age of 
twenty-one, and began his farming experience by leasing 320 acres at Live Oak, 
in Sutter County, where he grew grain for a year.  He then contracted to dig 
ditches and to build bridges; and in 1911, he erected, on Brydon Lane, the first 
concrete bridge built in Yuba County.  He continued contracting for two years, 
and then he returned to ranching in Yuba County, where in 1916 he had sixty 
leased acres in beans; and the following year he came to Hammonton.  Since then, 
he has been an oiler with the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields; and it is pleasant 
to note that he is very popular, both with his superiors in office and with his 
fellow-workers.  He is a Republican, although a reasonably broad-minded, 
non-partisan �booster� when it comes to working for the best men and the best 
measures needed by the community in which he resides.
At Yuba City, on April 30, 1911, Mr. Groh was married to Miss Myrtle White, a 
native of that town, and the daughter of Emory Judson and Ida (Dean) White�the 
former a native of Ohio, and the latter of New York State.  Mr. White came to 
California when a boy, and as an experienced farmer he is still living at Yuba 
City.  He was for twenty years the supervisor from District No. 2,  in Sutter 
County, and made there an enviable record for scrupulous honesty and intelligent 
administration of a public trust.  He and his good wife reside at 458 B Street, 
Yuba City, where he is the superintendent of the Yuba City water-works, having 
held that position for six years.  Six children made up the White family circle: 
Elizabeth is Mrs. Bales, of Chico; William is deceased; Herbert is at San Jose; 
George, also deceased; Verner is at Sacramento; and Myrtle has become Mrs. Groh. 
 She attended the Yuba City school, then studied voice and instrumental music 
for eight years, going to New York City�the greatest musical center in America, 
with perhaps the finest symphony orchestra in the world�and finishing there 
brilliantly, amid many broadening musical advantages, after a very exacting 
course under the ablest professors in the metropolis.  One daughter, perhaps 
destined to inherit her mother�s genius, has blessed this union, and she is 
named Ida Rose.
Mr. Groh is a Past Grand of Yuba City Lodge, I.O.O.F., and he is also a member 
of the Rebekahs of that place.  Mrs. Groh is a Past District Deputy Grand 
President of the Rebekahs, being also an active member of the Yuba City lodge.  
Both Mr. and Mrs. Groh are deservedly popular in various circles, and their many 
friends rejoice at their steady prosperity.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 1243