Sarah Clark Kidder (var. Sara) (c.1839 - September 1933) was president of Northern California's Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad (NCNGRR) from 1901 to 1913. She was the first female railroad president in the world.
Sarah Kidder.Bear River Bridge, built under Kidder's management
Kidder became majority owner and president of the NCNGRR upon the death of her husband in 1901. Under her management, she was able to retire the company's debt and return dividends to the shareholders.[1] During this period the railroad also built the Bear River Bridge, which was at the time the tallest in California. It cut two miles,[2] and eight minutes, from the length of the trip between the two ends of the railroad.[3][4]
In 1913, shortly after settling a legal challenge to her ownership of the railroad,[1] she sold her stock and moved to San Francisco.[5]
Personal lifeedit
Born Sarah A. Clark in Ohio, Kidder married civil engineerJohn Flint Kidder in 1874.[citation needed] They moved to Grass Valley, California the following year.[6] Their home was a large mansion (sources disagree on eighteen[1] or twenty-eight[7] room) mansion, adjacent to the railroad tracks. She hosted social gatherings and also did volunteer work for an orphan society.[4]
Her adopted daughter, Beatrice, married Harvard University graduate Howard Ridgely Ward, and had three children.[8][9]
Kidder remained in San Francisco after selling the railroad, and died there in 1933, at the age 94.[10] She is interred at the Odd Fellow's Columbarium.[7]
Honorsedit
In honor of Sarah, John, and Beatrice Kidder, the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus planted three trees in Grass Valley's Clamper Square.[10] Two other plaques mentioning Kidder have also been placed at either end of the railroad.[11]
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum's railbus is named after Kidder.[12]
Referencesedit
^ abcBrower, Maria E. (2003-05-17). "Sarah Kidder She ran the Narrow Gauge Railroad for 'Twelve Golden Years'". The Union. Grass Valley, CA. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
^"Constructing a Very High Railway Bridge". The Bridgemen's Magazine. 9: 192–193. April 1909.
^ abBommersbach, Jana (February 1, 2007). "Railroad's First Lady". True West Magazine. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
^"NEVADA COUNTY NARROW GAUGE CHANGES HANDS STOCKHOLDERS ALL DISPOSE OF THEIR INTERESTS LAST WEEK". California Digital Newspaper Collection. Truckee, CA: Truckee Republican. 1 May 1913. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
^"John F. Kidder's long struggle against death is at an end". The San Francisco Call. Vol. 87, no. 132. April 11, 1901. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
^ abHamilton, Brian (2014-03-23). "Students solve 110-year mystery of final resting place of county's narrow gauge railroad's 'first family'". The Union. Grass Valley, CA. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
^"Married" (PDF). The New York Times. September 21, 1905. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
^Harvard College Class of 1903 Quindecennial Report. Plimpton Press. 1920. p. 314.
^ abWyckoff, Bob (2008-05-09). "A family's arboreal home on Clamper Square". The Union. Grass Valley, CA. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
^E Clampus Vitus Plaque Book 1930-1995. Oakland, CA. 1995. pp. 106, 190, 192.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Rolling Stock". Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
Further referencesedit
Levinson, Nancy Smiler (1997). "Sarah Clark Kidder: Short Line Railroad President". She's Been Working on the Railroad. Lodestar Books. ISBN9780525675457.
Wyckoff, Robert M., ed. (1986). Never Come, Never Go! The Story of Nevada County's Narrow Gauge Railroad. Nevada City Publishing Company. ISBN0961526106.
sarah, kidder, sarah, clark, kidder, sara, 1839, september, 1933, president, northern, california, nevada, county, narrow, gauge, railroad, ncngrr, from, 1901, 1913, first, female, railroad, president, world, bear, river, bridge, built, under, kidder, manageme. Sarah Clark Kidder var Sara c 1839 September 1933 was president of Northern California s Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad NCNGRR from 1901 to 1913 She was the first female railroad president in the world Sarah Kidder Bear River Bridge built under Kidder s management Contents 1 Railroad presidency 2 Personal life 3 Honors 4 References 5 Further referencesRailroad presidency editKidder became majority owner and president of the NCNGRR upon the death of her husband in 1901 Under her management she was able to retire the company s debt and return dividends to the shareholders 1 During this period the railroad also built the Bear River Bridge which was at the time the tallest in California It cut two miles 2 and eight minutes from the length of the trip between the two ends of the railroad 3 4 In 1913 shortly after settling a legal challenge to her ownership of the railroad 1 she sold her stock and moved to San Francisco 5 Personal life editBorn Sarah A Clark in Ohio Kidder married civil engineer John Flint Kidder in 1874 citation needed They moved to Grass Valley California the following year 6 Their home was a large mansion sources disagree on eighteen 1 or twenty eight 7 room mansion adjacent to the railroad tracks She hosted social gatherings and also did volunteer work for an orphan society 4 Her adopted daughter Beatrice married Harvard University graduate Howard Ridgely Ward and had three children 8 9 Kidder remained in San Francisco after selling the railroad and died there in 1933 at the age 94 10 She is interred at the Odd Fellow s Columbarium 7 Honors editIn honor of Sarah John and Beatrice Kidder the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus planted three trees in Grass Valley s Clamper Square 10 Two other plaques mentioning Kidder have also been placed at either end of the railroad 11 The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum s railbus is named after Kidder 12 References edit a b c Brower Maria E 2003 05 17 Sarah Kidder She ran the Narrow Gauge Railroad for Twelve Golden Years The Union Grass Valley CA Retrieved 2019 04 04 Constructing a Very High Railway Bridge The Bridgemen s Magazine 9 192 193 April 1909 Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Pacific Coast Narrow Gauge Retrieved 2019 04 04 a b Bommersbach Jana February 1 2007 Railroad s First Lady True West Magazine Retrieved 2009 05 18 NEVADA COUNTY NARROW GAUGE CHANGES HANDS STOCKHOLDERS ALL DISPOSE OF THEIR INTERESTS LAST WEEK California Digital Newspaper Collection Truckee CA Truckee Republican 1 May 1913 Retrieved 2019 04 04 John F Kidder s long struggle against death is at an end The San Francisco Call Vol 87 no 132 April 11 1901 Retrieved 2009 05 21 a b Hamilton Brian 2014 03 23 Students solve 110 year mystery of final resting place of county s narrow gauge railroad s first family The Union Grass Valley CA Retrieved 2019 04 04 Married PDF The New York Times September 21 1905 Retrieved 2009 05 18 Harvard College Class of 1903 Quindecennial Report Plimpton Press 1920 p 314 a b Wyckoff Bob 2008 05 09 A family s arboreal home on Clamper Square The Union Grass Valley CA Retrieved 2009 05 21 E Clampus Vitus Plaque Book 1930 1995 Oakland CA 1995 pp 106 190 192 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Rolling Stock Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum Retrieved 2019 04 04 Further references editLevinson Nancy Smiler 1997 Sarah Clark Kidder Short Line Railroad President She s Been Working on the Railroad Lodestar Books ISBN 9780525675457 Wyckoff Robert M ed 1986 Never Come Never Go The Story of Nevada County s Narrow Gauge Railroad Nevada City Publishing Company ISBN 0961526106 Preceded byJohn Flint Kidder President of Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad1901 1913 Succeeded by nbsp This biography related to rail transport in the United States is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sarah Kidder amp oldid 1189936612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
