William CHARLES REDDING

Prominent Pioneer

 
 
 

"He was one of the first settlers to realize the importance of dairying, and with rare foresight he acquired large tracts of land near and around Nicasio, and there he established one of the finest ranches In the western hemisphere”

-The Marin Journal, July 21, 1910

 

William Charles Redding was one of Marin County's earliest settlers and is the ancestral inspiration behind Paydirt. He left his home of Boston to come to California in 1848—the beginning of the great gold excitement and the “stirring days of ’48 and ’49." Redding was one of the first miners at what is now the city of Auburn, CA. In these early days, he befriended George Hearst—both miners at the time. While Hearst went on to gain great wealth as a US Senator, Redding became one of Marin’s prosperous dairymen and a substantial citizen. Their friendship, starting in the hardships of the race for gold, continued until death decreed otherwise. William Charles Redding was prolific; he was known to be a man of stature and fine character in the Marin community that he lived for over half a century.

 
 
 
This is a caption describing this piece of paper. This is a caption describing this piece of paper. This is a caption describing this piece of paper.
 
 
 

William Charles Redding, Obituary 1910

With the sudden death of Charles Redding perhaps one of the best known and highly respected pioneers in Marin, this county has lost another of the ever decreasing number of hardy, enterprising and courageous men. who braved the dangers and arrived in sailing ships from eastern ports during the stirring days of '48 and 49.

Mr. Redding was a native of Boston, Mass. but left his native city at an early age to embark in the sailing vessel, “The Queen’s City," reaching the site where now stands Auburn in 1848. He remained there until 1851 and moved then to Marin county, where he has resided ever since. He was one of the first white settlers to realize the importance of dairying, and with rare foresight he acquired large tracts of land near and around Nicasio, and there he established one of the finest ranches In the western hemisphere. The deceased, who reached the ripe age of 84, leaves five children and twenty-one grandchildren. The surviving children are Captain Charles A. Redding, of Wilkins & Redding, and Thomas Redding, San Rafael: Joseph Redding, Nicasio, and Miss Mary Redding and Mrs. Lizzie Rogers of Nicasio.