SHASTA COUNTY'S PIONEER GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE: THE McCORMICK-SAELTZER COMPANY, AND IT'S BRANCHES.

Where would your ancestors have purchased a Studebaker horse drawn wagon during the late 19th century in Redding? What was Redding's biggest store, who were the entrepreneurs behind this annual million-dollar general merchandise business. Other than Redding, where were the other branches located? Find out more in my newest episode of Exploring Shasta County History.

RESOURCES:

1860 U.S. Census

California Voter Register, 1866

Dentistry (advertisement) - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 30, 1866

City Drug Store (advertisement) - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 11, 1868

1870 U.S. Census

Dissolution Of Partnership - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 5, 1877

McCormick-Saeltzer & Co. - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, September 29, 1877

Dr. Wellendorf - The Reading Independent newspaper of Redding, October 31, 1877

Our Merchants - The Reading Independent newspaper of Redding, October 31, 1877

McCormick Saeltzer & Co. - The Reading Independent newspaper of Redding, May 22, 1879

1880 U.S. Census

Misfortune - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 20, 1883

Our Merchants - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 10, 1883

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 6, 1884

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1885

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 4, 1885

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 16, 1885

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 11, 1885

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 1, 1885

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 29, 1885

Delta - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 12, 1885

Our Business - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 12, 1886

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 2, 1886

New Incorporation - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 21, 1888

Holt & Gregg - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 2, 1888

Consolidated - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 24, 1888

1900 U.S. Census

Two New Buildings to Be Erected - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 22, 1900

Louie Autenreith (branch store at Carrville) - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 25, 1901

Carrville Is Growing - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 9, 1901

Big Store Clerks Have Falling Out - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 17, 1901

Big Store Firm May Soon Build Large Addition - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 20, 1902

W.L. Smith's Estate Goes to Probate Court - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 7, 1902

W.L. Smith's Will Goes to Probate - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 22, 1902

Mrs. Boggs Wants Her Money Back - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 18, 1902

Mrs. Boggs Temporarily Suspended as Administratix - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 9, 1902

Smith's Stock in Big Store Stands in Boggs' Name - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 10, 1902

They Acknowledge Smith's Widow of Smith - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 23, 1902

Smith Will Case is Set Down for Trial - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 4, 1902

Executrix Point is Passed Along - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 4, 1902

Fire In Big Store Building - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 19, 1902

The Smith Estate Comes Up in Court - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 21, 1902

Will Contests Are Dismissed - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 1, 1903

Big Store Company Sues Smith Estate - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 20, 1903

Two Suits Over Stock in the Big Store - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 23, 1903

Vast Changes in McCormick-Saeltzer Store - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 18, 1903

The Big Store to Be Made Bigger - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 19, 1903

Smith's Will Is Twice Attacked - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 21, 1903

The Big Store's New Building - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 11, 1903

Smith Estate to Be Settled Soon - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 9, 1903

James McCormick Is Number with the Dead - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 9, 1905

Says Her Father Was Unduly Influenced - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, July 4, 1905

Several Wills Filed - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, June 21, 1905

Chico Record newspaper of Chico, July 7, 1905

Makes Offer of Compromise - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, December 1, 1905

The McCormick-Saeltzer Co. Offers Reward - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 26, 1906

Saeltzer Clerk Is Arrested - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 1, 1907

Jeffords Is Found Not Guilty - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 12, 1907

Delamar Eats Up Big Store Team - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 3, 1908 

Rudolph Saeltzer Wins Promotion - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 25, 1909

1910 U.S. Census

1920 U.S. Census

Old Timer Passes In San Francisco - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 22, 1923

Court Adjourns in Honor of Merchant - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 14, 1927

Final Tribute to Be Paid Monday to R.M. Saeltzer - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 14, 1927

Chamber Honors R.M. Saeltzer - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 16, 1927

R.M. Saeltzer Estate Estimated At $250,000 - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 16, 1927

1930 U.S. Census

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 12, 1933

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 14, 1933

Klement Buys Big Store - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1938

1940 U.S. Census  

Fire Levels Block; Still Burns - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 13, 1940

Big Store Will Be Rebuilt Immediately - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 14, 1940

To Start Big Store Salvaging - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 18, 1940

Big Store Claims Paid - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 1940

Pioneer Store May Purchase Big Store Lot - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 29, 29, 1940

Saeltzers to Rebuild Soon On Old Site - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 5, 1940

McCormick-Saeltzer to Rebuild; Labor Dispute on Job Settled - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 6, 1940

Pioneer Will Rebuild Big Store - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 31, 1940

Pioneer Store to Buy Big Store Property - The Redding Record Searchlight of Redding, April 1, 1940

To Build Big Store Soon - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 1, 1940

More Than $200,000 Will Be Spent in Construction of Big Store Building - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 2, 1940

Big Store Lot Sold For $55,000 - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 17, 1940

Issue Permit for Big Store - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 30, 1940

Revocation of Permit Halts Big Store Job - The Redding Record Searchlight of Redding, May 13, 1940

Wm. M. Klement Buys Hardware Depat., and Big Market Real Estate; to Retire As Pioneer Store President - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 15, 1940

City to Require Inspector On Pioneer Store - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 24, 1940

Beautiful New Pioneer Store Block to Open Tomorrow - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 18, 1940

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 19, 1940

First Stores of New Block Opened Today - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 19, 1940

My Playhouse Was a Concord Coach, an anthology of newspaper clippings and documents relating to those who made California history during the years 1822-1888, by Mae Hélène Bacon Boggs. Published by Howell-North Press ©1942

Three Years Ago Today: Million Dollar Fire Destroyed Big Store - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 13, 1943

R.M. Saeltzer's Itchy Feet Brought Him Here - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 10, 1950

The Redding Record-Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 29, 1961

MP-019 McCormick, James Pioneer Plaque file on file at Shasta Historical Society

SP-033 Smith, Williamson Lincoya Pioneer Plaque file on file at Shasta Historical Society

R.M. Saeltzer, Adventurer by Florence M. Saeltzer - The Covered Wagon 1951, published by Shasta Historical Society. Pages 19-24

A Redding Landmark for Sixty-Three Years McCormick-Saeltzer Company - The Covered Wagon 1972. Pages 32-38

TRINITY JOURNAL 1992 - The Carrville Inn by Kit Waller, pages 11-31. Published by the Trinity County Historical Society.

Shedding New Light on James McCormick by Karen Taylor - The Covered Wagon 2012, published by Shasta Historical Society. Pages 47-54.