Fred Grotefend, cashier of the Shasta County Bank, is a native of Shasta, California, born February 18, 1857. His father, Augustus Grotefend, was born in Germany; came to the United States when a boy; crossed the plains to California, in 1849, with Mr. H. F. Johnson. Upon his arrival in this State he located at Shasta and engaged in mining. He married Miss Amelia Zumdahl, a native of Germany, who crossed the plains to California in 1852. To them were born seven children, all of whom are living. The father died in June, 1889.

The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native town. At the age of thirteen years he entered his father’s store, and remained there until April 1, 1886. At that date he came to Redding to accept the position of cashier of the bank in which he is a stockholder. Mr. Grotefend has built a nice residence on Pine street, between Shasta and Sacramento streets; has several other residences and city properties in Redding; owns a number of ranches in Shasta and Trinity counties, and also has mining interests.

April 14, 1886, he married Miss Elizabeth Eaton, a native of California. The writer of this article learned from the files of the Redding papers that the marriage of this prominent young couple was the finest and most noted event of the kind which ever occurred in this county. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Grotefend is a member of Mount Shasta Parlor, N.S.G.W., and is Past President of the parlor. For two terms he has been Treasurer of Redding. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Grotefend takes a lively interest in the affairs of his county and country, and is a most agreeable and obliging business man.

Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891 Page 642
Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan