Treasurer, and made his family the Board of Directors. He owned four mines, and was a multi-millionaire. Later years Kidder, a Republican, was involved in State and County Central Committees. He was a delegate to the 1892 Republican National Convention, where he cast the only vote for Ohio's William McKinley, the Permanent Chair of the convention. Governor Robert Waterman appointed Kidder to the position of Yosemite Valley Commissioner. In 1893, Kidder was appointed State Debris Commissioner by the California State Mining Bureau, a position he held until his death. Though Kidder became the first Exalted Ruler of the Grass Valley Elks Club in 1900, he continued his membership in Syracuse's Masonic Lodge even after leaving 40 years earlier. In April 1901, suffering from diabetes, Kidder died at his home in Grass Valley. His wife Sarah Kidder succeeded him as President of the NNGRR, becoming the first female railroad president in the world. Family Kidder married Sarah A. Clark of Ohio in 1874. From 1875, they lived on Bennett Street in Grass Valley where he collected paintings and a large collection of books. He had a family orchard across from the Grass Valley train depot where he grew a variety of produce. Kidder and his wife had one adopted daughter, Beatrice, who married Howard Ridgely Ward in Grass Valley in 1905. The Wards had two children both daughters, Elizabeth K. Ward born in about 1907 and Beatrice H. Ward born in about 1908 but died sometime between 1910 and 1917. . Historic recognition Honoring Kidder, who built Grass Valley's first modern house and first concrete sidewalk, the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus planted three trees for the Kidder family in Grass Valley's Clamper Square. References External links Obituary Photos 1830 births 1901 deaths American civil engineers American surveyors 19th-century American railroad executives Republican Party members of the California State Assembly Politicians from New York City People from Grass Valley, California Engineers from New York (state) Engineers from California 19th-century American politicians