Biography - Arthur Ashton Codd

ARTHUR ASHTON CODD, one of Nevada's highly respected and representative mining men, who has been prominently identified with the wonderful development and progress made at Rochester, was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 7, 1870. He is a son of William and Ann (Thompson) Codd, both natives of England. His father was one of the foremost men of his locality and was a landscape gardener. Arthur came to America at the age of twelve years, accompanied by his parents, and went direct to San Bernardino County, Cal., and located in what is now Riverside. When the townsite was plotted Mr. Codd's father was largely instrumental in beautifying the town by laying out the parks, streets, and planting of trees. He was a large orange-grower. The father died in 1909, and the mother died December 30, 1900. Arthur A. received his education in the public schools in Riverside, Stockton Business College and Normal Institute, graduating in 1894. He took up bookkeeping and became identified with the Studebaker Carriage Company in San Francisco as bookkeeper and cashier for a period of fourteen years. He resigned this position in 1904 during the gold excitement at Goldfield, where he removed, and was appointed Deputy District Mining Recorder under Claud M. Smith, an old college classmate, and served about four years in a most capable and satisfactory manner. He also served as secretary and treasurer for the Potlatch and Velvet Mining Companies, which was later taken over by the Goldfield merger, in which company Mr. Codd is a stockholder. Early he directed his efforts towards educational matters in Goldfield, was the promoter of the public school system of that city, and served as Clerk of the School Board during his stay in that camp. In November, 1908, he removed from Goldfield, and in the fall of 1909 he came to Reno, where he was elected on the Republican State ticket as Regent of the Nevada State University, he being the only candidate elected on the State ticket. Mr. Codd established an office in Reno, where he is actively engaged in the mining business. He was one of the enterprising men during the Rawhide mining excitement and has been interested in the mines of Northern California. Mr. Codd has carved his name deeply on the mining and business records of Rochester. He is president of the Rochester Hills Mining Company, which owns three claims, called the Aurora Group, and they also have leased No. Two on Nenzel Hill. Arthur A. Codd was united in marriage to Miss Susan R. Patterson, a native of Stockton, Cal., November 10, 1896. To this union have been born three children: Lois, born December 18, 1897; Ashton, born March 22, 1900; Monroe, born August 15, 1907. Fraternally Mr. Codd is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, a Knight Templar, Scottish Rite, and the Shrine. At the present time he holds the office of Warden of Temple and the office of Illustrious Oriental Guide of the Shrine. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. and Reno Commercial Club, while Mrs. Codd takes an active part in the club and social life of Reno.

Transcribed 2020 May 06 by Norma Hass from The History of Nevada, published in 1913, volume 2, pages 1078-1079.

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