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Sarah Kidder

1839 – 1933

First female railroad president in the world

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About Sarah Kidder

Lived 1839 – 1933 (aged 93–94). Sarah Kidder was an American business executive.

Sarah Clark Kidder (; September 1933) was president of Northern California's Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad (NCNGRR) from 1901 to 1913. She was the first female railroad president in the world.

Railroad presidency Kidder became majority owner and president of the NCNGRR upon the death of her husband in 1901. Under her management, she was able to retire the company's debt and return dividends to the shareholders. During this period the railroad also built the Bear River Bridge, which was at the time the tallest in California. It cut two miles, and eight minutes, from the length of the trip between the two ends of the railroad.

In 1913, shortly after settling a legal challenge to her ownership of the railroad,

Personal life Born Sarah A. Clark in Ohio, Kidder married civil engineer John Flint Kidder in 1874. They moved to Grass Valley, California the following year. Their home was a large mansion (sources disagree on eighteen room) mansion, adjacent to the railroad tracks. She hosted social gatherings and also did volunteer work for an orphan society.

Kidder remained in San Francisco after selling the railroad, and died there in 1933, at the age 94. Two other plaques mentioning Kidder have also been placed at either end of the railroad.

The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum's railbus is named after Kidder.

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Important facts

Born
1839
Birth century
Died
1933
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Chief executive officer
Also known as
Sarah Clark Kidder

People in Sarah Kidder's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Sarah Kidder's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Sarah Kidder?

First female railroad president in the world

When was Sarah Kidder born?

Sarah Kidder was born in 1839.

When did Sarah Kidder die?

Sarah Kidder died in 1933.

What was Sarah Kidder's occupation?

Sarah Kidder was a business executive.

What nationality was Sarah Kidder?

Sarah Kidder was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Sarah Kidder

· Wikidata: Q7422487

· DBpedia: Sarah Kidder

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sarah Kidder. https://biography.guide/sarah-kidder/

MLA: "Sarah Kidder." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sarah-kidder/.

Chicago: "Sarah Kidder." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sarah-kidder/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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