Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Charles Jefferson HARRAH
HARRAH, CHARLES JEFFERSON, merchant, was born Jan. 1, 1817, in Philadelphia, Pa. In 1852-57 he was proprietor of a ship yard at Rio Janeiro, and then engaged in railroad and navigation enterprises, amassing a large fortune, with which he returned to his native city in 1874.
Born in Philadelphia in 1817, Harrah lost his father when he was an infant, and was cared for by his widowed mother. He grew up poor, working on farms near Philadelphia, and his schooling was limited to a total of three days.
In 1832, Harrah was apprenticed to a ship-builder. Following his apprenticeship, he continued to work in shipyards in Philadelphia, New York, and Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1843, he received a contract to build a steamship for Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil. After establishing shipyards in Brazil, he turned his attention to railroads. He returned to the United States to study railroads and then went back to Brazil to build part of the Dom Pedro II railroad.
During his many years in Brazil, Harrah would organize or be involved in several transportation companies. He established the first telegraph company in Brazil, and served as its president. He was also employed by the Imperial Government of Brazil, working on confidential assignments and investigations, such as the task of buying armaments from the United States in 1865. Harrah also partnered with several other businessmen to establish the first public school in Rio de Janeiro. In recognition of his many accomplishments and service, he was decorated Knight Commander of the Imperial Order da Rosa.
When he returned to Philadelphia, Harrah served as president of the People's Passenger Railway of Philadelphia, and as president of Midvale Steel Works. He also served on various hospital and charity boards. He died in 1890, leaving an estate of $8,000,000, to be divided among his heirs. Before his death, in 1881, Harrah purchased the site where his mausoleum now sits. As part of the agreement of the sale, he insisted on several guarantees from the Cemetery, some concerning the roadways and maintenance of the area, and another that he be allowed to supervise the construction. The design of the mausoleum was taken from photographs, but no other information survives to give us information on this outstanding structure.
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