Butte County
Biographies
JOHN W. CHARGE
JOHN W. CHARGE.—A
well known business man of Chico, in which city he has
made his home for many years, John W. Charge is a native son of California,
born of pioneer parents, his birth taking place near Yuba City,
Sutter County,
June 6, 1862. His father, Peter Charge,
was born in Germany, and came to America
from that country, and soon after his arrival crossed the plains to California,
in 1857, and located in Sutter County,
where he bought land and farmed and raised stock, principally draft horses and
cattle, having some fine specimens on his ranch. He was a personal friend of Gen. John Sutter
and lived neighbor to him. He, later, in
the fall of 1870, removed with his family to South Butte,
where he farmed until his death, in January,1871.
When he first settled in California
the land was in its primeval state; Indians, wild cattle, horses, elk, deer,
and all kinds of wild game abounded. The
mother, Magdalena Charge, came to California in 1858;
her death occurred in South Butte, in 1911. Four children were born to this worthy
couple, John W. being the second oldest in the family. From eight years of age he was reared in South
Butte, attending the public schools of the Butte Slough
District. From the age of twelve, he assisted
his mother in carrying on the farm and business, and when fourteen years of age
quit school to give all his attention to the work. He continued with her until 1888, when they
sold the farm.
Mr. Charge then
began for himself. He rented land and
engaged in farming and gardening. His
marriage, which occurred November 29, 1887, united him with Miss Ella Wimmer, a native of Missouri
and a daughter of W. R. Wimmer. She came with her parents across the plains
when but two years of age and was raised in Sutter
County. Her uncle, Peter Wimmer,
first saw the gold nugget that John Marshall picked up, and while not credited
with being the discoverer of gold, was John Marshall’s companion. In 1900, Mr. and Mrs. Charge located in Chico,
where he found employment with James H. Jones and Company, remaining with them
for thirteen years and four months, without loss of time. He began as a buyer and office man and had
charge of the feed mills for a time. In
October of 1914, he resigned and started in business for himself, as wholesale
dealer in hay and grain, shipping the produce to interior points. His experience in the business has made him
particularly well informed in his line, and having a large acquaintance with the
farmers and producers both in Butte
and adjoining counties, he has built up a prosperous business. His office is located on the corner of Sixth
and Orange Streets, and besides his shipping operations he is engaged in the
insurance business, representing the St. Paul Insurance Company and the
Mechanics and Traders’ Company; he also represents the California
producers’ Company of Sacramento, dealers in grain and produce.
Mr. Charge built
his family residence at 1275 South Chestnut Street,
and there enjoys life with his family.
To Mr. and Mrs. Charge have been born three children: Clarence E., born
April 22, 1890, is a graduate of Heald’s Business
College and for some years was employed by the Northern Star Mills but is now
manager for the California Producers Company, at Chico; (he married Ivy Burk
and they have one child, Dorothy); Florence, born April 25, 1893, is now Mrs.
Roy E. Hampton, of Sacramento, and the mother of one child, Thomas Wade; and
Frances, a twin of Florence, who died aged nineteen months and thirteen days. Both Mr. and Mrs. Charge are members of the United
Brethren Church,
Mr. Charge having been one of the organizers of that body and having acted as
chairman of the board of trustees for seven years, during which time the church
edifice was erected.
Transcribed 4-9-08
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "History
of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 859-860, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
©
2008 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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