Butte County
Biographies
CHARLES FAULKNER
CHARLES FAULKNER.--Prominent in his
time, of wide experience and of deep discernment in everyday affairs,
prosperity never affected the modest demeanor of Charles Faulkner, and success
in no wise diminished his broad and sympathetic spirit. He was born at Castle Blaney, County Monoghan,
Ireland, December 5,
1846, and was the youngest child of a family of eight boys and one girl. He
came to California in 1862, at the solicitation of his brothers, George and
Thomas Faulkner, of Faulkner Brothers, bankers at Oroville, and there engaged
in the banking business with them, continuing successfully until they sold out
to Rideout-Smith Company of Marysville. He then
joined this company at Marysville and remained there until he was selected by
them to organize a branch bank in Chico
in 1871. This was subsequently merged into the Bank of Butte County, but until
his death, Mr. Faulkner was its most efficient cashier and one of the large
stockholders. In addition to his banking business he had the agency of Wells,
Fargo and Company, the office being in the bank building. He transacted its
business for twenty-three years.
Mr.
Faulkner was interested not only in banking but in horticulture, and set out
orchards and early engaged in fruit-raising, taking it up soon after General
Bidwell began setting out trees. The family still owns its interest in the
Faulkner and Robinson orchard, as well as the Faulkner-Hegan
orchard, where his sister, Mrs. Eliza Hegan, is still
living.
In
June, 1872, Mr. Faulkner was married to Mary MacDonald Tilden, who was born in Philadelphia,
Pa., coming of an old English family of
Kent County, England, which settled in Kent County, Md. Her grandfather, Hugh
MacDonald, was a graduate of the medical department of the University
of Edinburgh, and became a prominent surgeon in Philadelphia.
Her father, Dr. William P. Tilden, was a graduate in
medicine from Johns Hopkins
College at Baltimore.
In the early fifties he came via the Isthmus of Panama to San
Francisco; he was one of the pioneer physicians of Chico;
was a member of the assembly of the State Legislature for one term; and served
one term as medical superintendent of the State Asylum in Stockton,
after which he returned to Chico.
His brother, Dr. Thomas Tilden, served as surgeon in the United States Army
during the Mexican War and was also a very prominent pioneer physician here.
Mrs. Faulkner came to California via Panama
in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner became the parents of two children: Louis Glass,
an attorney in Chico, and Ethel,
the wife of E. B. Copeland. Mr. Copeland is a graduate of the University
of Wisconsin, Stanford
University, and Halle University,
Germany; was dean of the College
of Agriculture, Los Banos,
P. I., until 1917, and is now engaged in rice-growing in Butte
County. Mr. Faulkner's death
occurred on July 30, 1897, at Dr. Lane's Hospital, in San
Francisco. Mrs. Faulkner continues to reside at Chico.
Mr.
Faulkner was a Knights Templar Mason and Shriner, and
in 1895 was Commander of Chico Commandery, No. 12. He
was a charter member of Pride of Butte Lodge, No. 69, K. of P., and for
eighteen years was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Knights
of Honor. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and took an active part in
the organization of the Episcopal Mission here.
The
personal appearance of Mr. Faulkner was striking. He was a tall, straight,
well-built man, six feet two inches in height, and his magnetic personality was
in keeping with his physique. He always gave his support to whatever made for
the upbuilding of the town, and helped much to start
such projects as the water and gas companies. He also aided many a good man to
begin business or farming; his impulses were naturally generous, and while in
all respects he was strictly a business man, it was in that capacity that his
loss was most severely felt. He was ready to extend financial aid to those he
thought honest and trustworthy, and helped many who sought assistance in vain
in other quarters. He was a good citizen, husband and father, and was as just
as he was generous.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 573-575, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2007 Sande Beach.
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