Butte County
Biographies
JOHN E. STARRATT
J. E. STARRATT.--The genial manager of the Chico branch of the Miller Automobile Company of Sacramento, of which company he is also the vice-president, J. E. Starratt has injected into the business his virile personality and has won a degree of success that is very satisfactory to his company and reflects great credit on his personal ability. He was born at Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, a son of William Starratt, a farmer and hotel proprietor.
J. E. Starratt was educated in the common schools and in Annapolis Academy. After completing the academic course he desired to learn the trade of machinist; accordingly he went to Beverly, Mass., and began an apprenticeship in the United Shoe Machine Company’s plant, serving three years. In 1904, he came to California, and, at Fair Oaks, was placed in charge of the machine shops for the Ashburton Mining Company, which was dredging at that point. Three years later he resigned to engage in the plumbing and electrical wiring business in Fair Oaks. During the three years he was so engaged he built up a good business, then sold out to become associated with the Miller-Coffing Automobile Company of Sacramento, now the Miller Automobile Company, as manager of their Fair Oaks and Roseville branches. He met with success as a salesman and demonstrated his ability as a manager, and in 1915, when the company was reorganized under their present title, Mr. Starratt was invited to become a partner in the corporation and was made vice-president. In July of that year he came to Chico to establish a branch of the Dodge agency, of which he has since been manager.
The place of business is located at First and Broadway. The territory covered by Mr. Starratt extends from the Sutter and Yuba County line, northward, half way through Siskiyou County, including both sides of the Sacramento Valley and taking in the following counties: Colusa, Glenn, Butte, Tehama, Shasta, Trinity, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, and part of Siskiyou, with local agencies in the important towns in those counties. A branch house is maintained at Redding. On account of the scarcity of cars, a long waiting-list is on record at all agencies. At all towns where there is an agency a Dodge service-station is maintained where extras and parts may be had. The offices and garage of this enterprising concern are well equipped for the convenience of their patrons and the employees. Mr. Starratt gives his entire time to the business and spends a great deal of time on the road.
At Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, occurred the marriage of J. E. Starratt with Jennie E. Harris, a native of that place and a graduate of the Annapolis Academy. Three children have blessed their union: Havilah, Marion and Jack. Since becoming a resident of Chico, Mr. Starratt has purchased a home at Fourth and Oleander Streets, in Chico Vecino, where a kindly hospitality is dispensed to their many friends. He is a member of the Illinois Commercial Traveling Men’s Association and of the Chico Business Men’s Association.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1182-1183, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Joyce Rugeroni.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County
Biographies