El
Dorado County
Biographies
CHARLES J. RUPLEY
Descended
from one of the real pioneer families of El Dorado County, and rated as one of
the most substantial and progressive business men of the community, Charles J.
Rupley is the owner of the Buick and Chevrolet agencies at Placerville, also
the Round Tent Feed & Fuel Company, and handles a number of radios and
refrigerators. He was born on a farm in
El Dorado County, April 13, 1884, a son of Joseph and Vina (Olsen) Rupley. Joseph Rupley was also born in El Dorado
County, and was a son of John Wesley Rupley, who crossed the plains from Ohio
in the early days, and engaged in the hotel business at Placerville. Joseph Rupley engaged in the stage business,
and carried the mail over the mountains on contract. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
Charles
J. Rupley attended school at Smithflat, also in the Blair district, but left
his classes while a young man and for a subsequent period of eighteen years had
the contract for carrying the United States mail from Placerville to
Georgetown, and from Auburn and Georgetown to Grizzly Flats and
Placerville. This was a hazardous
occupation, and his experiences in transporting the mail over the mountain passes
were many and varied. In 1914 Mr. Rupley
first established himself in the automobile business, and since that date has
been the Buick dealer for El Dorado County, also selling the Chevrolet car
since 1920. He is conducting business
under the name of the Round Tent Feed & Fuel Company, and he carries an
excellent line of radios and refrigerators.
He employs about twenty people in his business.
Mr.
Rupley married Miss Clara Jerrett, daughter of Daniel Jerrett, and a native of
El Dorado County, her birth occurred at Georgetown. Mr. and Mrs. Rupley are the parents of six
children: Charles J., Theodore, Phyllis,
Jack, Marylyn, and Bill. Mr. Rupley is a
member of the Natives Sons of the Golden West, the Masonic order, the Lions
Club, and the Placerville Golf Club. He
is a Democrat in politics, and was once a member of Company H of the old
National Guard. Hunting is his favorite
diversion in life.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 403-404. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies