CHARLES FULTON GUTHRIDGE

Los Angeles County

Biographies

CHARLES FULTON GUTHRIDGE

GUTHRIDGE, CHARLES FULTON, Deep Sea Dredging, Los Angeles, Cal., was born at Cable, Champaign County, Ohio, September 12, 1862, the son of John Guthridge and Elizabeth (Middleton) Guthridge. His parents were of Scotch descent, both natives of Ohio. Mr. Guthridge married Florence Montgomery at Columbus, Ohio, March 14, 1889, and to them there have been born two sons, Ralph A. and Russell M. Guthridge.

Mr. Guthridge, whose father was engaged in farming in Ohio, spent his boyhood on the farm, attending public school in the winter months up to his sixteenth year.

His first venture into business was made when he became a clerk in a drygoods establishment at Urbana, Ohio, a position he held until 1884. At this time he became associated with a large carpet and curtain house in Columbus, Ohio, remaining with it about seven years.

Resigning his position to become agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York, in Franklin County, Ohio, Mr. Guthridge operated successfully in that field for seven years, or until 1896, at which time he decided to remove to Los Angeles. Shortly after his arrival there he purchased the Keystone Mills of that city. These mills, the oldest in Southern California, were part of the manufacturing history of Los Angeles, having been established in the year 1887. Under Mr. Guthridge’s management they were greatly enlarged and modernized.

In 1902 Mr. Guthridge sold out his milling property and went into the telephone business as Superintendent and General Manager of the Construction Department of the U. S. Long Distance Telephone and Telegraph Co. He was so employed for about a year, and during that time supervised the construction of all the main lines owned by the company from Santa Barbara, Cal., southward. He severed his connection with the company in 1903 and, with others, organized the Pacific Coast Telephone Construction Company for the purpose of building independent telephone plants in Southern California. They organized and constructed the system of the San Fernando Valley and Redondo Telephone Co. and the Santa Paula, Oxnard and Santa Monica Telephone companies. In all of these corporations, except the Santa Monica company, Mr. Guthridge holds the offices of Secretary, Treasurer and Director, and took an active part in their management until 1909.

In 1909 Mr. Guthridge became associated with the North American Dredging Company of Nevada, as Secretary of the company, but within a short time was elected Vice President and Director. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the North American Dredging Company of Texas.

These companies are engaged in deep sea dredging, canal building and harbor improvement, also the manufacture of dredging equipment. Mr. Guthridge, as the representative of his company, has been in personal charge of the work of giving Los Angeles a harbor, this work consisting of dredging the entrance to the harbor, deepening channels for the Outer Harbor Dock and Wharf Company, dredging the harbor at Wilmington, California, a part of the general harbor plans, and the filling of land around the town. They also dug the channel for the Consolidated Lumber Company, up to their plant, and are engaged in making the fill of what is known as the Huntington Concession, the first municipal owned dock, for the city of Los Angeles. It will be known as Municipal Dock, No. 1.

These works have an important part in the making of Los Angeles Harbor, and Mr. Guthridge’s work will figure quite as importantly as that of the engineers.

This is the greatest public enterprise ever undertaken by the city of Los Angeles, and upon its completion will have cost many millions of dollars. Los Angeles, as the largest city of Southern California, is expected to reap great benefits through the building of the Panama Canal and although the city proper lies several miles inland from the ocean the splendid harbor, in the building of which Mr. Guthridge has been an important factor, will place her among the most important Pacific Coast ports of entry.

Mr. Guthridge is one of the most substantial business men of the Southwest and devotes the greater part of his time to his work, but he is also a man of great public spirit. He is a member of the important “Committee on Commerce” of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and has rendered valuable assistance in all matters pertaining to the commercial expansion of the city.

He is a Republican and has served his party in various capacities, but never has been a candidate or seeker for any public office. He has, however, held committee appointments and served as delegate to various county conventions.

During his residence in Ohio, Mr. Guthridge served for three years as a member of the Third Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and retired with the rank of sergeant. His company was one of those called years ago to quell a riot in Cincinnati.

Mr. Guthridge also is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of Marathon Lodge No. 182, Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum, and Al Borak Temple No. 75, D. O. K. K. He first became affiliated with the Knights of Pythias at Columbus, Ohio, being initiated on the same evening as the late President William McKinley, who was at that time Governor of Ohio.

Transcribed 1-24-09 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 181, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.

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