Los Angeles County
Biographies
CHARLES
CLEVELAND HUNTINGTON
Representing a long line of American ancestry, Charles Cleveland Huntington was descended from Simon Huntington, an Englishman who emigrated to America in 1633. His line of descent was through Simon, Jabez, Joshua, Andrew, and Joseph Carrew Huntington, the latter being a grandfather of our subject. Charles C. Huntington was born at Portage, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1855, a son of George Frederick and Flora (Cleveland) Huntington). The father was a surgeon and served as such with the Union Army during the Civil war. After the war was over he located in Memphis, Tennessee, and there he soon passed away.
Charles C. Huntington remained in Memphis until he was old enough to enter Erasmus Hall at Flatbush, Long Island, New York, and upon finishing his education returned to Memphis and entered the employ of Urquhart, Blood & Company. Some time afterward he became associated with the H. Wetter Company and for many years traveled for that firm. In due time his accomplishments were noted and he was advanced to the position of manager of the business and served as a vice president; he was also president of the Vesta Gas Range & Manufacturing Company at Chattanooga, Tennessee, until his retirement from business in 1917 on account of ill health. A change of climate was suggested and he came to Los Angeles. After seeing the possibilities of the southland he invested his savings in real estate and as the years passed those properties made wonderful advances in values. His civic pride was shown by his support of all progressive measures for the upbuilding of his adopted city and state and his business and social contacts won him the respect and good will of all with whom he became acquainted.
On June 27, 1878, in Memphis, Tennessee, Charles C. Huntington married Flora Parmelia Clarke, the talented daughter of Dwight A. Clarke, a commission merchant of that city. Of this union there were three children: Cornelia Cleveland, wife of Harry Philip Washburn, died in Lafayette, Indiana; Dwight Clarke and Charles Cleveland, Jr., both of Los Angeles. Mrs. Huntington is a woman of talent as has been shown by her contribution to the literati of southern California, where she has gained a wide circle of close friends. She has also shown herself as a shrewd business woman in the management of her holdings. Mr. Huntington was a member of the old Chickasaw Guard in Memphis, of the Business Men’s Club and other organizations. Both Mr. and Mrs. Huntington were Presbyterians. He died January 22, 1923, leaving to his descendants the heritage of an unblemished name and to his friends a cherished memory.
Prior to coming to California Mrs. Huntington was prominent in club work in Memphis, and later on in Chattanooga. She was a charter member of the second chapter of the D.A.R. formed in Memphis, and of the first chapter formed in Memphis of the U.D.C., and served as its secretary. She became the second president of the General Nathan Bedford Forrest Chapter U.D.C. in Memphis, and is an honorary life president of that chapter. She organized the Nancy Ward Chapter, D.A.R., of Chattanooga, and was the organizing president. She is now an honorary life regent of that chapter. She was an early member of the Tennessee Press and Authors’ Association, and later was second president of Memphis Press and Authors’ Club. She is now a member of the Eschscholzia Chapter of D.A.R. of Los Angeles, and is also a member of the Nathan Bedford Forrest Chapter, U.D.C., of Los Angeles.
Transcribed
10-30-12 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 437-438,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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