Los
Angeles County
Biographies
CHARLES C. TANNEHILL
Charles C. Tannehill, who assisted
in organizing the first cooperative cattle marketing system in the United
States, has resided in Southern California during the winter seasons since the
year 1909 and has been active in the oil business in California during the past
eight years. He was born in Pettis
County, Missouri, March 18, 1870, and is a son of John Q. and Mary Jane (Baker)
Tannehill, the former a native of Mansfield, Ohio, and the latter of
Kentucky. Two representatives of the
Tannehill family served on the staff of General George Washington.
Leaving the state of his nativity,
Charles C. Tannehill went to Dallas, Texas, where he was employed in the
auditor’s office of the Texas Pacific Railroad from 1889 to 1891. In March of the latter year he removed to
Amarillo, Texas, where he became a cow puncher on a ranch, while during the
five-year period between 1894 and 1899 he was employed in the hardware
business. Going to Roswell, New Mexico,
in February, 1899, he there purchased a hardware establishment, and in 1902
obtained a permit to raise cattle in the Mescalero Indian Reservation, whereon
he remained for a period of eighteen years.
Mr. Tannehill built the first grain elevator in Roswell, New Mexico, in
1907 and served as president of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce for eight
years, from 1912 to 1920. As stated
above, he has spent the winter seasons in Southern California since 1909. In 1917 the Tannehill brothers, Lisle B. and
Charles C., bought the Topo Ranch in San Benito
County where they fattened cattle for the markets. Since 1919 he has been identified with the
oil business in Shackleford County, Texas, under the
firm name of Tannehill Oil Company of which L. B. Tannehill is president and
Charles C. Tannehill is vice president, secretary and treasurer.
An ardent supporter of the
Democratic Party and its candidates, Mr. Tannehill acted as campaign manager
for that party in New Mexico. During the
period of the World War he rendered patriotic service to the government as a
leader in New Mexico in the various Liberty Loan drives and the three Red Cross
drives. He is well known in Los Angeles
and has an extensive circle of warm friends here.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 119-120, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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