Biographies
HON. CHARLES B. BILLS
From
the humble tasks that fall to the lot of the boy raised on a New York state
farm, to the weighty responsibilities associated with the management of a large
commercial enterprise, the development of the personal interests of Mr. Bills
has resulted from his unceasing industry, unwearied perseverance and untiring
energy, qualities that almost invariably bring to their fortunate possessor a
certain degree of material success. As boy and youth he learned the difficult
task of saving the small wages possible to unskilled labor; as a man he was
ready to invest these small savings in a manner suggested by his own
discriminating foresight, so that he laid the foundation of his own ultimate
prosperity by personal efforts and sagacious judgment. Since the autumn of 1894
he has been a resident of California and has engaged in the buying and selling
of fruit, an industry in which he has had long experience and thorough
training.
Into
the home of D. F. and Marietta Bills at Ithaca, N. Y., Charles B. Bills was
born May 5, 1863. At the age of six he was sent to the public school and by
regular promotions he rose to the grammar department, which he completed at the
age of thirteen. Not having the means necessary to carry on high-school studies
he began to work on farms by the day and continued in the employ of strangers
until 1884, when at the age of twenty-one years he rented his father's farm.
Upon the death of his father in 1891 and the settlement of the estate, he
closed out his interests in the east and settled in Chicago, where he found
employment with a fruit commission house, that of Porter Bros. Co., with whom
he continued as a laborer until the spring of 1893, when he was promoted to be
a traveling sales-man. In the interests of the company he came to California in
the fall of 1894 and assumed charge of the branch of the business at San Jose
continuing there until 1901, when he was transferred to San Francisco and given
charge of the coast branches owned by the company. The failure of the firm in
1905 ended his long connection with their interests.
Upon
his arrival in Sacramento in 1905 Mr. Bills entered enthusiastically into the
work of organizing the Pioneer Fruit Company and since then he has served as
the president of the concern. During the first year of the company's existence
seven hundred cars of fruit were shipped, but so rapid has been its growth that
in 1910 forty two hundred cars were shipped to the general markets of the
world. To manage these large and growing interests a keen intelligence is
necessary, nor are determination, energy and industry less essential, and we
find that Mr. Bill possesses all of these qualities in large measure. To their
exercise may be attributed his high degree of success.
While
living in Chicago Mr. Bills formed the acquaintance of Miss Ella C. Carman, a
resident of that city. After their marriage, March 19, 1895, they established a
home in San Jose, later in San Francisco and eventually became citizens of
Sacramento, where they own a beautiful home at No. 2609 M street. They are the
parents of two children. The daughter, Florence, has received excellent
educational advantages in a private school. The son, Robert C., is a pupil in
the high school of Sacramento. The family holds membership with the Protestant
Episcopal church and Mr. Bills has been honored with
the office of trustee of the northern diocese of that denomination. For some
years he has been an active member in the local camp of the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks. Politically he votes with the Republican party in both general and local elections. Recognizing his
qualifications for the public service, his party chose him as nominee for state
senator a few years after his removal to Sacramento and he was duly elected in
the fall of 1908, serving the regular sessions of 1909-11 and the special
session of 1911. During his term he was Chairman of the Agricultural,
Horticultural and Trees and Vines and member of the Finance, Public Buildings,
Good Roads and Hospitals and Asylums. At the expiration of his term he had won
a high reputation not only among members of the legislature, but also among the
people of the district and though his renomination
was asked for, not only by his own party but by business men from the other
party, he refused to be a candidate for renomination.
This clearly indicates his diligence as an official, his trustworthiness as a
representative and his prominence as a citizen.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 994-996. Historic Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.