Sacramento County
Biographies
HON. CHARLES B. BILLS
HON. CHARLES B. BILLS.--A representative citizen of the Golden State who has made his own way in the world and has won to a
high position in business and financial circles is Charles B. Bills,
vice-president of the United Bank and Trust Company, Sacramento Branch. He was
born on a New York State farm on May 5, 1863,
into the home circle of D. F. and Marietta Bills, long residents of the Empire State in the vicinity of Ithaca. He was sent to the public schools in the vicinity of his
home but was not permitted to enjoy other than a grammar school education,
which he completed when about fourteen; then he began working on the farms in
the vicinity of his home, continuing until he reached his majority. His
practical experience gave him confidence to carry on an independent farming
business and he rented his father's farm and prospered during the following
years. Upon the death of his father, in 1891, and the settlement of the estate,
Mr. Bills closed out his interests there and located in Chicago, where he found
employment in a fruit commission house conducted by Porter Brothers Company,
and he there learned the fruit business from the ground up, becoming a
traveling salesman for the company.
In the fall of 1894 he was sent to California to represent Porter Brothers Company as manager of their
Coast branches. He continued with that concern until they failed in 1905, which
ended his connection with their interests. He came to Sacramento that same year and entered enthusiastically into the work
of helping to organize the Pioneer Fruit Company and he became its president,
continuing in that responsible position and gradually broadening his sphere of
operations for many years. The business grew from a very small beginning, when
only 700 cars of fruit were shipped, until that concern bought, packed and
shipped a great majority of the fruit marketed out of Sacramento and northern
California, shipments being made to the general markets of the world. The
successful conduct of this fast growing enterprise received the entire time and
attention of Mr. Bills, who possesses the attributes to make such a responsible
post bring results to the stockholders.
At Chicago, Mr. Bills made the acquaintance of Miss Ella C. Carman,
and this resulted in their marriage in March 19, 1895, after which they established their home in San Jose, later in San Francisco, and still later in Sacramento, where they now reside at 1320 Thirty-ninth Street. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of two
children, Florence and Robert S., both of whom received the best of
educational advantages offered by the schools of this state. The family are members of the Episcopal Church, in which Mr.
Bills has held the office of trustee of the Northern Diocese. He belongs
to the Elks and to the Rotary Club, in which he has been honored by the highest
office given the Pacific Coast district, that of district governor. Mr. Bills has always
manifested a keen interest in politics and gives his allegiance to the
Republican party, under whose banners he served the
state as senator from the 11th senatorial district in the legislative sessions
of 1909-1910, and the special session of 1911. He served as chairman of the
committee on agriculture, horticulture and trees and vines; and was a member of
the finance, public buildings, good roads, hospitals and asylums committees.
His services were so much appreciated that he was called upon to seek
re-nomination from nearly every class of men from all parties, but he refused
to become a candidate on account of his personal business demands upon his
time. In the realms of finance he is well known by the United Bank and Trust
Company he became a stock holder and was made vice-president of the Sacramento branch of that formidable institution, which ranks among
the largest in California. From the humble lot of a farm-reared youth to a position
at the head of important institutions, Charles B. Bills has risen as a result
of his indomitable energy, sagacious management and business integrity. In the
intervening years he has ever been ready to lend his aid to all projects that
have had for their aim the betterment of conditions for the city, county, state
and people, and his name is to be found enrolled among those who have builded for all time.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento
County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 297. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.