CHARLES F. SILVA

Sacramento County

Biographies

CHARLES F. SILVA

CHARLES F. SILVA—Standing today among the avowed financial and business leaders of Sacramento County, Charles F. Silva has distinguished himself throughout his entire career by his shrewd business management and high integrity; and the large measure of success he has won is well deserved, due, as it is, entirely to his own efforts. He has been identified with the development of California since 1878, when he crossed the Atlantic with his brother, Frank F. Silva, from his home on Fayal, in the Azores Islands, where he was born December 14, 1867, the son of John and Annie (Poshote) Silva, both natives of that country.

Charles F. Silva spent his early youth in a home of culture, receiving there a training which combined both love and firmness, and which left upon him a lasting impression. Although but eleven years of age when he left his studies to accompany his brother to the new land, he had acquired, by concentration and natural aptitude, knowledge greatly exceeding in extent that ordinarily absorbed by one of a similar age, and was, therefore, fairly well equipped to engage in the battle of life. Upon reaching Boston, after a voyage of three weeks, the brothers came at once to Sacramento, Cal., which they had chosen as their destination. With only $2.50 in his pocket, Charles paid one dollar of this to reach Vernon, Sutter County, where he went to work milking cows on a dairy ranch for fifty cents a day, with long hours and hard work. Saving his small earnings, when he was thirteen he paid a man fifty dollars to teach him cheese-making; and he then went into this business for himself, buying milk for five cents a gallon. Next he rented a ranch in Yolo County, bought cows and established a dairy and cheese plant, and then bought the Ramsey ranch of 160 acres six miles above Vernon on the Feather River. He also rented the Hoover ranch and the Clark and Cave ranches on the Sacramento River, and also entered the boating business, buying a gasoline boat and a barge. He had also purchased the Point ranch, and here he cut wood that he transported down the river to Sacramento.

In 1900 Mr. Silva took up his residence at Sacramento, purchasing the Meadows place on Front Street, between O and P, and established a wood, hay and grain business. He also bought the steamers “Neponset” and “Neptune,” with a barge, the Columbia,” and three barges, and then the “Neponset” trading boats “Jerey” and “Inder,” the San Jose barge “Sutter,” and the barge “Vernon,” and with Captain Jones as a partner, engaged for years in the transportation business, their route including the towns on the Sacramento River between the capital and Butte City. All these years Mr. Silva had also engaged in the cattle and sheep business. At length he sold out his interests in the boats, to give his time to the stock business. He enlarged his interests from year to year, and developed a large retail business, having four meat markets in Sacramento, and did a large wholesale business as well. Of late years he has specialized in Hereford stock; and he is now well known all over the state as a breeder of these fine cattle. He was at one time the largest individual cattle dealer in California, shipping thousands of head from Mexico in addition to his large shipments from all over the state.

Mr. Silva has probably been interested in the sale of more large ranches than any other man in his district. With a number of Sacramento capitalists he bought the Fair ranch of 10,000 acres for $600,000, reclaimed it and sold it in two years for $1,250.000; he bought another ranch of 8,000 acres and sold it to the Sutter Basin Company for $365,000, and has bought, developed and sold many other large properties in northern California. He has been actively associated with various reclamation projects from the beginning of activities in that line to the present. He was the organizer and director of the Sutter Basin Company and of the Natomas Land Company trustee of the Vernon Reclamation District, manager and trustee of the Fair ranch, and manager and director of the Sacramento River Farms Company, his executive ability and indomitable energy peculiarly fitting him for these positions, in which his services have been of incalculable value. At one time he ran cattle in Modoc County, but he has disposed of these and has invested heavily in city property in Sacramento, including business blocks, warehouses and residences. He has lately purchased a 21,000-acre ranch in Modoc County, which he devotes to cattle raising. He owns a ranch of 243 acres all in fruit in Yuba County, and 670 acres on the Feather River in Butte County, one-half of it being in fruit. Mr. Silva is still a large dealer in cattle. Always a lover of horses, Mr. Silva for many years engaged in breeding standard-bred animals, and at one time had the finest standard-bred stock in the state. He raised the well-known pacer, Teddy Bear, which broke the record that had stood for six years at the California state fair, making a mile in 2:05.

On August 15, 1899, at Sacramento, Mr. Silva was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Kennedy, who was born in Oakland, the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Hurley) Kennedy, natives of Ireland and New Orleans, La., respectively. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Silva; Claire M., attending Chico Normal School; Charles C., on the ranch, and Ralph C., Alice C., Fred, Merrill C., Raymond C., Bertram C., and Teresa. Mrs. Silva died; and Mr. Silva was again married, his second marriage uniting him with Lois Blackwell, who was born in California. Two children have been born to them: Ellis and Glenn.

Thoroughly interested in the progress of the community in which he had cast his fortunes, and possessing a rare sense of diplomacy and foresight, from the time he took up his residence here Mr. Silva steadily rose in commercial circles, with a sureness of judgment and a certainty of success which were somewhat baffling to many of his competitors, who found it impossible to outstrip this cool and self-possessed young business man whose affairs seemed to conduct themselves as if by magic. Notwithstanding his wide interests and heavy responsibilities, he has maintained a growing interest in municipal problems, and can be counted upon to further every progressive movement for the community’s good. A Republican in politics, Mr. Silva takes a deep interest in civic affairs, but has never aspired to public office.

Transcribed by Gloria Wiegner Lane.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 510. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.