Yuba
County
Biographies
CHARLES E. McQUAID
CHARLES E. McQUAID. Holding a position of importance among the
public officials of Sutter county, Charles E.
McQuaid, of Yuba City, is serving with credit to himself and to the honor of
his constituents as county assessor. A
man of marked ability, good judgment and of upright principles, he enjoys to a
high degree the respect and esteem of the community. Of honored pioneer stock, he was born
November 29, 1861, in Yuba City, Sutter county, a
son of the late Isaac Clark McQuaid.
Born and reared in Ohio, Isaac Clark
McQuaid came to California with the gold seekers of 1849, crossing the plains
with a party of venturesome gold hunters, and riding a mule all of the way,
with the exception of the times that he walked to relieve the monotony of
riding astride the mule. After settling
in Yuba City he always joined the processions that were invariably in evidence
on holidays or days of celebration, and in memory of the humble manner in which
he first entered the Golden state he rode a mule on all such occasions. For two or three years after coming to the
sate he was employed in mining, first in Placer county and then on the Yuba
river. Returning east in 1853, he came
back across the plains with his wife and located at Park’s bar, in Yuba county,
as a miner. Before leaving Ohio he had
studied law and been admitted to the bar.
He subsequently began the practice of his profession in Marysville, but
built a house and settled his family, in Yuba City. Forming a partnership with Colonel Whiteside,
he built up a fine law practice in Yuba and Sutter counties, becoming one of
the best known lawyers of this part of the state, and continued in active
practice until his death, in September, 1874, at the age of fifty years. He was very highly esteemed in professional,
social and fraternal circles, and was a valued member of the Masonic order, and
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married Amanda L. Roberts, who was born in Ohio, and died in
Yuba City in 1875, aged forty-five years.
They were the parents of five children, namely: Mrs. Celora Davis; Mrs. Frankie Sullivan; John W., a
printer; Charles E., the subject of this sketch; and Della, deceased.
At the age of eleven years Charles E.
McQuaid, who had laid a substantial foundation for his future education in the
public schools of Yuba City, entered the old printing office of the Yuba City Banner, where he became
familiar with the business. He afterward
continued in journalistic work, and for three years conducted the Yuba City Independent, which he
established. Selling out, he went to Marysville,
where for a number of years he was actively identified with local affairs as
city editor of the Marysville Democrat. In 1902 Mr. McQuaid was elected on the
Democratic ticket as assessor of Sutter county,
succeeding A. A. McRae, and has given satisfactory service in that
position.
In Yuba City Mr. McQuaid married Emma C.
Wilcoxon, who was born in this city, the daughter of Caleb E. Wilcoxon,
and they have one child, Caleb Clark McQuaid.
Mr. McQuaid takes great interest in fraternal and beneficial
organizations, and is a past master of Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. &
A. M.; past patron of the Eastern Star; and past counselor of the Woodmen of
the World.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
Charles E.
McQuaid
1884
Jan 17, Oakland Tribune, P3, Oakland, California
On
Wednesday, the 9th instant, Miss Emma C. Wilcoxson,
daughter of Caleb E. Wilcoxon, of Woodland, Chairman
of the State Board of Equalization, was united in the holy bonds of matrimony
with Charles E. McQuaid, at the residence of the bride’s parents in Yuba city, Sutter county.
Mr. McQuaid is a journalist, and was at one time managing editor of
the Sutter county Farmer.
1903
Dec 4, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Charles
McQuaid, assessor of Sutter county, and brother of J. W. McQuaid, of this city,
the “Democrat’s” linotype operator, spent today in this city.
1904
Aug 11, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Mrs.
Charles McQuaid and Miss Julia Boyd of Yuba City are guests of Dr. and Mrs. C.
R. Wilcoxon.
1906
Apr 7, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Clark
McQuaid of Yuba City, on his way to Stanford, stopped over to witness the field
events at the race track.
1906
Apr 9, Woodland Daily Democrat, P4, Woodland, California
Mrs.
C. E. McQuaid of Yuba City was called to Woodland Sunday afternoon by the
sudden illness of her son Clark McQuaid, who was unable to return to Stanford
Sunday.
1925
Jun 15, Woodland Daily Democrat, P8, Woodland, California
Dr.
Clark McQuaid, who spent the week with his parents in Yuba City, was in
Woodland Sunday afternoon for a brief visit with Mrs. C. R. Wilcoxon. They continued their journey homeward to San
Francisco in the evening.
1929
Feb 21, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Hillhouse Named Assessor’s Officer
Byron
F. Hillhouse, Yolo county assessor, was re-elected
secretary of the County Assessors’ Association of Northern California at the
annual meeting held in Nevada City this week.
Charles E. McQuaid of Sutter county, brother of
J. W. McQuaid of Woodland, was elected president. Sixteen of the 20 counties in the association
were represented by assessors.
1930
Mar 3, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
C.
E. McQuaid, Veteran Sutter Assessor, Dead
Illness
of Son Delays Arranging of Services
A
quarter of a century of service as Sutter county’s
assessor by Charles E. McQuaid was ended by death at the official’s home in
Yuba City at 7 a.m. Monday.
Mr. McQuaid was president of the Northern California Assessors’
association. His father,
I. C. McQuaid, was one of Sutter county’s
vest known pioneers, having settled there in 1849. Because Mr. McQuaid’s
son, Dr. Clark McQuaid, San Francisco dentist, is ill in a San Francisco
hospital, funeral arrangements have not yet been made. Mr. McQuaid had been ill for about a year and
recently has been confined to his home.
Heart trouble was the cause of death.
He was 68 years old. Born in
Sutter county, Mr. McQuaid lived all his life
there. He married Emma Wilcoxon, daughter of Caleb Wilcoxon,
Yuba City pioneer and for many years a member of the state board of
equalization. His son, Dr. Clark
McQuaid; a brother Jack McQuaid of Woodland, and two sisters, Mrs. J. B. Davis
of Santa Rosa and Mrs. C. G. Sullivan of San Francisco, are the other
survivors.
1930
Mar 4, The Los Angeles Times, P2, Los Angeles,
California
Pioneer
Editor Dies
Yuba
City, March 3 (AP) – Charles E. McQuaid, 68 years of age, County Assessor of
Sutter county for twenty-eight years, died today. He was former editor of the Marysville
Democrat, and established the Sutter Independent.
1930
Mar 5, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
Last
Rites Said for Chas. McQuaid
The
body of Charles E. McQuaid, Sutter county assessor, brother of Jack McQuaid of
Woodland, lay in state at the Masonic Temple at Yuba City from 9 a.m. until 10
a.m. Wednesday. At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday,
funeral services were held in the temple, with the Masonic lodge in charge. Following the services, the body was taken to
the East Lawn crematorium at Sacramento.
1930
Mar 6, Woodland Daily Democrat, P6, Woodland, California
Late
Sutter Official Left Wonderful Heritage
Last
rites were said Wednesday for Charles E. McQuaid, beloved Sutter county
assessor and brother of Jack McQuaid of Woodland and a frequent visitor
here. The Marysville Appeal-Democrat
paid this deserved editorial tribute to the decedent:
Death,
which has ended the active and lovable career of Charles E. McQuaid, county
assessor of Sutter county, has brought grief to
thousands of hearts in the mid-Sacramento valley. No man holding public office was more popular
or more dearly loved than the Sutter county assessor. A wealth of experience, a lifetime of good
works in Sutter county, had brought to him an understanding
of the people of the county for whom he worked.
He placed the interest of those people above all other
considerations. Charlie McQuaid ran his
own office. He ran it according to his
own best judgment and the dictates of his conscience. There were those who differed with him at
times. His reply to criticism was always
the same: “I am running this office in what I believe are the best interests of the
people of Sutter county. When the people
believe I am not, let them elect another assessor.” During the past few years considerable
pressure was brought to bear on McQuaid to increase assessed valuations in the
county in order that the tax rate might be lowered and at the same time the
revenue of the county maintained.
McQuaid persistently refused to accede to this request, pointing out
that while it was correct in theory the inevitable result would be increased
taxes for the landowners of the county.
Charlie McQuaid was a man’s man.
He loved the great outdoors and when he could spare the time, mostly on
week-ends, he delighted to roam the hills hunting and fishing. He loved people. His smile was always the guarantee of a
welcome to his office. He loved Sutter county. Few men knew
more of its history firsthand and those who sought information always found
what they wanted cheerfully at his hands.
He loved his family and his home.
Despite his many public activities he found much time to spend in that
place he loved best of all, at his family fireside among his family and
friends. Sutter county
has lost one of its outstanding leaders.
The Sacramento valley has lost one of its finest men, but he has left
behind him a priceless heritage to the people of the district; a shining
example to all who hold public office.
That heritage is a life lived according to the Golden Rule and that
example is the faithful maintenance of a public trust with regard only for his
Maker and his fellowman.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 588. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Donna Toole.
Golden Nugget Library's Yuba County Biographies