Charles E. Gilman, a prominent, prosperous and enterprising young citizen of Oakland, serves as vice president, general manager and director of the Union Water Company, of which he was one of the organizers of February, 1910. His birth occurred in Oakland on the 1st of August, 1880, his parents being C. H. and Kate K. (Cullen) Gilman. The father, who was born in Toronto, Canada, on the 17th of October, 1838, acquired his more advanced education in McGill University and in 1857 went to Japan in a sailing vessel, being the first white man to attempt such a trip. In 1859 he landed in San Francisco and there organized the firm of Gilman & Danforth for the conduct of a warehouse, their business increasing to such an extent that at the time of his retirement in 1896 they owned seven warehouses in San Francisco. His demise occurred in the year 1899. He was a charter member of the Bohemian Club of San Francisco, held several chairs in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and also belonged to the Athenian Club of Oakland.
Charles E. Gilman attended the graded and high schools until 1895 and subsequently spent a year as a student in the Manzanita Hall Preparatory School for Boys at Pala Alto, California. He then entered Leland Stanford Junior University and while pursuing his education there acted as manager of the football team, leader of the Glee Club and track manager of the Delta Upsilon, being also a member of Psi Upsilon, Sigma Sigma and Snake and Keys. Following his graduation in 1900 he went to South America as engineer and geologist for the Braner-Agassiz Exposition, exploring the east coast of South America for six months. On returning to California he became manager of the Elizabeth Mining Company in Shasta county and remained in that capacity until 1901. Subsequently he was appointed and served as field engineer and petrographer for the Washington State Geological Survey until 1902 and was afterward engaged as mining engineer for the Crosby-Ehrich syndicate at Colorado Springs, Colorado, until the winter of 1902. He then joined Mr. Wright in the firm known as the Wright & Gilman Company, mining engineers, and in 1903 became assistant chief engineer for the Bay City Water Company of San Francisco, acting in that capacity until 1904. Mr. Gilman next served for five months as consulting engineer for the Tonopah Water Company of Tonopah, Nevada. In the latter part of 1904 he investigated all the power sites, power rites and land holdings of the Western Power Company and the Golden State Power Company, spending four months in that way. He then went to Cudahy, Wisconsin, and there spent six months as mining engineer for the Power & Mining Machinery Company. On the 17th of April, 1906, in San Francisco, he formed the Duryea, Heahl & Gilman Engineering Company and is still a member thereof. In February, 1910, he was one of the organizers of the Union Water Company in Oakland and was made vice president, general manager and director of the corporation, which positions he still holds at the present time, displaying excellent executive ability in the discharge of his important duties. The company supplies three thousand homes with water. During the fire of 1906 Mr. Gilman was appointed first lieutenant of artillery and later became major, serving for ninety days. Governor Pardee complimented him for his executive ability and the commendable manner in which he maintained order throughout the destroyed district in San Francisco.
On the 8th of December, 1906, in San Francisco, Mr. Gilman was united in marriage to Miss Antoynette Granelli, who was a volunteer Red Cross nurse during the fire of 1906. They now have two children, Antoynette and C. E., Jr., who are six and two years of age respectively. Fraternally Mr. Gilman is a Scottish Rite Mason, and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Nile Club and the Athenian Club and is a charter member of the Army and Navy Club. The subjective and objective forces of life are in Mr. Gilman well balanced, making him cognizant of his own capabilities and powers, while at the same time he thoroughly understands and meets his obligations and opportunities.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 7/04/2008, Pages 408-410
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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