San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1572
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/8/2009
CHARLES P. FENLEY
Among the younger generation of business men in Stockton is Charles P. Fenley, the proprietor of an electrical store, located at 29 North Sutter Street, where he carries a full line of electrical supplies and fixtures of all kinds; he also does contracting in all branches of electrical work. He was born in the rural district of Jackson County, Mo., on March 15, 1894. When he was six years old the family moved to Page County, Iowa, and settled on the old home place of his paternal grandfather. What schooling Charles P. received was in the district schools and when a small lad he began to work as a farm hand; when he was nine years old he milked twelve cows daily and when he was ten years old he followed a plow and at fourteen he did a man's work in the hay field. His family then moved to Fort Morgan, Colo., where they raised grain; later they removed to Kimball, Nebr., and there his father engaged in the livery stable business. It was in Kimball that our subject gained his first lessons in the electrical business, starting as a lineman with a ground gang with the Bell Telephone Company, which was laying a transcontinental line from Nebraska to Wyoming. During 1912 his family removed to California and settled in Stockton and during the same year our subject joined them; later he went to Oakland, and found employment with the Union Iron Works in the electrical bureau of the marine department; he then was employed by the S. & O. Terminal Railroad in Oakland in the electrical department; then went to Modesto and worked for the electrical contractor, Jack Nightingale, and during his three years' stay gained valuable experience in his line; he also spent some time in Arizona and Texas following his trade. On June 20, 1920, he purchased the old established business of Gould & Johns at 119 South California Street, Stockton, and built up a good business, until it outgrew the quarters, when he removed to a new building at 129 North Sutter Street.
Mr. Fenley's marriage united him with Miss Mary Weber, a native of Fresno, Cal. She is a fine business woman and has been the manager of the Stockton branch of Reich & Liever of San Francisco for the past five years; and for eight years she was associated with the Wonder store of Stockton. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fenley are held in high esteem in the community and are doing their share toward the progress and upbuilding of the locality they have selected for their permanent home.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
Copyright © 1996-2011; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.