Charles Wonacott Enterprises and Projects
Submitted to Inyo County GenWeb and the BUHS Faculty and Staff Project by Carol Braley Backert.

 

 

1876 Immigrated to and was a pioneer in Bishop, California.  Rancher in Bishop.

1885-1886 Helped his friend Mercer build stairs in Mercer Caverns, Murphys, Ca. Worked on the old wooden flume that is still in use at Murphys, California.

1891 -General Contractor and Builder, Bishop, California from 1891.

Elected convention delegate and officer of I. O. T. G. (Good Templars) Bishop.

Republican Party elected delegate.  Bishop.

Member Elks Lodge, Tonopah and Bishop.

First to buy distillate operated grader and rock crusher for Inyo County. (Diesel)

1885 - Built float for 4th of July parade in Bishop. 6 horses 40 passengers. Carrie Wonacott was Miss. Virginia.

1885 - Invented and patented axle spindle improvement.

1890 - Ran for Sheriff (defeated).

1891 – Owned and operated wagon and carriage repair shop in Bishop.

1891 -First to stock Owens Valley with "Bob White" Quail.

1891 – Serves as juror on trial for Ducky.

1891-With J. Bulpitt was first to travel the length of the Owens River gorge.

1891 -Built saw mill on the Owens River.

1892 – Contractor for new Inyo Creamery Building.

1892 – Drafted bylaws for the Inyo Creamery.  Stays on Board for many years.

1893 - On Grand Jury, Bishop.

1894 - Donated the land and was on the Board of Trustees for Riverside School District, Bishop

1902- In Tonopah, Nevada.

1903 -Undertaker, Tonopah, Nevada. 

1903 - Owned two saloons, restaurants and dance halls in Tonopah, Nevada.  Taxi business, Tonopah.

1909- Donates money to plant Golden Trout in Kings Lake.

1913 -Built the West Bishop Grammar School.

1914 - Elected to Board of Supervisors, Inyo County.

1916 - Helped stock Ray Lake (above Independence) with trout. 

1922 – Signed petition to establish the Owens Valley Irrigation District.

1923 – Elected again – Bishop High School Board of Trustees. 

 

 

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