Charles Averill Barlow (March 17, 1858 – October 3, 1927) was an American farmer, businessman and politician. He was most notable for his service as a member of the California State Assembly and as a U.S. Representative from California's 6th congressional district for one term from 1897 to 1899.
Charles A. Barlow | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by C. M. Bell, c. 1894–1901 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 6th district | |
| In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | |
| Preceded by | James McLachlan |
| Succeeded by | Russell J. Waters |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 67th district | |
| In office January 2, 1893 - January 7, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | Frank H. Gould |
| Succeeded by | J. H. Glass |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Averill Barlow March 17, 1858 Cleveland, Ohio, US |
| Died | October 3, 1927 (aged 69) Bakersfield, California, US |
| Resting place | Union Cemetery in Bakersfield, California |
| Political party | Populist |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth "Lizzie" McDonnell Julia Lillis Caldwell |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation | Businessman, politician |
Early life
editBarlow was born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 17, 1858, the son of Merrill Barlow and Ann Frances (Arnold) Barlow.[1] The Barlow family, including Barlow's three brothers and sisters, moved to Ventura, California in 1875.[1] Barlow was educated in the public schools of Cleveland and Ventura, and after completing his education he supported himself by working as a harness maker and farm laborer.[1][2]
Career
editBarlow became a businessman. He purchased an interest in his employer's harness making business, and then invested in other ventures, including a business drying and shipping fruit grown in California.[2]
He moved to San Luis Obispo in the early 1880s, where he grew wheat and with a partner began a weekly newspaper, the Reasoner.[1][2] He became interested in reform causes including the Free Silver movement that led him to join the Populist Party, and the Reasoner became a major pro-Populist outlet.[1]
State assembly
editBarlow was elected to the California State Assembly as a Populist, and served one term, 1892 to 1893.[1] He served as chairman of the Populist Party state convention in 1896.[3]
Congress
editLater that year, Barlow was elected to the 55th Congress primarily as a Populist, but also received the Democratic nomination, and served one term, March 4, 1897-March 3, 1899.[3] He did not seek another term in 1898.[3]
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Later career
editAfter leaving Congress, Barlow turned his attention to business and moved to Bakersfield.[3] He was one of the major shareholders in, and a member of the board of directors of, Bakersfield's Security Trust Company.[3] He was also a partner in Barlow & Hill, a company that dealt in land for oil exploration, and helped found several successful oil companies, some of which Barlow & Hill continued to operate, and some of which were sold to other investors.[3]
Barlow served as president of the Kern County Board of Trade and was active in several civic organizations, including Modern Woodmen, Elks, and Odd Fellows.[3] He joined the Democratic Party after the end of the Populist movement, and served as a delegate to the 1912[3] and 1920 Democratic National Conventions.[4]
Personal life
editBarlow was first married to Elizabeth "Lizzie" McDonnell (1867–1914) of Ventura.[3]
After the death of Barlow's first wife, he married Julia Lillis Caldwell (1878–1971) of Santa Rosa, who had been Lizzie Barlow's nurse.[5] They adopted a daughter, Mamie.[5]
Death and burial
editOn October 3, 1927, Barlow died in Bakersfield.[6] He was interred at Bakersfield's Union Cemetery.[7]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Populist | Charles A. Barlow | 24,157 | 48.9 | |||
| Republican | James McLachlan (Incumbent) | 23,494 | 47.6 | |||
| Prohibition | Henry Clay Needham | 1,196 | 2.4 | |||
| Socialist Labor | Job Harriman | 542 | 1.1 | |||
| Total votes | 49,389 | 100.0 | ||||
| Populist gain from Republican | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Russell J. Waters | 24,050 | 52.6 | |||
| Populist | Charles A. Barlow (Incumbent) | 20,499 | 44.9 | |||
| Socialist Labor | James T. Van Ransselaer | 1,132 | 2.5 | |||
| Total votes | 45,681 | 100.0 | ||||
| Republican gain from Populist | ||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f History of Kern County, California, p. 207.
- ^ a b c Official Congressional Directory, pp. 22–23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i History of Kern County, California, p. 208.
- ^ "Californians Go Down With McAdoo", p. 3.
- ^ a b "This Old House".
- ^ "Death Ends Active Life", p. 12H.
- ^ Nickell, Jeff (March 28, 2014). "History: Historic Union Cemetery". bakersfield.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
Additional sources
editBooks
edit- Morgan, Wallace M. (1914). History of Kern County, California. Los Angeles, CA: Historic Record Company.
- U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on Printing (1897). Official Congressional Directory. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
Newspapers
edit- "Death Ends Active Life: Charles A. Barlow Dies at Bakersfield". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. October 4, 1927 – via Newspapers.com.
- Gavin, Camille (March 24, 2008). "This old house: Celebrate the coming centennial of a stately Bakersfield home". The Bakersfield Californian. Bakersfield, CA.
- Hamilton, Edward H. (July 8, 1920). "Californians Go Down With McAdoo". location=San Francisco, CA – via Newspapers.com.
External links
edit
- United States Congress. "Charles A. Barlow (id: B000149)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Charles A. Barlow at Find a Grave
- Extended biography of Charles A. Barlow
- Join California Charles A. Barlow
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress