Charles M. Berry,
numbered among the representative men of Imperial County, now serves as
secretary of the Laguna Water Company with offices in El Centro. He was born
in Nelsonville, Ohio, September 23, 1860, a son of Thomas and Hanna (Charleton)
Berry. His father was for many years superintendent of the coal mines in
Nelsonville. His death occurred June 4, 1899, and Mr. Berry's mother passed
away January 19, 1903. Charles M. Berry acquired his education in the public
and high schools of Nelsonville. He afterwards took a business course in
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. At the age of nineteen, he took a position at
Nelsonville as bookkeeper. He was promoted and transferred to New
Straitsville, Ohio, and served as secretary of the C. H. C. and I. Co.
Removing to Denver, Colorado, he was associated with his father in the coal
mining business, remaining in Denver for twenty years. He engaged in mining
in California for three years. In 1913 Mr. Berry removed to Imperial County
and took the office as assistant assessor and tax collector for the Imperial
Irrigation District, remaining in that position until he was made secretary
of the Imperial Irrigation District. Politically Mr. Berry is a Republican.
Fraternally he is a Mason and holds the office of High Priest of El Centro
Chapter No. 109. Mr. Berry married at Chanute, Kansas, May 6, 1885, to Miss
Grace M. McCune, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine McCune. Her father's
death occurred in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have three daughters and one son:
Bessie M., wife of Frank H. McIver of El Centro; Grace I., born March 15,
1889; Hazel M., wife of Clark Booher of El Centro; Frederick M., born
January 27, 1894, now serving in the United States Army. Mr. Berry's
ancestors came from Yorkshire, England.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 393-394.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
FRANCIS B. FULLER
Among the strong
financial institutions of Imperial Valley is the El Centro National Bank,
and among the bankers of prominence in that city is Francis B. Fuller, who
has been president of that institution since its organization March 9, 1909.
He has done much toward securing for his institution the foremost position
in banking circles that it now occupies. His banking experiences extend over
many years. Francis B. Fuller was born in the Sugar Valley, Georgia, January
29, 1862, a son of Samuel O. and Elizabeth (Bates) Fuller. He acquired his
education after he passed his twenty-fourth year. Previous to this he had
followed agricultural pursuits and rented farms both in Georgia and Texas.
From the age of twenty-four to twenty-six he acquired a common school
education. He entered the mercantile business and worked one year; then he
rode the range for a period of fifteen years, receiving $25.00 per month. In
1898 he was elected District Clerk by the people of Herford, Texas, which
position he held for four years. He then became interested in the Herford
National Bank, which he helped to organize. Later he retired from the
Herford Bank and organized the Western National Bank of Herford, Texas. He
held the position as cashier for a period of four years. Mr. Fuller then
came to California and located in El Centro, where he engaged in the real
estate business until he organized in El Centro. Mr. Fuller is careful,
painstaking, and systematic, and as a result he is a student of human nature
and conditions; seldom has he made an error in extending credit or making
investments. The institution of which he is president has greatly prospered
through his efforts. He is readily conceded to be among the able and
well-informed men in banking circles in Southern California. Mr. Fuller has
large realty holdings in El Centro, as well as farm properties. Fraternally
he is a member of the Masonic and K. of P. lodges. He holds the office of
president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was twice married, the first union
being at Herford, Texas, to Miss Salome Moore. Her death occurred in 1910.
To the first union were born two children, Jean Luvois and Frances Salome.
The second marriage occurred May 15, 1915, to Mrs. Rosa Negus. The
great-grandparents of Mr. Fuller had fifteen children, fourteen of whom
lived to be men and women, and the first natural death that occurred in that
family occurred in 1914. Mr. Fuller's father was killed in action during the
Civil War. Mr. Fuller erected the first residence in El Centro on the
present site of the Barbara Worth Hotel.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 394-395.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.