Charles A. Barlow

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 a member of the U.S. Representative from California's 6th congressional district.

Charles Averill Barlow
From 1914's History of Kern County, California by Wallace M. Morgan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 6th congressional district
In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899
Member of the California State Assembly
In office 1892-1893
Personal details
Born	March 17, 1858 Cleveland, Ohio
Died	October 3, 1927 (aged 69) Bakersfield, California
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

Barlow 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

Barlow 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]

Barlow 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]

Barlow was elected to the California State Assembly as a Populist, and served one term, 1892 to 1893.[1] He served as chairman of the People's Party state convention in 1896.[3] Later that year, Barlow was elected to the 55th Congress, and he served one term, March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1899.[3] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898.[3]

After leaving Congress, Barlow turned his attention to business and moved to Bakersfield.[3] He was one of the major shareholders in and a board of directors member 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 they continued to operate, and some of which they 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

Barlow's wife was 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, his wife's nurse.[5] They adopted a daughter, Mamie.[5]

On October 3, 1927, Barlow died in Bakersfield, California.[6] Barlow is interred at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield, California.[7][8]

References

1. History of Kern County, California, p. 207.
2. Official Congressional Directory, pp. 22–23.
3. History of Kern County, California, p. 208.
4. "Californians Go Down With McAdoo", p. 3.
5. "This Old House".
6. "Death Ends Active Life", p. 12H.
7. Nickell, Jeff (March 28, 2014). "History: Historic Union Cemetery". bakersfield.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
8. "Charles Averill Barlow". Find a Grave. Retrieved August 1, 2020.

Additional sources

Books

• 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

• "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

• 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

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.