California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 CHARLES MITCHELL CURLEY.� It may be said with truth that self-reliance was the leading element in the rise of Mr. Curley from com- parative obscurity to the position of trust which he ultimately attained. Doubtless this quality was a native possession, but certainly it was developed by experience and by the necessity of earning his own livelihood while yet only a school boy. Starting out on his own responsibility at an age when most boys are weighted with no responsibilities heavier than those connected with the studying of lessons at school or the discharge of trivial tasks at home, he manfully met the responsibilities of existence and turned his hand to the first honest labor that presented itself. He was born near Montreal, Quebec, Canada, August 13, 1842. the son of high-minded Christian parents, whose training in precept and example was the choicest bequest inherited by their son. The circumstances of the family were such that it was not possible for Mr. Curley to plan for a very extensive education and this being the case he made much of such opportunity as fell to him in the schools of Montreal. With this grounding in the fundamentals of an education he set forth at the age of twelve to make his own way in the world, and how diligently he per- formed his duties and how his eagerness to reach yet a higher round on the ladder of success the record of his life well depicts. When he was about twenty years of age Mr. Curley turned his back on the scenes of his boyhood and set out for California, crossing the plains with ox-teams. This was about 1862, when mining was attracting more or less attention in the west, and quite naturally he investigated the possibilities of making a fortune therein. For several years the fascinations of the life held him in bond, and with good reason, for it is said that he met with splendid success in his ventures. However, he gave up the life of the miner to take up a more stable calling, at this time going to Bloomfield. Sonoma county, where he began farming operations. It was about 1874 that he came to Men- docino county and near Point Arena rented a farm which he devoted particu- larly to the dairy business. The undertaking proved a success in every sense of the word, not only enabling him to lay by means, but also stimulated a latent ambition to become a property owner. In time he purchased a farm of cut-over redwood timber land upon which he located and at once set about making the necessary improvements. As has been intimated, it was without improvements of any kind, indeed there was not even a road leading to it, but nevertheless he determinedly set to work to clear it of timber and brush and set it to crops as rapidly as clearings were made. That he had no regrets as to his choice of a location was evidenced in the purchase of more land immediately adjoining his first purchase. Ultimately he was the owner of five hundred acres of choice land in close proximity to Point Arena, which during all these years had been the marketing place for his dairy products. Perhaps the key to his success in this line aside from his persistent energy was the fact that he was a splendid judge of the best dairy stock. Only the best of milk cows were accepted on his ranch, until in time he was credited with having the best dairy herd on the coast. While dairying formed the chief interest of Mr. Curley from a business standpoint it did not claim all of his attention nor blind him to his obligations to his fellowman. Realizing the need of adequate banking facilities in the young growing town he gave his influence toward a project set on foot for the organization of what is now known as the Bank of Point Arena, himself and J. C. Halliday being the moving spirits in the enterprise. His interest in the city's welfare led to his selection as one of the city trustees, and in this office he served with credit and zeal for the best interests of the town. Realizing his own loss in the matter of education he made it one of his first duties to see that every opportunity was given the youth of Point Arena to have the best advantages possible, and in this spirit he aided every educa- tional measure promulgated, making special effort to secure the high school in Point Arena. In San Francisco. January 29, 1889, Mr. Curley was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Shoemaker, who was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daugh- ter of Enoch Shoemaker, a native of Indiana. In that state Mr. Shoemaker married Mary Gerhart, also a native of Indiana, whence after their marriage they moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and followed farming throughout the re- mainder of their lives. Mrs. Curley was educated in the schools and college of that place. Since the death of Mr. Curley she has continued to make her home on the ranch, although she leases the place, her own time being taken up with the care of other interests. The ranch is well improved with residence and other necessary buildings, and general farming and dairying are still carried on. The only child born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Curley is Clarence Merwin, besides whom they reared from the age of five years a child of Mr. Curley's sister, Carrie Edna Stingley. The child was educated as lavishly as their own, besides which she was given a special musical education. She became the wife of W. M. McKibben, D. D. S., of Turlock. Fraternally Mr. Curley was identified with the Odd Fellows, of which he was a past officer, and he was also a member of the Encampment. Mr. Curley's death occurred on his ranch near Point Arena in February, 1912, and was a distinct loss to the community which had known him so well and favorably for over forty years. Though gone he is not forgotten, for in truth his works live after him, not only in a substantial sense, but better still, m the minds and hearts of those who came into close personal touch with him and received an uplift from his noble, manly qualities.