Santa Barbara County Biographies C. H. FRINK Submitted by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm C. H. FRINK, the proprietor of "The Great Wardrobe " clothing store, Santa Barbara, was born at Philadelphia, Jefferson County, New York, in 1849, a de- scendant of the Frinks of Stonington, Connecticut, his grandparents immigrating to Jefferson County among the earliest pioneers. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Frink began his mercantile life at Bedford, Michigan, where he clerked in a dry-goods store three years. He then returned to Philadelphia, and in 1869 bought an interest in a general merchandise store, carrying on the business for three years under the firm name of Rouse & Frink. He next passed three years at Albion, New York, returning to Philadelphia again, in 1876, and remaining until 1879. In that year he sold out and came to California, first settling at Antioch, Contra Costa County, where he was again connected with his former partner, Mr. Rouse, in general merchandise business. In 1883 Mr. Frink bought out his partner and continued alone until 1886, at which time he came to Santa Barbara and opened the clothing store known as " The Great Wardrobe." It is now (1890) the leading store in clothing and gents' furnishing goods in the city. Mr. Frink keeps on hand a large line of the finest quality of ready-made clothing, manufactured by the leading houses in Syracuse, Rochester, Chicago and New York city; also deals in the Stetson & Dunlap hats. Mr. Frink is a courteous and pleasant gentleman who commands the respect and confi- dence of all who meet him. He was married at Antioch, California, in 1880, to Mary Elizabeth Ross, a native of St. Lawrence County, New York. The union has been blessed with one child, Clarence Harlow. History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California - by C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II. -Lewis Publ. Co., Chicago, 1917.