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 WILLIAM MATHEWS.� To direct the organization of a 
banking institution is no slight task and even greater difficulty attends the 
early history of the concern, which must be guided by wise hands and devel- 
oped by intelligent minds broad in their outlook, yet capable of infinite pains 
with details. The Fort Bragg Commercial Bank has a sound financial basis, 
due to the executive ability of its officers, who direct the policy of the con- 
cern wisely, energetically and forcefully. The structure on Main street occu- 
pied by the bank has an equipment modern, substantial and complete, in- 
cluding large fireproof safes, twentieth-century fixtures and model accessories. 
Organized in March of 1912 and opened for business on the 1st of May fol- 
lowing, with a capital stock of $50,000, the bank has prospered from the start 
and within the first year its deposits had increased more than $100,000. The 
officers and directors, who also were the organizers of the institution, are as 
follows: C. W. Mathews, president; David Brandon, vice-president; H. P. 
Preston, cashier; J. W. Preston, B. A. Lendrum, M. H. Iversen and L. C. 
Gregory. 

From the age of seven years, in 1870, Mr. Mathews has been a resident 
of California and of Mendocino county, having come here with other mem- 
bers of the family from his native city of Ottawa, Canada. The early home 
ot the family in the west was at Caspar, where the father engaged on timber 
contracts in the redwoods, the son assisting him in logging camps or work- 
ing in saw mills during the vacation period of school life. On completing 
the studies of the common schools he secured a clerkship in the Bank of Men- 
docino and from that city in 1891 came to Fort Bragg to enter the employ 
of the Union Lumber Company, in whose office he has risen from a humble 
place to the responsible post of cashier. In addition to his banking business 
he still acts as cashier of the company with which he has been identified for 
more than a score of years and which justly may attribute to him much of 
its local strength and stability. 

The marriage of Mr. Mathews united him with Miss Carrie Blake, a 
native of Massachusetts, and their union has been blessed with three chil- 
dren, William C, Inez A. and Phyllis M. Mr. Mathews was made a Mason 
in Fort Bragg Lodge No. 361, F. & A. M., and is a member of Mendocino 
Chapter, R. A. M., Santana Tribe No. 60, I. O. R. M., and with his wife 
is a member of Sapphire Chapter, O. E. S., of which he is past patron. Always 
interested in the cause of education, he has served for over ten years as a 
member of the board of school trustees of Fort Bragg and has been secre- 
tary of the board. He is an active member of the Baptist Church, and has 
served as a member of the board of deacons as well as on the board of trustees. 
Efficient in business, keen in financial dealings, devoted in friendships and 
loyal in citizenship, he belongs to that class of people whose presence has 
been helpful to Mendocino county and whose progressive spirit has aided in 
its commercial development.