Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 


CHARLES McFADDEN, one of the California pioneers came to the State as early as 1853. 
Mr. Mc Fadden was born in the north of Ireland, in 1822, and came to America with an 
uncle and aunt, who located at St. Johns. Here he spent his boyhood and youth, but came 
to Dane county, Wisconsin, and lived there about three years, when the attractions of the 
great West drew him across the plains to California, via Council Bluffs and Salt Lake City. 
Upon his arrival in California he went to the mines, but on account of ill health he remained 
only three months and then removed to San Francisco, where he stayed a short time, but 
the milling business, in the redwoods of Santa Clara county offering attractions to him, he 
went to that locality and engaged in that business for about five years. 

In 1859 he bought a portion of his present home, about 200 acres, to which he has added 
until he is now the owner of about 400 acres. Here he carried on a dairy for about three 
months, but since that time has engaged in general farming. 

In 1875 our subject married Miss Sophia, a daughter of John Tarby, one of the pioneers 
of the Salinas valley. Mr. and Mrs. Mc Fadden have six children, namely: Frank, Thresa, 
Sarah, David, Mary S., and Charles J. Mr. Mc Fadden is a successful farmer and a re- 
spected citizen, who has seen much of pioneer life in Monterey county.