California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

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 the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 CHRISTOPHER C. ARKLE. The Arkle family is of English origin, Charles C. Arkle immigrating from 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne to America, where he located in Cadiz, Ohio, and engaged as a shoe 
merchant. Later he removed to Preston. Minn., where his death occurred. His wife, formerly 
Mary Hilliard, was a native of the Isle of Wight, her death occurring in Ohio. They were the 
parents of four children, all of whom are living, next to the youngest being Christopher C. Arkle, 
a highly esteemed and successful business man of Portersville, Tulare county. 

Christopher C. Arkle was born in Cadiz, Ohio, May 19, 1847, an d was reared in the vicinity of 
that place, receiving his education in the district schools. When twelve years old he learned the 
shoemaker's trade and continued at this work until he was seventeen. In May, 1864, he 
enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Seventieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He 
was mustered in at Bellaire, Ohio, serving in the Army of the Shenandoah, and taking part in the 
Battle of Winchester, and others of that year, being mustered out of service September 15, 
1864, in Columbus. In 1865 he went to Missouri, locating in Warrensburg, in the fall of the same 
year going to Preston, Minn., where he followed his trade. After a period of seven years he 
came as far west as Wadsworth, Nev., and engaged in the manufacture of shoes, finally going 
to Benton, Mono county, Cal., where he spent one year. Returning to Nevada he made that 
state his home until 1876, when he located in Visalia, Tulare county, and followed the 
manufacture of shoes for the ensuing five years, when he located in Fresno. For seven years 
he met with success in that city, when he went to Seattle, Wash., and spent one year, engaged 
as a shoe merchant, when he returned to Visalia and followed the same occupation until 1896. 
For a time he conducted a shoe store at Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo county, about 
eighteen months later - in August, 1898 - coming to Portersville and opening the shoe business, 
which he has since conducted with much profit. His establishment, known as the Citrus Shoe 
Store, is the largest in the place and his wide patronage has brought him good financial returns. 
He has also a ten-acre orchard of bearing navel oranges, adjoining Piano, set out in 1899, and to 
the care and cultivation of which he gives considerable time and attention. 

In Visalia Mr. Arkle was united in marriage with Caroline Majors, a native of Visalia, and the 
daughter of Columbus P. Majors, a pioneer farmer of that city. They have one daughter, Ethel. 
Mr. Arkle gives his support to the Christian Church, of which his wife is a member. In his political 
convictions he is a Socialist. A practical and broad-minded citizen, he is always interested in all 
that adds to the material welfare of the city and takes an active part in public affairs, being a 
member of the Board of Trade here as well as giving his support to various other public works.