California Biographies

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


CHARLES A. BISHER. Self-made in the best sense implied by the term, Charles A. Bisher 
enjoys to an unusual degree the high regard of all with whom he has come in either business or 
social contact, and as a practically retired citizen of Visalia is rounding out the years of an 
active and successful career. The third in a family of seven children, of whom three are 
living. Charles A. Bisher was born in Muscatine, Iowa, March n, 1855, the son of Charles 
August and Annie Elizabeth Bisher, both of whom died in Iowa, the father when their son 
was seven years old and the mother when he was eleven years old. The father was a native 
of Germany who settled in Muscatine and engaged as a wheelwright and cabinet maker. 

Until he was twelve years old Charles A. Bisher remained in Muscatine, Iowa, and was then 
bound out to Hiram Kirkpatrick, a farmer, who lived near Cairo, Iowa. He remained there for 
three and a half years, his first years work being to rake bundles off the old McCormick reap- 
er. During this time he attended school but two months in the year. On seeking new employ- 
ment he found work with a neighbor for $18 per month, with whom he remained for some time, 
in 1873 deciding to locate in California. He accordingly made the trip west and located in 
Visalia, securing employment with the Weston dairy, where he remained twenty-two months. 
Being defrauded of his wages he sought and found employment with Henry Hartley, and for 
five years conducted a dairy ranch near Visalia and again on Elbow creek in Tulare county. 
Having accumulated sufficient capital he then entered the livery business, becoming proprietor 
of the Visalia Stables in partnership with W. W. Cough ran. Two years later he bought out 
his partner's interest and continued alone for some years, when he sold to W. H. Moffett. 
With J. B. McKinley he then established, the Kaweah Stables, which were conducted under 
the firm name of Bisher & McKinley for some time, Mr. Bisher only buying an interest till his 
friend was well established. This was the only brick stable in the city, and the largest in dimen- 
sions, and was well equipped in every particular. After one year he sold out his interests 
and withdrew entirely from active business, spending his time in looking after his property, 
which consisted of one hundred and eighty acres, eighty of which is devoted to alfalfa. He has 
lately disposed of this ranch. He has been successful in all his undertakings, whether as a 
farmer or business man, and in his display of ability and unerring judgment has won a place 
of prominence among the business citizens of this section. 

Mr. Bisher's home at No. 501 North Cottonwood street, is presided over by his wife, for- 
merly Ida Hartley, a native of Visalia, where they were married. She is the daughter of 
Henry C. Hartley, who was born in Independence. Mo., November 6, 1833, the son of George 
Hartley, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and an early settler of the middle west, where he was 
located in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. In 1853 Henry C. Hartley crossed the plains by horse 
train as far as Salt Lake City, when they completed the trip to California by pack train. On 
the journey he became ill and was left by the party and came near dying in the wilderness, but 
recovered and made his way alone to California. In September, 1853, ne came to Tulare county 
and in Tulare has since made his home. He has been a very successful farmer and stockman and 
now, owns a fine ranch on Elbow creek, seven miles northwest of Visalia. He married Isa- 
belle Baker, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of James Baker who brought his family to Tu- 
lare county in 1857. She died in Visalia in 1898, leaving a family of four children, namely : Laura, 
the wife of Mr. Moye; Charles, a farmer near Visalia ; Ida, the wife of Mr. Bisher ; and George, 
a stockman near Visalia. Mr. and Mrs. Bisher have one child. Merle Elizabeth. 

Mr. Bisher is a Democrat in his political convictions and is an earnest and broad-minded 
citizen and gives his support to all movements and enterprises best calculated to advance the 
general welfare. For one term he served efficiently as a member of the city board of trustees.