YUBA COUNTY  Biographies

CHARLES EDMUND ASHBURN

            With energy and determination as his dominant qualities, Charles Edmund Ashburn has steadily progressed, each forward step bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. For the past five years he has ably discharged the duties of superintendent of the Yuba County Hospital at Marysville.  He is a native of the West, born in Jefferson, Nye County, Nev., on October 16, 1876, his parents being Charles E. and Julia Ann (Kelley) Ashburn.  Grandfather Ashburn, also named Charles E., was a jeweler in Philadelphia and had the honor of setting the diamonds in the jeweled crown presented to General Lafayette.  The father came to California around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel from Philadelphia in 1856, and embarked in business in San Francisco, catering to both the wholesale and retail trades.  He remained in that city for four years and then accepted a position as steward on a vessel plying between Panama and San Francisco.  He next entered the theatrical profession, with which he was connected for a time, and after leaving the stage went to Nevada.  He engaged in mining in that State from 1862 until 1879, and in the latter year returned to California, locating at Nevada City.  He became interested in the fruit-drying industry, with which he was identified until 1884, and then resumed the occupation of mining, also following the trade of millwright.  In 1891 he was made janitor of the courthouse at Nevada City, and served in that capacity for twenty-six years, or until his death in December, 1917.  The mother passed away in October, 1902.

            Charles E. Ashburn, Jr., attended the public schools of Nevada City until he reached the eighth grade, after which his education was completed in the school of experience.  He was employed in various occupations until he reached the age of eighteen, when he took up electrical work, which he followed along different lines until 1915.  Meantime, in 1903, he had located at Challenge, Yuba County.  From 1915 to 1918 he was engaged in carpentering.  On January 15, 1918, he was appointed to his present office as superintendent of the Yuba County Hospital.  He has full charge of the institution and has been very successful in its management, bringing it up to a high standard of efficiency.  He is ably assisted by his wife, who is matron of the hospital.

            In 1904, Mr. Ashburn married Miss Lena Costa, a native of Challenge, Yuba County; they have three children:  Ethel Leonore, Charles Elmer, and Eugene William. Mr. Ashburn is a third-degree Knight of Columbus, and also belongs to the Owls, having joined the order at Challenge.  He is an advocate of Republican principles and standards, and is ever ready to give his support to measures for the promotion of the public welfare.  His integrity has never been questioned, and his record is an unblemished one, commanding for him the respect and confidence of his fellow men.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

p. 1258-1259

JOHN W. SOWLES

            Throughout Yuba and Sutter Counties John W. Sowles is well-known as the pioneer plasterer contractor of this district, to whose substantial upbuilding and improvement his labors have for thirteen years contributed.  He was born at Palo, in Linn County, Iowa, February 1, 1880.  His father, Edwin Sowles, was born in Howell, Mich., and married Jennie Davidson, who died in 1883, leaving two sons.  Mr. Sowles moved to Iowa, where he was a contractor until he came to California, after which he continued the business in Sutter County.  He now lives in Downieville.

            John W. Sowles was reared on a farm, attending the district schools near his home.  In 1904, when twenty-four years of age, he came to California.  Previously to that time he worked in the oil fields of Kentucky.  After a short stay in San Diego, he made his way to Pomona, where he learned the plasterer’s trade under W. W. Wright, and worked on many of the best homes in the Pomona Valley.  He remained there for five years, from 1905 until 1910, and then came to Yuba City, where he established a business of his own as a plasterer contractor.  His work has always been given thorough satisfaction, and a well-deserved reputation for skill and reliability has brought him a steadily increasing patronage.  He has plastered many of the fine homes in the peach district of Yuba and Sutter Counties, and also in Yuba City.  He has likewise done a large amount of work in Marysville, where he was awarded the plastering contract for the United States Hotel, the Rock & Young store, a three-story block on D Street, in 1910, the new Schneider Building on Fourth Street, the Marysville grammar school, the Herzog Apartments and others, a number of garages, and the residences of Ray Manwell, George McDaniel and Harry Daniels.  He has acquired expert skill at his trade and is a valued member of the Builders’ Exchange of Yuba and Sutter Counties.

            In Glasgow, Barren County, in the blue grass region of Kentucky, Mr. Sowles was married on December 26, 1899, to Miss Jennie Lee Lewis, a native of Glasgow, Ky., and a daughter of James and Samamous (Dennison) Lewis.  Mr. and Mrs. Sowles have six children:  Goldie May, the wife of Ira Woods; Raymond E., who married Dorothy McMullen; and Edwin Lee, John W., Jr., Mabel and Howard.  There are also three grandchildren in the family. With progress as his watchword, Mr. Sowles has made each day count for the utmost, improving the opportunities of the hour, and the years have chronicled his growing success.  He has aided materially in pushing forward the wheels of progress in this district, and a life of integrity and usefulness has won for him the unqualified respect of his fellow men.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

p. 1259-1260

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