1879-1961
Charles Stover was born in Big Meadows, Plumas County, California. His family had pioneered in Plumas and Lassen Counties. At the age of eight he was given his first calf, a heifer, that was to be the start of a herd of 3,000 head, ranging on 35,000 acres of deeded land in Tehama County near Red Bluff and 75,000 acres of leased lands in Plumas and Lassen Counties.
Charley produced the famous Chester Rodeo during the years 1920 to 1939, and also was one of the organizers of the Northern California Roundup Association which eventually became the Red Bluff Roundup.
He helped organize the Red Bluff Bull Sale, and for sixteen years served as committee chairman for this event which has done much to improve the quality of beef herds in the western United States.
In 1937 Charley married Bertha McKenzie Conrad, member of a pioneer Tehama County cattle family.
He was an enthusiastic cooperator with the University of California Agricultural Extension Service for many years. He assisted in conducting feeding and breeding trials with beef cattle on his ranches. For many years he hosted a Tri-County Cattlemen's Annual Meeting at his Chester headquarters, furnishing not only the facilities but also cattle and horses for demonstration purposes. This event was one of the outstanding educational affairs in California.
In 1959 he was honored as "California Cattleman of the Year". He was at one time president of the Tehama County Cattlemen's Association and served as vice-president and a director of the California Cattlemen's Association. He was a fifty-year member of the Red Bluff Elks Lodge, a member of the Red Bluff Blue Lodge, Vesper Lodge No. 84, F & AM, Knights Templar Red Bluff Commandery, and Ben Ali Temple of the Shrine.
When Charles Stover passed away in October, 1961, his many friends felt that a little of the color, hospitality, and good fellowship which characterized the old West regrettably went with him.