Charles Eugene Selover, Sr. Leaves Brooklyn and Goes West
Tahiti Bound and Westward Move
Charles and Susan Selover were leading a relatively comfortable life at 228 New York Avenue in Brooklyn with Charles serving in corporate positions with companies of Attorney Edward H. Fallows at offices in Manhattan when we left them in 1919. That fall, however, Charles applied for a passport with the intention of traveling to Tahiti, Society Islands to conduct an audit for his employer. The passport was issued on 6 November 1919 with Charles scheduled to depart San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California on or about 15 December 1919 using the first available steamer.
Evidence shows that Charles was Comptroller of the Vegetable Oil Corporation, which had purchased a small mill at Papeete, Tahiti to produce coconut oil. The Corporation had expanded the initial plant to process 40 tons per day, and this operation was the one that Charles had planned to audit. Whether or not Charles actually made this trip to Tahiti isn't certain. His father, William, who lived with Charles and Susan, died in January 1920, and William's final days might have caused Charles to postpone his trip. Charles does state however that he went to California in January 1920 and came back to Brooklyn in May of that year. Therefore, Charles likely made his Tahiti trip during this period.
Charles must have made preparations during May and June of 1920 to move to San Francisco because on 3 July 1920 he removed there with his wife. The Vegetable Oil Corporation had constructed a new mill at Berkeley, Alameda Co., California for producing coconut oil, about twice as large as the mill at Papeete, Tahiti. The Corporation also was planning to built a coconut oil refining plant and a butter and lard plant in California. These enterprises required Charles's presence in San Francisco, thus prompting his move from Brooklyn.
By 1922 Charles and Susan were living at 766 Sutter Street in San Francisco where they continued to reside in 1923. The Selovers took up residence at 1080 Bush Street by 1924, about two blocks from their previous location, and remained there for the remainder of Charles's life.
Charles and Susan received their daughter, Kate Miller Selover Norton, her husband Gordon Norton, and the three Norton children for a stay of several months between January and April 1930 before Gordon returned to their home at Tidioute, Warren Co., Pennsylvania.
It may be that Kate and her children remained in San Francisco for the Golden Anniversary celebration of Charles and Susan on 23 June 1930. A news account states that Charles and Susan's family were all present for the celebration, with the exception of Charles, Jr. and family of Winsted, Litchfield Co., Connecticut.
Charles traveled to Cortland, Cortland Co., New York in October 1924 to stay with relatives, probably members of the Ingalls family, for a week before continuing on to New York City. Newspaper accounts show that Charles was still associated with the coconut oil industry at that time.
Susan Selover and Philomena Straat must have enjoyed their Pacific cruises because they sailed to Honolulu the following year on or before the 1st of March to visit their sister-in-law, Mrs. Arthur B. Ingalls, and her daughter. Susan and Philomena arrived back in San Francisco on 15 April 1925 after departing Honolulu on 8 April.
Citizens of Moravia, Cayuga Co., New York planned a Home Coming Day for the 4th of July 1927. Charles received an invitation to attend the event but wrote a reply sending his regrets at being unable to participate in the celebration. He referred to the fact that nearly all of his old friends and relatives were "now resting on the hill," an apparent reference to Moravia's Indian Mound Cemetery, and that 51 years had passed since he resided at Moravia.
The San Mateo Lodge, F.&A.M., conducted funeral services for Charles at the William Crosby & Company Chapel in Burlingame, San Mateo Co., California on 1 July 1931. Burial followed in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park at Colma, San Mateo Co., California.
Caroline Susan Ingalls Selover died at the Newton Selover residence on 15 September 1933. Like Charles's funeral, Susan's was held at the William Crosby & Company Chapel in Burlingame with burial in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park at Colma.
Life in San Francisco
Gertrude Selover Lockwood, Charles's aunt whose farm Charles had attempted to work back in 1903-1904, died at her home on North Street Road, Sennett, Cayuga Co., New York on 6 October 1920. Charles was listed among Gertrude's heirs-at-law and next-of-kin and cited to show cause why her Last Will and Testament and a Codicil thereto should not be admitted to probate at Surrogate's Court in Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York. The hearing was scheduled for ca. 10 December 1920. Whether or not Charles attended in person is not known. Gertrude's Executors distributed slightly less than $18,300 from the estate, and their accounts were settled in July 1922. How much, if anything, Charles received from this distribution has not been found.By 1922 Charles and Susan were living at 766 Sutter Street in San Francisco where they continued to reside in 1923. The Selovers took up residence at 1080 Bush Street by 1924, about two blocks from their previous location, and remained there for the remainder of Charles's life.
Charles and Susan received their daughter, Kate Miller Selover Norton, her husband Gordon Norton, and the three Norton children for a stay of several months between January and April 1930 before Gordon returned to their home at Tidioute, Warren Co., Pennsylvania.
It may be that Kate and her children remained in San Francisco for the Golden Anniversary celebration of Charles and Susan on 23 June 1930. A news account states that Charles and Susan's family were all present for the celebration, with the exception of Charles, Jr. and family of Winsted, Litchfield Co., Connecticut.
Edith Huntington Spreckels Wakefield Divorce Case
Charles Selover testified as a corroborating witness in the divorce case of Mrs. Edith Huntington Spreckels Wakefield at Superior Court in San Rafael, Marin Co., California on 8 June 1923. Her husband, Franklin W. Wakefield was described as a vegetable oil magnate of Manila, Philippine Islands. Charles apparently was familiar with, and testified to, the circumstances of Edith's desertion by Franklin. She successfully obtained the divorce that she sought.Pacific and East Coast Travel
The year 1924 was one of travel for Susan as well as for Charles. Susan and her sister, Philomena Ingalls Straat, departed for Tahiti aboard the "SS Maunganui" on 22 February 1924 to visit Charles and Susan's son, Newton Post Selover. Susan undoubtedly was eager to visit her young grandson there, as well. Newton was Superintendent of the Pacific Coconut Products Corporation in charge of a copra mill and fleet of schooners used to collect coconuts from around the Society Islands. The women returned to San Francisco ca. 20 April 1924.Charles traveled to Cortland, Cortland Co., New York in October 1924 to stay with relatives, probably members of the Ingalls family, for a week before continuing on to New York City. Newspaper accounts show that Charles was still associated with the coconut oil industry at that time.
Susan Selover and Philomena Straat must have enjoyed their Pacific cruises because they sailed to Honolulu the following year on or before the 1st of March to visit their sister-in-law, Mrs. Arthur B. Ingalls, and her daughter. Susan and Philomena arrived back in San Francisco on 15 April 1925 after departing Honolulu on 8 April.
Citizens of Moravia, Cayuga Co., New York planned a Home Coming Day for the 4th of July 1927. Charles received an invitation to attend the event but wrote a reply sending his regrets at being unable to participate in the celebration. He referred to the fact that nearly all of his old friends and relatives were "now resting on the hill," an apparent reference to Moravia's Indian Mound Cemetery, and that 51 years had passed since he resided at Moravia.
Trumble Metals, Incorporated
Charles was last listed as Comptroller of the Vegetable Oil Corporation in 1929. At this time, he would have been 76 years old and ready for retirement. On the other hand, only the year before on 6 March 1928 Charles was among the incorporators and directors of Trumble Metals, Incorporated of Oakland, Alameda Co., California. Milon J. Trumble, the company's namesake, was an inventor and innovator. The company was to have capital stock of $200,000. Charles was listed as Treasurer of the company in 1931 showing that it was hard to retire an old financial war horse!
Death of Charles Eugene Selover, Sr.
Steamer "Harvard" Goes Aground Off Point Arguello
Charles E. Selover was among the passengers of the steamer "Harvard" when it struck a reef in dense fog off Point Arguello. All 497 passengers were safely taken aboard the cruiser "U. S. S. Louisville" and brought to Los Angeles Harbor. Apparently Charles suffered an illness during the month following his rescue, which some ascribed to exposure at the time of the shipwreck. Charles was visiting in the home of his son, Newton, at 28 15th Avenue, San Mateo, San Mateo Co., California when he died on 29 June 1931.The San Mateo Lodge, F.&A.M., conducted funeral services for Charles at the William Crosby & Company Chapel in Burlingame, San Mateo Co., California on 1 July 1931. Burial followed in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park at Colma, San Mateo Co., California.
Caroline Susan Ingalls Selover's Last Years
Susan Selover resided in the apartment she had shared with Charles at 1080 Bush Street in San Francisco for the year following his death. By early 1933, if not before, she had moved in with the family of her son, Newton Post Selover, at 28 15th Avenue in San Mateo. Susan suffered from poor health for at least the last few months of her life or for perhaps as long as a year. Poor health and advanced age probably account for her residence with her son. It likely also is the reason Kate Selover Norton, accompanied by her son, Gordon I. Norton, Jr., traveled from Tidioute, Pennsylvania in the last half of June 1933 to visit her mother at San Mateo. Kate was back in Tidioute before the 4th of July.Caroline Susan Ingalls Selover died at the Newton Selover residence on 15 September 1933. Like Charles's funeral, Susan's was held at the William Crosby & Company Chapel in Burlingame with burial in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park at Colma.
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