Imperial County CA Archives Biographies.....Stahl, Charles N. 1872 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 16, 2006, 1:16 pm

Author: F. C. Farr (editor, 1918)

CHARLES N. STAHL.—The history of Charles N. Stahl and that of his brothers and
two sisters is thoroughly interwoven with the pioneer day history of the great
Imperial Valley. Mr. Stahl was born at Winesburg, Ohio, December 11, 1872. His
father, Valentine Stahl, was born in the same village and his grandfather, John
Stahl, was one of the earliest settlers in Ohio, coming to that state when
cities like Cleveland and Columbus were mere hamlets. His mother, Elizabeth
Stahl, was born in Switzerland of Swiss and French ancestry. She came to America
when she was eight years old and with her husband is still living on the old
Stahl homestead. Mr. Stahl received his education in the public schools and also
has been a student at the Washington State Agricultural College. He spent ten
years of his life in the school room as teacher, teaching in the states of Ohio,
Nebraska and Washington. In 1903 Mr. Stahl and several of his brothers came to
the Imperial Valley. Of course the entire valley was then an almost absolute
desert. The hummocks and creosote bush were thick where Brawley now stands; a
few adobe huts were under construction and a lateral ditch had been constructed
as far as Brawley. There was lots of elbow room and optimism permeating
everybody, even the Mexican adobe maker seeking shelter from the burning sun
behind a stack of adobe bricks, talked of cities and farms. The Stahl Brothers
came to Imperial Valley to pioneer and farm. They soon took up some land and
leased a great deal more and for several years engaged extensively in farming.
When the Colorado River in 1906 went on a rampage, and many of the settlers were
in despair, some driving their stock across the mountains to San Diego and coast
points, W. F. Holt was giving the people an object lesson in optimism by
erecting the present Imperial Valley bank building. It was then that Mr. Stahl
and some of his brothers decided to invest their surplus in a mercantile
venture. They leased a store room from Mr. Holt and started in the business. The
store was a success from the start and soon outgrew its store room capacity.
After several years at the old location the store was moved to its present
location and has grown to be one of the largest and most up-to-date clothing and
dry goods stores in the county. Besides being interested in the mercantile
business, Mr. Stahl owns three 80-acre ranches close to Brawley, and with his
brothers owns three of the best business blocks in Brawley. Mr. Stahl helped to
establish the cantaloupe and vegetable industry at Brawley. He was for several
years vice-president of the Imperial Valley Bank. He has always been a Brawley
booster and in various ways has helped to make Brawley a better and bigger city.
Mr. Stahl was married to Miss Lucy Henderson on December 27, 1913. They have two
children: Mary Elizabeth and Charles, Jr.

Additional Comments:
From:

THE HISTORY
OF
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
EDITED BY
F. C. FARR

IN ONE VOLUME
ILLUSTRATED
Published by ELMS AND FRANKS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918


Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco


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