10. Arden Sherman Chatfield
8. Arden Sherman Chatfield Child number eight, Arden Sherman Chatfield, was born two years after Verda in Sanders, Rosebud County, Montana. He grew up in Los Molinos and Chico, tramped America, and returned to Chico between wanderings.
After serving in the National Guard (40th Infantry Division, 184th Regiment, Company G) in 1937 at Camp Merriam between San Louis Obispo and Morro Bay (as a cook by the looks of the picture), and as a private in the U.S. Army during WWII, Arden also returned to Chico. He worked odd jobs at times, and at times didn’t work at all. That’s when he took off to see the country. He refused to take his pension, said he didn’t deserve it. (During his stint, he disappeared off an on, going AWOL, and felt like he hadn’t earned it.) When in bad health and need of money, Gordon went to the Veteran’s Administration and talked them back into giving Arden his benefits. Arden lived for a while on the corner of 16th and Park in an apartment above the Pastime Club, worked for a time at Chico Ice Company, then worked off and on as a cook and waiter. He lived at home (age 19) according to the 1930 census, along with Roy, (who was 29), Ina (17), Noreen (14). Nellie is listed at top as head of household and working at Diamond Match Factory, and Grandpa is listed at bottom after the children, working as a carpenter in the contracting business. The census taker then crossed out Nellie as head and added the title to Grandpa’s name. Roy is working at an ice plant and Arden is working in a restaurant.
Arden was the wanderer in the family, a vagabond of sorts. He traveled the country by rails or by hitchhiking, seeing every state (except for Oklahoma) through his dark glasses (he had a growth over his eye). On the road he was always immaculately dressed (favoring light colored slacks and shirts) and his shoes always shined. Story has it that he wore two shirts, two pair of pants, and two pairs of socks so he could travel empty handed. He would disappear for a few days, occasionally a few weeks, often a few months, sometimes a couple of years. One Sunday he got up in the middle of a conversation with his mother, walked out the front door, and no one saw him for three years. When he returned, he walked back in, sat down and finished his sentence as if he’d never left. Years before he’d been hit on the head with a fifty-pound block of ice while working at the ice company. It must have affected him.
As I Was Told:
Whenever Verda told stories about her brother Arden, she ended each and every one with: “He was very clean, you know.”
Marceline (Day) Mangini & Judi (Day) O’Brien, daughters of Verda Day
Arden broke the rules—and sometimes he broke the law. He was once hauled into court in front of a judge who had lost all patience with him. “You sir,” the judge shouted, “are a bum,” implying Arden was someone too lazy to work and wasted his life wandering. “I sir,” Arden replied with dignity, “am not a bum. I am a hobo.” He had deliberately chosen a wandering life.
To the embarrassment of his family, he often made the Chico Enterprise.
1935: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Newspaper items: BANDIT SUSPECT FREED BY DEATH
Robbery Trial Called Off When Main Witness Expires
Because death wouldn’t take a holiday, Arden Chatfield, a 25-year-old youth, yesterday escaped a robbery trial. Chico authorities were notified by the police identification bureau that the complaining witness died two weeks ago and prosecution would be useless. Police Judge Will J. Carraghar sentenced Chatfield to 30 days in the county jail for technical vagrancy. He was arrested by Sergeant Lee Parker, who testified he found several cans of marijuana in Chatfield’s pockets.
Date unknown: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
TRANSIENT BOOKED Arden Chatfield, a transient, is scheduled to appear in police court tomorrow following his arrest at 7:15 p.m. last night at Humbolds Road and Mill streets on a charge of vagrancy.
Jun 1948: Letter (excerpt) from Ina (Chatfield) Fouch to her mother Nellie:
Dear Mom,
I thought I would drop you a line or two, even tho there isn’t much to write about. Was wondering how you’re surviving the hot weather. Weren’t some of those days terrific though?
Did Arden ever show up Chico again? He got off at Gridley and was wondering if he got a job there, or moved on? One never can tell about him.
Well, I have an ironing to do & want to get at it before it gets too hot so will sign off.
Hope you are feeling better and the heat isn’t bothering you much.
Love to you both,
Ina
Oct 3, 1981: Uncle Arden died in Chico at age 71, of heart failure.
Oct 5, 1982: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Arden Chatfield Services will be held at 11: a.m. Wednesday at Brusie Funeral Home for Arden Sherman Chatfield, 71, of Chico. He died Saturday in a local hospital. Born Aug 29, 1910, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chatfield in Sanders, Mont. His family moved to Chico when he was five. He was reared and educated here. He served in World War II and worked as a farm laborer for 30 years. He retired when he was 65 years old. Survivors include two sisters, Ina Fouch of Yuba City and Nellie McElhiney of Martinez; and a brother, Charles of Paradise. The Rev. John Crowley will officiate at the service. Burial will be at the Chico Cemetery.
His sister Ina made the arrangements for his funeral. He had money in the bank to cover his burial costs; the Veteran’s Administration paid for his headstone.