10. Howard Francis Chatfield & Evelyn Alice Wilson
3. Howard Francis Chatfield on Jun 13, 1899 in Eldora, Boulder County, Colorado, Howard Francis Chatfield was born third in the Chatfield family. He finished his schooling in Los Molinos and as there was no high school there yet—and as he loved school so much—he went through the eighth grade twice. Upon his second graduation, he went to work to help build a high school that he would be too old to go to by the time it was completed. Thirty years later, the school would burn to the ground from arson, only the cement walls he helped build left standing.
Like many in his family, Howard worked for Diamond Match. He was a small man—small enough where he rode horses in a circus for a while and his friends thought he should be a jockey—but he had a big mouth. Manuel Costa, a Portuguese co-worker he had insulted laid in wait for Howard, who had been baiting he and his friends with racial slurs. When the shift got off Howard learned the great mistake of taking someone on much larger than he—as Manual beat the tar out of him. Who knew that someday one of Howard Chatfield’s daughters would marry one of Manuel Costa’s sons?
On December 27, 1918 Howard eloped with his sweetheart, Evelyn Alice Wilson, a seventeen-year-old English girl. The young couple, Howard was 20, Evelyn was 18 and 3 months pregnant, fudged their marriage certificate 1918. They moved to Los Angeles and lived there through 1920, she—a young mother, he—a laborer on the streets.
When they moved back to Chico in 1921 and Grandma found out they had married in the Episcopalian Church, she threatened to have the first marriage annulled and demanded they remarry in the Catholic Church or Howard would never set foot in her house again. He abided by his mother’s wishes, but Howard seldom set foot in her house again anyway. The only reason he saw Nellie was because Evelyn insisted he see her on Mother’s Day and her birthday with card and gift in hand. After all, she was still his mother; but Evelyn and their girls had no relationship with Nellie. If any of the girls went with Howard to his mother’s house, they waited in the car not realizing it was their grandmother he was stopping off to see.
Howard and his wife lived in Orland where Howard worked as a manager for the Union Ice Company, delivering ice in a horse-drawn carriage; the horse knew the route and except for getting the ice to the porch, could have delivered it without Howard. They moved to Chico to raise their family. He worked two jobs, belonging to the butcher’s union and tending bar at night for the Elk’s Club. Howard was fastidious and came home from the butcher shop at lunchtime every day to change his shirt and apron. He kept his shoes polished, his sock drawer orderly, and his slacks carefully folded in a drawer rather than hanging them—not wanting a hanger mark on the legs.
He kept the women in his life well dressed, well fed, and well cared for. Every year at Christmas he borrowed from his banker $1,000 on a handshake to give his wife and daughters Christmas, and every year it took him six months to pay it back. He never wanted them to be without. Never.
Uncle Howard died on Jan 16, 1953 (age 53), in Chico, Butte County, California of Bright’s disease, a disease of the kidney’s that affected numerous Chatfeld’s before him. He was buried on Jan 19, 1953, in the Chico Cemetery in Chico, Butte County, California
His obituary of January 16, 1953 reads: Howard F. Chatfield, Chico resident since 1915, died at his home Friday after an illness of several months. Chatfield was born in Eldora, Colorado, June 13, 1899. He was educated in Chico schools after coming here with his parents. He was employed at the Union Ice Company for 15 years, then became a butcher after learning the trade at the Chico Meat Company.
Chatfield is survived by his wife, Evelyn; his mother, Mrs. Nellie Chatfield, Chico; five daughters, Mrs. Richard Percy, Mrs. Jon Dussault, Mrs. Donald Costa, and Mrs. Richard Quiring, all of Chico, and Mrs. Jack Sutherlund, Marysville. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Leo Chatfield, Nevada City, Arden and Roy Chatfield, Chico, Charles Chatfield, San Francisco, Mrs. George Day, Chico, Mrs. Carl Clemens, Sonora, Mrs. James Fouch, Yuba City, and Mrs. Nellie McElhiney, Oakland. Mr. Chatfield was an active member of Chico Lodge 423, BPOE, and Local 352 of the Butcher’s Union.
Rosary services will be conducted Sunday evening at 8 o’clock at Bruise Funeral Home. Mass will be said for the repose of his soul at St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church. Internment will follow in the Catholic section of the Chico Cemetery.
Howard’s wife Evelyn died in Dec of 1969.
Dec 19, 1969: Chico Enterprise Record, Chico, Butte County, California:
Evelyn A. Chatfield
Funeral services for Evelyn A. Chatfield, 68, a former Chico resident, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Bruise Funeral chapel.
Mrs. Chatfield, who died Thursday in San Jose hospital, was born Aug 3, 1901, in England. She came to Chico in 1910, was educated here and lived here until 1968 when she moved to San Jose.
Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Donald J. Costa of San Jose, Mr. Richard Wilkins of Sacramento, Mrs. R.D. Trembly of Entiat, Wash., and Mrs. Donald Lane of Antioch; two sisters, Mrs. Jessie Brainarch and Mrs. Mae Robertson, both of Fresno, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Interment will be beside her late husband, Howard, in Chico Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Leann Wilkins Memorial in care of Mercy San Juan Hospital, 6501 Coyle Ave., Carmichael, Calif.
Note: Leann Renee Wilkins is the granddaughter of Evelyn & Howard, daughter of their youngest child, Nadine. Leann died of leukemia on Apr 28, 1969 (age 5) in Sacramento, California.