Charles H. Hartle, an early resident of El Monte, was born November 19, 1827, in Rootstown, Cortage County, Ohio. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where they engaged in farming. Charles H. was educated in the local public schools, and later upon reaching his majority he went to Peru, Massachusetts. Soon afterward he settled in Ravenna, Ohio, where he engaged in the hotel business. In 1864,he moved to Masillon, Ohio, were he followed the general mercantile business. Mr. Hartle came to California in 1885, first stopping at Riverside. In 1886 he came to El Monte and immediately leased a tract of land from James Cleminson and engaged for three years in general farming. In 1889, (a year of excessive rainfall resulting in disastrous floods) he moved to Redlands where he purchased twenty acres of oranges. Here he remained until 1899, when he sold his orange grove and moved back to El Monte. He then retired, making his residence with his daughter, Mrs. Minnie Browning until his death, which was from heart failure during the excitement of the Main Street fire in 1905. In 1853, Mr. Hartle was united in marriage with Miss Pamela M. Parsons, a native of Massachusetts and daughter of Thomas and Maria Parsons, also natives of Massachusetts, whose forefathers came to America in the Mayflower. Mr. Hartle was a member of the Congregational Church, but there being no church here of that denomination, he attended the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Democrat. He had no fraternal affiliations. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartle were born only daughter, Mrs. Minnie Browning, well known and beloved resident of El Monte, who resides on Kauffman Avenue. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Hartle continued to make her home with her daughter in El Monte. Here she spent the remainder of her life, death claiming her in 1916.
Source: C. D. Mayon, F. Brow, L. Stoddard, and C. Mudd; El Monte from the Pioneer Days. WPA Project No. N-5740, 1936. In record 19-187072. (California Historical Landmark No. 765: El Monte). On file at the SCCIC, CSU Fullerton.