Hively, Charles A.

Born in Oakdale, California, in 1870, Charles A. Hively grew up in Tulare County and completed his education at Washington College in Santa Clara County. After initially farming grain, he joined the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1900 and steadily advanced through its oil operations at McKittrick and Bakersfield. By 1909, he was transferred to Coalinga as field superintendent of the Fuel Oil Department of the Southern Pacific Railroad, where he oversaw massive production expansions across the Kern River and McKittrick oil fields.

Alongside his executive role with Southern Pacific, Hively served as vice president of the Baker Casing Shoe Company and held membership in the American Mining Congress. Married to Ina Foster in 1891, he raised a daughter, Vera, who graduated from Stanford University. Hively was also a prominent community leader in Coalinga, presiding over the local Growlers Club, leading World War I Liberty Bond drives, and holding active memberships in the Elks and the Free and Accepted Masons.