On Aug. 19, 1879, future Newhall civic leader Charles Henry Kingsburry was born.

Kingsburry was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1879. He later moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where he became a Wells Fargo agent. In 1898, he volunteered for the Spanish–American War, served in Cuba, and was honorably discharged. He returned to Trinidad and worked for the fire department.

In 1901, Kingsburry volunteered for the Philippine–American War. He was later transferred to the Presidio in San Francisco, arriving just in time for the 1906 earthquake and fire.

After his second honorable discharge, Kingsburry’s love for horses led him to become a jockey. While working as a jockey, he married Ruth Carnahan on Sept. 12, 1912. 

When he moved to Newhall on Aug. 9, 1919, he worked as an employee of the Los Angeles Bureau of Water Works and Supply (a precursor to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), helping to build the powerhouses in San Francisquito Canyon.

Kingsburry later became a horse wrangler in the burgeoning film industry, finding work at Rancho Placeritos (later known as Monogram Ranch and now Melody Ranch) as a movie stuntman, wrangler and occasional double for Western stars such as Tom Mix, Tim McCoy and Buck Jones.

He also owned the meat market section of People’s Store on San Fernando Road and, during World War II, worked as a guard at Bermite.

He married Ruth Kingsburry, born in Colorado on March 2, 1890—a graduate of the Trinidad Business College. The Kingsburrys lived on Newhall Avenue until 1944, when they moved to Oregon, returning a year later to buy the Walnut Street house from a divorced couple, the Kornelissens.

The Kingsburrys were very active in the Masons, Eastern Star and the Presbyterian Church. In fact, Charlie had Roy Kissinger add a small addition to their house so he could coach budding Masons.

He was also a member of the Sheriff’s posse, usually riding at the head of that contingent in parades.  In 1927, he settled down to run the meat department of The People’s Market on San Fernando Road in Newhall  (at the site of the former Campton’s General Store).

Charles Kingsburry died on Aug. 10, 1963. Ruth continued living in their house until she retired from Hillburn’s Funeral Chapel at age 87. She had breast cancer and was gradually going blind. Eventually, she went to live with the Brutons, close friends since 1942.

Ruth died on Oct. 24, 1982, in Lake Elsinore. The couple had no children and were buried together at Oakwood Cemetery in Chatsworth.

In recognition of their many contributions, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adjourned in their honor. 

Five years later, in 1987, the Kingsburry House was moved to Heritage Junction in William S. Hart Park.

To read yesterday’s Today in SCV History, click here.

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