Los Banos Enterprise
Saturday, April 21, 1917
DEATH OF ESTEEMED PIONEER CITIZEN
Charles D. Acker Dies In San Francisco Hospital After Surgical Operation
Charles DeWitt Acker, a Los Banos pioneer of 1883, passed away at a San
Francisco hospital at 3:15 p.m., last Saturday. He did not recover from the
effects of a serious operation. He was upon the operating table from 9 o'clock
to 11:30 a.m., and his heart proved to weak to stand the strain. While he
revived sufficiently to speak to the physician, it is not believed he was
fully conscious after the operation.
Two weeks previous he had passed under the surgeon's knife, in two minor
operations, from which his recuperation was so marked that his friends held
high hopes of his ultimate recovery from the last and more serious experience.
Deceased fully realized the seriousness of the ordeal which he was to undergo,
and had set his affairs in order and bravely went to his fate. One of his last
acts was to pen a note of reply to picture-card message from a young friend in
Los Banos. He was extremely fond of children and nearly every child in town
counted him a friend.
"Charley" Acker, as the pioneers affectionately spoke of him, was universally
esteemed. He was the soul of honor; upright character, an industrious citizen,
agreeable neighbor, and a kind affectionate husband and father. He came to
this section in the year of 1883 and for many years engaged in farming on the
outside of the canal system. Dry-farming proving unprofitable, about eight
years ago he came to Los Banos and two years ago purchased a half interest in
the Crescent Theatre, which he retained at his death.
the remains were brought to Los Banos on Sunday and interment was made in Los
Banos cemetery at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, Rev. H. M. McKnight officiating
at the very simple exercises at the grave. There was a great profusion of
floral offerings - set pieces, wreaths, etc. A large gathering of citizens in
all walks of life testified to the esteem in which the deceased was held. The
number of pioneers was especially noticeable. Some of these had known the
departed one for more than thirty years and their presence was silent festoon
of the esteem in which he was held.
Charles D. Acker was born at Dubuque, Iowa, April 7, 1848. In 1871 he was
married to Miss Augusta Babee, of which union there were born four sons, the
first dying in early childhood. The three remaining sons are well known young
men of the West Side; Edward Howard being an engineer at the Standard Oil
Station; Smith Earl, principal of the Volta school; Bert Francis, manager of
the Miller & Lux store at Gustine. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Acker removed from the
State of Iowa to Kansas and in the year 1881 came to California, locating in
Oakdale, in Stanislaus county. Two years later they came to Los Banos, where
their children grew to manhood, married and became identified with the
community. Ten grandchildren came to bless them in their old age.
Besides his immediate family, deceased leaves a nephew who is the City Clerk
at Oakdale, another nephew J. J. Vanderburg, is editor and publisher of the
Selma Irrigator.
A good man has gone; but memory of his many kindly deeds, of cheering words
timely spoken, of wise counsel in the time need, will live long after him in
the hearts of those who knew him best.
