Iowa was Mr. Eygabroad's native state and there he was born at Fredricksburg, Chickasaw County, on October 25, 1863, the son of John J. and Catherine (Worth) Eygabroad, natives of Utica, N.Y., and Germany, respectively. The Eygabroad family were of old Knickerbocker stock who came from Holland and settled in New Netherlands, now New York, in about 1765. Great-grandfather Eygabroad, who was born in Holland, was but a child when he accompanied his parents to the New World, and at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, although he was only thirteen years old, he enlisted as a drummer boy, and after three years he carried a musket, serving throughout the whole seven years of the war, and was at memorable Valley Forge with General Washington. Grandfather Charles Eygabroad was a blacksmith at Utica, N.Y., and here John J. Eygabroad, the father of our subject, was born. He came to Freeport, Ill., where he followed his trade, and in 1849, with three companions he crossed the plains with ox teams to California, mining there for three years, when the gold excitement was at its height. Returning by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1852, he walked across to the Atlantic side, finally reaching his old home at Freeport, where he was married. Here he engaged in farming until he removed to Chickasaw County, Iowa, where he bought Government land for $1.25 an acre. This he improved and he became one of the prosperous, successful farmers of that district, where he and his wife resided until they passed away.
The fifth in order of birth of a family of eleven children, Charles H. Eygabroad received his fundamental education in the rural schools of his native state and this was supplemented by the broader education acquired in the best and most practical of schools--the school of experience. He remained in the paternal home until he reached his majority, then sought his fortune in Dakota Territory in 1884, where with a capital of $1.50 he homesteaded land in Brown County, near the present town of Hecla, S. D. With the undaunted spirit of the pioneer he taught school in the winter, farmed in the summer months, and turned his hand to blacksmithing and anything else he could find to do. He was justice of the peace, performed marriage ceremonies and practiced law; and when, during this time, South Dakota was admitted to the Union, Mr. Eygabroad was elected a member of the state legislature in 1894. He was a member of the educational committee of the House, acting as its chairman, was chairman of the Federal relations committee and a member of other important committees.
After the expiration of his services in the legislature Mr. Eygabroad was elected auditor of Brown County for two terms of two years each, afterwards occupying the office of county commissioner for three years. During all of this time he was active in the realty business, buying and selling farm lands in South Dakota. For three years he was president of the First State Bank of Hecla, S. D., disposing of his interest in that institution when he came to California December 26, 1908, on account of his health. Locating at Anaheim, he bought an orange grove at the corner of Center and Walnut Streets, to which he gave his care, and in this salubrious climate and the enjoyment of his work he regained his health. Since then he has dealt extensively in orange groves and is now the owner of eight groves in the vicinity of Anaheim.
In 1913, in connection with F. C. Krause, he organized the Anaheim National Bank, of which he was president until he disposed of his interest to Mr. Krause. He has since been active in real estate circles, subdividing and putting on the market the Johnston-Houck tract, an addition to Anaheim, and later he laid out the Vista del Rio Rancho tract, and has already disposed of most of it. Besides his realty transactions, Mr. Eygabroad is president of the Orange County Mutual Telephone Company. In 1918 he became interested in the First National Bank of Anaheim and is a director of that institution, was an organizer of the Anaheim Citrus Association, having been a director since its beginning, and is a member of the Northern Orange County Exchange. He still owns valuable farm lands in South Dakota, preferring to keep some interests where he was successful in his early years. In 1916 he drove his own car through to South Dakota, from there to New York, and back to California, taking in Yellowstone Park and making the whole trip in less than three months. Part of his trip was made over the old California emigrant trail over which his father had journeyed with ox teams, fifty-seven years before, some of the scenes being familiar to him from his father's description of his early trip.
Mr. Eygabroad's marriage which was solemnized March 1, 1887, at Kilbourn, Wis., united him with Miss Nettie Stearns, and two children were born to them, a daughter, Lilly, who is now the wife of Lynn Birdsall and the mother of two children; and Lonnie who died at six years of age. In his religious convictions Mr. Eygabroad is a Methodist, and ever since he was twenty-one years old he has been active in church work and has taught a Bible class. In his political views he is a Republican, and while living in South Dakota was elected chairman of the Republican County Central Committee in 1900. He is now a member of the Orange County Republican Central Committee and is chairman of the finance committee of Anaheim district. Prominent in the ranks of the Masons, he was made a Mason in Frederick Lodge, S. D., and later was a member of the lodge at Hecla, in that state and he is now affiliated with Anaheim Lodge No. 207, F. & A. M., serving as master of this lodge during the building of the Masonic Temple. He is a member of the Chapter at Aberdeen, S. D., and in that city was exalted to the Knights Templar degree, Aberdeen Commandery, but now a charter member of Fullerton Commandery, K. T. He belongs to Yelduz Temple, No. 38, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Aberdeen, S. D., and is a member of the Southern California Association of Past Masters at Los Angeles, and with his wife is a member of the O. E. S. He also holds membership with the Odd Fellows and Elks at Anaheim.
As one of the progressive business men of Anaheim, Mr. Eygabroad is naturally prominent in the Chamber of Commerce, and he has always been a leader in furthering the many projects which have been promulgated for the upbuilding and prosperity of this section, and not alone has he accumulated a comfortable fortune for himself, but he has contributed generously to the growth and wealth of the community, where he enjoys the sincere esteem of his fellow-citizens.
