Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Chaxel, Charles 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Charles Chaxel, who departed this life October 3, 1903, was one of the best 
known and most successful musicians and piano tuners in Will county. He was 
born in the dukedom of Baden, Germany, in the town of Herbolzheim, near the 
French border, on the 18th of October, 1849, and was a son of Joseph Chaxel, 
who lived and died in that country. Charles Chaxel was graduated from the 
grammer school and, possessing the love for and talent in music so 
characteristic of people of his nationality, he studied the art in Germany 
until fourteen years of age, when he was sent to Switzerland to learn the 
piano and organ building trade. He devoted six years to its mastery and became 
an expert in that line, thoroughly familiar with the business in every detail. 
When twenty years of age, attracted by the business conditions and 
opportunities of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to America, locating 
first at Chicago, where for six months he followed his trade. His sisters had 
preceded him to Will county and accordingly Charles Chaxel made his way to 
Lockport, where he engaged in piano tuning and also in the sale of pianos. 
After three years spent at Lockport he removed to Joliet in 1882 and continued 
in business from that time until his death, accumulating a very gratifying 
competence, for he had a liberal patronage. He was well known in musical 
circles in the city and his talents enabled him to contribute in large measure 
to the pleasure of those who enjoy the art. Mr. Chaxel was twice married. At 
Lockport he wedded Miss Marie Baumgarten, who died there, leaving two 
children, Ella Marie, now the wife of W. Miller, a resident of Chicago; and 
Mary Pauline, who died in infancy. Mr. Chaxel was again married at Lockport to 
Miss Matie J. Beck, a daughter of William and Frances (Kittinger) Beck. Mrs. 
Chaxel had come to Will county with the family in the later '70s. Mr. Chaxel 
purchased a five-acre tract of land just west of Joliet on Western avenue and 
there erected the fine residence still occupied by his widow. One acre of the 
land has since been sold, but the ground still occupies four acres, in the 
midst of which is a most attractive home—a monument to the enterprise, labors 
and business ability of Mr. Chaxel. Fraternally he was connected with the 
Knights of Pythias, while in political faith he was a republican. He was 
reared in the Catholic faith, but later affiliated with the Christian Science 
church. He was a man of strong mental force, of keen insight and broad 
knowledge, and his mental and social qualifications rendered him popular, 
while his business ability gained for him a desirable measure of success. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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