Genesee-Wayne County MI Archives Biographies.....Charles, William 1826 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 28, 2007, 1:41 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

WILLIAM CHARLES, dealer in new and second-hand furniture and also manufacturer
of awnings, tents, etc., came to this city in 1853, so that he is now one of the
older business men of the city. He was born in London, England, November 1,
1826, and is a son of Thomas Charles who came to Canada many years ago and was
followed thither by his wife and children when our subject was four years old.
This party, was shipwrecked on Flint Island, Nova Scotia, and after great
exposure and hardships they finally made their way as far as Toronto, where the
mother died. Our subject lived at Detroit until he reached the age of fifteen.

  The young man now determined to go upon the water and sailed on the lakes for
some time and went to sea, following this calling for a number of years,
carrying on trading at all ports of Europe and the West Indies until 1850. On
the 16th of July of that year he landed in New York on his way home from France
and came by way of the lake to Detroit, when he entered upon the chairmaking
business.

  Somewhat later Mr. Charles came to Flint but soon after entered the United
States Navy, on board the gunboat, "Commodore Hull," on the North Atlantic
blockading squadron. He was with the force that was besieged for sixteen days at
Little Washington, N. C., and was thirteen days under artillery fire, taking
part in many other hard sieges and serving for one year as Quartermaster. At the
close of his term of service he was acting Master's Mate and he was offered a
commission if he could stay longer, but declined owing to his wife's objection
to his remaining away from home longer.

  Mr. Charles now returned to his home in Flint and engaged in the furniture
business with Fredrick Holmes, under the firm name of Holmes & Charles and thus
continued until 1866 when he began the manufacture of awnings and tents, in
which he has built up a fine trade, and makes not only ordinary awnings and
small tents but also large tents for fairs and circuses. He built a large
furniture store on the corner of Second and Saginaw Streets, and also a brick
residence on Bush Street opposite the High School, which was completed in 1876.
He has added to his business a large stock of household furnishing goods, new
and second hand.

  Our subject married Miss Betsey Ann Woolfiet of this city and they have eight
living children, namely: Alice, now Mrs. Pegg; Carrie E.; Albert T. living at
Saginaw; Clara A.; Charlotte M.; Ida F. and Wilfred W. Two children have been
taken away by death, William Edward and Harry. This family is connected with the
Presbyterian Church of Flint, and our subject belongs to the Order of Odd
Fellows and also to the Knights of Pythias as well as to the Grand Army of the
Republic.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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