Biographies:  James Martin CHARLES, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI 

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Nance Sampson, Eau Claire Co. WIGenWeb CC on 12 December 2003
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** Posted for informational purposes only - poster is not related to the 
subject of this biography and has no further information.


James Martin Charles, proprietor of Charles' Chop House, Eau Claire, was 
born in the town of Greenwich, Fairfield county, Connecticut, January 9, 
1859, the son of Joel and Alice (Martin) Charles, natives of Wales and 
Ireland respectively.  The father came to the United States in 1847 and 
located in Cataraugus county, New York, with his parents, David and Ellen 
(Griffiths) Charles.  Later he went to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he 
had charge of the estate of E. C. Benedict, the New York broker, a position 
he held at the time of his death in 1906.  He was the father of six children, 
James M., the subject of this sketch; David F. and Mary C., wife of Mr. 
Becker.  Those deceased are Alice, who married Francis Daly; William H. and 
Joel G.

James M. was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, receiving his education in 
the public schools and the academy of that place.  He began his business 
career as clerk in a grocery store in New York City, continuing in that 
employment until 1880.  In 1881 he came to Eau Claire, and entered the employ 
of the Eau Claire Lumber Company with whom he remained three years.  Since 
1885 he has been in the restaurant business in Eau Claire, and proprietor 
of Charles' Chop House, the most popular restaurant in the city, since 1889.

Mr. Charles was married on April 8, 1885, to Miss Octavi, daughter of John 
Meersman, a native of Brussels, Belgium, and to them seven children have been 
born:  Joel George, John Frederick, Octavi Alice, James William, Marie 
Josephine, Ellen Ann and Margaret M.  Mrs. Charles died April 22, 1912.  Mr. 
Charles is a member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church, of Eau Claire, and 
since 1900 has been a member of the Eau Claire School board.


--Transcribed from "The History of Eau Claire County, 1914, Past & Present", 
pages 672 & 673

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