EAST, Charles H.

EAST, BARMBY, HEWITT, SCHMITZ, SINCLAIR

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 23:31:06

Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

CHARLES H. EAST.

Prominent among the representative railroad men of Clinton is Charles H. East, who has resided here since 1888, and has been in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company since the 1st of May, 1891. At present he is filling the responsible position of night yardmaster. He is one of Clinton county’s native sons, born February 21, 1875, and belong to one of her pioneer families.

Henry East, father of our subject, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1837, and on his emigration to America in 1852 located in this county, where he and his father, Thomas East, improved a farm, having purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land near Elvira. In the family were four children, but of these Henry is the only one now living. The mother died in England. Throughout his active business life Henry East followed farming, but is now living a retired life in Clinton, where he was successfully engaged in the stock business until 1886. In Scott county, Iowa, he married Miss Jabe A, Barmby, who was born in England in 1844, their wedding being celebrated in 1863. They have four children: Charles, our subject; Viola, wife of George W. Hewitt, an attorney of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Laura, wife of Frank C. Schmitz, of Brooklyn, New York; and Nettie, a teacher in the grammar schools of Clinton. They were all educated in the public schools of that city. Our subject and his father are now the only male representatives of the family in this county.

Charles H. East attended school in Low Moor, Iowa, and also took a business course at Valparaiso, Indiana, but had to leave school before graduating on account of his health. On his return home he engaged in the stock business with his father, and after the removal of the family to Clinton followed various occupations. For five years he was employed as clerk by Seaman, and in 1891 commenced work for the railroad company as checker in the yard office. In July, 1897, he was appointed night yard-master, and is still creditably and acceptably filling that position, having under his supervision about thirty men for night work all the year round. He is well liked by those under him, and has the entire confidence of the company which he is so ably serving.

At Clinton, June 27, 1894, Mr. East was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide Sinclair, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and they have one child, Mary Todd, who was born October 7, 1896. In his social relations Mr. East is a member of Lincoln Lodge, No. 42, I. O. O. F., and in politics he is independent, voting for the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices regardless of party lines.