DAVID, Charles - 1890 Bio (1818-1898)

DAVID, MILLER, HURT, GAINES, BURNS, HURST

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/26/2006 at 20:22:58

"Portrait & Biographical Album of Jefferson & Van Buren Counties", pub. 1890
Pages 268-269

CHARLES DAVID, a worthy pioneer of Jefferson County, now living a retired life, has been a farmer, hotel keeper and hardware merchant. His residence in the county dates from January, 1840, and during the half century which has since elapsed he has ever proved a loyal and worthy citizen. Mr. DAVID is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Center County, that State, on the 8th of March, 1818. His father, Carpenter DAVID, was born in Vermont, of Scotch (sic) descent. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Miss Mary MILLER, who was born in Philadelphia, of Irish parentage. When Charles was an infant, they removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where his boyhood days were passed. He spent his time in the usual manner of farmer lads, and in the district schools of the neighborhood acquired a good English education. In 1837, we find Mr. DAVID a resident of Lawrence County, now Richland County, Ill., where he continued to make his home until January, 1840. As before stated, that year witnessed his arrival in Iowa, and Fairfield was so fortunate as to secure him for a citizen. He was accompanied by John W. Culbertson, now deceased, also an honored pioneer, who had lived neighbor to Mr. DAVID in Ohio. The latter worked at the carpenter's trade for a year, and then purchased a claim situated about a half mile from the city limits.

On the 7th of March, 1841, Mr. DAVID led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah A. HURT, a daughter of William HURT, and a native of Adair County, Ky., where her people were early settlers, having emigrated from Virginia to that State. Afterward they came to Lee County, Iowa, and in 1838, settled in Glasgow, Jefferson County. Unto Mr. and Mrs. DAVID were born the following children, five of whom are yet living: Edward A., the eldest, died at the age of fourteen years; William died in the twentieth year of his age; Cora D. is now the wife of R. E. GAINES, a resident of Colorado; Elizabeth is the wife of W. F. BURNS, who is living in New Mexico; Alice wedded Thomas H. HURST, a resident of Hastings, Neb.; Lucy makes her home in Colorado; and Charles B. is in Hastings, Neb.

In 1845, Mr. DAVID abandoned his agricultural pursuits which he had followed through the preceding four years, and turned his attention to hotel keeping. He also engaged in the livery business, and carried on the two lines of industry for seven years, when in 1852, he again bought land. This time he continued his farming operations for eleven years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Fairfield, and spent the succeeding four years in shipping stock. In this, as in his other enterprises, he was quite successful, meeting with the reward which results from industry, and the exercise of correct business principles. Again changing his vocation, he devoted his time and attention to the hardware business through the succeeding six years, after which he again shipped stock and worked in various other lines. His business prospered, and he accumulated considerable property, but through others he has since lost heavily. His reverses, however, were due in no degree to mismanagement or carelessness on his part. In fact his career has been characterized by energy, good management, and the exercise of correct business principles.

In political sentiment, Mr. DAVID is a Democrat, and in 1867 was honored with the office of Mayor of Fairfield. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Masonic fraternity. He gives liberally to the support of churches, is a warm friend to education, and his aid is never solicited in vain for the advancement of any worthy enterprise. He is a public-spirited man whom all esteem.

~~~~
IAGenWeb Bylaws PROHIBIT the COPYING AND RE-POSTING OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without WRITTEN permission from the submitter ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.