Newman, Charles W.

NEWMAN

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/7/2008 at 16:13:40

Charles W. Newman

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.247, Valley Twp.)
Charles W. Newman, general repair shop, Hancock, was born in England June 2, 1843, son of William and Bridget (Parkinson) Newman, he dead, she still living. Our subject's father was the son of a "gentleman" in England, and, being possessed of considerable wealth, never engaged in labor till he lost his property and emigrated to Canada, where he engaged in milling. Our subject has a brother in Ontario, Canada, in the shoe business; one sister living in Detroit, Mich., and another in Canada. Mr. Newman's other relatives all live in England, except one uncle, residing near Troy, Mich. When Mr. Newman was six years of age, he, with his parents, came to Canada, and there served an apprenticeship of three years at blacksmithing. In 1862, he moved to Michigan and worked at his trade for several years; then returned to Canada and was married, in January, 1869, to Miss Mary J. Bingham, a native of Canada; her father, Robert Bingham, is a native of Ireland, and came to Canada, where he was married. Mrs. Newman's parents are residents of Valley Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. After his marriage, Mr. Newman remained in Canada till 1876, when he came to Iowa, located in Avoca and ran a blacksmith shop for nearly two years, then came to Valley Township, purchased a farm, erected a shop on it, and continued his trade. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Newman removed his shop to Hancock, and also engaged in the coal business with Mr. Armstrong. After engaging in the coal business a little less than a year, he sold out his interest and turned his whole attention to his shop, which he still continues. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have three children, all girls; they are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Newman is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a Republican.