Hon. James Charles, the present State Senator from Grant county and one of the oldest and most widely known business men of Marion, was born at St. Keverne, Cornwall, England, on the twenty-second of December, 1835, being tenth in a family of twelve children. His parents were Richard and Mary (Oates) Charles, whose lives after the year 1858 were passed in America. Richard Charles was a practical miller, havinghad the thorough training required in his native land, and besides operating mills at various places there working at his trade at Buffalo, New York, is well remembered here in the same connection by those familiar with the leading citizens of a generation ago. Both himself and lifetime companion sleep in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Marion. His death occurred in 1876.

        James Charles grew up as it were, in the mill, having acquired under his father's direction a thorough familiarity with all the details of milling and flour manufacture. In 1855, while in his twentieth year, he accompanied his elder brother Edward, who has been for years a popular millwright at Buffalo, New York, to the United States, joining others of the family in that city. Forty-five years ago Buffalo was one of the most important flour manufacturing cities of the Union, and in one of its large mills James soon secured a position as miller, in which capacity he continued for about three years. Though young, his ability and intelligent conduct of the work asigned him won for him an enviable esteem in the minds of his employers.

        A company of Buffalo contractors had erected a mill at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and seeking for a suitable man to operate it chose young Charles, who, though in charge of it but a few months, placed it in line of a successful career. At Wabash, Indiana where his services were sought by Enoch Thomas, of Marion, who owned a mill there, he met a man whose brother he had known in Buffalo, the personal resemblance leading him to make inquiry that led to the ripening of the friendship. This gentleman, Mr. Lapp, being interested in a mill at Marion, induced young Charles to take his place in renting the property. Armed with strong recommendations from Lapp, and with Thomas' advice, he came to Marion December of the year 1858. The proprietors, Jacob and John Secrist, who had built the mill in 1854, feared to place the responsibility of their property in the hands of so young a man, whose youthful appearance only tended to emphasize their doubts. They refused to contract, as they had intended. To prove his own confidence in his ability, James agreed to assume charge of the mill for one month without pay if his management failed in any respect. At the end of the time the proprietors were anxious to retain him permanently, and entered into a contract that continued uninterruptedly for fourteen years. He had engaged to operate the property for one-third of the profits--a contract that proved eminently satisfactory to all concerned and by its provisions enabled him during its continuance to assume a substantial place among the prosperous citizens of the community.

        Mr. Charles had invested his savings in real estate, having secured about three hundred and seventy acres of land, part of it lying adjacent to the mill property, just north of the city limits, and which, by the general growth and prosperity had become of considerable value, but 200 acres of which have been sold. His relations with the Secrist Brothers had been of the most cordial and confidential character, and he married the daughter of one of them, John, July 1, 1860.

        Jacob Secrist died in 1872, after which Mr. Charles secured full control of the business by paying a cash rental until 1881, when he purchased the entire property and has continued to operate it to the present time, his sons, Harry S. and Mark E., now being asociated (sic) with him, the firm being known as James Charles & Sons. Three generations have been fed from the doors of this mill, and it has come to be one of the best-known landmarks of the Mississinewa. When erected forty-six years ago, its pretentions at being the most valuable mill in this part of the State were not overdrawn. Riley Marshall had built a saw-mill in 1836 near the present mill, and for upwards of sixty years not only the pioneers but also their children and grandchildren have gathered to patiently wait their turn. Here, for forty-two years, Mr. Charles has attended to the wants of thousands of customers, ever ready to provide the multitude with the staff of life. In 1887 the property was thoroughly overhauled, a full roller process being installed with a daily capacity of eighty barrels.

        Experience has meant advancement in the conduct of the business, and while the mill has ever held a high position, its more recent reputation, won by the superior grades of flour produced, stands unexcelled by any similar property in the state of Indiana. Forty-two years of continuous attention to the one mill on the one site, entitles its venerable head to justifiable pride in being the Nestor of Indiana mill men.

        In 1881 Mr. Charles returned to the mother country, where, besides revisiting the interesting scenes of youth he studied in the admirable milling system of London and other cities the progress made in the manufacture of bread stuffs. There he acquired many valuable hints, which he has since adapted to the conditions existing in his mill here.

        Mr. Charles having at heart the prosperity of the community, earnestly advocated the development of the county's natural gas when it was suspected that it could be found in quantities sufficient for commercial use. The first well that penetrated the gas-bearing strata was located at Fourteenth and Boot streets in the city, and was sunk by a fund raised by popular subscription. Wells have since been put in operation at the mill property, the product being utilized to supply power for the plant in case of emergency.

        Mr. Charles has retained about eight acres of his original landed estate, which have been largely platted and extensively improved, among other buildings being his own residence on north Washington street, and a large elevator used in connection with the business. Besides the above interests he still owns a valuable farm some two miles distant, and in 1888 erected the popular Charles business block in the city, a handsome two-story brick structure containing six commodious and well-lighted store rooms.

        Renouncing allegiance to his native land on coming to America, he became thoroughly imbued with the spirit and value of our free institutions and at once took the steps necessary to full citizenship. The question of human slavery was then uppermost in men's minds, the leaders in his own land having already taken decided and effective stand toward its abolishment in Imperial territory , he naturally became an enthusiast for wider personal liberty, his sympathies going out in unison with the heart throbs of the thousands who were trying to escape from bondage. Many of his own personal friends were men who had played no unimportant part in the organized efforts to assist the escaped bondmen to reach a land where they were free and not in constant fear of capture. He could not withstand the appeals of help, and soon became identified with the party whose basis of existence was the termination of such unholy servitude. At no time in the history of the nation was youth and vigor, coupled with wisdom and conservativeness more needed than during the early campaigns of the Republican party; and Mr. Charles threw his weight and energy into the scale with strength inherited from a long line of Anglo-Saxon ancestors. He thus, at a critical juncture, became so interested and influential in the conduct of the party that he was thereafter constantly in demand to assume an important place in its councils. No campaign passed without his taking part his influence by word and deed being toward a broader and higher civilization. Though never aspiring to utterance upon the public rostrum, not having had the present advantages of a liberal education, his appeals to friends in a social way were rewarded in a strengthening of his party. In 1881, he was chosen one of the county commissioners, his collegues being Abijah C. Jay and George Needler. This was at a specially critical period of the country's progress and existing conditions demanded men of business capacity and undoubted integrity.

        The new court house had been contracted for and the corner stone had ben (sic) laid in June of that year, under the ancient and impressive rites of the Masonic craft. Provision had not however, been fully made to meet all the expense as it accrued, and at one time a deficit of thirty thousand dollars stared the commissioners in the face. This was secured by their pledging the credit of the county, each, however, assuming personal liability for the amount. No extra tax levy was made, but the amount was paid from the regular income, a strict economy being observed in all matters, trimming a little here and a little there. No noise was made over this procedure and in fact but few men in the county were made aware of the extremity that was met only by the cool, clear-headed sagacity of the Commissioners. The building was completed within the orginal contract price, a matter of so unusual a nature that it is worthy of special mention. Great effort was exerted to collect several thousand dollars claimed for extra work, suit to recover being brought in the United States court, a decided stand on the part of the Board, however, discouraging further effort in that direction. The building completed, with furnishings, including interest on bonds, has cost about two hundred and twelve thousand dollars, and stands a model of neatness and beauty.

        The Pike Road system was much extended during this period, their value to every citizen having already been thoroughly proven. An important suit, the issue of which has become precedent, grew out of a loan of forty-thousand dollars by the Commissioners for building such roads. The bondholders, claiming that it was an over-issue of county indebtedness, brought suit in the United States court to restrain the Board from paying it out. It took the stand that it was a special tax for a special purpose, and this contention was sustained by the Supreme Court of the state when it came before it for adjudication. Somewhat as before in order that contracted work might not be delayed, the Commissioners entered into a personal assurance that the bonds would be paid, and the work was completed as contemplated. The services of Mrs. Charles proved so satisfactory to his constituents that he was reelected almost without opposition, his final term expiring in 1887. Subsequently for three years he sat in the City Council where his well known conservatism answered a commendable purpose as a balance to those who inclined to burden the tax payers with what sometimes seemed unneccessary improvements. He has constantly stood for the rights of property holders, believing that they should have a prominent voice in making and extending street improvements. His position has been quite fully illustrated by a recent decision in the Federal court involving extensive improvements contemplated on North Washington street. Being the largest tax payer effected, he was chosen by the property owners to test the matter in the courts, resulting in a decision that the law is unconstitutional in that it spreads the tax on a basis of frontage rather than upon benefits conferred.

        In 1898 the Republican party called upon Mr. Charles to serve the district of Grant county as Senator in the general assembly. His well known familiarity of the subject made him the most suitable man for chairman of the Committee on Rhoads. He was also named for a place on the Committee on Finance, the one on County and Township Affairs and the Committee on Temperance. He became much interested in the serious question of the pollution of streams, introducing and advocating legislation tending to regulate matter. His bill passed the Senate without opposition, but was smothered in the committee rooms of the House. Never having made pretension at oratorical effort, his addresses upon the floor of the House was confined to plain argument upon those questions and subjects, with which years of close observation and business relation had made him thoroughly familiar.

        Realizing that most important legislation is shaped and practically enacted within the precincts of committee rooms, his own efforts there were more conspicuous and effective than in the Senate chamber. Possessing that strong and pleasing personality that makes itself felt in shaping the minds of co-workers, his personal popularity has been universally great; holding as he does most cordial relations with the Governor and other state officials, as well as being held in greatest esteem by his numerous collegues, with many of whom specially agreeable and permanent attachments were formed.

        While possessing to a high degree those excellent qualities of head and heart that tend to cement friendship of youth, he has not identified himself with those fraternal societies wherein such attachments become emphatic, but with a full appreciation of individual worth wherever found, has made for himself, in the exercise of manly traits, an enviable place in the estimation of the friends made during the course of an honorable career.

        Mrs. Charles, the daughter of his old partner, John Secrist, and whose mother was Miranda Seeley, was born in Logan county, Ohio, and as a mere child was brought to Marion. Since that time her life has been passed on the same site. The Charles family have numered eleven, of whom five died in early childhood. John E., whose brief life was all passed in close relation to the family, being his father's trusted partner from his twenty-first year, died in November, 1887, at the age of twenty-six. The place he so ably filled in the business has since been occupied by his two brothers, Harry S. and Mark E., the former of whom is wedded to Miss Maud Boswell. Lulu Charles has a well earned reputation as an artist, her work as a decorator of china justly placing her in the list of Indiana artists, whose merit has been recognized by the ablest critics. James F. Charles, having graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, is now engaged in the active practice of his profession at Marion. Bessie, the youngest, resides at home.