Charles was born near Rock Falls, Whiteside County,
Illinois on February 19, 1894. He helped his father on
the farm until age 21, when he came to Spring Coulee
on section 9. He said there were many buried rocks and
when his horse-drawn plow struck them, he was thrown
from his seat becoming bruised and sore. He was thrown
so many times, he almost went home the first day, but he
stayed through that season. He returned to the U.S.A.
where he spent the next year with a sister in Wyoming
but the lure of Southern Alberta beckoned and in 1917 he
came back and rented 400 acres from Beswicks. Three
years later, his brother, Clarence came to help and they
formed a partnership, later buying the east 1/2 of section
9 and north 1/4 of east 1/2 of section 4. They farmed
together for over thirty years.

In 1923, Chuck married a belle by the name of Leona
Beimler. He always said that there were "hitched"
because when they returned from their honeymoon
some of the town folk hitched Chuck to a wagon
and had him pull Leona down Main street.

They lived on Section 4 with Clarence for one year,
then moved to section 18, eventually buying it and
resided there for 31 years. In 1955, semi-retired, they
moved into Spring Coulee, purchasing the old Boettcher
house from Elmer Beswick. Chuck continued to help
with the farming for many years until his health stopped
him. After Leona's passing and having spent two years
at the Diamond Willow Lodge in Magrath, he once
again returned to his home in Spring Coulee until he
was 92 years of age. He passed away at age 94 in 1988.

Both were active community members. Many card parties
were held in the old farm house. Both were members of
the Spring Coulee United Church. Leona was a member
of the Women's Institute - president from 1959-1964,
President of the U.C.W. also a member of the Ladies Aid.
Chuck was a member of the A.O.T.S., and an avid
baseball player and in his later years a faithful spectator,
even slow pitch which he considered a sissy sport.

Chuck wrote many poems during his lifetime, of his early
years in Illinois, the Sweetgrass Hills, Milk River Ridge,
Salute to Alberta and Vacant Houses.

He marvelled at the many changes he saw in 94 years.
As a youth he saw a world of horse drawn power and
men living and working on the land to the present day
of planes, trains and machines that carry men off the
planet.

Chuck and Leona had 3 sons: Donald is now deceased.

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