Charles came with his parents to New Salem in 1887. In 1909 he started his homestead with $800. In 1915 he married Frieda after living as a bachelor in a 14 x 12 wooden shack. In 1948 they moved into New Salem and lived in an upstairs apartment in the Herman Weiss home for 31 years, till shortly before Frieda died. Frieda had been afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 41; she became increasingly handicapped and crippled. After being hospitalized in October of 1979, she went to live at the Mandan Villa Nursing Home until she died a short time later. Charles moved to the Elm Crest Nursing Home in New Salem in March of 1980.