Bio: Charles, James Martin (1914)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

----Surnames: Charles, Martin, Griffiths, Benedict, Meersman, Becker, Daly

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 672-673

James Martin Charles, proprietor of Charles’ Chop House, Eau Claire, was born in the town of Greenwich, Fairfield county, Connecticut, January 9, 1859, the son of Joel and Alice (Martin) Charles, natives of Wales and and Ireland respectively. The father came to the United States in 1847 and located in Cataraugus county, New York, with his parents, David and Ellen (Griffiths) Charles. Later he went to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he had charge of the estate of E. C. Benedict, the New York broker, a position he held at the time of his death in 1906. He was the father of six children, James M., the subject of this sketch; David F. and Mary C, wife of Mr. Becker. Those deceased are Alice, who married Francis Daly; William H. and Joel G.

James M. was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, receiving his education in the public schools and the academy of that place. He began his business career as clerk in a grocery store in New York City, continuing in that employment until 1880. In 1881 he came to Eau Claire, and entered the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company with whom he remained three years. Since 1885 he has been in the restaurant business in Eau Claire, and proprietor of Charles' Chop House, the most popular restaurant in the city, since 1889.

Mr. Charles was married on April 8, 1885, to Miss Octavi, daughter of John Meersman, a native of Brussels, Belgium, and to them seven children have been born: Joel George, John Frederick, Octavi Alice, James William, Marie Josephine, Ellen Ann and Margaret M. Mrs. Charles died April 22, 1912. Mr. Charles is a member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church, of Eau Claire, and since 1900 has been a member of the Eau Claire School board.