Notes for Charles BREYFOGLE

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Notes for Charles BREYFOGLE

Charles, the youngest son of Solomon and Ester, went to Columbus, OH when he was 16. He walked most of the way and upon his arrival there had but a few cents in his pocket. He was quiet and industrious, becoming one of the honored and respected citizens of that place.

SOURCE: The Breyfogle Genealogy, Flora Breyfogle Grumman, About 1909, Page 6

On this same subject Lewis Breyfogle writes:

"We have heard the story of Charles Breyfogle's overland journey from the old Breyfogle farm near Kutztown to Columbus, Ohio when he was about 15 years old. It is a distance of about 475 miles. On present high-speed highways, it can be traveled in a day. However, before the railroads were built, it would require at least 25 days by horse power, and since Charles walked most of the way, it must have taken much longer, Dr. Edwin Breyfogle said a man in Columbus found him crying in front of his shop and took him in and gave him a job. At first, Charles followed the trade of a tailor, but he was naturally able and industrious, and he branched out into other things at an early age."

SOURCE: What I know about the Breyfogle Family, Lewis W. Breyfogle, 1963, Page 48

In describing Joshua D. and Jacob Breyfogel (sons of Jacob D.) it is written:

"In seperate companies, but sometimes traveling together on the trail, were their first cousins, all sons of Solomon; namely, Israel (born 1809, Solomon (born 1812) and Charles (born 1816)."

SOURCE: What I know about the Breyfogle Family, Lewis W. Breyfogle, 1963, Page 28

Charles traveled west to pan for gold in the Yuba River Valley, CA in 1849. He was listed in the Yuba County 1850 Census (Page 314) with a residence of Nevada City.

Source: Web site, California Census 1790 - 1890, www.ancestry.com, Local file name Charles Breyfogle.doc

In discussing Jacob Breyfogle, son of Jacob D., it is written of Charles:

"About 1851 or 1852, his cousin Charles (born 1816), son of Solomon Breyfogle (born 1780), stopped to visit him on his way from California. Charles had come home by ship around Cape Horn, with an actual $20,000 in gold, and on his way to his home in Columbus, Ohio, grandsonc of Charles, tells the story: When 'Big Jake', as he was called, heard the story and saw the money his cousin had brought back, he quit his blacksmithing business, and headed for California, saying that if anyone could get that much money out there, he was going to try it."

EDITORS NOTE: This passage appears here to document the travel around Cape Horn by Charles.

SOURCE: What I know about the Breyfogle Family, Lewis W. Breyfogle, 1963, Page 31

The 1860 Federal Census shows Charles living in the 3rd Ward of Columbus and his occupation is listed as "Merchant Tailor". This census also lists the value of his real estate as $10,000 and his personal estate as $5,000. Considering the value of the dollar at that time, $10,000 in real estate leads one to believe that he owned multiple pieces of property, since it is unlikey that a single family home would have that value. Other property values listed on this page ranged from $1,000 to $3,000. One property owner, listed just before Charles, valued his property at $15,000. This property was owned by a 78 year old Jacob Hare who had no occupation listed.

Living with the family at this time was a 19 year old Matilda O'Harra, she was listed as having the occupation of "Seamstress".

SOURCE: 1860 Federal Census, Columbus Ward 3, Franklin, OH, Page 231

The 1870 Columbus, Franklin County Ward 8, Ohio census file shows Charles Breyfogle as a Real Estate Agent. The following listing shows the family as it was recorded at that time:

BreyfogleCharles54Real Estate Agent
Matilda J.49Keeping House
Edwin S.15At Home
Frank H.13" Do
Callie M.9" Do
Ernest C.7" Do
Frederick S.3" Do
WatersRuth S.41Domestic Servent

SOURCE: 1870 Federal Census, Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, Ward 8, local file Charles Breyfogle Family Census.jpg

The 1880 Columbus, Franklin county, District 35, Ohio Federal Census shows Charles as a tailor with the following family members living at home:

BreyfogleCharles64Tailor
Julia J.59
Flora N.37
Frank H.23Salesman
Callie M.19
Ernest C.17
Fred S.13

EDITORS NOTE: It appears as though Matilda, Charles' wife may also have been called Julia, which may have been her middle name. No record has been found of another marriage for Charles and the age reported on this census lines up with the previous census. More research is needed before making any change to this record.

SOURCE: 1880 Federal Census, Columbus, Franklin, Ohio District 35, local file 1880 Charles Breyfogle family Census.jpg

Charles Breyfogle of Franklin county, to be a Director of the Ohio Penitentiary, for the unexpired term of six years, commencing on the 12th day of April, 1856.

EDITORS NOTE: This notice was published in the paper under the heading of "Appoints by the Governor, it is assumed that this notice refers to this Charles Breyfogle since he is the only one old enough and living in Ohio at the time to be suitable for the job. It should also be noted that both papers listed as the source had the same date of April 12, 1856, even though they appeared in the 1859 papers. More research is needed.

SOURCE: Defiance Democrat, Defiance, OH, May 23, 1859 also Ohio Respository, Canton, OH, April 14, 1859

EDITORS NOTE: Another article published previously listed a "Breyfogle" as a voting Director, the article is transcribed below:

WARDEN OF THE Ohio Penitentiary. - We learn that the Directors of the Ohio Penitentiary on yesterday elected a new Warden, Mr. L. G. Van Slyke, of this city. He is a Director, and, if we have been correctly informed, voted for himself. There were seven ballotings, [SIC] on each of which Mr. Ewing, the present incumbent, received two votes: on the 7th Mr. Van Slyke received three - Messrs. Breyfogle, Hindenhall and Van Slyke. Messers. Babbitt and Morris voted for Ewing. - Ohio Statesman, July 17.

Mr. Van Slyke is said to be an active agent of the underground railroad, and a friend of that Negro worshiper SALMON P. CHASE.

SOURCE: Hamilton Weekly Telegraph, Hamilton, OH, July 22, 1858

Lewis Breyfogle recounts his fathers visit to see Charles:

"My father told of visiting him, probably in the late 70's or earl 80's [1870's or 1880's],. At that time he was known as the 'perpetual councilman for Columbus's fifth ward.' He was carrying on a big contracting job at the time.I used to see a large photograph of Charles at his grandson's, Dr. Edwin W. (1885 - 1961), in Akron, Ohio. It was a clean-shaven likeness - something unusual in those times. He was a full face, handsome and relaxed that somehow told one that here was an unusually able man."

SOURCE: What I know about the Breyfogle Family, Lewis W. Breyfogle, 1963, Page 48 & 49

Matilda J Breyfogle was found in the 1891 and 1892 Columbus, Ohio city directory as follows:

Matilda J. Breyfogle (widow Charles)
32 Lexington Avenue
Columbus, Ohio

SOURCE: Columbus, Ohio City Directory 1891, 1892

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