Bio: Calkins, Charles C. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Calkins, Gaskill, Foster, Brown, Davis, Parrott

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 664-665

Charles C. Calkins, dealer in all kinds of farm produce, Fairchild, Wis., was born in Owego, Tioga county, N. Y., June 30, 1869, the son of Charles B. and Sarah A. (Gaskill) Calkins. His great grandfather, Richard Calkins, a native of New England, was a pioneer of Clinton county, New York, where he owned a large tract of land. He had a family of four sons — Seth, Benjamin, Gilbert and Turner — all of whom were prominent farmers of that section in their day, Seth, the eldest and grandfather of Charles C, died at the age of fifty-six; his wife was Mariba Briggs, and they raised a family of six children —Rebecca, Cornelius, Sidney, Daniel and Charles B. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Daniel and Huldah (Foster) Gaskill, of Owego, N. Y. Charles B. Calkins, father of Charles C, was born in Peru, Clinton county, N. Y., April 13, 1829, where he was reared to manhood. In 1854 he moved to Tioga county and there engaged in farming until 1873, when he moved to Wisconsin, locating at what is now Green Bay, and was there engaged in the flour and feed business for five years. In July, 1878, he came to Fairchild, this county, where he conducted a meat market and was engaged in buying and shipping of live stock lentil 1893, since which time he has been interested in farming, owning 100 acres of land in the village of Fairchild and Jackson county. He married October 8, 1861, and his children are Daniel, Mariba, deceased wife of Frank Brown, and Charles C. Mr. Calkins is a member of the Masonic order, is a Democrat in politics and has held various offices in Fairchild.

Charles C. Calkins came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1873, received his education in the public schools and has resided in Fairchild since 1878. He began his business career as a clerk in the general store of the N. C. Foster Company, of Fairchild, working his way up to assistant manager, which position he held for five years, when in 1901 he was made manager, acting in that capacity until 1911, when on account of ill health he resigned. In the last named year he embarked in his present business, built a warehouse 50x70 feet and has succeeded in building up an extensive trade, shipping as high as 500 ear loads of farm produce annually to Chicago, Eastern and Southern points. He married July 17, 1894, Minnie, daughter of Evan W. and Mary (Parrott) Davis, of St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and they are the parents of four children, viz: Grace C, Seth D., Claire E. and Charles C.

Mr. Calkins is a member of the Masonic order, a Knights Templar, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He served as village treasurer of Fairchild for several terms and has held the office of village clerk, trustee and member of the school board.