Biography View

Biography For Charles Barrett

If you would like more information about this person, please contact our research library.

Back to Search

Author:
Bill Hart

Background:

Charles Barrett was born in Blooming Grove township, Dane County, WI on December 25, 1858 to James W. and Jane (May) Barrett. His parents were both some of the original pioneers of Wethersfield, Connecticut.  His father, serving as a private in the Union army during the Civil War, was killed in action in 1863.  In November of the same year, Mrs. Barrett moved the family from Wisconsin back to Wethersfield, CT.

Accomplishments:

Charles was educated at the Wethersfield and Bridgeport schools.  After his schooling was completed he became a commercial traveler for a wholesale boot and shoe house of Hartford, CT for ten years.  He then moved to Kansas City where he worked as a ticket agent and passenger agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.  After eight years there followed by three years as manager of the Ada Mining Company in Joplin, MO,  Mr. Barrett turned his attentions to the mining business and moved to Edgar, WI.

 

Here he first worked in the logging industry but soon entered into real estate, acquiring a wide range of land holdings.  Because of his education and experiences, he was soon chosen for leadership in developing the Edgar area.  For three years he served as postmaster of Edgar, during which time he built the first post office building ever erected in Marathon County.  He next established the Edgar Land Company and laid out forty acres in town lots and started building sidewalks and streets.  He also started the Rib Falls Land Company and laid out a similar 40 acres in the town of Rib Falls.  He helped to organize the Edgar, Cassel & Emmett Telephone Company, of which he was an official.  He was also president of the Edgar Local Telephone Company, the first telephone exchange in Marathon County outside the city of Wausau.

 

C.C. Barrett was justice of the peace in Edgar for 18 years, was the first police judge elected at Edgar after its incorporation as a village, and is generally credited with being the most prominent pioneer in the development of the Edgar area.

 

In 1903, Mr. Barrett was married to Ms. Clara B. (Blumer) Minshall, from La Crosse County, WI.  Together they had four children.

 

Charles Crosby Barrett died at his home on January 14, 1922.  He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau, WI.

---

Other Information

---

Date of Birth: 1858-12-25

Place of Birth: Wisconsin

Date of Death: 1922-1-14

Place of Burial: Pine Grove Cemetery Wausau, WI

---