REMINISCENCES OF JOHN H. CHARLES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



By F. H. GARVER. 



The first plat of Sioux City Avas made iu 1854. 

 The late Mr. John H. Charles came to the new town on 

 December 1, 1856, remaining here till the day of his 

 death, which occurred on December 1, 1904, the forty- 

 eighth anniversary of his coming. He was not a pioneer 

 only; his residence in Sioux City had spanned at the time 

 of his death practically the whole history of the town. 

 He was here when the population numbered but a few 

 hundred; he saw it increase to 40,000. He was here 

 when the community possessed but little wealth; he saw 

 prosperity come and abide. He was here when manners 

 were rough and the country was wild; he saw culture 

 come and refinement. 



Mr. Charles' life was primarily a business career. 

 He was sucessively a real estate dealer, surveyor, clerk, 

 merchant and government transportation contractor. 

 Though not a politician, and never an office seeker, he 

 was yet called upon to serve the community in the vari- 

 ous capacities of justice of the peace, alderman and 

 Mayor. Other honors could have been his for the asking, 

 but he had a distaste for public office, and rejected all 

 suggestions of personal preferment. He chose to give 

 his spare time and surplus energies to interests of a semi- 

 private character. In this field several different sub- 

 jects and enterprises claimed his attention and received 

 his support. For years he was a loyal member of the 

 Sioux City Scientific Association. He served the asso- 

 ciation as its president from 1892 to 1903. In the latter 

 year he was foremost in the organization of the 

 Academy of Science and Letters which was formed to 

 succeed the Scientific Association. During its first year 

 Mr. Charles was president of the Academy. At the time 



