52 Siouw City Academy of Science and Letters. 



I also did considerable surveying. During most of this 

 time I was closely associated with Geo. W. Eyall, who 

 had been a friend in Ohio. Our office was situated on 

 Pearl Street, across from the Sioux City House. 



In August, 1860, I consolidated my business with 

 that of Means, Allison & Co. The firm name Avas Allison 

 & Charles. Our office was located on the lot where 

 the public library building now stands. I remained in 

 this firm but one month, selling out on September 6th 

 to Geo. Weare, who is still in the banking business in 

 Sioux City, the oldest banker here and a good one. 



I at once entered the general mercantile business 

 of Milton Tootle as a clerk. I received |65 per month. 

 The store was on the corner of Second and Pearl Streets, 

 and faced the river. Tootle lived in St. Joe, so I was 

 virtually manager of the store. In 1864 Mr. Tootle rec- 

 ognized this and I became a partner with him in the 

 business, the firm name becoming Tootle & Charles. 

 I was now manager in name as well as in fact. We 

 did a large general business, picking up considerable 

 river trade. In 1871 new interests came into the firm, 

 and the name became Tootle & Co. Our steamboat busi- 

 ness, which was very attractive to me, now increased 

 rapidly. 



In 1875 I left the firm of Tootle & Co. and formed 

 a partnership with A. H. Wilder, of St. Paul. This time 

 the firm name was Charles & Wilder. We owned four 

 steamboats, which ran between Sioux City and the upper 

 river. We carried freight for Indian traders and miners 

 and took government contracts to supply Indian tribes 

 with their annuities. 



Five years later [1880] I helped organize and became 

 interested in the Benton Transportation Company. I 

 became secretary and manager, holding those positions 

 till July 1st, 1900, when the company ceased to exist. 



Our business was entirely that of steamboating. 

 From a large business at first, requiring as many as 

 eight steamboats to handle it, we came at last to have 

 almost none, owing to the building of railroads into the 

 West. At the dissolution of the Benton Transportation 

 Company I retired to private life. 



