Biographical Sketch of

Charles R. Angle

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 782 - 783 


Charles R. Angle, deceased, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., Jan. 21, 1810.  The family is of Holland 
origin, and was established in America by the great-grandfather of our subject, who left his native land 
and settled in Pennsylvania.  His son emigrated to New Jersey and subsequently became a resident of New 
York.  The maternal grandfather was also a citizen of the former State.  The parents of Mr. Angle were 
Jacob and Elizabeth (Smith) Angle.  The father was a cripple for many years, and therefore followed such 
lines of business as his misfortune permitted, including merchandising, keeping tavern, etc.  In the Empire 
State he married Miss Elizabeth Smith, a native of New Jersey, who had removed to New York in childhood.  
He died in that State in the sixtieth year of his age, after which his widow went to Indiana, and subsequently 
became a resident of Winnebago County, Wis., where she departed this life in her ninety-eighth year.  Their 
family consisted of eight children--four sons and four daughters, but only one is now living--Eleanor, who 
has attained the age of seventy-six years.
 
The school privileges which our subject received were very limited, but possessing scholarly tastes he devoted 
his leisure hours to study, and in that way prepared for teaching, which he followed for many years.  He displayed 
marked ability in the profession and won the confidence of his patrons.  In the early days of his manhood he went 
to Montgomery County, Ind., where, on the 29th of March, 1849, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary M. Busenbark, 
who was born in Butler County, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1824, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Good) Busenbark.  
Her father was a native of New Jersey, her mother of Pennsylvania, but they were married in Ohio, whither they 
had removed in an early day.  In 1826, they left the Buckeye State and became residents of Montgomery County, 
where, in the midst of the forest, Mr. Busenbark cleared and developed a farm.  His wife died when Mrs. Angle 
was about 18 years old, but he lived to the ripe old age of eighty years.  They were parents of ten children, 
eight of whom are yet living.  Mr. Angle came to Wisconsin in 1847, pre-empted land, returned to Indiana, taught 
school one year and returned to Green Lake County in 1849.
 
Shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Angle came to Green Lake County, locating upon a farm a mile and a half 
east of Berlin, where his death occurred.  He began life in limited circumstances, but worked his way upward step 
by step until he became one of the substantial farmers of the community, owning 138 1/2 acres of land, and also 
operating ninety-five acres owned by his wife.  He accomplished whatever he undertook, trusting not to fortune, 
but to his own efforts for what he wished.  By his upright life he gained the confidence and respect of all, and 
when called to his final rest, on the 20th of October, 1886, his was deeply lamented by many friends, as well as 
his immediate family.  In early life he had supported the Democratic party, but when the question of slavery was 
made an issue before the people he joined the Republican party, formed to prevent its further extension, and ever 
afterwards remained a warm advocate of its principles.
 
Mrs. Angle is still living and makes her home upon the farm adjoining the one on which she began her married life.  
She is the mother of nine children:  James H., the eldest, died at the age of twenty-two years; William S. died when 
three years old; and Elizabeth M. at the age of four; David L., who is now living in Iowa, married Ida Beslin, and 
has one child; Ella M. died at the age of three years; Spencer S. is the next younger; Elmer L. is living in Texas; 
Ira L. makes his home in Dakota; and Stacy R. is living with his mother.






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