Biography of Charles S. Arford, pages 848/849/850.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.

Charles S. Arford

	It is proper to judge of the success and the status of a man’s 
life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They 
see him at his work, in his family circle, at his devotions, observe the 
outcome of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all 
the relations of society and civilization, and thus become competent to 
judge of his merits and demerits.  The gentlemen whose name forms the 
caption of this brief biography has spent many long years of toil and 
association with the people of this community, and on account of his 
worth of character, his earnest work for the uplift of his fellow men 
and his broad sympathy and generosity, nothing but good report is heard 
of him.
	Charles S. Arford was born July 9, 1859, in Stafford township, 
DeKalb county, Indiana, the son of Robert and Margaret (Wymer) Arford. 
The father was born in Pennsylvania on March 27, 1828, and died on 
January 29, 1890.  They were the parents of the following children: 
Cyrus S., born September 28, 1851, died September 18, 1854; Mary E., 
born July 7, 1853, who married Gideon P. Macklin and lives in Florida; 
Mabel C., born March 2, 1856, married Adam H. Tinstman and resides in 
Hamilton, Indiana; Winfield W., born February 6, 1858, died February 
7, 1858; Charles S., the subject of this sketch; Cyrene A, born 
November 22, 1861, died April 22, 1871; Elmer S., born September 29, 
1867, died May 24, 1871.
	The early education of the subject was gained in the common 
schools of DeKalb county, in Stafford and Troy townships, this being 
supplemented by two years’ study in the Butler high school. After 
completing his school work he took up agriculture and was a valuable 
assistant to his father on the home place until he reached the age of 
twenty-five.
	On February 19, 1885, Charles S. Arford was married to Susan L. 
Shade, the daughter of Samuel and Ann (Steckley) Shade.  Her father, 
who was born in New York state on August 23, 1820, died on March 8, 
1886.  Her mother was born in Ontario, Canada, on March 31, 1832, and 
died on May 10, 1898.  They moved from Ohio to DeKalb county in 1865, 
settling in Richland township. To the subject and wife has been born 
one child, Mildred F., the date of whose birth was May 25, 1902.
	For seven years after the subject’s marriage he rented his 
father’s farm and very successfully cultivated the home place, 
consisting of one hundred and thirty-two acres.  Here he has a 
comfortable home and good outbuildings his up-to-date and progressive 
methods of tilling the soil having brought him a good competency.
	The Republican party has received the subject’s suffrage and 
active support, and he has been honored by his fellow citizens by 
election to several responsible offices in the county.  In 1900 he was 
selected as assessor for his township, his term of office extending 
over the period of four years.  Again, in 1910, he was elected a 
member of the county council, which position he still holds.  Mr. 
Arford has for a number of years been an active member of the United 
Brethren in Christ church, having been elected a delegate to general 
conference of that religious organization which was held at Canton, 
Ohio, in May, 1909, and having been a trustee of the Big Run church 
continuously since twenty-one years ago.  He has served as superintendent 
of Big Run Sunday school for eight years.
	Starting in life with a good education, Mr. Arford has been a 
close observer of men and methods, and his extensive travels, from 
coast to coast, embracing three-fourths of the states and Canada, have 
given him a viewpoint in the affairs of life which could not be 
gathered from mere book study.  The mere fact that, after seeing so 
much of this country, he should be content to settle down and spend 
the remainder of his days here, speaks well for the county of DeKalb.  
He is a member of Wilmington Grange No. 2178. Patrons of Husbandry.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com