My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES W. JEWELL.
Charles W. Jewell, deceased, was one of the founders of many of Topeka’s business and educational organizations. He was born in Massachusetts, had but a district school education but was a man of so much native intelligence and progressive spirit that he became prominent wherever he lived. His business career began as a merchant at Harmar, Ohio. Later he was mate and part owner of a steamboat which bore the name of “Martha Putnam.” In 1860 he came to Kansas and engaged for a year in farming and stock-raising in Crawford County, and resided near what is now the town of Arcadia until 1862, when he was appointed quartermaster and 1st lieutenant in the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, from which he received an honorable discharge. In November, 1864, he came to Topeka.

Mr. Jewell entered into a banking business on March 10, 1866, with the late Fry W. Giles, under the firm name of F. W. Giles & Company. It was a private bank, which later became the Topeka National Bank, which failed in 1878. Mr. Jewell was authorized to settle the affairs of the bank which he did, paying the depositors in full. Mr. Jewell then organized the Topeka State Bank, of which he was president until 1887, when it was sold to the First National Bank at which time he retired from business. His death took place February 27, 1901, and he was buried in the Topeka Cemetery. He was identified with the developing of the entire city in the early days, was one of the founders of the Topeka Free Public Library, which was first located opposite the Central National Bank Building. He was also one of the founders of Washburn College, one of its trustees and treasurer and was connected with it when it was Lincoln College. He was one of the original committee of three who had charge of the State grounds, known as the State House committee. At his decease he left the sum of $10,000 for Washburn College on condition that the college would raise a like sum for their permanent endowment fund. Mr. Jewell was for many years a member of the Board of Education of the city of Topeka.

In 1853 he was married in Ohio to Susan A. Hendrie, who was born near Stamford, Connecticut, but later removed to Watertown, Ohio. She now resides in California. They had seven children, three sons and three daughters still surviving.