William W. Charles, cashier of the Moffet Brothers' National Bank, at Larned, Kan., was born Oct. 16, 1855, at Batavia, N. Y. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Laramie) Charles, the former born in London, England, in 1822, received a college education and became a master mechanic. He came to America, in 1846, and located at Batavia, N. Y., where he was engaged in the manufacture of carriages and in the lumber business for twenty-five years. Part of his business operations were also in Canada. He then retired from an active career and died at Hornell, N. Y., in 1893. He was married twice, his first wife being a Miss Jordan, whom he married in England, in 1843. Two children were the issue of the first union—James H., born in 1844, now a retired merchant at Hornell, N. Y.; and Thomas G., born in 1845, now a printer at Kalamazoo, Mich. The mother of these sons died on the voyage to the United States, in 1846, and was buried at sea. His second wife was Miss Elizabeth Laramie, whom he married in London, England, in 1849. She was the daughter of John and Mary A. Laramie, born in London, in 1829, and died at Cambridge, Mass., in 1896. She had received a college education and was a member of the Episcopal church. To the second union five children were born, viz.: Elizabeth L., born in 1851, married Edward R. Craig in 1884, and died at Cambridge, Mass., in 1908; Mary A., born July 4, 1853, married Bennett Putnam in 1872, died in 1873, and her husband died in 1877; William W., of this review, was next in order of birth; Benjamin F., born Sept. 9, 1857, now a retired resident of Hornell, N. Y.; and Florence Elizabeth, born Feb. 24, 1867, married James Howard in 1888, and died Feb. 16, 1899.

William W. Charles was educated in private schools to the age of seventeen, when he entered a dry goods store as a salesman and was thus employed until twenty-two years of age, gaining in the meantime a thorough knowledge of the business. For the following three years he conducted a dry goods store at Hornell, N. Y., on his own account. In 1881 he became interested in a United States Indian tradership and removed to Darlington, old Indian Territory, where he was general manager for five years of a large Indian trading store conducted under a government license. He was also extensively engaged in buying horses and cattle from Indians and had government military contracts for several years at Fort Reno. He was successful to a large degree in his speculations. His license was revoked after five years, however, upon the change in administration when Cleveland was elected president, and he, with others, was removed to make room for other appointees. He then located at Caldwell, Kan., for a short time and, in 1887, came to Larned, where he has since resided. He has made large land purchases in Pawnee county and is engaged in the loan business at Larned. In 1897 he became associated with the Moffet Brothers' National Bank of Larned as a director; became assistant cashier in 1898, and in 1904 he took up the duties of cashier, which office he still holds. He is a Republican in politics, and while he has had no political aspirations he has taken an active interest in public affairs. In 1890 he was elected treasurer of the Larned board of education, which office he filled for nine years and then declined reëlection; and in 1901 he was elected a member of the Larned city council, which office he held for four years. He has been successful in his business career. Besides large holdings of city property in Larned, he owns several well improved farms in Pawnee county and also has business interests and property in other states.

Mr. Charles has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Ada Foster, whom he married at Cleveland, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1878. Her parents, William and Mary Foster, were natives of England. Her mother died in 1883 and her father in 1893. To this marriage two children were born—Anna Campbell, born Sept. 21, 1879, graduated from Cabonie Convent at St. Louis, in 1900, married Mark Krouch, a merchant at Larned, April 14, 1902, and they have one child—William Garson Krouch, born July 15, 1904; Warren Merchant Charles, born Oct. 22, 1880, is a farmer and resides at Larned. The second marriage of Mr. Charles was to Miss Anna Buckles of Edwardsville, Ill., whom he married Nov. 10, 1910. Mrs. Charles is a college woman and had been a teacher for a number of years prior to her marriage. Mr. Charles is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has received all the degrees to Knighthood. He is a member of the Episcopal church.