Charles Bronson

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Charles Bronson

Born: 01 Apr 1825 Summit Co., OH
Baptized: 24/Dec/1829 Congressional Church, Twinsburg, Summit Co., OH

Married:
1st 30 Nov 1856 White Co., TN to Catherine Jones b. 1840,

Married
2nd: 09 Jan 1877 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY From the "Louisville Commercial" 28 July 1877
"To the long list of weddings this season the present week has added two unusually interesting ceremonies, the joining of hands and hearts of four deaf mutes. The first ceremony took place in this city, while the second was solemnized in Georgetown.
Mr Charles Bronson, of Franklin, Indian, and Miss Sarah Willhartz, of this city, were married at high noon in the parlor at the residence of the bride's parents, Rev. A. B. Simpson, officiating. The parlor was thronged with friends of the bride and groom, the majority of whom were deaf mutes, all residents of this city and vicinity. It was quite a novel and interesting sight to see them carrying on a general conversation by means of signs. At the appointed hour Rev. A. B. Simpson entered the room, followed by the bridal party, and in the presence of the assembled friends the beautifully impressive marriage ceremony was performed, Professor Wm M. French assisting Mr. Simpson by interpreting the ceremony to the bride and groom, and for the benefit of the deaf mutes present, in the beautiful language of signs. We have scarcely ever seen a ceremony so impressive.
No word, no sound, and yet a solemn rite Proceedeth 'mid the festive, lighted hall, Hearts are in treaty, and the south doth take That oath, which unabsolved, must stand till death, With icy seal, doth close the scroll of life.
The bride, an attractive brunette, was dressed in a brown-colored dress, made with a polonaise, with ornaments and a wreath of flowers on her head, while the groom wore a neat suit of black. After the ceremony the party was invited to partake of a sumptuous dinner and amid warm congratulations an hour was most delightfully spent.
In the afternoon they left for Georgetown, accompanied by Professor French, who was married at that place to Miss Mary E. Graves, daughter of W. E. Graves, Esq. The ceremony, similar to the one here, took place at eleven o'clock, at the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. Susan Finley, Rev. John Reeves officiating, and was followed with a dinner tendered the bridal party. etc.

Died: 06 May 1894 Franklin, Johnson Co., IN

FATHER

Elijah W. Bronson

MOTHER

Fanny Molthrop

WIFE

1st: Catherine Jones b. 1840 d. 27 Nov 1875

2nd: Sarah Wilhartz or Willhartiz b. 22 Feb 1852 d. 01 Sep 1925

CHILDREN with Catherine Jones

1. Sarah A. Bronson b. 21 Dec 1859

2. Florence Bronson b. 08 Mar 1861

3. Emily J. Bronson b. 04 Aug 1862

4. Lilly Bronson b. 28 Mar 1864

5. Amelia Bronson b. 14 Sep 1867

6. Albert W Bronson b. 25 Feb 1870

7. Bessie Bronson b. 17 Nov 1874.

CHILDREN with Sarah Willhartiz

1. Lottie Bronson b. 01 Jul 1881 died in infancy

According to the List of Pupils of the Ohio Asylum for the Deaf in Columbus, OH, Charles Bronson was born deaf. He was living in Warrensville, Cuyahoga, OH in 1835 when he was enrolled into the school at the age of 10. His brother, George E. Bronson, who was also deaf, was also enrolled at the school from 1834-1840. Charles was there from 1835 to 1844.

In 1856 he married Catherine Jones in Cassville, White Co., TN at the home of her father, Thomas Jones. In the 1860 census he is living close-by to Catherine's parents. He is a farmer.

The Civil War started in 1861 and there must have been much turmoil within this family. (See page for his father, Elijah W. Bronson) Charles did not fight because he was deaf, but he had a nephew fighting with the Union Army out of Indiana, a brother fighting with the Confederacy and a brother-in-law who was killed fighting for the Confederacy in 1863.

After the War the family moved to Franklin, Johnson Co., IN. In the 1870 census his occupation listed as "Lets Money." His real estate is valued at $4,500 and his personal property at $8,500. His uncle, Silas Bronson, had died in 1867 bequeathing Charles $15,000. When his father died in 1870 Charles inherited another $15,000.

His first wife, Catherine Jones, died Nov 27, 1875, leaving him with seven young children, the oldest, Sarah, only 15 and the youngest, Bessie, only 1. He then married Sarah Willhartiz, a deaf mute girl from Louisville. Their "impressive marriage ceremony" is described above. The ceremony was conducted in sign language. Charles and Sarah had a daughter in 1881 but she died in infancy.

Charles Bronson died May 6, 1894 of heart disease. Sarah, his widow, lived on until 1925 moving back to Louisville.

There are two census records of 1889 for the deaf and dumb for Charles Bronson. In the first one referencing his marriage to Catharine Jones, there are 8 children listed as belonging to him. However, I can find no evidence that the Charlotte listed there is actually his child. In the second census for the deaf and dumb of that year referencing his marriage to Sarah Willhitiz it says Charles was one of 10 children. The other census record had added a daughter named Fanny to the list. Again, I can find no evidence that Charles Bronson had a sister named Fanny. In the 1840 census for Cuyahoga County, OH the known children of Elijah W. Bronson and Fanny Mouthrop fit perfectly into the slots marked on the census record leaving no room for a daughter named Fanny. And there is no Fanny in the 1850 or1860 records either. However, his sister Sarah Bronson did have a middle name of Fanny.

Also noted on the second census record for the deaf and dumb of 1889, is a notation about the deaths of the siblings of Charles Bronson. The record says, "one died of sun stroke, one fell from a runaway horse, one of typhoid fever, one of pneumonia, one of heart trouble, one of ague & fever. Six of his siblings had died before the 1889 census.

Name	Date of death, place of death and age at death	Cause of death, if known
1. Emily Bronson Birchard	May 1880, Indianapolis, age 59
2. Sarah Bronson Powers	Dec 1, 1881, Johnson Co., IN, age 54	typhoid fever
3. Dwight Bronson	After 1883, probably Franklin, Johnson Co., IN, age over 54
4. Henry Bronson	Sep 15, 1851, Memphis TN, age 19
5. Robert Lucas Bronson	Nov 25, 1888, Sparta, White Co., TN, age 52
6. Merrick Ely Bronson	Sep 8, 1869, Indiana, age 30

Charles Bronson
Born: 01 Apr 1825 Summit Co., OH Baptized: 24/Dec/1829 Congressional Church, Twinsburg, Summit Co., OH
Married: 1st 30 Nov 1856 White Co., TN to Catherine Jones b. 1840, Married 2nd: 09 Jan 1877 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY		From the "Louisville Commercial" 28 July 1877 "To the long list of weddings this season the present week has added two unusually interesting ceremonies, the joining of hands and hearts of four deaf mutes. The first ceremony took place in this city, while the second was solemnized in Georgetown. Mr Charles Bronson, of Franklin, Indian, and Miss Sarah Willhartz, of this city, were married at high noon in the parlor at the residence of the bride's parents, Rev. A. B. Simpson, officiating. The parlor was thronged with friends of the bride and groom, the majority of whom were deaf mutes, all residents of this city and vicinity. It was quite a novel and interesting sight to see them carrying on a general conversation by means of signs. At the appointed hour Rev. A. B. Simpson entered the room, followed by the bridal party, and in the presence of the assembled friends the beautifully impressive marriage ceremony was performed, Professor Wm M. French assisting Mr. Simpson by interpreting the ceremony to the bride and groom, and for the benefit of the deaf mutes present, in the beautiful language of signs. We have scarcely ever seen a ceremony so impressive. No word, no sound, and yet a solemn rite Proceedeth 'mid the festive, lighted hall, Hearts are in treaty, and the south doth take That oath, which unabsolved, must stand till death, With icy seal, doth close the scroll of life. The bride, an attractive brunette, was dressed in a brown-colored dress, made with a polonaise, with ornaments and a wreath of flowers on her head, while the groom wore a neat suit of black. After the ceremony the party was invited to partake of a sumptuous dinner and amid warm congratulations an hour was most delightfully spent. In the afternoon they left for Georgetown, accompanied by Professor French, who was married at that place to Miss Mary E. Graves, daughter of W. E. Graves, Esq. The ceremony, similar to the one here, took place at eleven o'clock, at the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. Susan Finley, Rev. John Reeves officiating, and was followed with a dinner tendered the bridal party. etc.
Died: 06 May 1894 Franklin, Johnson Co., IN