Charles Dauenhauer, who is meeting with success as a contractor and is also connected with other business interests of West Haven, was born in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, April 10, 1860, a son of Fred and Louise (Sattler) Dauenhauer, the former born in Bavaria and the latter in Alsace. The father was well educated and came from an excellent family. By occupation he was a builder and interior worker on flue buildings.

Charles Dauenhauer attended school in Bavaria and as a boy learned the cabinet maker's trade. In 1880 he came to the United States, landing in New York on the 20th of July. He was employed in a chair factory there for two years but at the end of that time came to New Haven, where he found work in a piano factory. When he arrived in the United States he had hardly enough money to pay his expenses for a week and was further handicapped by the fact that he could speak no English. In order to live he worked for a time at common labor for one dollar a day but at length secured employment in his own line, and from that time his advancement has been continuous. In 1884 he removed from New Haven to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but after remaining in that city for a year returned to New Haven. For many years he has engaged in contracting and has erected many important buildings not only in West Haven but in neighboring cities as well. He is also interested in the West Haven Hardware Company, the West Haven Publishing Company and in the All Rail Coal Company, in which he is a director.

Mr. Dauenhauer was married in 1883 to Miss Katherine Danth, of Orange, Connecticut, a daughter of Fred Danth, who engaged in business in the metropolis for some time and later turned his attention to farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Dauenhauer have been born three children: William L., a resident of West Hartford, who is associated with his father in the contracting business and who is married and has a daughter. Gertrude; Carl F., also with his father in business, who is married and has a son, Charles Otto; and Otto C., who is managing the West Haven Hardware Company.

Mr. Dauenhauer is a republican but places citizenship above partisanship. For some time he served on the board of burgesses and he has always been keenly interested in public affairs. He is a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is now vice president, and has been instrumental in carrying to successful completion many of the well advised projects of that body. In 1917 he was appointed building inspector for the town of Orange, in which capacity he is now serving. He can always be counted upon to help in every way possible in bringing about the advancement of his community, and among his other public services may be mentioned his activity in developing land in various parts of the city even if at a personal loss. He belongs to the German order of the Harugari and erected the building of that society. He has never cared for club life, preferring to spend his leisure time at home, and he finds his greatest pleasure in the society of his family. For more than twenty-five years he has been a total abstainer from both alcohol and tobacco and to his temperate habits he attributes much of his good health. He belongs to the German Methodist church and its work has profited largely from his cooperation. He is president of the board of trus-tees and for fifteen years has been Sunday school superintendent. It is through such men as lie that the civic advancement of the community has come, and he is justly held in high esteem by all who know him.