Charles Ernest Hull is now living retired in Guilford, where he was for many years actively identified with industrial interests. He was born March 26, 1860, in the city which is still his home, his parents being George Augustus and Jeanette Hulda (Bishop) Hull. The family name has figured in connection with the history of Connecticut since 1639. The paternal grandfather, Cornelius Hull, was born at Black Rock, near Durham. Connecticut, and was the father of George Augustus Hull, who was born at Guilford, where he acquired his education. After the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Fourteenth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and served for some time at the front but became ill and was honorably discharged before the close of hostilities. He then returned to Guilford, where in 1865 he purchased a small factory located a mile and a half north of the village. This he began operating under his own name and developed what is today one of the leading manufacturing concerns of Guilford. The factory was originally devoted to making wagon parts, but as his business grew, owing to his enterprising spirit, and close application, he extended its scope to include the manufacture of spokes, hubs, etc., for wheels. Later his son, Charles E., was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of George A. Hull & Son and the company then began the manufacture of the complete wagon wheel, continuing business in the same factory until 1891, when the plant was destroyed by fire. The father then retired from active business and passed away in Guilford in February, 1892. His wife was born in Guilford, April 7, 1828, and her death occurred on the 26th of April, 1889. She was a daughter of Jonathan Bishop, a descendant in the seventh generation of John Bishop, a native of England, who became the founder of the Bishop family on the soil of the new world, he being one of the original settlers of Guilford. He was the second of the twenty-five people who signed the Plantation Covenant June 1, 1639, on the voyage from England to the new world.

Charles Ernest Hull acquired his education in the schools of Guilford and in his boy-hood worked in his father's factory, early becoming familiar with the trade in principle and detail. Eventually he was taken into the, firm and in 1891, when the factory burned and his father retired from active business, Charles E. Hull became associated with Jerome C. Potter and Lovell L. Kelsey in organizing the Guilford Wheel Manufacturing Company, which took over the business of the firm of George A. Hull & Son. They purchased the factory building and ground formerly used as a button factory in Guilford, there installed modern machinery and enlarged the plant for the purpose of manufacturing wagon wheels, resuming business there in December, 1891, just thirty days after the old plant was destroyed by fire. Mr. Kelsey retired from the business after a few years and the manufacturing was then continued by Mr. Hull and Mr. Potter until 1907, when they sold the business, factory and all to the Archibald Wheel Company of Lawrence, Massachusetts, with which Mr. Hull remained as manager of the business until 1916, when he retired from active life and is now enjoying a well earned rest. He was the chief factor in the upbuild-ing of the business of the Guilford Wheel Manufacturing Company, his long practical experience, his keen discernment and his sagacity constituting the chief elements in the growth of their trade.

At Guilford, in June, 1881, Mr. Hull was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hill Leete, who was born in Guilford and was a descendant of Governor Leete of Connecticut. Her parents were Joseph and Orphanah Hill (Madison) Leete. The death of Mrs. Hull occurred in Guilford in February, 1892, and two children were left to mourn her loss. The elder, Cornelius Morris, is now chief clerk to the superintendent of the New York division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. He married Miss Margaret Kelly and has two children, Elizabeth Mildred and Cornelius Morris. The second son, Fiske Leete, is manager for the Archibald Wheel Company of Guilford. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Hull was married on the 32d of February, 1894, at Guilford, to Miss Mary J. Conway, who was born in Ireland but was brought to Connecticut during her infancy by her parents, John and Margaret (Burns) Conway, who were natives of the Emerald isle. Her father was employed by I. S. Spencer & Company of Guilford for more than thirty years but both he and his wife have now passed away.

Mr. Hull is a member of the Guilford Mutual Fire Association and he is president of the Guilford Board of Trade. For many years he has served as burgess and since 1884 he has given unfaltering political allegiance to the prohibition party, being a strong advocate of the cause of temperance. His life has been well spent. He has displayed many sterling characteristics which have won him the respect and esteem of friends and of business colleagues and contemporaries.