BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 624-625.

COL. JAMES F. CHARLESWORTH

Col. James F. Charlesworth, of distinguished military career, and one of
the leading attorneys of Belmont county, was born in St. Clairsville,
November 25, 1826, the son of Richard and Jane (Porter) Charlesworth.
His father was one of the business men of the early days of the town,
having removed thither from Baltimore about 1820. James F. engaged in
business with his father after completing his education at Granville
college in 1844, but at the outbreak of the War with Mexico, he and his
younger brother, Richard W., left home, which was then at La Salle, Ill.,
and enlisted in Company H, First regiment mounted rifles, in the regular
army. The brothers enlisted without their father's knowledge, but he,
acceding to their wishes, forwarded his consent. Col. Charlesworth saw
active service in Mexico, under Gen. Scott, and received a slight wound
at Contreras. The colonel of his regiment performed the functions of mayor
of Mexico city after the entrance of the United States troops, and the
regiment was detailed for police duty there during nine months, and until
after peace was declared. He then returned to La Salle, Ill., but having
decided to study law, he remained there but a short time, coming then to
St. Clairsville, where he began the study under Gen. Weir. He was admitted
to the bar in 1851, and was engaged in the practice until it was interrupted
in 1854, by his election to the office of auditor of Belmont county, as
which he served two years. His competitor for this position was David Allen.
In 1857 he purchased the Independent-Republican, of St. Clairsville, which
he edited and published until the outbreak of civil war called him again
to the field. He raised the first three years' company for the government
which was entered on the records of the state adjutant general, and of
this was commissioned captain July 12, 1861. His previous military services
made him at that day, when the north was deficient, comparatively, in
military men, of exceptional value to the country. Going into the field,
he was active in the struggle. In the fall of 1861 he received a slight
wound at Allegheny Summit, Va., and on the 16th of May following he was
promoted major of his regiment. Soon afterward, June 8, 1862, he was
severely wounded at the battle of Cross Keys. A minnie ball entered the
abdomen about two inches to the right of the umbilical cord, and came out
at the same distance from the spinal column. This wound, ordinarily fatal,
caused the paralysis of the colon, but his life was fortunately spared. On
July 30th, following, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and on May 18,
1863, he resigned, further service being impossible. His resignation re-
ceived the following endorsement from Brig.-Gen. N. C. McLean, at the head-
quarters of the first division, eleventh army corps, at Brooks Station, Va.,
May 13, 1863: "Approved and respectfully forwarded. Whilst regretting the
resignation of Lieut.-Col. Charlesworth, I approve, as I personally know
him to be disabled by an honorable wound. The ball which passed through
his body on the battlefield, Col. Charlesworth still possesses, it having
been picked up on the spot where he fell, and the vest which shows the
direction of the wound he still treasures, as a memento of honorable
service. On his return home he entered upon the duties of clerk of the
Belmont courts, to which he was elected while in the army by a majority
of over 1,000 votes, over D. S. Adams, a worthy and popular man. In 1864
he also served as colonel of the First regiment of Belmont county militia.
On the expiration of his term as clerk, he was appointed master commissioner
of the court of common pleas, a position he held nine years. Among other
prominent services it may be mentioned that during the troubles incident
to the building of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, then called the Central
Ohio, Col. Charlesworth, was at the request of Sheriff J. C. Nichols,
appointed and commissioned a captain to organize the celebrated Washington
Guards, which were on duty during three or four years. Also, during the
famous contest between St. Clairsville and Bellaire for the county seatship,
Col. Charlesworth was prominent among the advocates of St. Clairsville, and
by laboring at the state capital with the legislature for several weeks, he
and his associates succeeded in having the magnificent county buildings
erected at their present site. He is very prominent in the Grand Army of
the Republic, and is now the commander of the Belmont county battalion. In
the Masonic order also he is conspicuous as a member of Belmont lodge, No.
16, Chapter No. 17, and Hope commandery, No. 26, K. T. In politics he is
prominent as a democrat, being a delegate to the convention which nominated
James E. Campbell for governor, and vice-president of the state central
committee, and a trustee of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Col.
Charlesworth was married July 4, 1855, to Laura A., daughter of William
Tallman, deceased.