Charles Boudinot Root
Encyclopedia
Charles Boudinot Root was a silversmith and a prominent North Carolina
citizen of the 19th century. He became president of the Raleigh, North Carolina
Gas Company shortly after the American Civil War
. He served in this capacity for eighteen years. A native of New England
, and descended from a prominent family, he was born in Montague, Massachusetts
on October 31, 1818 or September 12, 1819.
, and spending a short period in New York City. Root became involved in trade when he arrived in Raleigh in 1837. He managed a jewelry business owned by Bernard Dupuy for five years, before buying the company out on November 15, 1843. He sold the firm in 1860 and was never involved in business trade afterward.
For a decade (1852)-
(1862) he was director of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Raleigh. Root was elected tax collector of Raleigh in 1884 and also served as a city alderman and chairman of county commissioners.
. Anne's personal correspondence, primarily her letters to her daughter, Love, written between (1841) - (1872), are now a part of the Wilson Library collection of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
citizen of the 19th century. He became president of the Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
Gas Company shortly after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He served in this capacity for eighteen years. A native of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and descended from a prominent family, he was born in Montague, Massachusetts
Montague, Massachusetts
Montague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area....
on October 31, 1818 or September 12, 1819.
Business and public career
He came to Raleigh after studying at the academy in Greenfield, MassachusettsGreenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair...
, and spending a short period in New York City. Root became involved in trade when he arrived in Raleigh in 1837. He managed a jewelry business owned by Bernard Dupuy for five years, before buying the company out on November 15, 1843. He sold the firm in 1860 and was never involved in business trade afterward.
For a decade (1852)-
(1862) he was director of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Raleigh. Root was elected tax collector of Raleigh in 1884 and also served as a city alderman and chairman of county commissioners.
Marriage
Root was married to Anne Freeman Gales Root (1821 - 1894). She was the daughter of Weston Raleigh Gales (1803 - 1848), a Raleigh editor and the niece of Joseph Gales, once the editor of the National IntelligencerNational Intelligencer
The National Intelligencer newspaper was published in Washington, D.C. from about 1800 until 1870.Until 1810 it was named the National intelligencer, and Washington advertiser. Its name changed to the National Intelligencer starting with the issue of November 27, 1810...
. Anne's personal correspondence, primarily her letters to her daughter, Love, written between (1841) - (1872), are now a part of the Wilson Library collection of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.