NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Charles F. Axtell
Morris Co. Up

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Among the prominent and successful representatives of the legal profession in Morristown was the late Charles F. AXTELL, who by birth, parentage, and professional attainment was well qualified to fill a leading position in any community. The AXTELL family is one of the oldest in this country, dating back some three hundred and fifty years. Thomas AXTELL, the pioneer, was a native of England, who left the mother country in 1635, setting sail on the ship Globe, that year, for the new world. He settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts, somewhere between 1635 and 1640, and died in 1646. His great-grandson, Henry AXTELL, located near Mendham, Morris county, in 1740, and his son, Henry AXTELL (2), participated in the Revolutionary War, attaining the rank of major. Silas C. AXTELL, son of Major Henry AXTELL, was a native of Morris county, and he was the father of Jacob T. AXTELL, who in turn was the father of Charles F. AXTELL. Jacob T. AXTELL was born in Mendham. Morris county, New Jersey; married Rachel, daughter of William ENSLEE, and granddaughter of John ENSLEE, who participated in the Revolutionary War, enlisting from Morris county.

Charles F. AXTELL was born in Morristown, New Jersey, May 26, 1845, died December, 1913. After attending the public schools of his native place, he served an apprenticeship at the printing trade, a vocation of itself so educational that it served as a stepping stone to many a brilliant career in other lines. This apprenticeship was in the office of The Jerseyman, at Morristown, and from 1867 to 1869 he acted in the capacity of associate publisher of that paper. He subsequently was several years in the employ of the government in the printing offices at Washington, D. C. From there he went abroad to study the methods in use in the German printing offices, visiting Berlin, Leipzig, Frankfort, Mayence, and other continental cities. Upon deciding that the profession of law was more suited to his tastes and capabilities, he placed himself under the excellent preceptorship of PITNEY & YOUNGBLOOD, in 1873, and under their tuition was prepared for admission to the bar of New Jersey, this event taking place in 1877; he was made an attorney at that time, his subsequent admission as a counsellor occurred in 1891. He began the active practice of his profession in Morristown in 1873, and the succeeding years brought him a profitable and steadily increasing clientele, a fitting testimonial to his skill and ability.

Mr. AXTELL always took a prominent part in political matters, giving a faithful allegiance to the principles of the Republican party. He served his town and community in various capacities, such as township collector, clerk and counsel, city clerk, and treasurer of Morristown, and justice of the peace, the latter office he filled two terms. In 1879 and 1880, Mr. AXTELL was a member of the New Jersey legislature, and while a member of that body, acted on the committee on revision of laws, and the joint committee on State treasurer’s accounts. To public office Mr. AXTELL brought the same conscientious discharge of duty that he exercised in the interests of his private practice, a fact that won for him the highest tributes. He was past master of Cincinnati Lodge No. 3, F. and A. M.; past eminent commander of Ode de St. Amand Commandery, No. 12, K. T., member of Mecca Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of New York City. In 1863 Mr. AXTELL emulated the example set before him in the history of his family, serving his country in war as well as peace, and became a member of Company E., First Battalion, New Jersey Emergency Men, and kept in touch with the comrades of those times by an active membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he was past commander and past adjutant of A. T. A. Torbert Post, No. 24, Department of New Jersey.

Mr. AXTELL married, September 26, 1883, Ella M. PATTERSON, of Stratford, Connecticut. Children:

  • Roland Patterson,
  • Rachel Enslee,
  • Merritt Franklin.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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