Chestnutt, Charles Waddell; lawyer and author; born, Cleveland, June 20, 1858; son of Andrew J. and Maria Chestnutt; educated, public schools Cleveland and Fayetteville, N. C.; began teaching at the age of 16 years and for 9 years taught in the schools of Fayetteville, N. C.; at the age of 23, became principal of State Normal School, at Fayetteville; in 1884, spent a number of months in newspaper writing in New York City; began business life in Cleveland as a shorthand reporter; employed as such in the Cleveland Courts; studied law with the late Samuel E. Williamson; admitted to the bar in 1887; more widely known as the author of “The Conjure Woman,” “The Wife of His Youth, and Other Stories,” “Life of Frederick Douglas in Beacon Biographies,” “The House Behind the Cedars,” “The Marrow of Tradition” and “The Colonel’s Dream.”
