CHARLES S. BROWNING-A successful druggist of Ludlow for nearly a half century, Charles S. Browning is also treasurer of that town and one of its prominent citizens. He is a banker, and active in all important public affairs. Charles S. Browning was born in Chicopee, July 7, 1854 the son of John C. and Joanna (Peck) Browning, both natives of Colerain, Franklin County, Massachusetts.
Charles S. Browning was educated in the public schools of Chicopee. When he was sixteen years old he entered the employ of his brothers, A. W. and L. C. Browning, druggists, at Windsor Locks, Hartford County, Connecticut, where he remained two years. For another two years he was employed as a druggist in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and in October, 1880, he purchased an interest of C. F. Grosvenor, forming a partnership, and they conducted a drug store in Ludlow. They operated this store together with success for about ten months and then Mr. Browning bought out his partner. He has since continued as proprietor and operator of the Browning drug store and is now accounted one of the successful pharmacists in Hampden County, having been in business forty-five years in all. Mr. Browning is a trustee in the Ludlow Savings Bank. He was town auditor for three years and in 1905 he was elected town treasurer of Ludlow and has held this position since, a period of over twenty years. Mr. Browning is a member of Brigham Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ludlow. His place of business is at No. 43 North Street in that town.
Mr. Browning married (first), in 1881, Carrie H. Crowningshield, who died in September, 1922, and (second) Edith H. Crowningshield, daughter of George Caleb and Vrona Crowningshield; George ‘C. Crowningshield died in the Andersonville Confederate Prison during the Civil War. Mrs. Browning, second, was a niece of the first Mrs. Browning.