CHARLES C. STUDLEY, Among Madison County’s sons who have attained distinction in varied fields of active usefulness, none is better known or more highly esteemed in his community than Charles C. Studley of Lapel, who as soldier, business man, public official and citizen has discharged ably and conscientiously every obligation of life, From the dark days of the Civil War, when he valiantly fought under the flag of his country, to the present time, when he is numbered among the most able and impartial justices of the peace that have upheld the dignity of this office in Stony Creek Township, his record has been unsullied, and a sketch of his career will show that his life has at all times been one of industry, integrity and general usefulness to his fellow men, Judge Studley was born on a farm in Stony Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana, August 2, 1843, and is a son of Datis E. and Ruth (Casler) Studley, the former of whom died in 1872 and the latter in 1870, Of their eleven children, ten were reared to manbood and womanhood, three sons served in the Union army, and three sons and two daughters still survive.
Charles C. Studley passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, securing his education in the common schools of Stony Creek Township, which he was attending at the time of the outbreak of the struggle between the North and South, Filled with youthful patriotism, with other school lads of his community, he enlisted in Company E. 130th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service at Kokomo, Indiana, December 2, 1863, This was known as one of the hard-fighting regiments of the Union service and participated in many hotly-contested engagements, including those of the Atlanta campaign, where it was under fire for one hundred and twenty days, In 1865, after two days of severe fighting at Nashville, the Twenty-third Army Corps, with which the 130th was identified, was ordered to form a conjunction with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and subsequently went to Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson and Moorehead, North Carolina, then fighting its way to Raleigh, On April 14, 1865, the Confederate general, Johnson, surrendered, and the Union forces moved on to Charlotte, where the men of Mr. Studley’s regiment received their honorable discharge, he leaving the service with the rank of duty sergeant, having gained promotion through fidelity to duty and fearless participation in battle.
On returning to the occupations of peace, Ur. Studley embraced the vocation of carpenter, at which he was working at the time of his first marriage, in Stony Creek Township, September 9, 1866, to Miss Louisa Hanger, She died May 4, 1880, leaving four children, of whom three are living at this time: Martha J., single, a professional nurse residing at Anderson, Indiana; Alma, who is the wife of J. B. La Boutie, of Birmingham, Alabama; and Nora, the wife of Lewis Medi11, engaged in the clothing business in that southern city, On February 19, 1882, Judge Studley was married to Matilda Cotterell, and to this union were born three children: Margaret, a graduate of the Lapel High school, and now the wife of B. B. Early, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, at Shelbyville, Indiana; Charles W., engaged as a glass blower at Robinson, Illinois, who married Maude Ward; and Ruth, who is single and resides at home, a clerk in a store at Lapel.
The family for many years has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and its members have been active in religious and charitable work, Judge Studley is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and as a member of Hiram G. Fisher Post No. 366, Grand. Army of the Republic, is serving as adjutant and was formerly commander. By a special act of Congress, he draws a pension of twenty- four dollars per month in appreciation of his valued services during the Rebellion, In political matters Judge Studley was for many years a supporter of Republican principles, but in the campaign of 1912 demonstrated his progressiveness by casting his ballot with the new so- called “Bull Moose” party. For many years he has acted in the capacity of justice of the peace, and the very length of his service gives evidence of the ability with which he has discharged the duties of his responsible office, He is well known in insurance circles as the representative of four of the leading companies, and so well has he managed his interests that he now enjoys the reputation of one whom success always attends, and his connection with any enterprise is taken as a guaranty of its stability, Mr. Studley did not have wealth to aid him in the beginning of his career. His reliance has been placed in the more substantial qualities of perseverance, untiring enterprise, resolute purpose and commendable zeal, and his actions have ever been guided by an honesty of purpose that none have questioned.