WI BIO - Dane Co - MAYERS, Charles George
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 178-179

Major Charles George MAYERS, a popular citizen of Madison [Dane County], WI, 
was born in Manchester, England, 31 Aug 1826, and grew up there and received 
his education in his native place at both public and private schools. He 
served his articles of apprenticeship in an accountant's office, which was 
also the office of the secretary of the Royal Institution of Manchester. 
While there he attended all of the lectures of the Institution. He then 
decided to come to this county, and took passage early in the spring of 1848 
from Liverpool on the sailing ship, "Ivanho," which landed him after some 
weeks in New York, and from there he came to Albany [NY], then across to 
Buffalo [NY], then around the lakes to Milwaukee [WI]. He came thence 
overland in prairie schooner style and settled on 80 acres of land near 
Waunakee, Dane County [WI], a tract which he had bought in England for twenty 
pounds without ever seeing it. He spent two years on this place and then 
came to what was then but a small village, but has now grown to the great 
metropolis [Madison, WI]. Soon after this he became the State Librarian and 
made the first catalogue of the library. Later he was made assistant 
supervisor of Public Instruction of Wisconsin, and afterward Assistant 
Secretary of State under Charles D. ROBINSON. Later he became interested in 
buying and selling land and in 1857 he was elected City Clerk and held that 
office until 1861, when he enlisted in the Union army. Our subject became 
Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 11th WI Regiment Volunteer Infantry and 
did service for some time, being on the staff of General CANBY. He was thus 
connected at the close of the war and was retained in that department until 
30 Sep 1865, having been breveted Captain and Major 24 Mar 1865. His service 
was in the Army of the Tennessee.

Major MAYERS witnessed many of the serious engagements of the war, as Port 
Gibson, Vicksburg, Black River Bridge, Champion Hills and many others. He 
was neither hurt nor imprisoned and was one of the staff of General CANBY, at 
the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely and Mobile. Our subject 
returned to his home in Madison, bought out a grocery house and was thus 
engaged for some time. During the reunion of the Army of the Tennessee at 
Toledo, in 1876, he wrote in particular a forty-three verse poem that was 
heartily received by all who heard it, as it was filled with loyal 
enthusiasm. He has published many poems, in various Chicago, Madison, and 
eastern newspapers, also a small volume, entitled, "The Sons of Taychobera 
or, Romances of the Four Lakes," in which he tells the story of the origin of 
the names of the several lakes. He has written several dramas, the principal 
of which were, "Waves" and "The Three Crosses," the former, produced at 
Wallack's, was highly complimented by the Tribune and other papers of New 
York City. He is not only an art critic, but a Shakespearean critic and in 
such characters as Richilieu, Shylock, Werner, Sir Anthony Absolute and Du 
Maaprat. He is director and one of [p 199] promoters of the Shakespearean 
club of Madison. He has been Assessor of the city of Madison for seventeen 
years, and has been in the insurance and real estate business for the same 
length of time. Mr. MAYERS is a member of a number of orders, was one of the 
organizers of the G. A. R. Post here, which was the first post organized in 
the U. S., the date being June 1866. He is Past Commander of the Post, known 
now as C. C. Washburn Post, No. 11. He is a member of the WI Commandery, 
Loyal Legion and is the oldest member and the oldest Past Master of the 
Madison Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. He has been for some 
years, and is at present, Eminent Commander of the Commandery, Knights 
Templars, and is a sound Democrat in his politics.

Mr. [Charles Gordon] MAYERS was married, in Manchester, England, to Miss 
Catherine FITZGERALD, a lady who has proven a true helpmate to him. The 
family residence is on Jenifer Street, in view of Lake Monona. He attends 
the Unitarian Church. Six children have been added to the family: (1) 
Maggie, who was educated in the University is the principal of the 6th Ward 
school; (2) Andrew A. is a grocery merchant at Madison [Dane County, WI]; 
(3) Emily A. was educated in the university, and is an artist, married; (4) 
Julia F. is a well educated lady, married; (5) Minnie, married and lives in 
Minneapolis [MN]; and (6) Charles is in the Hartford Insurance business, 
with office in Chicago.

Major MAYERS has been many years commodore of the Yacht Club. He is a member 
of the executive committee of the State Historical society and is one of the 
oldest members of the far-famed Madison Literary Club. He is a companionable 
gentleman and one whom his friends delight to honor.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly