Charles McCarty

No history of Lowell would be complete without a brief summary of the life and services of Charles McCarty. Born in Gault, Canada, May 19, 1846, he came with his parents to Michigan and settled on a farm in Keene township, where the remained living the life of a farm boy and attending the district school, until he was 14 years old, when he began his long business career as a clerk for his brother, Nathan L., continuing in that capacity for three years, when he enlisted in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics and served until the close of the war. He was with with Sherman in his march to the sea, served at the fierce engagements therein involved, was present at the surrender of Johnston’s army and participated in the grand review at Washington in May 1865. In 1869 he resumed employment with his brother, and on the death of the latter four weeks later he bought the business, which he carried on energetically and successfully for 40 years. In addition to his individual business interests which included heavy produce and fruit dealing, wholesale and retail, he was the director in the Lowell State bank, vice present and director of the King Milling Company, and director of the Ross Lumber company. He was president of Lowell village four years, a charter member of the Lowell Board of Trade, was a Royal Arch Mason, Knight Templar, Shriner and Elk. Retired from business in 1908 and moved to Los Angeles where he died in 1914. His body was brought to Lowell for burial beside that of his beloved wife, nee Alice Sayles, at Oakwood cemetery. Genial, jovial, liberal, enterprising, Charles McCarty will live long in the hearts of his Lowell townspeople far and wide.