Charles came from the farm belonging to his grandparents, George & Mary Eckhert, on Baker Road.  His father Charlie and their family had a small “shack” there.  All that remains from that farm are the trees and shrubs that grew around the house.  (See Eckhert Farm map)

Charles’ father “farmed (his kids) out.  Everybody felt kind of sorry for the kids.  They were good hard-working kids, all of ‘em….They were dirt-poor.  Old Charlie, he kind of liked his drinks a little bit, so they were good people but they had their problems.” 

Young Charles lived with the Thoresons one year when he was 14, filling silo, digging potatoes, etc..  At the end of the season Ole was going to send him home but Charles’ father said, “Ole, can you use him?  I haven’t got bread on the table to feed him.”  So Charles stayed.  “He was a good worker.”