CHARLES ALTER, a farmer and citizen of Orange Township, Rush County, was born in Butler County, Ohio, June 8, 1829, and is the son of Christian and Susan T. ( Tolbert ) Alter. The father was born in Maryland in 1783, his death occurred in Rush County, Ind., in 1868. The mother was born in Virginia, in 1785, and died in Rush County, Ind., in 1873. Their children's names are : Frederick, Francis, Mary, David, Sarah, Benjamin M., Susan, Elizabeth, George W., and Charles. The parents removed from Maryland to Cincinnati, and later settled in Butler County, Ohio, and still later in Rush County, Ind.
Charles was the youngest of their children, and was reared on a farm, and has followed the occupation since early in life. He commenced life a poor boy, and is now a prosperous man, all due to his untiring energy and industry. He is a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics, a Republican.
In 1855 ( February ), he was united in marriage with Viola Johnson, daughter of R. H. and Nancy G. ( Drummond ) Johnson. Nancy [sic] was born in Orange Township, Rush County, Ind., May 7, 1837.
Her marriage has been blessed by the following offspring :
William, born April 30, 1856 ;
Mary L., born January 16, 1858 ;
Harriet A., born April 13, 1860 ;
Olive, born May 6, 1862 ;
Elma, born January 2, 1864 ;
Cora F., born September 2, 1865 ;
David O., born May 30, 1868 ;
Charles, born January 29, 1871 ;
John H., born April 27, 1875 ; and
Viola S., born August 31, 1877.