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Note: 424 - HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY ********************************************************************** ***********************************
CHARLES EDWARD SURLES, junior member of the firm of Gamble & Surles, brick manufacturers and building contractors, at East Liverpool, was born at Cross Creek near New Alexander, Jefferson County, Ohio, August 7, 1858, and is a son of Alexander Devinney and Elizabeth (Leeper) Surles.
Alexander D. Surles, father of our subject was born in 1839, and in his youth he learned the trade of brick-laying, but this he followed but a short time. Later he became steward on a river steamboat and was thus employed at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, when he entered the army, enlisting in Company G, Second Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was one of those who fell in battle on the awful field at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863. In politics he was a Republican. His memory is cherished as one who bravely faced danger in the defense of his country and fell a noble martyr. He married Elizabeth Leeper who was a daughter of John Leeper, of Steubenville, Ohio. and they had three children, namely : Charles E.. of this sketch: William H., of the firm of Murphy & Surles. of Milwaukee. Wisconsin and Emily L., wife of James A. Shane. of Beaver. Pennsylvania. The mother died in 1897, at the age of 55 years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In the little family in which we are interested, troubles accumulated. Soon after the death of the father, the home was destroyed by fire and the bereaved widow took her three children and went to Steubenville. There our subject remained until nine years of age, when he went to the village of Shippingport. Beaver County. Pennsylvania, where he had an opportunity to attend school and work on the adjacent farms. He was there until he was 17 years old and then he came to East Liverpool. to learn the trade of brick-layer with his uncle. Harry H. Surls, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. He remained with his uncle about seven years and then entered the employ of the firm of Gamble & Surles. the members of which were Mr. Gamble. his present partner. and hiS uncle. William H. Surles. the present postmaster of East Liverpool. a sketch of whom also appears in this work. He continued with this firm for six years and then entered the employ of J. H. Harris, an East Liverpool contractor, with whom he remained for several years. In 1891 he entered into the present partnership and now is numbered with the leading business men of the city.
Mr. Surles married Rosa Curran who is a daughter of John Curran, of East Liverpool. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church. in which he has served as a deacon. He is a man of Christian principles and exemplary life. For many Years he has been a stanch adherent of the Prohibition party and a hearty worker in the cause of temperance. He has had the satisfaction of knowing that in a number of cases his urgings to industry and sobriety have converted very unpromising material into good citizens. He is a member of Riddle Lodge. No. 315. F. & A. M.. and Pride of the Valley Lodge. No. 386. Mystic Circle.
In recalling his father. Mr. Surles relates an occasion indicative of the soldier®s courage. It was necessary to capture a locomotive which was within the enemy®s lines at Marietta. Georgia, and he was selected as one of a party of brave men to accomplish the feat. They disguised themselves as citizens. and under the direction of either General Mitchel or General Buell. and led by a civilian named Anderson. they reached the print, expecting to find an engineer there but discovered that he had been removed. Their idea had been to run the locomotive back" to the Union lines. burning the bridges behind them and thus preventing the enemy from bringing stores from Chattanooga. The enterprise was too daring a one to attempt without an engineer, and thus the scheme failed. although not on account of a want of courage
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 425
on the part of those engaged. The scheme was afterward carried out. but the most of those engaged in it were subsequently hung by the Confederates.
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