Civil War Union Soldier. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 5, 1821, he was the youngest of 13 children born to Samuel Abbot and Abigail Spear Abbot. Educated in his hometown, at the age 17 he moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he became engaged in a mercantile house. He later worked in Buffalo, New York and Newburgh, New York in the shoe and leather trade. In 1845 he moved to Philadelphia to engage in business with his brother, working in cotton good manufacturing in the Manayunk section of the city. Four years later he entered the real estate developing business, a career he would do for the rest of this life. He acquired and developed fourteen acres from near the Falls of Schuylkill to Germantown, with his most notable development being the Queen Lane Reservoir.

In 1858 he was elected as an Assemblyman to the Pennsylvania States Legislature, serving until 1862. During his term the Civil War began, and he served on Governor Andrew G. Curtin's commission to investigate incidents where fraud was alleged in supplying the Federal Army. When the Confederate Army under General Robert E. Lee invaded Pennsylvania in June 1863, Charles F. Abbot enlisted to meet the crisis, and was mustered in as a Private in Company I, 33rd Pennsylvania Emergency Troops on June 26, 1863. He served in the field during the Gettysburg Campaign, and was honorably mustered out on August 4, 1863.

In 1868 he was appointed as a member of the Philadelphia Board of Public Education to represent the city's 28th Ward. He served on the board until his death, and at that time he was that organization's oldest member.

He was married to Elizabeth F. Evans, with whom they had three children – Griffith E., Samuel J. and Sarah E. His son, Griffith Evans Abbot (1850-1927) became a prominent and well known physician and scientist. His residence in the East Falls section of the city was called Abbotsford, and had been built before the American Revolution. During that war Hessian soldiers were quartered in the residence. He died at his home on January 15, 1897.

Civil War Union Soldier. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 5, 1821, he was the youngest of 13 children born to Samuel Abbot and Abigail Spear Abbot. Educated in his hometown, at the age 17 he moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he became engaged in a mercantile house. He later worked in Buffalo, New York and Newburgh, New York in the shoe and leather trade. In 1845 he moved to Philadelphia to engage in business with his brother, working in cotton good manufacturing in the Manayunk section of the city. Four years later he entered the real estate developing business, a career he would do for the rest of this life. He acquired and developed fourteen acres from near the Falls of Schuylkill to Germantown, with his most notable development being the Queen Lane Reservoir.

In 1858 he was elected as an Assemblyman to the Pennsylvania States Legislature, serving until 1862. During his term the Civil War began, and he served on Governor Andrew G. Curtin's commission to investigate incidents where fraud was alleged in supplying the Federal Army. When the Confederate Army under General Robert E. Lee invaded Pennsylvania in June 1863, Charles F. Abbot enlisted to meet the crisis, and was mustered in as a Private in Company I, 33rd Pennsylvania Emergency Troops on June 26, 1863. He served in the field during the Gettysburg Campaign, and was honorably mustered out on August 4, 1863.

In 1868 he was appointed as a member of the Philadelphia Board of Public Education to represent the city's 28th Ward. He served on the board until his death, and at that time he was that organization's oldest member.

He was married to Elizabeth F. Evans, with whom they had three children – Griffith E., Samuel J. and Sarah E. His son, Griffith Evans Abbot (1850-1927) became a prominent and well known physician and scientist. His residence in the East Falls section of the city was called Abbotsford, and had been built before the American Revolution. During that war Hessian soldiers were quartered in the residence. He died at his home on January 15, 1897.