Artist and Actor. As a youngster he worked his way through the prestigious Cooper Union school in downtown Manhattan by designing and building furniture. His goal in life was to be an actor, and he was well on his way to building a reputation in that field when he fell in love. The lady that had won his heart was an American poet and the first lady author of mysteries, Anna Katharine Green. Her father was a noted lawyer and he refused to approve of the marriage until he extracted an agreement from Charles that he would give up the stage. He returned to his skill of designing and manufacturing furniture and his work was in demand around the world. He was inducted into the Royal Society of Arts in London following a 1900 exhibition in Turin. Italy. He was commissioned to provide some of the furnishings for the Buckingham Palace. He did make a brief return to the stage when he performed in the production of his wife's first mystery, "The Leavenworth Case." Ironically, his wife wrote a bestseller called "The Sword of Damocles" about an artist who gave up his work as a condition of marriage. Among his other accomplishments he invented the chaffing dish and clocks with unusual timing devices. Many of the clocks were used in the stage productions of his wife's works. Examples of his works can be seen in the Princeton University Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He and his wife had a daughter and two sons, both of whom became pioneers in the field of aviation test pilots.

Marriage Announcement:

.... Brooklyn Daily Eagle
.... Brooklyn, New York
.... November 26, 1884
.... Page 2 ... Column 8

Miss Anna Katharine Green, of this city, well known as the ingenious author of the famous “Leavenworth Case,” “Hand and Ring,” “The Sword of Damocles,” “X.Y.Z” and kindred tales, was yesterday married to Mr. Charles Rholse, once of Brooklyn, but now extensively engaged in business at Taunton, Mass.

The ceremony took place at 2:30 P.M. in the South Congregational Church, Rev. Dr. Lyman officiating.

The altar was handsomely decorated with flowers, ferns and trailing vines.

Mr. Stedman and Miss A. M. Smith acted respectively as best man and bridesmaid, and Mr. Robinson and Dr. Wildman as ushers. Mr. J. Wilson Green, or Orange, N.J., father of the bride, gave her away.

After the tying of the know the pair held an informal reception at the residence of Mr. William H. Van Vorst, 302 Union street, attended mainly by relatives and intimate friends. A large number of friends, including many prominent in literary and artistic circles, were present at the ceremony, among whom were Judge and Mrs. Daly of New York; Mrs. James H. Hart, Mrs. E. M. Smith and the Misses Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Green, Mr. James Green, Mr. W.N. Green, Mrs. Rholse, Miss Louisa Rholse, Mr. Henry Green, Dr. K.E. Moffat, Mrs. E.W. McRea, the Misses Porter, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Dr. Lyman, Miss A. Wilder, Mr. William Green, Mrs. Boyle, Mrs. Guilden, Mrs. T.L. Perrin, Mrs. Charles Bayer, Mr. Henry Stone, Mrs. Dr. Ford, Mrs. Armistead, Miss Prentice, Mr. Heath, Miss Emily Grimstead, Mr. T.B. Mattison, Mrs. M.T. Lynde, Mr. Belden Noble, Miss Elizabeth T. Lyman, Miss S. Elizabeth Green, Mr. S.P. Butcher, Miss Cutting, Miss Howland, Mr. Henry A. Robinson, Mr. C.E. Parker and Mr. Frank Williams.

The presents were many and handsome, coming largely from distant friends, and included a beautiful memento from Chief Justice Drake, of the Court of Claims, Washington, D.C. After a cordial interchange of greetings and farewells the couple started on a brief wedding tour, to reach their Taunton home on Saturday.

Contributed by:

.... Carole Elizabeth Nurmi Cummings

Please contact Carole at the link above if you would like a copy of the original obituary. She would be more than happy to supply you with a copy.