Charles Edward Crenshaw was born in Cahaba, Dallas County, Alabama, the third son and fourth child of Judge Anderson Crenshaw and Mary Chiles Crenshaw.

He was an infant when his parents removed to a corner of northwestern Butler County, Alabama known as The Ridge and there he would make his home. Known as Ed in the family (not to be confused with his nephew Edward Crenshaw also know as Eddy or Ed).

He was an exceptionally well-educated young man, benefitting from private tutoring at home before attending the University of Alabama. He graduated alongside his younger brother Fred on December 4, 1843. A diary of his written in 1844 survives demonstrating a young man at loose ends, as we all often are as young people. He is eager to improve himself, a bit of a snob (but he is a young, spoiled fellow), an avid reader who details all the books he reads and how many pages he manages every day. He is an ardent Christian and faithfully attends church most every Sunday. Ed is also a keen outdoorsman; hiking in the woods around his home, collecting plants and managing a garden at his parents' home. He also loves to squirrel hunt (rather unsuccessfully), trap birds in net hunting and fish or, as he describes it, enjoying a frolic. He admires pretty girls, is very fond of his sister-in-law whom he describes as "incomparable" and despairs of finding a suitable wife. He does, however, in Mary Louisa Elizabeth Coleman - they marry on April 8, 1847.

Together, they have ten children: India, Frances, William, Clayton, Charles Edward II, Mary Louisa, Amelia, Annie, Frederick and Alma before Mary Louisa dies in 1875.

He toyed with politics, running unsuccessfully for the Alabama senate as an American or Know Nothing Party candidate in 1857. He became a Methodist minister and earned great respect for his kindness and erudite sermons. Inheriting a great interest in history from his parents, he was an early member of the Alabama Historical Society, publishing two papers (that we know of); "Indian Massacres of Butler County" and "A Sketch of Judge Anderson Crenshaw".

Charles Edward Crenshaw's service to the Confederacy, as far as documentary evidence demonstrates:
- September – December 1862 – Furnished a substitute. Then aged 41, the age of conscription had been increased from 35 to 45 in September 1862.
- 22 December 1862, Haynesville, Lowndes County, 2nd Lt. "Alabama Defenders". Appears on a muster roll.
- 29 June 1863, M. L. Brooks Company, Lowndes County Militia
- 1 December 1863, "Goldsmith's Company", Butler County Militia, Home Guard as a private. Present for a muster roll dated December 30, 1863. Remarks: Previously furnished a substitute.
- 8 August 1864, J. F. Clement's Volunteer Infantry, Local Defense, present for roll call.

Married first 08 Apr 1847, Montgomery Co, AL to Mary L. Coleman
Married second 16 Aug 1877, Montgomery Co, AL to Lydia G. Shaw.
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Additional information for this memorial was provided by Lisa R. Franklin