Son of Judge Rufus Campbell Torrey and his first wife, Elizabeth Sargent Henshaw, the daughter of Andrew Henshaw and Elizabeth Isbell and granddaughter of John Lewis Isbell and Ann Hannah (Anderson) Isbell.
Member of the Alabama state House of Representatives.
Attorney, partner and founding member on the law firm of Pillans, Torrey & Hanow, established with his brother-in-law Harry Pillans. The name was later changed to Pillans, Reams, Vollmer; still later to Reams, Phillips; and today it is Reams, Brooks, Schell, & Gaston, P.C.
Charles John Torrey married in Mobile on January 5, 1887, to Helen Dellet Gibbons, called Dolly, the daughter of Judge Lyman Gibbons and Emma Dellet, and granddaughter of U.S. Congressman James Dellet.
Charles John Torrey weighed 18 pounds at birth, causing his mother's death. Judge Torrey lived as a widower for several years and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Isbell Henshaw became a member of his household. Judge Torrey's brother-in-law Andrew Isbell Henshaw had married his own first cousin Mary Anderson Isbell and they had one daughter, Mary Montague Henshaw, the wife of Judge Harry Toulmin. Andrew Isbell Henshaw, wife and daughter also moved to Claiborne to live with the Torreys and bring up his sister's children. Andrew Isbell Henshaw died a few years after his sister Mrs. Torrey, so his widow and Judge Torrey married, thus Charles John Torrey's aunt Mary Isbell Henshaw became his stepmother while his first cousin Mary Montague Toulmin became his stepsister. He always called her Sister Mollie. After Judge Toulmin's death, Mary Montague Henshaw Toulmin lived for 16 years with her stepsister/cousin Daisy Henshaw Pillans at 908 Government Street until her death in 1932. Following Charles John Torrey's death in 1917, his widow Helen Dellet "Dolly" Gibbons Torrey also lived at 908 Government Street with Mrs. Pillans and Mrs. Toulmin until her own death in 1934.
New Orleans STATES, July 15, 1917, p.15 column 5:
BROTHER-IN-LAW OF MAYOR OF MOBILE DIES
(Special to the States.)
Mobile, Ala., July 14.—Charles J. Torrey, 67, former city attorney of Mobile county, prominent in the state as an attorney, and with the State Bar Association, died today at Baltimore, Md., according to news received here. At one time he was prominent in politics in South Alabama and served as chancellor of Monroe County. Among his relatives are his widow and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Pillans, wife of the mayor of this city, and Mrs. M.Toulmin, widow of Judge H.T. Toulmin."
Montgomery Advertiser, July 15, 1917, p.2:
"CHARLES J. TORREY, MOBILE ATTORNEY, DIES IN BALTIMORE/
NATIVE OF MONROE COUNTY, DECEASED HAD WIDE FAMILY CONNECTION/
"Mobile, Ala., July 14.—News was received in Mobile today of the death last night at Baltimore, Md., after an illness of six weeks duration, of Charles J. Torrey, who was a well known attorney of this city and former member of the old firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and a prominent member of the State Bar Association. The body will arrive in Mobile Sunday for burial.
"Mr. Torrey was born in Claiborne, Monroe county, April 25, 1850. His father was Judge Rufus C. Torrey, a native of Massachusetts, a lawyer by profession, who moved from Massachusetts to Alabama some time in the thirties, and who spent the remainder of his days in this state, dying in 1882. Judge Torrey was the descendant of an emigrant from England. The mother of Charles J. Torrey was Elizabeth Sargeant Henshaw, a native of Alabama. She died in 1857.
"Charles J. Torrey was educated at an academy at Leicester, Mass., and at the Bellevue Institute, near Lynchburg, Va. He then devoted his attention to surveying for about two years, after which, in 1872, he entered upon the study of law in the office of his father at Claiborne, Ala. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1873, and at once began practice of law at Claiborne. Shortly afterwards he received an appointment of register in chancery of Monroe county, and then removed to Monroeville, the county seat. He held that position some four or five years and then resigned.
"In 1879 Mr. Torrey removed to Mobile where he practiced his profession until the time of his serious illness. He was a member of the firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and later left that firm and practiced alone. In the fall of 1889 he was elected city attorney of Mobile to fill out an unexpired term, which ended in 1891. At the close of his term he was re-elected to the office, his term ending on March 15, 1894.
"In politics Mr. Torrey was a democrat, and in religion he was an Episcopalian. He was twice called upon to serve as a delegate to state democratic conventions. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Alabama in 1887. He was married in January, 1887, to Miss Helen Gibbons, Mobile, who survives him, with his sisters, Mrs. Daisy Pillans, wife of Mayor Harry Pillans; Mrs. Mollie Toulmin, widow of Judge Harry T. Toulmin; a nephew, Charles J. Torrey Jr., of the Mobile Register, and other relatives."
The law firm of Pillans, Torrey, and Hanaw, since 1879, has long been regarded as the oldest law firm in Alabama in continuous existence. The firm's founder, Harry Pillans, a co-author of the 1901 State Constitution, was in practice since 1870. The name of the firm has changed several times, with its last reorganization in 1977 as Reams, Tappan, Wood, Vollmer, Philips & Killion, P.C., and since merged as Reams, Vollmer, Philips, Killion, Brooks Schell.
Member of the Alabama state House of Representatives.
Attorney, partner and founding member on the law firm of Pillans, Torrey & Hanow, established with his brother-in-law Harry Pillans. The name was later changed to Pillans, Reams, Vollmer; still later to Reams, Phillips; and today it is Reams, Brooks, Schell, & Gaston, P.C.
Charles John Torrey married in Mobile on January 5, 1887, to Helen Dellet Gibbons, called Dolly, the daughter of Judge Lyman Gibbons and Emma Dellet, and granddaughter of U.S. Congressman James Dellet.
Charles John Torrey weighed 18 pounds at birth, causing his mother's death. Judge Torrey lived as a widower for several years and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Isbell Henshaw became a member of his household. Judge Torrey's brother-in-law Andrew Isbell Henshaw had married his own first cousin Mary Anderson Isbell and they had one daughter, Mary Montague Henshaw, the wife of Judge Harry Toulmin. Andrew Isbell Henshaw, wife and daughter also moved to Claiborne to live with the Torreys and bring up his sister's children. Andrew Isbell Henshaw died a few years after his sister Mrs. Torrey, so his widow and Judge Torrey married, thus Charles John Torrey's aunt Mary Isbell Henshaw became his stepmother while his first cousin Mary Montague Toulmin became his stepsister. He always called her Sister Mollie. After Judge Toulmin's death, Mary Montague Henshaw Toulmin lived for 16 years with her stepsister/cousin Daisy Henshaw Pillans at 908 Government Street until her death in 1932. Following Charles John Torrey's death in 1917, his widow Helen Dellet "Dolly" Gibbons Torrey also lived at 908 Government Street with Mrs. Pillans and Mrs. Toulmin until her own death in 1934.
New Orleans STATES, July 15, 1917, p.15 column 5:
BROTHER-IN-LAW OF MAYOR OF MOBILE DIES
(Special to the States.)
Mobile, Ala., July 14.—Charles J. Torrey, 67, former city attorney of Mobile county, prominent in the state as an attorney, and with the State Bar Association, died today at Baltimore, Md., according to news received here. At one time he was prominent in politics in South Alabama and served as chancellor of Monroe County. Among his relatives are his widow and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Pillans, wife of the mayor of this city, and Mrs. M.Toulmin, widow of Judge H.T. Toulmin."
Montgomery Advertiser, July 15, 1917, p.2:
"CHARLES J. TORREY, MOBILE ATTORNEY, DIES IN BALTIMORE/
NATIVE OF MONROE COUNTY, DECEASED HAD WIDE FAMILY CONNECTION/
"Mobile, Ala., July 14.—News was received in Mobile today of the death last night at Baltimore, Md., after an illness of six weeks duration, of Charles J. Torrey, who was a well known attorney of this city and former member of the old firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and a prominent member of the State Bar Association. The body will arrive in Mobile Sunday for burial.
"Mr. Torrey was born in Claiborne, Monroe county, April 25, 1850. His father was Judge Rufus C. Torrey, a native of Massachusetts, a lawyer by profession, who moved from Massachusetts to Alabama some time in the thirties, and who spent the remainder of his days in this state, dying in 1882. Judge Torrey was the descendant of an emigrant from England. The mother of Charles J. Torrey was Elizabeth Sargeant Henshaw, a native of Alabama. She died in 1857.
"Charles J. Torrey was educated at an academy at Leicester, Mass., and at the Bellevue Institute, near Lynchburg, Va. He then devoted his attention to surveying for about two years, after which, in 1872, he entered upon the study of law in the office of his father at Claiborne, Ala. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1873, and at once began practice of law at Claiborne. Shortly afterwards he received an appointment of register in chancery of Monroe county, and then removed to Monroeville, the county seat. He held that position some four or five years and then resigned.
"In 1879 Mr. Torrey removed to Mobile where he practiced his profession until the time of his serious illness. He was a member of the firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and later left that firm and practiced alone. In the fall of 1889 he was elected city attorney of Mobile to fill out an unexpired term, which ended in 1891. At the close of his term he was re-elected to the office, his term ending on March 15, 1894.
"In politics Mr. Torrey was a democrat, and in religion he was an Episcopalian. He was twice called upon to serve as a delegate to state democratic conventions. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Alabama in 1887. He was married in January, 1887, to Miss Helen Gibbons, Mobile, who survives him, with his sisters, Mrs. Daisy Pillans, wife of Mayor Harry Pillans; Mrs. Mollie Toulmin, widow of Judge Harry T. Toulmin; a nephew, Charles J. Torrey Jr., of the Mobile Register, and other relatives."
The law firm of Pillans, Torrey, and Hanaw, since 1879, has long been regarded as the oldest law firm in Alabama in continuous existence. The firm's founder, Harry Pillans, a co-author of the 1901 State Constitution, was in practice since 1870. The name of the firm has changed several times, with its last reorganization in 1977 as Reams, Tappan, Wood, Vollmer, Philips & Killion, P.C., and since merged as Reams, Vollmer, Philips, Killion, Brooks Schell.
Son of Judge Rufus Campbell Torrey and his first wife, Elizabeth Sargent Henshaw, the daughter of Andrew Henshaw and Elizabeth Isbell and granddaughter of John Lewis Isbell and Ann Hannah (Anderson) Isbell.
Member of the Alabama state House of Representatives.
Attorney, partner and founding member on the law firm of Pillans, Torrey & Hanow, established with his brother-in-law Harry Pillans. The name was later changed to Pillans, Reams, Vollmer; still later to Reams, Phillips; and today it is Reams, Brooks, Schell, & Gaston, P.C.
Charles John Torrey married in Mobile on January 5, 1887, to Helen Dellet Gibbons, called Dolly, the daughter of Judge Lyman Gibbons and Emma Dellet, and granddaughter of U.S. Congressman James Dellet.
Charles John Torrey weighed 18 pounds at birth, causing his mother's death. Judge Torrey lived as a widower for several years and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Isbell Henshaw became a member of his household. Judge Torrey's brother-in-law Andrew Isbell Henshaw had married his own first cousin Mary Anderson Isbell and they had one daughter, Mary Montague Henshaw, the wife of Judge Harry Toulmin. Andrew Isbell Henshaw, wife and daughter also moved to Claiborne to live with the Torreys and bring up his sister's children. Andrew Isbell Henshaw died a few years after his sister Mrs. Torrey, so his widow and Judge Torrey married, thus Charles John Torrey's aunt Mary Isbell Henshaw became his stepmother while his first cousin Mary Montague Toulmin became his stepsister. He always called her Sister Mollie. After Judge Toulmin's death, Mary Montague Henshaw Toulmin lived for 16 years with her stepsister/cousin Daisy Henshaw Pillans at 908 Government Street until her death in 1932. Following Charles John Torrey's death in 1917, his widow Helen Dellet "Dolly" Gibbons Torrey also lived at 908 Government Street with Mrs. Pillans and Mrs. Toulmin until her own death in 1934.
New Orleans STATES, July 15, 1917, p.15 column 5:
BROTHER-IN-LAW OF MAYOR OF MOBILE DIES
(Special to the States.)
Mobile, Ala., July 14.—Charles J. Torrey, 67, former city attorney of Mobile county, prominent in the state as an attorney, and with the State Bar Association, died today at Baltimore, Md., according to news received here. At one time he was prominent in politics in South Alabama and served as chancellor of Monroe County. Among his relatives are his widow and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Pillans, wife of the mayor of this city, and Mrs. M.Toulmin, widow of Judge H.T. Toulmin."
Montgomery Advertiser, July 15, 1917, p.2:
"CHARLES J. TORREY, MOBILE ATTORNEY, DIES IN BALTIMORE/
NATIVE OF MONROE COUNTY, DECEASED HAD WIDE FAMILY CONNECTION/
"Mobile, Ala., July 14.—News was received in Mobile today of the death last night at Baltimore, Md., after an illness of six weeks duration, of Charles J. Torrey, who was a well known attorney of this city and former member of the old firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and a prominent member of the State Bar Association. The body will arrive in Mobile Sunday for burial.
"Mr. Torrey was born in Claiborne, Monroe county, April 25, 1850. His father was Judge Rufus C. Torrey, a native of Massachusetts, a lawyer by profession, who moved from Massachusetts to Alabama some time in the thirties, and who spent the remainder of his days in this state, dying in 1882. Judge Torrey was the descendant of an emigrant from England. The mother of Charles J. Torrey was Elizabeth Sargeant Henshaw, a native of Alabama. She died in 1857.
"Charles J. Torrey was educated at an academy at Leicester, Mass., and at the Bellevue Institute, near Lynchburg, Va. He then devoted his attention to surveying for about two years, after which, in 1872, he entered upon the study of law in the office of his father at Claiborne, Ala. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1873, and at once began practice of law at Claiborne. Shortly afterwards he received an appointment of register in chancery of Monroe county, and then removed to Monroeville, the county seat. He held that position some four or five years and then resigned.
"In 1879 Mr. Torrey removed to Mobile where he practiced his profession until the time of his serious illness. He was a member of the firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and later left that firm and practiced alone. In the fall of 1889 he was elected city attorney of Mobile to fill out an unexpired term, which ended in 1891. At the close of his term he was re-elected to the office, his term ending on March 15, 1894.
"In politics Mr. Torrey was a democrat, and in religion he was an Episcopalian. He was twice called upon to serve as a delegate to state democratic conventions. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Alabama in 1887. He was married in January, 1887, to Miss Helen Gibbons, Mobile, who survives him, with his sisters, Mrs. Daisy Pillans, wife of Mayor Harry Pillans; Mrs. Mollie Toulmin, widow of Judge Harry T. Toulmin; a nephew, Charles J. Torrey Jr., of the Mobile Register, and other relatives."
The law firm of Pillans, Torrey, and Hanaw, since 1879, has long been regarded as the oldest law firm in Alabama in continuous existence. The firm's founder, Harry Pillans, a co-author of the 1901 State Constitution, was in practice since 1870. The name of the firm has changed several times, with its last reorganization in 1977 as Reams, Tappan, Wood, Vollmer, Philips & Killion, P.C., and since merged as Reams, Vollmer, Philips, Killion, Brooks Schell.
Member of the Alabama state House of Representatives.
Attorney, partner and founding member on the law firm of Pillans, Torrey & Hanow, established with his brother-in-law Harry Pillans. The name was later changed to Pillans, Reams, Vollmer; still later to Reams, Phillips; and today it is Reams, Brooks, Schell, & Gaston, P.C.
Charles John Torrey married in Mobile on January 5, 1887, to Helen Dellet Gibbons, called Dolly, the daughter of Judge Lyman Gibbons and Emma Dellet, and granddaughter of U.S. Congressman James Dellet.
Charles John Torrey weighed 18 pounds at birth, causing his mother's death. Judge Torrey lived as a widower for several years and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Isbell Henshaw became a member of his household. Judge Torrey's brother-in-law Andrew Isbell Henshaw had married his own first cousin Mary Anderson Isbell and they had one daughter, Mary Montague Henshaw, the wife of Judge Harry Toulmin. Andrew Isbell Henshaw, wife and daughter also moved to Claiborne to live with the Torreys and bring up his sister's children. Andrew Isbell Henshaw died a few years after his sister Mrs. Torrey, so his widow and Judge Torrey married, thus Charles John Torrey's aunt Mary Isbell Henshaw became his stepmother while his first cousin Mary Montague Toulmin became his stepsister. He always called her Sister Mollie. After Judge Toulmin's death, Mary Montague Henshaw Toulmin lived for 16 years with her stepsister/cousin Daisy Henshaw Pillans at 908 Government Street until her death in 1932. Following Charles John Torrey's death in 1917, his widow Helen Dellet "Dolly" Gibbons Torrey also lived at 908 Government Street with Mrs. Pillans and Mrs. Toulmin until her own death in 1934.
New Orleans STATES, July 15, 1917, p.15 column 5:
BROTHER-IN-LAW OF MAYOR OF MOBILE DIES
(Special to the States.)
Mobile, Ala., July 14.—Charles J. Torrey, 67, former city attorney of Mobile county, prominent in the state as an attorney, and with the State Bar Association, died today at Baltimore, Md., according to news received here. At one time he was prominent in politics in South Alabama and served as chancellor of Monroe County. Among his relatives are his widow and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Pillans, wife of the mayor of this city, and Mrs. M.Toulmin, widow of Judge H.T. Toulmin."
Montgomery Advertiser, July 15, 1917, p.2:
"CHARLES J. TORREY, MOBILE ATTORNEY, DIES IN BALTIMORE/
NATIVE OF MONROE COUNTY, DECEASED HAD WIDE FAMILY CONNECTION/
"Mobile, Ala., July 14.—News was received in Mobile today of the death last night at Baltimore, Md., after an illness of six weeks duration, of Charles J. Torrey, who was a well known attorney of this city and former member of the old firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and a prominent member of the State Bar Association. The body will arrive in Mobile Sunday for burial.
"Mr. Torrey was born in Claiborne, Monroe county, April 25, 1850. His father was Judge Rufus C. Torrey, a native of Massachusetts, a lawyer by profession, who moved from Massachusetts to Alabama some time in the thirties, and who spent the remainder of his days in this state, dying in 1882. Judge Torrey was the descendant of an emigrant from England. The mother of Charles J. Torrey was Elizabeth Sargeant Henshaw, a native of Alabama. She died in 1857.
"Charles J. Torrey was educated at an academy at Leicester, Mass., and at the Bellevue Institute, near Lynchburg, Va. He then devoted his attention to surveying for about two years, after which, in 1872, he entered upon the study of law in the office of his father at Claiborne, Ala. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1873, and at once began practice of law at Claiborne. Shortly afterwards he received an appointment of register in chancery of Monroe county, and then removed to Monroeville, the county seat. He held that position some four or five years and then resigned.
"In 1879 Mr. Torrey removed to Mobile where he practiced his profession until the time of his serious illness. He was a member of the firm of Pillans, Torrey and Hanaw and later left that firm and practiced alone. In the fall of 1889 he was elected city attorney of Mobile to fill out an unexpired term, which ended in 1891. At the close of his term he was re-elected to the office, his term ending on March 15, 1894.
"In politics Mr. Torrey was a democrat, and in religion he was an Episcopalian. He was twice called upon to serve as a delegate to state democratic conventions. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Alabama in 1887. He was married in January, 1887, to Miss Helen Gibbons, Mobile, who survives him, with his sisters, Mrs. Daisy Pillans, wife of Mayor Harry Pillans; Mrs. Mollie Toulmin, widow of Judge Harry T. Toulmin; a nephew, Charles J. Torrey Jr., of the Mobile Register, and other relatives."
The law firm of Pillans, Torrey, and Hanaw, since 1879, has long been regarded as the oldest law firm in Alabama in continuous existence. The firm's founder, Harry Pillans, a co-author of the 1901 State Constitution, was in practice since 1870. The name of the firm has changed several times, with its last reorganization in 1977 as Reams, Tappan, Wood, Vollmer, Philips & Killion, P.C., and since merged as Reams, Vollmer, Philips, Killion, Brooks Schell.
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