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Editor's Note: This article is part of a series featuring Civil War veterans with Wheeling connections. The series will lead up to the movement of Wheeling's Soldiers and Sailors Monument from Wheeling Park to the side yard of the West Virginia Independence Hall.
By Dr. Joseph Laker
Emeritus Professor of Wheeling Jesuit
Successful businessman, government official, Union soldier, and author of the History of the First Regiment Virginia Infantry, Charles J. Rawling was born in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 26, 1830. His parents, John and Margaret Godfrey Rawling immigrated from England in 1826. The family moved to Wheeling in 1835. After an education at Linsly Institute, Charles worked for the glass maker Sweeney and Bell. then spent a year traveling in the American West. After returning to Wheeling he studied to be a pharmacist and spent several years clerking for different Wheeling druggists.
After the Civil War began, Charles joined the pro-Union First Virginia Infantry regiment on Nov. 5, 1861 with a commitment of three years service, The regiment was organized in Wheeling in May 1861 for a three month commitment originally.
Charles was shot in his left arm and was discharged from the regiment after serving one year, five months, and nine days. Following his discharge, he worked in the quartermaster's office of the Union army for the duration of the conflict.
When the war came to an end Charles returned to Wheeling and in the fall of 1865 opened a drug store on 12th Street in partnership with Dr. Thomas Logan. The following year he bought out Logan's share of the business and moved the store to the corner of Market and 16th.
At that time he married Maria Donnelly of Maryland and they eventually had one son, Charles Quincy, who became a chemistry teacher at Linsly. Membership of the Republican Party helped secure for him the appointment as Wheeling's Postmaster General by President Andrew Johnson on April 16, 1867.
Charles sold his store. He served as Wheeling's Postmaster General until 1879 during which time he had every department under his control reorganized and the letter carrier system had begun.
After leaving his government position, he became active in the business community and served as president of both the Wheeling Hinge and the Fire and Marine Insurance companies. His most notable achievement was the writing of the History of the First Virginia Infantry, published in 1887. Rawling's book can be found on line via Google with notes, comments, and additional material collected by Linda Fluharty Cunningham at First West Virginia Infantry: Linda Pages.
Rawlings died at his home at 739 Main St. on the evening of June 13, 1911 of heart failure and was buried three days later in Greenwood Cemetery following a funeral service in the First Presbyterian Church. His wife Maria survived him by four years, but his son died in 1902.