Charles Washington Enders was born in Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 12 December 1855. He is a son of Samuel Enders and Leah [Etter] Enders. Charles W. Enders was educated in the common schools of his native township. He began work with his father on the farm in his early boyhood, and was thus engaged until his fifteenth year, when he became an apprentice with Peter Klinger, carpenter, Fisherville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. At the end of one year he went to Lykens, Pennsylvania, and was employed four months as a carpenter in the mines. He next went to Pine Grove, Cumberland County, and worked at his trade for three months. Becoming dissatisfied he returned to Lykens, where he remained until the end of that year. Times were not very prosperous and good jobs not plentiful during the Panic of 1875-1876, but he worked through.
After his marriage Mr. Charles W. Enders was for eleven months in Jacksonville, Pennsylvania. During the next five years he farmed the old home place after which he sold his personal property, and removed to Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan, where he worked eighteen months in a planing mill. While he was here his parents visited him and brought him an offer to operate the planing mill at Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, which he accepted. He managed the mill until it was burned down, in August 1885. While the mill was being re-built, Mr. Enders was employed at bridge building for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, until December 1886. He worked the greater part of that time on the Northern Central Railway.
In the Spring of 1887 Mr. Enders worked at his trade in Harrisburg, and resided there and at New Cumberland until December of the same year. In January 1888, in partnership with Isaiah T. Buffington, hew bought the planing mill at Elizabethville of his former employer, David Snyder. Since that time the mill has been run by the form of Buffington and Enders. The mill, for which they paid $4500, is worth, as it now stands, over $77,500. Mr. Enders has also built himself a fine dwelling at a cost of $1350. In connection with the planing mill, Mr. Enders is a partner in the firm of Buffington and Enders, manufacturers of hosiery, the company being known as the Enterprise Hosiery Company. He is a Republican and does not seek public office.
Charles W. Enders was married in Jackson Township, 17 September 1876, to Phoebe Ann Buffington, born in Lykens Valley, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 20 March 1855. Their children are:
Howard E. Enders, pursuing a scientific course at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pennsylvania, with the medical profession in view;
Fred C. Enders, at home;
Florence B. Enders, at home; and
Laura Enders, at home.
Mr. Charles W. Enders has been for eleven years a member of the United Brethren church.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
See also:
Findagrave Memorial #12744661. Charles W. Enders died on 7 June 1933 in Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery at the same place.