Many of the historic homes, churches and public buildings in Roanoke were designed and built under his and his family's direction.
Charles was the son of Peter Deyerle who was a German immigrant and indentured servant when he first came to America in 1748, and later became a wealthy landowner in Montgomery County, Virginia.
Peter Deyerle (1732–1812) supported the American Revolution and fought alongside Daniel Boone at the Battle of Blue Licks in Kentucky.
His brother, David (1813–1898) is credited with the brickwork of the Peters Creek Church of the Brethren, the 1861 Main Building at Hollins University, and the 1861 brick addition to his own home.
[3] Benjamin Deyerle purchased one slave, Charles Lewis, to help with the brick making and construction.
This would have occurred sometime between 1834 and 1849; therefore, it is likely that Peyton Lewis was one of the slaves who helped build Roanoke College, Pleasant Grove (Salem, Virginia), and possibly other structures.
[5][6] Benjamin Deyerle also worked closely with Gustave A. Sedon, a German carpenter and cabinet maker.
For mid-19th century America, the bricks were of a uniformly hard durability, and fired to a nice red or brown color.
As the Deyerle family cooperated and assisted each other in building construction, they also obviously worked with other builders at the time.
[8] Benjamin Deyerle constructed the Cave Spring Methodist Church about 1854 in the Greek revival style.
"[10] The Fairmont Baptist Church is located about six miles southwest of Boones Mill, Virginia, and constructed between 1855 and 1857.
The church is about four miles from Evergreen (Rocky Mount, Virginia), where Benjamin Deyerle owned the farm but did not live there.
"Flanking wings, set back about two feet from the central facade, were added in the 1850s by local contractor, G. B. Fitzgerald.
In 1903 the college added a third floor to the building, and a monumental portico with elaborate Classical Revival architecture details.
[14] Its Greek Revival embellishments were influenced by the New England architect Asher Benjamin's publication The Practical House Carpenter of 1830.
Off to the side was a one and a half story brick outbuilding that served as a kitchen and slave quarter.
[18] Benjamin Deyerle built the house for David Trout, also called "Cherry Hill", in 1857.
[19] Walnut Grove was the home of Christian Nininger, a Brethren preacher and merchant, and was built around 1866.
It is two stories high, double pile structure with brick foundation, hipped roof, three-bay facade, and two-story rear ell.