On his mother's side he descended from Governor William Bradford of the Mayflower.

His father was a farmer and merchant, leading Charles to attend public schools and Norwich Free Academy.

He would work with Charles F. Thayer the former mayor of Norwich and George Parsons.

In 1913 he had and won his first case before the United States Supreme Court in Robbins- Pattenson v Central Vermont Railroad.

[4] During President Cleveland's second term in office, he appointed Charles to be US Attorney for the district of Connecticut, a position he held for four years.