Charles H. Girdler, an energetic and progressive agriculturist of Mercer township, Somerset County, and the efficient chairman of its Board of Selectmen, was born December 4, 1846, in Waterville, Me., son of the late John S. Girdler. The father, who was born in Manchester, Mass. spent the early years of his life in that town, and there learned the hatter’s trade. In 1840 he settled on a farm in Waterville, Me., where he carried on farming and worked at his trade for some years. On December 16, 1863, he became a resident of Mercer, moving at that time to the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Charles H. Here he was engaged in tilling the soil and improving the property until his demise, December 1, 1887. His wife, born in Berwick, Me., whose maiden name was Phebe C. Page, is still an active woman though seventy-eight years old, and resides on the homestead in Mercer with her son. Her children were: Abbie E., Charles H., and James I. Abbie E., born May 23, 1843, is the widow of the late Francis B. Mosher, and lives in Oakland, Me.; and James I., born June 15, 1851, who died April 14, 1893, married Miss Abbie N. Morrill, of Belgrade, Me., whose death occurred on December 7, 1894.
Charles H. Girdler attended the district schools in his youth, assisting his father in the labors incidental to farm life in the long vacations. When twenty years old he began working for a clothing manufacturer in the village of Mercer, remaining with him three years. Upon his marriage, at the solicitation of his father, He took charge of the home farm, where he has since resided. He has one hundred and twelve acres of land, well improved, and is carrying on general agriculture and dairying with success. For the past eleven years he has served the town as Selectman, being for ten years of the time the chairman of the board. He was also Tax Collector for four years, and the librarian of the Mercer Public Library for seven years. While a stanch supporter of the Republican party, he takes much interest in politics. September 12, 1898, he was elected a Representative to the Sixty-ninth Legislature of Maine. An esteemed Odd Fellow, he belongs to Quinnebassett Lodge, No. 109, of Norridgewock. He is one of the leading Masons of this locality, being a member of Lebanon Lodge, No. 116, of Norridgewock; of Somerset Chapter, R. A. M., of Skowhegan; of Somerset Council and of De Molay Commandery, K. T., of Skowhegan.
On October 5, 1870, Mr. Girdler married Miss Fannie S. Hoyt, who was born in Vienna, Me., August 28, 1848. Her father, Noah Hoyt, who was a native of North Vienna, when a young man began farming in the town of Vienna, and resided there until his death, in 1879. He married Sophia Hoyt, of Rochester, New Hampshire, who died in 1880. They had a family of eight children; namely, Esther, George, Paulina; Noah, Upham, Fannie S.,. John, and Mary. The two last named are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Girdler have one child, Bertha M., now a compositor in the office of the Lewiston Journal and the wife of Dana F. Aubin, who is a motorman on the electric railway in Lewiston. Both parents are members of the Baptist Church of Norridgewock, and are active in denominational work.
Source: Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1898.