The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-05
HON. @. @. CARLN.

The subject OF this sketch. Charles
/ c. Carlin. was born in Alexandria.
April S. 1866; his parents were the
/ late William H.. and Frances +. Car
/ lin His father was q Confederate sol
dler and died in 1870 from the effects
/ of exposure In the army OF the Lost
| Cause" leaving a wife and four chill
dren.
At the early age OF ten young Carlin
had to begin 10 make his way in life.
/ and assist his mother and sisters, as
there was no pension for the soldiers
| Of the Confederacy. lie began life as
an errand boy in a china store, at the
munificent salary Of SOC per week. In
his spare moments he supplemented
! this work by selling newspapers. and
/ turned over the proceeds OF his labor
to his mother. II was by his mother
| that he was taught the early primary
studies during his apprenticeship in
| the china store When the telephone
came to the city OF Alexandria, he was
offered a position in the exchange as
night operator, when fourteen years OF
age. While engaged in this work he
entered the public schools, where he
received the major portion Of his edu-
cation, afterwards attending for a
short time the Alexandria Academy.
OF which William II. Groenwell was
principal. His usefulness TO the Tele-
phone Company was such that by the
time he reached 16 years Of age, he
was taken by Superintendent w. 7.
Gentry. with him to Atlanta, Georgia.
1t was through Mr.. Gentry's agency
that he was first appointed in the Tele-
phone Exchange in Alexandria; his
attendance at the Methodist Sunday
School, attracted the attention OF that
gentleman, who was his teacher, He
was afterwards made manager OF the
Rome, Ca, Telephone Exchange.
He saved sufficient from his salary
to justify him in returning TO Alex
andria in 1885, when he began the
study Of law at the National Law Uni
versity IN Washington. d. c., from
which school he graduated with hon
Ors While studying law, he acted as
Deputy Treasurer Of the City OF Alex
andria, In the Office Of hr. NJ. b. Har-
low, who was at that time Treasurer
The late Judge Charles E. Stuart ap
pointed him Commissioner Of Accounts
of the Corporation Court. Immediate
ly upon graduating he began the prac-
tice of law in Alexandria and has con-
tinued in the practice.
When % years old he married Miss
Lillian BrodeTs, daughter OF the late
Joseph Broders, one Of the most promi-
nent business men OF the City OF
Alexandria.
In 1892 he was elected q member OF
the Board Of Aldermen from the
Third Ward Of the city. and while
serving in that capacity was appointed
by President Cleveland, Postmaster OF
the city. When he entered upon the
duties OF Post haster he found the
most important position I'm the office,
that OF Assistant Postmaster. held by
a Republican, and although a large
number Of the leading citizens peti-
toned him to retain the assistant In
office. Mr.. Carlin held that the same
reasons which applied to the removal
of the Republican Post Master. applied
to the removal Of the assistant, and
therefore he appointed a Democratic
ex-COnfederate soldier to the Office
While Postmaster, Mr.. Carlin con-
tinued to practice law. In 1896, al
though having been appointed by Mr..
Cleveland to the important position
he then held, Mr.. Carlin actively, earn
estly, and warmly supported William
Jennings Bryan for President, as his
party's nominee. From his majority
he has taken an active part in politics,
City, State, and National, and has
been prominent in the Conventions Of
the District and State, and in 1904 was
Elector for the Eighth Congressional
District, in which capacity he stumped
the entire District, his speeches being
among the most able and eloquent de-
livered in that campaign in this sec.
tiOD